Stephen O'Halloran

Stephen O'Halloran
Personal information
Full nameStephen Edward O'Halloran[1]
Date of birth29 November 1987
Place of birthCobh, Republic of Ireland
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionLeft Back/Centre Back
Club information
Current team
Stockport County
Youth career
2003Springfield
2003–2006Aston Villa
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2006–2010Aston Villa0(0)
2006–2007Wycombe Wanderers (loan)14(0)
2008Southampton (loan)1(0)
2008Leeds United (loan)0(0)
2008→ Swansea City (loan)3(0)
2010–2011Coventry City13(0)
2011–2012Carlisle United5(0)
2012–2013Nuneaton Town37(0)
2013–Stockport County57(0)
National team
2005–2007Republic of Ireland U2113(0)
2007Republic of Ireland2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:01, 6 May 2013 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of (UTC)

Stephen Edward O'Halloran (born 29 November 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa and has earned two full international caps for the Republic of Ireland. Following two serious cruciate ligament injuries during his time at Villa Park, O'Halloran moved on to Coventry City in 2010 and currently plays for Stockport County.

Club career

Aston Villa

O'Halloran signed for Aston Villa from Springfield A.F.C, located in Cobh, County Cork. The schoolboy section at Springfield has since changed and has joined forces with the former club of Roy Keane, Cobh Ramblers and is now known as Springfield Ramblers. The senior teams at Springfield still play under the banner of Springfield AFC.

The Cobh native broke into the Villa squad for their 2006–2007 pre-season friendlies but did not make any first team appearances. In 2007 O'Halloran signed a new contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2009. However, at the beginning of the 2009–10 season O'Halloran was omitted from the press release announcing Villa's squad numbers. O'Halloran's number 29 shirt was given to Welsh international defender James Collins upon his signing for the club. O'Halloran returned for the reserves, in the national play-off final against Manchester United.[2]

Wycombe Wanderers

The young left-sided defender was loaned out to Wycombe Wanderers in October 2006, and played a pivotal role in guiding them to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup.[3] However, his loan spell ran out before the second-leg, and Wycombe eventually lost 5–1 to Chelsea.

Southampton

On 16 January 2008, he signed for Southampton on loan until February 2008, making only one substitute appearance.[4]

Leeds United

On 28 February he signed for Leeds United on an initial one-month loan deal.[5]

In the warm up for what would have been his debut for Leeds against Swindon Town at the County Ground, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for up to a year.[6] He was replaced in the starting line-up by Frazer Richardson. After suffering the injury he returned to Aston Villa for treatment.

Swansea City

On 5 November O'Halloran signed for Swansea City on an initial 3-month loan deal as competition to Argentinian-born left back Federico Bessone. The 21-year old was signed to fill the gap left by fellow Irish defender Marcos Painter, who was out for the majority of the season through injury.[7] O'Halloran was the victim of yet another cruciate ligament injury in his spell at Swansea, which caused him to terminate his loan on 25 December 2008. O'Halloran did not rule out a future spell at Swansea, claiming that he "may return one day to have another crack".[8]

Coventry City

O'Halloran signed a one-year deal with Coventry City on 23 June 2010 and was new manager Aidy Boothroyd's second signing of the close season.[9]

Carlisle United

On 24 June 2011, during a trial at the club, O'Halloran signed a one-year deal with Carlisle United, the contract will be officially signed on 1 August 2011.[10] O'Halloran was given number 29 jersey at the club

Nuneaton Town

After a brief trial, O'Halloran signed a one-year deal at Conference Premier team Nuneaton Town FC. O'Halloran was given the number 21 jersey at the club.

Stockport County

In June 2013 O'Halloran joined Stockport County F.C..

International career

On 16 May 2007, O'Halloran was named in Steve Staunton's Republic of Ireland squad and played in the friendlies against Ecuador and Bolivia, despite not having played a single first team game for Aston Villa.[11] O'Halloran has also represented his country at U15, U16, U17 and U21 level.

Honours

Personal

References

  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2011 and 31/08/2011" (PDF). The Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. Johnson, Matt (2 May 2010). "O'Halloran: Great To Be Back". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  3. "Wycombe snap up Villa defender". BBC Sport. 20 October 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  4. "Southampton sign Villa defender". BBC Sport. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  5. "Leeds loan for Villa's O'Halloran". BBC Sport. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2008.
  6. "O'Halloran's loan ended by injury". BBC Sport. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  7. "Swans sign O'Halloran from Villa". BBC News (BBC Sport). 11 May 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  8. "O'Halloran spreads Swans gospel". Swansea City A.F.C. 25 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  9. "Coventry City sign Stephen O'Halloran from Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  10. "Stephen O'Halloran agrees Carlisle United deal". BBC Sport. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  11. "Republic call up uncapped players". BBC Sport. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2008.

External links