Michael Doyle (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Paul Doyle is an Irish
footballer currently playing for Sheffield United
. Doyle is known for his workrate and his tough tackling style. He started his career at Celtic
and has also played in Denmark for AGF Aarhus. He has spent the majority of his career to date with Coventry City
, though he also had a season-long loan at Leeds United
, and has also been capped once by the Republic of Ireland
.
turning full professional for them in August 1998. He and fellow Celtic teammate Liam Miller
had a spell on loan in the Danish Premier League at club AGF Aarhus, with Doyle playing 22 League games and scoring four goals for the Danish side. During his time at Celtic, Doyle failed to make a single league appearance for the first team.
after a successful trial, having been recommended by McAllister's assistant Eric Black
who worked with Doyle at Celtic.
Doyle made his début against Peterborough United
in the Football League Cup
in August 2003, and scored in his appearance away against Ipswich Town
in a 1–1 draw. Doyle played regularly throughout the season either side under the management of both McAllister and his successor Black.
Under Peter Reid
, Doyle continued to play whenever fit, forging a useful partnership with captain Stephen Hughes
. After Reid's departure Doyle continued to be favoured by new manager Micky Adams
, scoring in the crucial away win at Watford
, as the side avoided relegation from the Championship
.
In 2005–06, Doyle continued to play regularly, captaining the side on a number of occasions since Christmas, notably in the 2–0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
. This came in his first match after a suspension for his dismissal in the previous home game against Crewe Alexandra
for arguing with the referee. Doyle was named permanent captain of Coventry by Iain Dowie
. Doyle was part of the Coventry team that beat Manchester United
in the League Cup at Old Trafford, which remains one of the most famous League Cup upset's in recent years.
During the 2008–09 season, Doyle was a regular under Chris Coleman
, starting 39 games for Coventry in all competitions. But due to the signing of Sammy Clingan
from Norwich in the summer of 2009, Doyle found his first team place under threat, the reason for him wishing to seek guaranteed first team football elsewhere.
on a season long loan and made his first team début in the first game of the season,a win against Exeter
. Having become first choice in midfield Doyle said in an interview to Yorkshire Evening Post
on in October that he would love to make his loan move from Coventry permanent, and he hoped that if he could impress manager Simon Grayson
enough and earn Leeds promotion that it would help his chances in securing a permanent contract at the Elland Road club. In his first six-months at Leeds, Doyle has been a regular starter partnering either Neil Kilkenny
or Jonathan Howson
in centre midfield, with Doyle only missing games through suspension or being rested by Simon Grayson
for squad rotation.
After Leeds were knocked out of the Football League Trophy, Doyle was dropped from the starting line-up for the first time in the league against Leyton Orient
but remained a regular first team player. Leeds were duly promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion. In total Doyle had played 52 games for Leeds in all competitions during the course of the season. After promotion, Doyle claimed in interviews that he still wanted to join Leeds permanently rather than return to Coventry. He also revealed that promotion with Leeds was his greatest achievement of his football career to date.
revealed he wasn't going to sign Doyle permanently, Doyle returned to Coventry. During his loan at Leeds, Chris Coleman
was sacked as manager and succeeded by Adrian Boothroyd
, who saw Doyle as an important member of the team. Doyle started the season as first choice midfielder alongside Lee Carsley
in the heart of Coventry's midfield before dropping to the bench as the season progressed. Following this and in the build up to Coventry's game against his former club Leeds, Doyle controversially stated that his time at Leeds was the best year of his life. Back in the side Doyle scored his first goal for 21 months in November, a long range effort against Burnley.
on a free transfer on during the January 2011 transfer window, a move that reunited him with former boss Micky Adams
, and made his début in a 1-0 loss to Leicester
a few days later. He played regularly for the remainder of the season but with the club in decline he was unable to help to stop The Blades slipping to relegation.
in 2006, but it remains his only cap to date. In 2007 he did play for the Republic of Ireland B team.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer currently playing for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Doyle is known for his workrate and his tough tackling style. He started his career at Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and has also played in Denmark for AGF Aarhus. He has spent the majority of his career to date with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, though he also had a season-long loan at Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, and has also been capped once by the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
.
Early career
Doyle began his career as a trainee at CelticCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
turning full professional for them in August 1998. He and fellow Celtic teammate Liam Miller
Liam Miller
William Peter "Liam" Miller is an Irish footballer who plays for Perth Glory in the A-League. Miller began his career with Celtic; at an early stage after injury he was loaned to Aarhus in 2001, making 18 appearances for the Danish Superliga club. He returned to Celtic Park and broke into the...
had a spell on loan in the Danish Premier League at club AGF Aarhus, with Doyle playing 22 League games and scoring four goals for the Danish side. During his time at Celtic, Doyle failed to make a single league appearance for the first team.
Coventry City
After the loan spell ended, the tenacious central midfielder was then signed for Coventry by Gary McAllisterGary McAllister
Gary McAllister MBE is a Scottish former professional footballer.McAllister played primarily as a midfielder, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell before moving south of the border to Leicester City at the age of 20...
after a successful trial, having been recommended by McAllister's assistant Eric Black
Eric Black
Eric Black is a former professional football player who played for Aberdeen and Metz. He played in attack. He won 2 international caps for Scotland. He was caretaker manager at Birmingham City following the departure of Steve Bruce. He is currently caretaker manager at Sunderland A.F.C...
who worked with Doyle at Celtic.
Doyle made his début against Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in August 2003, and scored in his appearance away against Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
in a 1–1 draw. Doyle played regularly throughout the season either side under the management of both McAllister and his successor Black.
Under Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
, Doyle continued to play whenever fit, forging a useful partnership with captain Stephen Hughes
Stephen Hughes (English footballer)
Stephen John Hughes is a former English footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for Walsall...
. After Reid's departure Doyle continued to be favoured by new manager Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
, scoring in the crucial away win at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, as the side avoided relegation from the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
In 2005–06, Doyle continued to play regularly, captaining the side on a number of occasions since Christmas, notably in the 2–0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. This came in his first match after a suspension for his dismissal in the previous home game against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
for arguing with the referee. Doyle was named permanent captain of Coventry by Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
. Doyle was part of the Coventry team that beat Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the League Cup at Old Trafford, which remains one of the most famous League Cup upset's in recent years.
During the 2008–09 season, Doyle was a regular under Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
, starting 39 games for Coventry in all competitions. But due to the signing of Sammy Clingan
Sammy Clingan
Samuel "Sammy" Clingan is a Northern Irish international footballer who is currently the club captain of Coventry City.-Early career:Clingan began his career in August 2001 as a youth trainee at Wolverhampton Wanderers...
from Norwich in the summer of 2009, Doyle found his first team place under threat, the reason for him wishing to seek guaranteed first team football elsewhere.
Leeds United
At the start of the 2009-2010 season Doyle joined Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
on a season long loan and made his first team début in the first game of the season,a win against Exeter
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. Having become first choice in midfield Doyle said in an interview to Yorkshire Evening Post
Yorkshire Evening Post
The Yorkshire Evening Post is a daily evening publication published by Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
on in October that he would love to make his loan move from Coventry permanent, and he hoped that if he could impress manager Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
enough and earn Leeds promotion that it would help his chances in securing a permanent contract at the Elland Road club. In his first six-months at Leeds, Doyle has been a regular starter partnering either Neil Kilkenny
Neil Kilkenny
Neil Martin Kilkenny is an English-born Australian football player who plays for Bristol City as a midfielder. He is a member of the Australia national team.-Early life and career:...
or Jonathan Howson
Jonathan Howson
Jonathan Mark "Jonny" Howson is an English footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Football League Championship team Leeds United. A graduate of Leeds' prolific youth system, he serves as club captain....
in centre midfield, with Doyle only missing games through suspension or being rested by Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
for squad rotation.
After Leeds were knocked out of the Football League Trophy, Doyle was dropped from the starting line-up for the first time in the league against Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
but remained a regular first team player. Leeds were duly promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion. In total Doyle had played 52 games for Leeds in all competitions during the course of the season. After promotion, Doyle claimed in interviews that he still wanted to join Leeds permanently rather than return to Coventry. He also revealed that promotion with Leeds was his greatest achievement of his football career to date.
Return to Coventry
After Leeds manager Simon GraysonSimon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
revealed he wasn't going to sign Doyle permanently, Doyle returned to Coventry. During his loan at Leeds, Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman (footballer)
Christopher "Chris" Coleman is a Welsh football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of Greek Side Larissa....
was sacked as manager and succeeded by Adrian Boothroyd
Adrian Boothroyd
Adrian Neil "Aidy" Boothroyd is an English former footballer and is currently managing Northampton Town after being sacked as manager of Coventry City on March 14, 2011. He was manager of Watford of the Championship until 3 November 2008...
, who saw Doyle as an important member of the team. Doyle started the season as first choice midfielder alongside Lee Carsley
Lee Carsley
Lee Kevin Carsley is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League and Premier League for Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City, Everton and Birmingham City. Although English by birth, he represented the Republic of Ireland internationally...
in the heart of Coventry's midfield before dropping to the bench as the season progressed. Following this and in the build up to Coventry's game against his former club Leeds, Doyle controversially stated that his time at Leeds was the best year of his life. Back in the side Doyle scored his first goal for 21 months in November, a long range effort against Burnley.
Sheffield United
Doyle signed for Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on a free transfer on during the January 2011 transfer window, a move that reunited him with former boss Micky Adams
Micky Adams
Michael Richard "Micky" Adams is an English former professional footballer turned football manager who is in charge of League Two side Port Vale. As a player he was a full back, and made a total of 438 league appearances in a nineteen year professional career in the Football League, including five...
, and made his début in a 1-0 loss to Leicester
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
a few days later. He played regularly for the remainder of the season but with the club in decline he was unable to help to stop The Blades slipping to relegation.
International career
Doyle made his début for the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in 2006, but it remains his only cap to date. In 2007 he did play for the Republic of Ireland B team.
Honours
- League One Runners Up (Promoted)Football League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
: 2009–2010 – Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... - Coventry City Player of the Year Awards – 2004–052004-05 in English footballThe 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
: Player of the Year
Career statistics
| Season | Club | Loan | Division | League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
FL Trophy Football League Trophy The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top... |
Play-Offs Football League Play-Offs The Football League play-offs are an annual series of football matches to determine some of the promotion places within the Football League. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is... |
Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield United | > 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – ! 21 !! 0 |
|||||
| Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 16 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 16 !! 0 |
||||||
| Coventry City | Championship Football League Championship The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League... > 17 |
3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 24 !! 3 |
|||||
| Leeds United | Loan | League One Football League One Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system.... > 42 |
0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – !52 !! 0 |
||||
| Coventry City | > 37 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 44 !! 3 |
|||||
| > 42 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 49 !! 7 |
||||||
| > 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 42 !! 3 |
||||||
| > 44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 49 !! 0 |
||||||
| > 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – | – ! 49 !! 3 |
||||||
| > 40 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – ! 47 !! 6 |
||||||
External links
- Michael Doyle player profile at sufc.co.uk
- Michael Doyle player profile at ccfc.co.uk