Michael McGovern
Encyclopedia
Michael McGovern is a Northern Ireland
footballer currently playing for Scottish First Division club Falkirk as a goalkeeper.
Born in Enniskillen
, McGovern started his career with Scottish Premier League
club Celtic
in 2001 but left in 2008 without making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division side Stranraer
on loan in January 2005, then in 2006 went to First Division side St. Johnstone on an emergency loan. After leaving Celtic he joined fellow SPL side Dundee United
but left after one season having not made a first team appearance. In 2009 he went back to the First Division with Ross County
, where he enjoyed a successful two year spell. In 2011 he moved again on a free transfer to fellow First Division side Falkirk
.
He was an unused substitute in the 2007 Scottish Cup Final
, which earned him his only medal with Celtic. He helped Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
which they lost against his former team Dundee United.
He is a Northern Ireland international, having been capped once.
in July 2001 from home town junior club Enniskillen Town United
. His first involvement with the first team squad was as a substitute at the Camp Nou
during Celtic's Champions League
match against Barcelona. Later that season, McGovern moved on loan to Stranraer
, where he made nineteen appearances and the following season, joined St. Johnstone on a one-month emergency loan, playing once. He made his first-team debut for Celtic as a substitute in Henrik Larsson
's farewell testimonial match
. At Celtic he managed to pick up a Scottish Cup
medal in 2007.
In March 2008, McGovern – whose sister is a defender for the Northern Ireland women's international team – received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland
squad. On June 17, 2008, McGovern agreed a pre-contract move to Dundee United
, signing a one-year deal. Despite first-choice goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska announcing a pre-contract move in December to Celtic
, McGovern failed to make a first-team appearance for United, with manager Craig Levein
admitting, "it looks like Michael McGovern may not be here next season." Levein confirmed McGovern's impending departure in May, with the goalkeeper moving to Ross County
in late June.
McGovern enjoyed a successful first season with Ross County, making 50 appearances. These included the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
and his full international debut. McGovern left Ross County
at the end of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division
season.
McGovern signed for Falkirk on 20 July 2011. He quickly established himself as first choice goalkeeper and on 21 September 2011 played in Falkirk's 3-2 Scottish League Cup
win over holders Rangers
.
, on 31 May 2010, in a 1-0 loss to Chile
. He came on at half-time for Alan Blayney
, and made a "stunning" save from a long-range effort by Marco Estrada
.
Scottish Challenge Cup
Ross County
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
footballer currently playing for Scottish First Division club Falkirk as a goalkeeper.
Born in Enniskillen
Enniskillen
Enniskillen is a town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is located almost exactly in the centre of the county between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 13,599 in the 2001 Census...
, McGovern started his career with Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club 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...
in 2001 but left in 2008 without making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division side Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
on loan in January 2005, then in 2006 went to First Division side St. Johnstone on an emergency loan. After leaving Celtic he joined fellow SPL side Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
but left after one season having not made a first team appearance. In 2009 he went back to the First Division with Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
, where he enjoyed a successful two year spell. In 2011 he moved again on a free transfer to fellow First Division side Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
.
He was an unused substitute in the 2007 Scottish Cup Final
2007 Scottish Cup Final
The 2007 Scottish Cup Final was played on 26 May 2007 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 121st Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Celtic, who beat St...
, which earned him his only medal with Celtic. He helped Ross County to the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
2010 Scottish Cup Final
The 2010 Scottish Cup Final was the 125th final of the Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, the Scottish Cup. The match took place on 15 May 2010, at Hampden Park, Glasgow and was contested by first time finalists Ross County and 1994 winners Dundee United...
which they lost against his former team Dundee United.
He is a Northern Ireland international, having been capped once.
Club career
McGovern joined 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...
in July 2001 from home town junior club Enniskillen Town United
Enniskillen Town United F.C.
Enniskillen Town United Football Club are a football club from Northern Ireland, located in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh who play in the Fermanagh & Western 1st Division...
. His first involvement with the first team squad was as a substitute at the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
during Celtic's Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
match against Barcelona. Later that season, McGovern moved on loan to Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
, where he made nineteen appearances and the following season, joined St. Johnstone on a one-month emergency loan, playing once. He made his first-team debut for Celtic as a substitute in Henrik Larsson
Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE is a retired Swedish footballer and current manager of Landskrona BoIS.Larsson began his career with Högaborgs BK. He moved to Helsingborg, where he was one of the key players when they qualified to Allsvenskan 1993. Larsson then moved to Feyenoord for four years before...
's farewell testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
. At Celtic he managed to pick up a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
medal in 2007.
In March 2008, McGovern – whose sister is a defender for the Northern Ireland women's international team – received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
squad. On June 17, 2008, McGovern agreed a pre-contract move to Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
, signing a one-year deal. Despite first-choice goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska announcing a pre-contract move in December to 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...
, McGovern failed to make a first-team appearance for United, with manager Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
admitting, "it looks like Michael McGovern may not be here next season." Levein confirmed McGovern's impending departure in May, with the goalkeeper moving to Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
in late June.
McGovern enjoyed a successful first season with Ross County, making 50 appearances. These included the 2010 Scottish Cup Final
2010 Scottish Cup Final
The 2010 Scottish Cup Final was the 125th final of the Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, the Scottish Cup. The match took place on 15 May 2010, at Hampden Park, Glasgow and was contested by first time finalists Ross County and 1994 winners Dundee United...
and his full international debut. McGovern left Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
at the end of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division
2010–11 Scottish First Division
The 2010–11 Scottish First Division was the sixteenth season of the First Division in its current format of ten teams. Dunfermline Athletic finished champions, with Cowdenbeath and Stirling Albion being relegated.-SPL & First Division:...
season.
McGovern signed for Falkirk on 20 July 2011. He quickly established himself as first choice goalkeeper and on 21 September 2011 played in Falkirk's 3-2 Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
win over holders Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
.
International career
McGovern made his full debut for Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
, on 31 May 2010, in a 1-0 loss to Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
. He came on at half-time for Alan Blayney
Alan Blayney
Alan Blayney is a professional footballer from Belfast, Northern Ireland, currently with Linfield. Blayney plays as a goalkeeper.-Footballing career:...
, and made a "stunning" save from a long-range effort by Marco Estrada
Marco Estrada (footballer)
Marco Andrés Estrada Quinteros is a Chilean football midfielder currently playing for Montpellier of the French Ligue 1.-Career:...
.
Career statistics
| Club | |League | |League Cup | |Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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... |
2003–04 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 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... |
2004–05 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Stranraer Stranraer F.C. Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:... (loan) |
2004–05 Scottish Second Division 2004-05 The 2004–05 Scottish Second Division was won by Brechin City who, along with second placed Stranraer, gained promotion to the First Division. Arbroath and Berwick Rangers, meanwhile, were relegated to the Third Division.-Table:-Top scorers:... |
19 | 0 | - | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||
| 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... |
2005–06 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| St Johnstone St Johnstone F.C. St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park.... (loan) |
2006–07 Scottish First Division 2006-07 The 2006-07 First Division season was the twelfth season of the Scottish First Division in its current format of ten teams. It began on August 5, 2006 and ended on April 28, 2007.... |
1 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |||
| Celtic | 2007–08 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Dundee United Dundee United F.C. Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923... |
2008–09 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ross County Ross County F.C. Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the... |
2009–10 | 35 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Ross County Ross County F.C. Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the... |
2010–11 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 40 | 0 | |
| Falkirk Falkirk F.C. Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire... |
2011–12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Total | 97 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 119 | 0 | |
Scottish Challenge Cup
Honours
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...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
:
-
- 20072007 Scottish Cup FinalThe 2007 Scottish Cup Final was played on 26 May 2007 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 121st Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Celtic, who beat St...
- 2007
Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
:
-
- 20102010 Scottish Cup FinalThe 2010 Scottish Cup Final was the 125th final of the Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, the Scottish Cup. The match took place on 15 May 2010, at Hampden Park, Glasgow and was contested by first time finalists Ross County and 1994 winners Dundee United...
(Runner-up)
- 2010