Liam Miller died far too young but his was not a life unfulfilled

The boy from Cork played in America and Australia after proudly representing Celtic, Manchester United, his country and his hometown club

Liam Miller, right, celebrating winning the Premiers Plate with Brisbane Roar (Getty Images)

It is at times like the tragic death of Liam Miller that talk of achievements in football seems so trivial and irrelevant, but it is his young age that now imbues them with a greater importance, and puts a greater perspective on the fact this was a 36-year-old who achieved an awful lot. This was a proud young man who fulfilled many boyhood dreams.

As the Irish journalist and Miller’s fellow Corkman Padraig Reidy put it on Friday night: “Imagine saying to a Cork kid of our age that one day you’d play for Celtic, Manchester United, Leeds United, Ireland and Cork City. That’s more life than most of us will manage.”

The three British clubs are among the best supported clubs in Ireland, and the other teams obviously mean so much more on an emotional and representative level.

To the innocent joy of wearing those jerseys, Miller always added an honest industry to go with his fine talent. That is what everyone says about him.

It was what first made him stand out as a child, what first got him that career-making goal for Celtic against Lyon in the Champions League, and what then got him that landmark move to Old Trafford.

The energetic midfielder – who was then 23 – remains the last Irish player that Manchester United signed from another senior professional club, so is a key part of a very significant and symbolic lineage. The last player to make such a move before him was his international teammate Roy Keane, who was so impressed with Miller that he made him one of his very first signings as Sunderland manager. The Stadium of Light saw some of the best form of his career, as he became a key force in the side’s joyous 2006-07 promotion season.

Miller had already scored his first goal for his country then, a gloriously accurate soaring long-range drive against Sweden. He would go on to get 21 caps, and to enjoy life at QPR, three different Australian clubs, as well as a stint in North Carolina with Wilmington Hammerheads.

In between was the emotional and cherished return home with Cork City. Many from the city itself would have cherished such a career, and it is something is wife Clare and three young children Kory, Leo and Belle will always have as happy memories.

It is no age to pass, but it was not an unfulfilled life.