Mark Lawrenson

About

Mark is a former professional football player, a defender in the Liverpool and Irish football teams of the 1980s, and a respected television pundit for the BBC and Today FM. He began his career, as a 17 year-old, with his hometown club, Preston North End in 1974 who were then managed by World Cup winner Bobby Charlton. When he moved to Liverpool for a club transfer record of £900,000 he started out as a left-back, replacing Alan Kennedy for a while. He was to form a formidable central defensive partnership with Alan Hansen and figured in 39 of the 42 games that would lead to him winning the first of the five championship medals he would gain during his time at Anfield.

Mark was born in England, but he played for the Republic of Ireland national side because his grandfather Thomas Crotty was born in Waterford. He made his debut on 24 April 1977 at Dalymount Park in a friendly with Poland, the game ended 0–0. Lawrenson’s season was made complete when he was voted Preston’s Player of the Year for the 1976/77 season.

Lawrenson also spent some time as a successful manager. After his time at Liverpool, he was appointed Oxford United manager in 1988. He also managed Peterborough United from 6 September 1989 until 9 November 1990.

He is perhaps best known today as a well-respected commentator and authority on the tactical side of the game. Lawrenson was the main co-commentator on major national and international (FIFA) matches covered by the BBC, and he appears regularly on Football Focus and Match of the Day.

He is also often a co-commentator on BBC Radio Five Live, often working on the feature matches on Sunday afternoons.

Lawro appeared on The Russell Howard & Jon Richardson show on BBC 6 Music in a feature called Lawro’s Top Three.

He also writes a regular Preston North End column for the University of Central Lancashire’s Students’ Union newspaper, Pluto, and a weekly column for the Liverpool Daily Post newspaper.

His face is still a familiar addition to the sporting scene and his powerful motivational speeches are in demand at company seminars nationwide.