Joe Corrigan was born in November 1948 and is Manchester born and bred. He joined the blues as a youth team player in 1966 and made his debut just a year later against Blackpool in the League Cup, which City won 2-0 at Bloomfield Road after a replay. But it wasn’t until the 1969/70 season that the giant goalkeeper made the number one jersey his own. His performances in goal helped City claim the European Cup Winners Cup and the League Cup that season and was also part of the team that lifted the League Cup again six years later.
At twenty-eight, he made his England debut in a match against Italy, the first of nine appearances for the national side. Many felt that he should have gained more international caps but upcoming keepers such as Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence passed him and Big Joe slipped down the England pecking order. He was however, part of the 1982 World Cup squad in Spain.
Corrigan spent seventeen years at Maine Road before moving to America, joining the Seattle Sounders for £30,000. His stay in the states was brief and returned to England a few months later with Brighton. He also spent loan spells at Stoke and Norwich before retiring form the game with a neck injury in 1985.
Big Joe stayed in the game, having taken coaching positions with both Liverpool and Celtic until finally retiring from the game completely at the end of the 2008/09 season after coaching at his last club, West Bromwich Albion.
Corrigan became the only player to win the City Player of the Year three times, a record that has only been met once by Richard Dunne, but never surpassed. Along with Bert Trautmann, Big Joe will always be remembered as one of City’s all time greatest keepers.
A true legend and a well deserving past master. Enjoy your retirement Big Joe. You’ve earned it.