Michael O'Halloran (footballer)

Summary

Michael Francis O'Halloran (born 6 January 1991) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Dunfermline Athletic

Michael O'Halloran
Personal information
Full name Michael Francis O'Halloran[1]
Date of birth (1991-01-06) 6 January 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Dunfermline Athletic
Number 23
Youth career
Celtic
Bolton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
2012Sheffield United (loan) 7 (0)
2012Carlisle United (loan) 1 (0)
2012–2013Tranmere Rovers (loan) 23 (3)
2014–2016 St Johnstone 72 (12)
2016–2018 Rangers 29 (3)
2017–2018St Johnstone (loan) 16 (5)
2018–2019 Melbourne City 1 (0)
2019–2023 St Johnstone 88 (5)
2023Cove Rangers (loan) 9 (0)
2023- Dunfermline Athletic 1 (0)
International career
2008 Scotland U17 4 (1)
2010 Scotland U19 1 (0)
2012 Scotland U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:46, 9 June 2023 (UTC)

Born in Glasgow, he began his professional career with English club Bolton Wanderers, but made only made two appearances in three seasons. While at Bolton he had loan spells with Sheffield United, Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers. After two years with St Johnstone, he moved to Rangers in January 2016.

O'Halloran returned to St Johnstone on loan in July 2017. After a short spell with Australian club Melbourne City, he returned to St Johnstone for a third spell in January 2019.

O'Halloran represented Scotland at various youth levels, up to and including the under-21 level.

Club career edit

Bolton Wanderers edit

O'Halloran started his professional career at Bolton Wanderers, regularly playing in the reserve side. A product of the youth system, he made his début in the League Cup tie at home to Macclesfield Town on 24 August 2011, coming on as a second-half substitute for Martin Petrov. His form in the reserves prompted Bolton to offer both O'Halloran and Joe Riley new three and a half-year contracts, committing them to the club until the summer of 2015.[2] In March 2012, O'Halloran joined Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season,[3] and made his début for the Blades on as an 81st-minute substitute against Chesterfield in a 4–1 victory at Bramall Lane.[4] O'Halloran was in and out of the side for the remainder of his spell, with his final appearance for the Blades coming at Wembley for the League One play-off final in which he came on as a substitute in extra time. O'Halloran scored in the game's penalty shoot out but United slipped to defeat.[5]

In August 2012, O'Halloran joined Carlisle United on a month's loan.[6] However, after playing just one game, a substitute appearance against MK Dons, O'Halloran opted to return to Bolton, his loan only lasting 12 days.[7] O'Halloran then joined Tranmere Rovers on loan on in November of the same year.[8] O'Halloran scored the first professional goal of his career on 8 December as he scored in a 2–2 draw against Portsmouth,[9] O'Halloran loan was extended by a further month on 7 January 2013, and then again until the end of the season on January deadline day.[10][11]

St Johnstone edit

After appearing in just two cup matches in three years at Bolton, O'Halloran made the move back to his native Scotland with St Johnstone in January 2014, signing an 18-month contract with the club.[12] O'Halloran made his debut, coming on as a substitute, in a 1–0 win over Partick Thistle. Then on 8 February 2014, O'Halloran scored his first goal in the fifth round of Scottish Cup, in a 4–0 win over Forfar Athletic.[13] He scored again in Saints' final home game of the season, to conclude a 3–3 draw with former club Celtic.[14]

O'Halloran won the Scottish Premiership player of the month award for November 2015.[15] St Johnstone rejected two bids from Rangers for O'Halloran in January 2016.[16] Manager Tommy Wright then left O'Halloran out of their following league game, saying that O'Halloran was not "mentally ready" to play. O'Halloran made his final appearance for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi final at Tynecastle.[17]

Rangers edit

On 1 February 2016, after much speculation, O'Halloran signed a four and a half-year deal with the then Scottish Championship club Rangers for a fee reported to be £500,000.[18] He made his debut for the Ibrox club as a substitute in a 1–0 victory against Raith Rovers at Stark's Park on 2 February 2016. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Alloa Athletic on 13 February 2016.[19] He picked up a winners' medal in the 2016 Scottish Challenge Cup Final at Hampden Park after defeating Peterhead 4–0 on 10 April 2016[20] and helped Rangers win promotion to the Scottish Premiership.[21]

O'Halloran fell out of favour during the 2016–17 season, playing mainly as a substitute.[21] He returned to St Johnstone on loan in July 2017.[21] On his first appearance back at the club, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory away to Kilmarnock.[22] After scoring four goals in his first five appearances back at the club, O'Halloran won the Scottish Premiership Player of the month award for August.[23]

Melbourne City edit

O'Halloran signed a two-year contract with Australian club Melbourne City in June 2018.[24] O'Halloran had played in the same youth team as Australian international Aaron Mooy, who recommended the move to him.[24] He stayed at the club for only six months, being released by the club on 8 January 2019 on compassionate grounds.[25]

St Johnstone (second spell) edit

O'Halloran returned to Scotland in January 2019, re-signing for St Johnstone for a second time.[26]

Cove Rangers (loan) edit

On 24 February 2023, O'Halloran joined Scottish Championship club Cove Rangers on loan until the end of the season.[27]

Dunfermline Athletic edit

Following his release from St Johnstone, O'Halloran signed for Championship side Dunfermline Athletic on a two year deal.[28]

International career edit

O'Halloran represented Scotland at various age levels up to the under-21 team.[29] He made his Scotland under-21 debut on 29 February 2012, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with the Netherlands.[30]

Personal life edit

O'Halloran's father, Michael senior, is a youth coach at Old Firm rivals Celtic. Although he never coached his son.[31]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 09 July 2023[32]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Bolton Wanderers 2011–12 Premier League 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0
2012–13 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Sheffield United (loan) 2011–12 League One 7 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 8 0
Carlisle United (loan) 2012–13 League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2012–13 League One 23 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 3
St Johnstone 2013–14 Scottish Premiership 14 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 19 2
2014–15 Scottish Premiership 38 9 2 1 2 0 4[b] 0 46 10
2015–16 Scottish Premiership 20 2 1 0 3 2 1[b] 0 25 4
Total 72 12 7 2 6 2 5 0 0 0 90 16
Rangers 2015–16 Scottish Championship 12 3 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 13 3
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 16 0 3 0 5 0 24 0
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 29 3 3 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 38 3
St Johnstone (loan) 2017–18 Scottish Premiership 16 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 17 5
Melbourne City 2018–19 A-League 1 0 2 0 3 0
St Johnstone 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 14 1 0 0 0 0 14 1
2019–20 Scottish Premiership 24 2 1 0 3 0 28 2
2020–21 Scottish Premiership 25 1 4 1 3 0 32 2
2021–22 Scottish Premiership 21 1 1 0 3 0 3[d] 1 29 2
2022–23 Scottish Premiership 4 0 0 0 4 0 8 0
Total 88 5 6 1 13 0 3 1 0 0 111 7
Cove Rangers (loan) 2022–23 Scottish Championship 9 0 0 0 9 0
Dunfermline Athletic 2023–24 Scottish Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 246 28 20 3 25 2 8 1 2 0 304 34
  1. ^ Appearance in 2012 Football League play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ^ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, one appearance UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours edit

Club edit

St Johnstone

Rangers

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 2 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Riley And O'Halloran Sign New Deals". Bwfc.co.uk. Bolton Wanderers Football Club. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Sheffield United sign Michael O'Halloran on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Sheffield United 4–1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 April 2012.
  5. ^ Begley, Emlyn (26 May 2012). "Huddersfield promoted after epic shoot-out win over Sheffield United". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Carlisle United sign Bolton's Michael O'Halloran on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Michael O'Halloran leaves Carlisle United for Bolton early". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Tranmere sign Michael O'Halloran & Donervon Daniels on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Tranmere 2–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 December 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. ^ "O'Halloran extends Rovers stay". Sky Sports. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  11. ^ "O'Halloran extends Rovers stay". Sky Sports. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  12. ^ "St Johnstone sign Michael O'Halloran from Bolton Wanderers". The Courier. DC Thomson. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  13. ^ "Forfar Athletic 0–4 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  14. ^ Gordon, Phil (7 May 2014). "Scott Brown and Michael O'Halloran lead St Johnstone fightback to stun Celtic". The Times. News International. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  15. ^ a b "O'Halloran named Player of the Month". Scottish Professional Football League. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  16. ^ McLauchlin, Brian (14 January 2016). "Michael O'Halloran: Rangers bids rejected by St Johnstone". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  17. ^ McLeod, Liam (16 January 2016). "Michael O'Halloran 'still a St Johnstone player' – Tommy Wright". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  18. ^ Thomson, Nick (1 February 2016). "Rangers Sign Michael O'Halloran". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  19. ^ Sutherland, Jonathan (13 February 2016). "Alloa Athletic 1–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
  20. ^ a b English, Tom (10 April 2016). "Rangers 4–0 Peterhead". BBC Sport. BBC.
  21. ^ a b c "Michael O'Halloran: St Johnstone take Rangers winger back to Perth on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  22. ^ Crawford, Kenny (5 August 2017). "Kilmarnock 1–2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  23. ^ a b "St Johnstone's Tommy Wright and Michael O'Halloran take monthly awards". BBC Sport. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  24. ^ a b Lynch, Michael (17 June 2018). "Melbourne City sign Glasgow Rangers winger". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  25. ^ "Melbourne City release O'Halloran as Baccus locked down". Goal.com. 8 January 2019.
  26. ^ "St Johnstone re-sign Michael O'Halloran after curtailed spell in Australia". skysports.com. Sky Sports News. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  27. ^ "Michael O'Halloran heads to Cove on loan". St Johnstone Football Club. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Michael O'Halloran joins Dunfermline | Dunfermline Athletic Football Club -". 9 July 2023.
  29. ^ "Michael O'Halloran". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  30. ^ "Scotland U21 0–0 Netherlands U21". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 February 2012.
  31. ^ McLean, Euan (14 February 2016). "New Rangers forward Michael O'Halloran thrills his Celtic coach dad after salvaging draw against Alloa". Daily Record. London: Trinity Mirror.
  32. ^ Michael O'Halloran at Soccerbase
  33. ^ Wilson, Richard (17 May 2014). "St Johnstone 2–0 Dundee United". BBC Sport. BBC.
  34. ^ Lindsay, Clive (22 May 2021). "Perth side complete domestic cup double". BBC. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  35. ^ "St Johnstone beat Livingston to clinch their first League Cup". BBC. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  36. ^ Burke, Andy (5 April 2016). "Rangers 1–0 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 5 April 2016.

External links edit