Who Is Rory Delap? Age, Biography and Wiki
Rory Delap, born on July 6, 1976, is a renowned Irish professional footballer celebrated for his exceptional career primarily as a midfielder. With a strong background in football, Delap has made significant contributions to clubs including Southampton and Stoke City while also representing the Republic of Ireland on an international level. As of 2025, Rory Delap is 48 years old and continues to be a respected figure in the football community.
| Occupation | Footballer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | July 6, 1976 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | Sutton Coldfield, England |
| Horoscope | Cancer |
| Country | England |
Popularity
Rory Delap's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Rory Delap stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) and has maintained a well-built physique. His weight is approximately 85 kg (187 lbs). While his playing days are behind him, he remains fit and active, reflecting the commitment he has always had towards maintaining his physical health.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Regarding his personal life, Rory Delap is known to be quite private. However, it has been reported that he is currently in a relationship but has chosen to keep the details of his girlfriend away from the public eye. Rory often emphasizes the importance of family in his life, along with balancing his career and personal relationships.
He therefore supported Carlisle United and attended matches at Brunton Park with his father. Rory's father is John Delap from Letterkenny and his mother Maura Delap from Kells.
His uncle is Paddy Delap, a Letterkenny businessman, golfer, and athletics coach who runs Clarke's Newsagent's and organises an annual charity cycling event in aid of cancer noted for launching the career of former Cervélo TestTeam member Philip Deignan.
Another uncle, Anthony, is an actor-playwright whose works have been performed at An Grianán Theatre in the town. Delap visits his family in Letterkenny at least once every year.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Rory Delap's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His wealth comes from his successful football career, various endorsements, and subsequent roles in coaching and football-related activities post-retirement. Although specific salary figures are not publicly disclosed, it is believed that his earnings during his professional career, combined with investments, have contributed significantly to his impressive financial standing.
Career, Business, and Investments
Delap's football career saw him play in the Premier League, earning acclaim for his unique long throw-ins that revolutionized set pieces in the game. After retiring, he transitioned into coaching and has held various positions within football clubs, focusing on youth development and coaching techniques. Additionally, Delap has explored business investments, particularly in local community projects aimed at fostering new football talents.
Delap started his career at Carlisle United and impressed enough to earn a move to Premiership side Derby County in 1998. In 2001, Delap joined Southampton for a club record of £4 million. After spending five years on the south coast, he moved to Sunderland. Following a brief spell on Wearside, Delap was loaned to Stoke City in October 2006.
In just his second match for Stoke, against his parent club Sunderland, Delap suffered a broken leg. Despite this, Delap signed a permanent contract for Stoke in January 2007. He went on to become a vital member of the squad and his long throw-ins helped Stoke gain promotion to the Premier League and consolidate in the league.
After spending six seasons at Stoke, Delap had short spells with Barnsley and Burton Albion before retiring in December 2013.
Social Network
Rory Delap is moderately active on social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, where he shares insights into his professional endeavors and personal life. Though he maintains a low profile, his posts often reflect his passion for football and his commitment to community engagement. Fans appreciate his candidness and the snippets of his life he chooses to share.
The potency of the "Delap Special" reached new heights as Stoke City began their debut Premier League season. Of their first 13 goals, seven were credited as Delap assists. Stoke's first Premiership goal from a Delap throw was Mamady Sidibe's injury-time winner against Aston Villa on 23 August 2008.
His throws continued to cause further problems for Stoke's opposition throughout the season, and would have earned the Potters a point against Everton on 14 September, had it not been for Tim Cahill's 77th-minute header. The game finished 2–3, with both Stoke goals coming from Delap throws.
Tony Pulis suggested his absence was a crucial factor in Stoke's 2–0 defeat to Chelsea on 27 September. He returned the following week to face Portsmouth, and despite helping to create Ricardo Fuller's goal from a throw-in, Stoke lost the game 2–1.
It was just one game later when Delap scored his first goal of the season and only his third in a Stoke shirt. He met Sidibe's cross at the far post to give his side an important 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Delap was sent off in Stoke's 1–0 win over Manchester City for fouling and kicking out at Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Education
Rory Delap attended schools in his hometown of Mullenoughera, where he developed a keen interest in sports from a young age. He balanced his education with his budding football career and pursued training in football tactics and coaching methods post-retirement to enhance his understanding of the game.
Delap served as the inspiration for Danny Brooks – a P.E. teacher from West Yorkshire who broke the world record for the longest football throw-in. He performed a flip throw to gain extra momentum and lifted the record to 49.78 m. The record was once again broken on 18 June 2010 by Thomas Grønnemark of Denmark, who threw the ball 51.33 m.
Subsequently, American flip thrower Michael Lewis set a new Guinness World Record when he recorded a throw-in of 59.817 m (65.417 yd) in Frisco, Texas in April 2019.[74][75]
