2025
Jim Cleary is widely regarded as one of the most gifted players ever to wear the Glentoran shirt. Signed from Portadown in 1980, he made an immediate impact by inspiring an unbeaten league triumph in his first season and went on to become the creative heartbeat of the team throughout a golden decade at The Oval.
A left sided midfielder of rare vision and technical ability, Cleary possessed superb balance, precise passing and a powerful shot that made him a constant threat. He won 19 major honours, 14 of them as captain, including two league titles and six Irish Cups. His winning goal in the 1988 final against Glenavon sealed the Double and stands as one of the defining moments in Glentoran’s modern history.
Beyond club success, Cleary earned five caps for Northern Ireland and was part of the squad that travelled to the 1982 World Cup in Spain. After 413 appearances and 144 goals he retired in 1989 at the height of his powers, leaving a legacy built on excellence, consistency and leadership. Elegant, composed and decisive, Jim Cleary remains a benchmark for every player who follows and one of the true icons of Glentoran Football Club.
