Phil McGuire (footballer)

Phil McGuire
Personal information
Full namePhilip McGuire
Date of birth4 March 1980
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionDefender/Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–2005Aberdeen215(19)
2005–2006Doncaster Rovers29(2)
2006–2008Dunfermline Athletic48(2)
2007–2009Inverness CT51(1)
2009Formartine United13(0)
2010Arbroath18(0)
2011-2012Lochee United35(8)
2012-2013Montrose8(0)
2013Jeanfield Swifts12(3)
2013-St Andrews United
National team
2000-2002Scotland U214(0)
2002-2005Scotland B2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 October 2012.
† Appearances (Goals).

Philip 'Phil' McGuire (born 4 March 1980) is a Scottish professional footballer, who is currently Player/Manager at St. Andrews United in the East Region Premier League.

Career

Aberdeen

McGuire, a central Defender/Midfielder, started his career with Aberdeen where he made over 200 appearances, scoring 15 goals. He joined Aberdeen in 1996 and came through the ranks into the first team. McGuire was part of the 2000 Scottish Cup Final and 2000 Scottish League Cup Final teams, both of which Aberdeen lost. The 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 he was voted into the SPL Team of the Year In 2002 there was major speculation that McGuire was leaving Aberdeen to join Celtic, but after discussions, the deal broke down with McGuire then signing a three-year deal to remain at Aberdeen. During his Aberdeen spell, Mcguire was capped by Scotland at U21 and B level and was involved in several full international squads under Berti Vogts.

Doncaster Rovers

He joined Doncaster Rovers in July 2005, for a free transfer and played 18 games for the English League One club. He was injured in a match with Nottingham Forest in which he missed four months of the season. He managed to come back early and captained the reserves to the League and Cup double on his comeback trail.

Return to Scotland

McGuire returned to Scotland in July 2006, signing a two-year deal with Dunfermline Athletic, who paid a six figure fee to take him back. McGuire helped Dunfermline reach the 2007 Scottish Cup Final which they lost to Celtic. Dunfermline were relegated from the SPL that season. On 31 August 2007, he signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle on loan and became one of the first players to move back up the divisions on a loan agreement until 13 January.[1] After the loan spell expired, McGuire signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Inverness after Caley Thistle and the Pars agreed a fee.[2]

Phil McGuire was a regular at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and finished the 2007-08 season in a respected position. In October 2008, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle going well in the League campaign, McGuire suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out for nine weeks. McGuire returned early to help Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who at this stage had slipped down to bottom of the table. Within weeks, Inverness parted company with manager Craig Brewster. Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas took over the mantle at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but McGuire found his first team games rare and he decided at the end of that season, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle being relegated to the SFL, to leave the club, despite having twelve months remaining on his contract.

McGuire turned down several clubs in Britain as he was looking to move abroad and explore different options with coaching and options outside football. He almost joined the New York Red Bulls in the MLS as a coach but decided it was the wrong time. On Friday, 25 September 2009 he signed for Formartine United on a one-year deal to help raise the profile of the new club and raise the awareness of the Highland League. McGuire teamed up with the Scottish Sun to write a weekly diary about his time with the club and created media interest in the small football club. McGuire left Formartine United at the end of January 2010. He finished off the season with Arbroath. McGuire headed to Cyprus with AEK Larnaca and was offered a two-year deal, but after a short period of time returned to the UK due to financial problems with the club.

In 2011, McGuire signed for Lochee United. The following season, McGuire then signed for Montrose for the 2012-13 season.

In August 2013, McGuire signed for Jeanfield Swifts in the East Region Premier League as a Player/Assistant Manager.

In October 2013, McGuire transferred to St. Andrews United in the East Region Super League as a Player/Coach. In June 2014 McGuire was named Manager of East SuperLeague team St Andrews Utd.

References

  1. "Transfer Window". Caleythistleonline. 31 August 2007.
  2. "Caley seal McGuire capture". Sky Sports. 17 January 2008.

External links