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Paddy McCourt

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Paddy McCourt
McCourt playing for Celtic
Personal information
Full name Patrick James McCourt[1]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Left winger
Team information
Current team
 Celtic
Number 20
Youth career
1998–2000 Foyle Harps
2000–2001 Rochdale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Rochdale 79 (8)
2005 Shamrock Rovers 17 (7)
2005–2008 Derry City 61 (5)
2008– Celtic 48 (9)
International career‡
2002–2004 Northern Ireland U21 9 (1)
2002– Northern Ireland 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 November 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 October 2011

Patrick James "Paddy" McCourt (born 16 December 1983) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a left winger for Scottish Premier League club Celtic and the Northern Ireland national football team.

He started his career with English Football League side Rochdale in 2001, before moving to League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers in 2005. A year later he moved to fellow League of Ireland team, Derry City where he won the FAI Cup in 2006 and also won the League of Ireland Cup twice in 2006 and 2007. In 2008 he signed for Scottish Premier League club Celtic and won the Scottish Cup in 2011.

He made his Northern Ireland debut in 2002 but didn't play again until 2009. He scored his first two goals against the Faroe Islands on 10 August 2011.

Club career

Rochdale

Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, McCourt was educated at Steelstown Primary School in Derry and began his career with an early move from Foyle Harps to Rochdale on a youth team contract. His potential quickly persuaded the Spotland club to sign him on a three-and-a-half-year contract in December 2001, shortly after making his debut against Kidderminster Harriers. His first season ended with 23 appearances and four goals. This came at the peak of McCourt's early career,[2] and he attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs during 2002–03, including Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City.[3]

In the 2003–04 season, McCourt managed just a handful of starts for the club and had two spells away on trial with First Division sides Norwich City[4] and Crewe Alexandra, though neither club followed up their initial interest in him. Despite scoring goals during his spell at Spotland Stadium, a combination of injuries and loss of form hastened his departure from Rochdale in February 2005.

After Rochdale manager Steve Parkin had informed him that he was to be released, McCourt headed for another trial, this time with Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell. Again a move failed to materialise after a two-week stay at Fir Park.

Shamrock Rovers

In March 2005, McCourt was signed by Roddy Collins, manager of League of Ireland full-timers, Shamrock Rovers.[4]

He scored three goals in his first six appearances for the Dublin club and topped the goalscoring table by May 2005. As the club ran into financial difficulty, mainly due to the costs surrounding the building of Tallaght Stadium, the club were forced to place all their players on the transfer list for free, however, this excluded McCourt. After 7 goals in 17 appearances (3 of which were goal of the season contenders)[5] and following interest from Bristol City and Queen's Park Rangers, Shamrock Rovers, in need of funds, decided to let McCourt go. The player was signed by his home-town club, Derry City, for a fee thought to be around £60,000. He was Rovers top goalscorer that season and won the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland award of 'Young Player of the Year'.[6]

Derry City

McCourt helped Derry City to the runners-up position in both the 2005 and 2006 League of Ireland seasons. In the 2006 season he played in their UEFA Cup run in wins over IFK Gothenburg and Gretna and helped Derry to the FAI Cup and League of Ireland Cup. McCourt scored six goals in 31 appearances for City in the 2007 season and won a League of Ireland Cup medal. His skill had reportedly interested West Bromwich Albion, and Derry City announced in June 2008 that they had reached agreement with the newly-promoted Premier League side.[7]

Celtic

McCourt walking around Celtic Park

In June 2008, Derry agreed a fee with Celtic for McCourt. Premier League club West Brom had also agreed terms with both player and club, but the lure of joining Celtic, the club he supported as a boy, persuaded McCourt to move to Glasgow.[8] On 19 June, McCourt signed for the club for an undisclosed fee after agreeing a three-year contract.[8] He made his competitive debut for Celtic on 25 October 2008 in the 4–2 win over Hibernian.[9]

He has featured prominently for the Celtic reserve team, particularly in the game on 28 April 2009 against Rangers which clinched the Reserve League Title for the Hoops for the eighth season in succession, a career high point for him.[10] He also appeared at the inaugural Wembley Cup in which he excelled for Celtic. He featured in another of Celtic's pre-season friendly matches against Manchester City on 8 August 2009 at Eastlands.

On 23 September, McCourt opened his goalscoring account for Celtic with a memorable goal in a League Cup match at Falkirk,[11] in which he beat five defenders before chipping the ball over Bairns goalkeeper Robert Olejnik. He then scored his first SPL goal in his first league start three days later, against St Mirren on 26 September,[12] a goal very similar to his previous strike, which saw him ghost past six defenders before beating the goalkeeper in addition. On 24 January 2010, McCourt bagged his second league goal for Celtic against St Johnstone after a mazy run and supreme finish into the top right hand corner, from just inside the penalty box.[13] McCourt also scored the second of Celtic's goals in a 2–1 victory over Seattle Sounders in a friendly match in Seattle on 18 July.[14]

In the first game of the 2010–11 SPL season, McCourt scored the only goal of the game against newly-promoted Inverness CT with a typical solo run and shot, beating three defenders and then netting from the edge of the box.[15] He scored his second goal of the season – his first at Celtic Park – in Celtic's 3–0 victory over Hearts on 11 September, after spectacularly beating 3 players before chipping the goalkeeper. On 6 November, McCourt netted the final goal of Celtic's 9–0 demolition of Aberdeen from the penalty spot.[16] On 27 November, he scored Celtic's 600th home SPL goal[17] in a 2-2 draw with Inverness at Celtic Park, with another mazy run, and precise finish.[17] On 29 December, McCourt scored the winning goal in the a 1-0 win against Motherwell with another skillful run and 20-yard finish.[18] On 26 January, McCourt added another SPL goal, a 4-0 win over Hearts from just inside the penalty box.[19] On 15 August it was reported, after he had scored his first goals for Northern Ireland, that several English clubs, including Liverpool, were interested in buying him.[20]

International career

McCourt has represented Northern Ireland at International level.[21] He received nine caps for Northern Ireland under-21s.[22]

In April 2002, Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy handed him his senior international debut against Spain at Windsor Park.[23][24] His second cap came in February 2009 after he came on as a substitute against San Marino in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup.[25][26]

McCourt scored his first international brace with two exceptional solo goals, as he helped Northern Ireland to a 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in a 2012 European Championships qualification match on the 10 August 2011.[27]

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 August 2011 Windsor Park, Belfast  Faroe Islands 3-0 4-0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2 10 August 2011 Windsor Park, Belfast  Faroe Islands 4-0 4-0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Style of play

McCourt is known for his exceptional ball control and dribbling ability, as well as his ability to score spectacular solo goals. This has led to him being nicknamed "the Derry Pelé" by players, fans and pundits.[28][29][30]

Personal life

McCourt's older brother Harry also played for and won the FAI Cup with Derry City and was joint top scorer in the League of Ireland in 1991/92.[31] He is also a Derry City director.[32]

He scored the winner against PFC Lokomotiv Sofia in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup [1].


On 12 January 2011, bullets were sent in the post to McCourt, from an address in Northern Ireland. Celtic manager Neil Lennon and teammate Niall McGinn were sent similar packages earlier in the same week.[33]

Career statistics

As of 11 March 2012
Club Season League Cups[34] Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rochdale 2001–02 23 4 3 0 - - 26 4
2002–03 26 2 3 0 - - 29 2
2003–04 24 2 4 0 - - 28 2
2004–05 6 0 2 0 - - 8 0
Total 79 8 12 0 - - 91 8
Shamrock Rovers 2005 17 7 - - - - 17 7
Total 17 7 - - - - 17 7
Derry City 2005 15 1 4 0 - - 19 1
2006 21 2 6 1 3 0 30 3
2007 17 2 11 4 2 0 30 6
2008 8 0 1 0 - - 9 0
Total 61 5 22 5 5 0 88 10
Celtic 2008–09 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 0
2009–10 9 2 2 1 3 0 14 3
2010–11 25 7 5 0 1 0 31 7
2011–12 10 0 3 0 2 0 15 0
Total 48 9 11 1 6 0 65 10
Career total 205 29 45 6 11 0 261 35

Honours

Derry City – 2006
Derry City – 2006, 2007
Celtic – 2011

References

  1. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/06. Mainstream Publishing. p. 259. ISBN 1852916621.
  2. ^ Jonathan Greaney Hard work still to be done for Patrick Rochdale Observer, 11 March 2003
  3. ^ West Brom pull out of battle for McCourt as Celtic target Derry winger London Evening Standard, 19 June 2008
  4. ^ a b Patrick McCourt – Biography, Flown From the Nest, 10 September 2005
  5. ^ Shamrock Rovers v Bray Shamrock Rovers FC
  6. ^ Ireland – Player of the Year and Other Awards Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation
  7. ^ CityWeb[dead link‍] Derry City FC
  8. ^ a b "McCourt seals transfer to Celtic". BBC Sport. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  9. ^ Peter Jardine Celtic's McCourt says he just wants to be taken seriously Mail Online, 27 October 2008
  10. ^ "Mystery Man McCourts Magic Show". The Herald. 29 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2009.
  11. ^ Gregor Kyle Magical McCourt steals the show Celtic FC, 23 September 2009
  12. ^ McCourt sparkles as Celts win Celtic FC, 26 September 2009
  13. ^ Fortune favours the Hoops against Saints Celtic FC, 24 January 2007
  14. ^ Joe McHugh McCourt takes chance to make point Herald.ie, 19 July 2010
  15. ^ Keir Murray Inverness CT 0 – 1 Celtic BBC Sport, 14 August 2010
  16. ^ "Celtic 9–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  17. ^ a b "Celtic 2 - 2 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  18. ^ Celtic 1-0 Motherwell BBC Sport, 29 December 2010
  19. ^ Four-star Bhoys break Hearts Sky Sports, 26 January 2011
  20. ^ "Liverpool line up shock swoop for Celtic's 'Derry Pele' McCourt". Daily Mail. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  21. ^ Profile of Pat McCourt Irish FA
  22. ^ Paddy McCourt recalled to Northern Ireland squad The Scotsman, 29 September 2009
  23. ^ McCourt given senior chance The Independent, 11 April 2002
  24. ^ Raul mauls McIlroy's makeshift side in Spanish stroll The Guardian, 18 April 2002
  25. ^ McCourt ready for his second cap Londonderry Sentinel, 9 February 2009
  26. ^ San Marino 0-3 Northern Ireland BBC Sport, 11 February 2009
  27. ^ "N Ireland 4-0 Faroe Islands". BBC Sport. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  28. ^ Hooper's a big fan of the 'Derry Pele' Has recently being herald as one of the greatest players to come from Northern Ireland to the Scottish Premier League. Celtic FC, 8 December 2010
  29. ^ Celtic must give Paddy McCourt more game time to see him flourish, says ex-boss Stephen Kenny Daily Record, 29 November 2010
  30. ^ Having to answer fitness questions the only thing leaving Paddy McCourt out of breath HeraldScotland, 13 August 2010
  31. ^ Northern Ireland – List of Topscorers Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation
  32. ^ Derry City to meet with season ticket holders BBC News, 4 December 2009
  33. ^ "Bullets in post target Celtic footballer Paddy McCourt". BBC News. 12 January 2011.
  34. ^ Includes FA Cup, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, FAI Cup, FAI League Cup, Setanta Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield

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