Legend Stapleton (68) confirms Letterkenny friendly was his last-ever appearance

The man who captained Ireland to their famous victory over England at Euro 88 officially announced in Letterkenny on Saturday night he will never play football again.

Frank Stapleton was part of the Manchester United Legends side who drew  6-6 draw in a friendly with a Letterkenny Rovers Select on Saturday afternoon and that night at the gala dinner that followed, the 68-year-old confirmed it would be the last time he would ever take to the field.

The Manchester United Legends team who took on a Letterkenny Rovers Select on Saturday. Photos: Geraldine Diver

"I've really enjoyed my career from start to finish and really enjoyed being part of the Legends set up now for 17 years," Stapleton, who scored in a 6-6 draw, told MC Charlie Collins. "But my playing days have ended, although I'll still keep involved with the Legends in some capacity. It's very enjoyable being in the company of the lads."

Stapleton had a glittering career where he played 225 times for Arsenal - scoring 75 goals and winning the 1979 FA Cup - between 1974 and 1981 before spending six years at Old Trafford with United, appearing 223 times with 60 goals. There, he was a two-time FA Cup winner in 1983 and 1985.

Arsenal players from left, Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton, David O'Leary and John Murphy in 1973. Photo: Sportsfile

He also played for Ajax, was loaned to Anderlecht without making an appearance, Le Havre, Blackburn Rovers, Aldershot, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City and Brighton & Hove Albion before his playing career concluded in 1995.

With Ireland, Stapleton made his international debut under then player-manager Johnny Giles in a friendly against Turkey in Ankara in 1976 at 20 years of age and would win 71 caps in all, with 20 goals, which was then a record, to his name. The highlight will always be Euro 88, where the Dubliner skipped Ireland to a 1-0 win over England at the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart, with Ray Houghton scoring the only goal.

Team captains Bryan Robson of England, left, and Frank Stapleton of Republic of Ireland shake hands and exchange pennants prior to the UEFA European Football Championship Finals Group B match in 1988. Photo: Sportsfile

Those in attendance at the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny on Saturday gave Stapleton a standing ovation on a weekend when he joined the Legends in Donegal. Jaap Stam, Paul Parker, Brian McClair, Keith Gillespie, Karol Poborsky,  Lee Martin,  Clayton Blackmore, Chris Eagles and Eric Djemba Djemba were in the north-west for a host of events which are part of a fundraising drive for Letterkenny Rovers FC, also enjoying a round of golf at Rosapenna on Friday.