Ronald Andrew Whelan (/ˈrɒniː ˈhwiːlən/; born 25 September 1961) is an Irish former professional footballer player who played as a midfielder and sometimes as a defender. He played an integral role in the dominant Liverpool side that won a wealth of titles in the 1980s. He was at the club from 1979 until 1994, scoring a number of vital goals. In 100 Players Who Shook The Kop, a poll of 110,000 Liverpool fans conducted by Liverpool's official website, Whelan came in 30th. Since retirement he has begun a media career, and is a regular contributor to RTÉ Sport in Ireland.