Chris Fagan

Chris Fagan
Personal information
Full nameChristopher Joseph Fagan
Date of birth11 May 1989
Place of birthDublin, Ireland
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
St Patrick's Athletic
Number9
Youth career
St. Anthony's Boys
Home Farm
2005–2008Manchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009Hamilton Academical0(0)
2009–2010Lincoln City13(3)
2010→ Jerez Industrial (loan)12(4)
2011Bohemians23(11)
2012–St Patrick's Athletic95(41)
National team
2009–2010Republic of Ireland U213(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Christopher Joseph "Chris" Fagan (born 11 May 1989) is an Irish footballer who is currently playing for St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Career

Club career

Born in Dublin, County Dublin, Fagan signed for Lincoln City in June 2009, joining them from the Glenn Hoddle Academy.[1] He made his Lincoln debut on 8 August 2009 in the League Two match against Barnet at the Sincil Bank, which Lincoln won 1–0. He scored his first goal for the club on 18 August in the League Two match against Bradford City at Valley Parade, which Lincoln won 2–0.

On 1 February 2010, Fagan finalised a move to take him to Jerez Industrial on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season.[2] He scored two goals on his debut for Industrial, helping them come back from 2–0 down to beat Sangonera 3–2 at home.

He returned to Lincoln City in May 2010, but was placed on the transfer list by manager Chris Sutton. On 31 August 2010, Fagan was released by Lincoln City.[3]

In October 2010, Fagan went on trial with Conference National side Gateshead,[4] scoring for the reserves on 26 October in a 5–1 defeat against Middlesbrough Reserves.[5]

Bohemians

In February 2011, Pat Fenlon brought Fagan to Bohemians just in time for the new season.[6] Fagan signed following an earlier, unsuccessful, trial with Shamrock Rovers where he had played in two pre-season friendlies.[7][8][9] He scored his first goal for the club on his League debut for Bohs against Bray Wanderers on 4 March 2011 from the penalty spot in the Carlisle Grounds.[10] Despite an injury hit campaign, he managed to score 11 league goals in 23 appearances and also netted for Bohs in their UEFA Europa League tie against Olimpija Ljubljana.[11]

St Patrick's Athletic

2012 season

Fagan signed for St Patrick's Athletic for the 2012 season, replacing Danny North as Pats' number 9.[12] Fagan started off well at his new club, receiving the man of the match award at home to Cliftonville, for his superb link up play in the Setanta Sports Cup First Round Second Leg at Richmond Park. Although he was suspended for the first three games of the season,[13] Fagan was eligible to play in the Leinster Senior Cup, and he played the full game against Phoenix and scored his first goal for Pats after three minutes.[14] He made his league début away to his old club Bohemians as a second half substitute.[15] Fagan's first league start for the Saints also marked his first league goal when he scored a 43rd minute equaliser in the Dublin derby against rivals Shelbourne at Tolka Park.[16][17] Fagan continued his excellent form when he was one of the main players in Pats' 5–1 demolition of rivals Shamrock Rovers, he set up Christopher Forrester's second goal and scored his side's fourth and fifth goals when he rounded Rovers goalkeeper Oscar Jansson to finish and the fifth was a header into the empty net after a good ball by Jake Kelly.[18] His backheeled assist for Forrester's famous scooped goal made it on to the 'Showboat' section of the hugely popular Soccer AM. Fagan continued his excellent form with the opening goal in a 2–0 win over U.C.D.[19] More success followed for Fagan when he scored a brace against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds although unfortunately the Saints had two points taken from them by a 94th minute Jason Byrne equaliser in a 3–3 draw.[20] He scored his seventh league goal of the season when he opened the scoring away to Monaghan United in a 4–0 thrashing.[21] Goals 9 and 10 of the season came against his old club Bohemians when he tapped in an 82nd minute equaliser and a 94th minute header in a 2–1 win.[22] Fagan scored a vital goal in a 1–0 win over Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja (ÍBV) from Iceland, when he volleyed in a Ger O'Brien cross.[23] He scored a vital away goal against NK Široki Brijeg at Stadion Pecara in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 1–1 draw.[24] He also scored the winner in the in a 2–1 win in the 105th minute in the second leg, making it four goals in his last four games in the Europa League and earning Pats a tie with Hannover 96 from Germany.[25] He received the League of Ireland Player of the Month award for July for his wonderful European exploits.[26] Fagan continued to excel with Pats and he scored the winner in a 1–0 win away to Cork City at Turners Cross to make it to the 10 goal mark in the league.[27] Fagan was in excellent for towards the end of the 2012 season, scoring away to Shelbourne in a 2–0 win, away to eventual champions Sligo Rovers in a thrilling 3–2 loss and at home to Cork City on the final day of the league season in a 1–0 win to secure qualification to the 2013–14 Europa League. On 6 November 2012, Fagan made it 2–2 with an 87th minute equaliser in the 2012 FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium against Derry City but unfortunately for him and everyone connected with the club, Pats lost 3–2 after extra time to extend their cup-hoodoo to 52 years and 7 FAI Cup Final losses since a cup triumph.

2013 season

Fagan started off the 2013 season playing well but lacking goals and as a result of this, he lost his place in the team to Anto Flood. Fagan won himself a penalty in the 85th minute away to Cork City, but his kick was easily saved by Mark McNulty in goal. On 6 May 2013, Fagan made his 50th appearance for the Saints in all competitions, when he came on from the bench away to Drogheda United in the 76th minute and after just five minutes he scored a tap in from a Ger O'Brien cross, ending a 14 game goal drought and putting the Saints 1–0 up. Drogheda equalised in the 90th minute but straight from tip-off, Fagan appeared to handle the ball himself in the Drogheda box but won a penalty that Killian Brennan scored to win the game 2–1 for Pats.[28] This regained his place in the starting 11 in the Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers, but he failed to score as Pats drew 0–0. Anto Flood however picked up an illness so Fagan retained his place in the team for another Dublin derby, away to Shelbourne. Fagan didn't disappoint and scored twice as Pats cruised to a 3–0 win.[29] Flood returned from illness for the trip to both striker's former club Bohemians, but Fagan beat him to the starting spot and opened the scoring after 24 minutes to make it four goals in four games for him, as Pats won 2–0 to go top of the league.[29] Fagan scored a brace at home to UCD in the FAI Cup Second Round on the 1st June 2013.[30] He continued his good form as he scored away to Dundalk in a rare 2–1 loss for Pats on 14 June[31] as well as scoring two goals against Bray Wanderers on 28 June as the Saints won 2–0 at Richmond Park.[32] However he would have to wait until 19 August for his next goal, his two goals away to Shelbourne were enough to see St Pat's through to the 2013 Leinster Senior Cup Final.[33] Fagan's final goal of the season came on 26 September 2013 when he scored in the 95th minute to secure a 3–1 win against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds in a vital game in the League of Ireland title run-in.[34] On 13 October 2013 at a packed Richmond Park, Pats beat Sligo Rovers 2–0 to seal the 2013 League of Ireland title, the club's ninth league title and Fagan's first trophy in senior football.[35]

2014 season

Fagan started the 2014 season brilliantly, winning another trophy in the form of the inaugural 2014 FAI President's Cup, as the Saints beat Sligo Rovers 1–0 at Richmond Park on 2 March 2014.[36] He got off the mark early with his goalscoring as he opened the scoring on the opening day of the 2014 League of Ireland season away to Cork City to earn a 1–1 draw for his side.[37] He followed this up by scoring a 92nd minute winner a week later in a 3–2 win at home to UCD in the second league game of the season.[38] Fagan brought his goalscoring tally up to three goals in three games on 22 March, when he opened the scoring against Limerick at Richmond Park.[39]

In July he scored in away game against Legia Warsaw in the second qualifying round of 2014–15 UEFA Champions League.[40]

International career

He made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 10 February 2009, in a friendly against Germany U21 at Turners Cross, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

Honours

Club

St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

Career statistics

Statistics correct as of 30 April 2015

'Europe' refers to UEFA Europa League in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 and UEFA Champions League in 2014.

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[41] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lincoln City 2009–10 1332110––10174
Jerez Industrial (loan) 2009–10 12400––––––124
Bohemians[42] 2011 2311300021313113
St Patrick's Athletic[43] 2012 2512310053313617
2013 328321020324112
2014 3220560021304227
2015 610000002182
Club Total 9541119109411412758
Career total 1415816102011515518779

References

  1. ↑ "Lincoln sign Hoddle trainee Fagan". BBC Sport. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "Lincoln City sign Rangers' Lennon as Brown and Fagan go". BBC Sport. 1 February 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "Lincoln release Fagan and Clarke as Noussoura pens deal". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  4. ↑ "Media Watch – Ian Bogie set to take a good look at Chris Fagan". Gateshead F.C. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Middlesbrough Reserves 5–1 Gateshead Reserves". Gateshead FC. 27 October 2010. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  6. ↑ Fagan signs for Bohs
  7. ↑ http://www.killarneyceltic.com/viewnews.php?id=870
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ "Bohs bag Fagan as Fenlon begins rebuild". Evening Herald. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "Bray Wanderers 1–3 Bohemians". RTÉ Sport. 4 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Fagan scores against Olimpija
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=4689
  14. ↑ http://www.stpatsfc.com/report.php?report=541
  15. ↑ http://www.stpatsfc.com/report.php?report=506
  16. ↑ http://www.stpatsfc.com/watch_video.php?id=445
  17. ↑ "Shelbourne 1–1 St Patrick's Athletic". RTÉ News. 30 March 2012.
  18. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17884/2/
  19. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17897/2/
  20. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17917/2/
  21. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17932/2/
  22. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17936/2/
  23. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/142/2012/18392/2/
  24. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/142/2012/18431/1/
  25. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/18432/2/
  26. ↑ http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=5003
  27. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/17977/2/
  28. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/100/2015/19120/1/
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19147/2/
  30. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19631/2/
  31. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19219/2/
  32. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19227/2/
  33. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19835/2/
  34. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19179/2/
  35. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/19167/2/
  36. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/106/2017/20596/2/
  37. ↑ http://extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/20234/2/
  38. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/100/2017/20245/2/
  39. ↑ http://www.extratime.ie/fixtures/detail/20249/2/
  40. ↑ http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000545/match=2014144/index.html
  41. ↑ Includes appearances in the Football League Trophy, Setanta Cup, Leinster Senior Cup and President's Cup
  42. ↑ http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerID=108432&CompID=12
  43. ↑ https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/19130933/St%20Patrick%27s%20Athletic%20Media%20Guide%202014.pdf

External links