Michael McGovern

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This article is about the Northern Ireland footballer. For other uses, see Michael McGovern (disambiguation).
Michael McGovern
Personal information
Full nameMichael McGovern
Date of birth (1984-07-12) 12 July 1984
Place of birthEnniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current clubFalkirk (captain)
Number1
Youth career
000?–2001Enniskillen Town United
2001–2004Celtic
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2008Celtic0(0)
2005→ Stranraer (loan)19(0)
2006→ St. Johnstone (loan)1(0)
2008–2009Dundee United0(0)
2009–2011Ross County71(0)
2011–Falkirk91(0)
National team
2005–2006Northern Ireland U2110(0)
2010–Northern Ireland1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Michael McGovern (born 12 July 1984) is a Northern Ireland footballer currently playing for Scottish Championship club Falkirk as a goalkeeper. He was appointed captain of The Bairns in 2013.

Born in Enniskillen, McGovern started his career with Scottish Premier League club Celtic in 2001 but left in 2008 without making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division side Stranraer on loan in January 2005, then in 2006 went to First Division side St. Johnstone on an emergency loan. After leaving Celtic he joined fellow SPL side Dundee United but left after one season having not made a first team appearance. In 2009 he went back to the First Division with Ross County, where he enjoyed a successful two-year spell. In 2011 he moved again on a free transfer to fellow First Division side Falkirk.

He was an unused substitute in the 2007 Scottish Cup Final, which earned him his only medal with Celtic. He helped Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final which they lost against his former team Dundee United.

He is a Northern Ireland international, having been capped once.

Club career

Celtic

McGovern joined Celtic in July 2001 from home town junior club Enniskillen Town United. His first involvement with the first team squad was as a substitute at the Camp Nou during Celtic's Champions League match against Barcelona.[1] Later that season, McGovern moved on loan to Stranraer,[2] where he made nineteen appearances and the following season, joined St. Johnstone on a one-month emergency loan,[3] playing once. At Celtic he managed to pick up a Scottish Cup medal in 2004 and 2007.

Dundee United

On 17 June 2008, McGovern agreed a pre-contract move to Dundee United, signing a one-year deal.[4] Despite first-choice goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska announcing a pre-contract move in December to Celtic, McGovern failed to make a first-team appearance for United, with manager Craig Levein admitting, "It looks like Michael McGovern may not be here next season."[5] Levein confirmed McGovern's impending departure in May,[6] with the goalkeeper moving to Ross County in late June.[7]

Ross County

McGovern enjoyed a successful first season with Ross County, making 50 appearances.[8] These included the 2010 Scottish Cup Final and his full international debut.[8] McGovern left Ross County at the end of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division season.

Falkirk

McGovern signed for Falkirk on 20 July 2011.[9] He quickly established himself as first choice goalkeeper and on 21 September 2011 played in Falkirk's 3–2 Scottish League Cup win over holders Rangers.[10] On 1 April 2012, he played for Falkirk in their 1–0 win over Hamilton in the 2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[11] At the end of the season he won the Falkirk players' Player of the Year award and Falkirk Supporters Club Player of the Year award. He was among four players nominated for the PFA Scotland 1st Division Player of the year award and he was named in the PFA Scotland 1st Division Team of the Year. McGovern was named Falkirk Players' Player of the Year for the second year in succession at the end of 2012/13 season.

McGovern signed a new one year deal at Falkirk on 24 June 2013,[12] and upon the departure of Darren Dods, was appointed club captain.

International career

In March 2008, McGovern – whose sister is a defender for the Northern Ireland women's international team – received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland squad.[13]

McGovern made his full debut for Northern Ireland, on 31 May 2010, in a 1–0 loss to Chile. He came on at half-time for Alan Blayney, and made a "stunning" save from a long-range effort by Marco Estrada.[14]

Career statistics

As of 23 September 2011.
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Celtic2003–04----00
2004–05----00
Stranraer (loan)2004–05190---190
Celtic2005–06----00
St Johnstone (loan)2006–0710---10
Celtic2007–08----00
Dundee United2008–09----00
Ross County2009–10350603030470
2010–113602020-400
Falkirk2011–12240202020300
2012–13350205030450
Total 150 0 12 0 12 0 8 0 182 0

^ Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Celtic

Ross County

Falkirk

References

  1. ↑ "McGovern on Celtic bench". BBC Sport. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  2. ↑ "McGovern joins Stranraer on loan". BBC Sport. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  3. ↑ "Celtic's McGovern moves to Saints". BBC Sport. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  4. ↑ "Dundee United make double swoop". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  5. ↑ "Levein wants experienced back-up for new keeper". Press and Journal. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009. 
  6. ↑ "Dixon delight at award from fellow Arabs". The Courier. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  7. ↑ "Keeper McGovern heads to County". BBC Sport. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Friel, David (3 June 2010). "Michael capped off epic season". The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 3 June 2010. 
  9. ↑ "McGovern signs for Falkirk". BBC Sport. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
  10. ↑ "Falkirk 3–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011. 
  11. ↑ "Falkirk 1–0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012. 
  12. ↑ http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6486&Itemid=320
  13. ↑ "Johnson returns for Bulgaria game". BBC Sport. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008. 
  14. ↑ "Chile 1–0 Northern Ireland: Paredes Header Decides Tame World Cup 2010 Warm-Up". Goal. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 

External links

Falkirk F.C. – current squad
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