Paul Keegan (footballer born 1984)
Encyclopedia
Paul Keegan is an Irish
professional soccer player who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers
in the Championship
.
in July 2005 having previously played for Home Farm
and Leeds United
. At Drogheda he earned two senior medals, the first arriving when the Louth
side won the FAI Cup
in 2005, and two years later when they claimed the league championship
, the first in the club's history.
He has captained the Republic of Ireland at youth and U21
level making his debut in Stade de la Maladière in 2003. He also played at Under 23 level.
After leaving Drogheda, Keegan signed for Bohemians
in January 2009 and slotted seamlessly into his favourite position of central midfield. His status at the club rapidly grew to such an extent that he captained the side when Owen Heary
was absent. He claimed his first silverware for Bohs in the 2008/2009 season when they won the League of Ireland Cup, beating Waterford United 3-1 at the RSC
. The success didn't end there though as Bohs subsequently won the first back-to-back titles in their 119 year history.
During the 2010 season, Keegan was named captain for a League of Ireland
XI that would play Manchester United in a friendly match at the newly opened Aviva Stadium
He was also named PFAI Chairman in November 2010 replacing Stephen Rice
in the position. At the end of the 2010 season, with his future at Bohs in doubt due to financial difficulties at the club, he spent time on trial at Reading
and Doncaster Rovers
. After impressing on trial at Doncaster, Keegan signed for the club on January 17, 2011.
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,...
professional soccer player who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in 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...
.
Career
Keegan signed for Drogheda UnitedDrogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
in July 2005 having previously played for Home Farm
Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
and 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...
. At Drogheda he earned two senior medals, the first arriving when the Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
side won the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
in 2005, and two years later when they claimed the league championship
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
, the first in the club's history.
He has captained the Republic of Ireland at youth and U21
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
level making his debut in Stade de la Maladière in 2003. He also played at Under 23 level.
After leaving Drogheda, Keegan signed for Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
in January 2009 and slotted seamlessly into his favourite position of central midfield. His status at the club rapidly grew to such an extent that he captained the side when Owen Heary
Owen Heary
Owen Heary is an Irish professional football defender and currently captain of Bohemians .-Playing career:He made his League of Ireland debut for Kilkenny City at Bray Wanderers on 21 November 1993...
was absent. He claimed his first silverware for Bohs in the 2008/2009 season when they won the League of Ireland Cup, beating Waterford United 3-1 at the RSC
Waterford Regional Sports Centre
The Waterford Regional Sports Centre is part of Waterford Corporation's Municipal sporting facilities and home to Waterford United of the League of Ireland ....
. The success didn't end there though as Bohs subsequently won the first back-to-back titles in their 119 year history.
During the 2010 season, Keegan was named captain for a League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
XI that would play Manchester United in a friendly match at the newly opened Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium
The Aviva Stadium is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 50,000 spectators. The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the...
He was also named PFAI Chairman in November 2010 replacing Stephen Rice
Stephen Rice
Stephen Rice is an Irish footballer currently playing for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland.-Career:Stephen was signed by then Bohs manager Stephen Kenny in 2003, after spells in the youth ranks at Coventry City and Shelbourne F.C., and was touted as being a successor to League of Ireland...
in the position. At the end of the 2010 season, with his future at Bohs in doubt due to financial difficulties at the club, he spent time on trial at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. After impressing on trial at Doncaster, Keegan signed for the club on January 17, 2011.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 2- Drogheda United - 2007
- Bohemians - 2009
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 1- Drogheda United - 2005
- Setanta Cup: 3
- Drogheda United - 2006, 2007
- Bohemians - 2010
- League of Ireland Cup: 1
- Bohemians - 2009