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Stephen O'Donnell (Scottish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen James O'Donnell (born 10 July 1983 in Bellshill
) is a Scottish
football midfielder
. He plays for Dundee
having been released by Scottish Premier League
club St. Mirren
.
, making his first-team début in March 2002 and featuring six times in the final months of 2001–02
, signing an extended contract in the process. The following season
, O'Donnell featured in fourteen matches, scoring a hat-trick in the League Cup
and netting in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibernian
. Before the start of the 2003–04 season
, manager Ian McCall
allowed O'Donnell to join Ross County
on loan, where he was reunited with Alex Smith
, who gave him his senior début at United. Initially signing on loan for six months, the deal was extended for the duration of the season, with O'Donell playing most matches. Failing to break back into the United first team in 2004–05
, O'Donnell went on trial at English side Boston United
, joining in February
for the rest of the season. After failing to win a long-term contract, O'Donnell returned to Scotland to sign for Clyde
.
O'Donnell scored ten goals for the club during the 2005–06 season
and was rewarded partway through with a new 18-month contract. O'Donnell scored a penalty at Ibrox
against Rangers
in the Scottish League Cup
, to put Clyde 2–1 up, though they lost 5–2 after extra time. O'Donnell also got the opportunity to score against the other half of the Old Firm, Celtic
, a few months later in the Scottish Cup
, though this time his penalty was saved. Ironically, he floated in the resulting corner, which led to the winning Clyde goal.
O'Donnell signed for St. Mirren
on 30 January 2007 and scored his first goal within three weeks, netting in the 1–1 draw against Hearts
at Tynecastle. In December 2007, O'Donnell suffered a broken metatarsal in training, ruling him out for three months.
O'Donnell has made 5 appearances this 2008–09 season for St Mirren despite injury problems. He scored a goal in the 3–1 defeat against Motherwell in May 2009.
On 1 May 2010, he scored an 86th minute header against Falkirk which secured almost certainly secured SPL survival for the Saints. But on 10 June 2010, St. Mirren announced that O'Donnell was to leave the club as he was not part of new manager Danny Lennon
's plans. On 16 July 2010 he signed a one-year deal with Dundee
after being on trial.
squad to play against Hungary under-21s
. but failed to add to his appearances at earlier levels.
Skipper Phil O'Donnell, who died on the pitch on 29 December 2007. His cousin is Bristol City
striker David Clarkson
.
Bellshill
Bellshill is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, 10 miles south east of Glasgow city centre and 37 miles west of Edinburgh. Other nearby towns are Motherwell , Hamilton and Coatbridge . Since 1996, it has been situated in the Greater Glasgow metropolitan area...
) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
. He plays for Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
having been released by 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 St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
.
Club career
O'Donnell began his career with Dundee UnitedDundee 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...
, making his first-team début in March 2002 and featuring six times in the final months of 2001–02
2001-02 in Scottish football
The 2001–02 season was the 105th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:Celtic, domestic treble winners a year earlier, retain their Premier League title....
, signing an extended contract in the process. The following season
2002-03 in Scottish football
The 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and...
, O'Donnell featured in fourteen matches, scoring a hat-trick in the League Cup
Scottish League Cup 2002-03
The 2002–03 Scottish League Cup was the 57th staging of the Scotland's second most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the CIS Insurance Cup....
and netting in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. Before the start of the 2003–04 season
2003-04 in Scottish football
The 2003–04 season was the 107th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League season was won by Celtic with 98 points, 17 points ahead of closest challengers Rangers. Both Rangers and Celtic therefore gained the two UEFA...
, manager Ian McCall
Ian McCall
Ian Holland McCall is a Scottish former footballer and is currently without a job having resigned as the manager of First Division side Partick Thistle.-Playing career:...
allowed O'Donnell to join 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...
on loan, where he was reunited with Alex Smith
Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith is a professional American football player and starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco from the University of Utah...
, who gave him his senior début at United. Initially signing on loan for six months, the deal was extended for the duration of the season, with O'Donell playing most matches. Failing to break back into the United first team in 2004–05
2004-05 in Scottish football
The 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman...
, O'Donnell went on trial at English side Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, joining in February
February 2005
February 2005: ← – January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December – →...
for the rest of the season. After failing to win a long-term contract, O'Donnell returned to Scotland to sign for Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
O'Donnell scored ten goals for the club during the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
and was rewarded partway through with a new 18-month contract. O'Donnell scored a penalty at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
against 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...
in the 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...
, to put Clyde 2–1 up, though they lost 5–2 after extra time. O'Donnell also got the opportunity to score against the other half of the Old Firm, 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...
, a few months later in the 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...
, though this time his penalty was saved. Ironically, he floated in the resulting corner, which led to the winning Clyde goal.
O'Donnell signed for St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
on 30 January 2007 and scored his first goal within three weeks, netting in the 1–1 draw against Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
at Tynecastle. In December 2007, O'Donnell suffered a broken metatarsal in training, ruling him out for three months.
O'Donnell has made 5 appearances this 2008–09 season for St Mirren despite injury problems. He scored a goal in the 3–1 defeat against Motherwell in May 2009.
On 1 May 2010, he scored an 86th minute header against Falkirk which secured almost certainly secured SPL survival for the Saints. But on 10 June 2010, St. Mirren announced that O'Donnell was to leave the club as he was not part of new manager Danny Lennon
Danny Lennon
Danny Lennon is a former association football player and current manager of Scottish Premier League club St. Mirren. Lennon played internationally for the Northern Ireland B national football team.-Club career:...
's plans. On 16 July 2010 he signed a one-year deal with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
after being on trial.
International career
O'Donnell has played for his country at under-16, under-19 and under-20 level. In January 2004, O'Donnell was named in the Scotland under-21Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
squad to play against Hungary under-21s
Hungary national under-21 football team
The Hungary national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team for Hungary and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation.Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Hungarian Under-21 team was formed...
. but failed to add to his appearances at earlier levels.
Personal life
O'Donnell is the nephew of former MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
Skipper Phil O'Donnell, who died on the pitch on 29 December 2007. His cousin is Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
striker David Clarkson
David Clarkson
David Clarkson is a Scottish footballer who plays for Championship team Bristol City. Clarkson, who plays as a striker, represented Scotland twice in 2008...
.
See also
- Dundee United F.C. season 2001-02
- Dundee United F.C. season 2002-03
- Clyde F.C. season 2005-06Clyde F.C. season 2005-06In season 2005-06, Clyde competed in their sixth consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Graham Roberts was appointed as new manager, after Billy Reid left to join Hamilton Academical. Roberts appointed ex-Celtic player Joe Miller as his assistant....
- Clyde F.C. season 2006-07Clyde F.C. season 2006-07In season 2006-07, Clyde competed in their seventh consecutive season in the Scottish First Division. Joe Miller was appointed as new manager, after Graham Roberts was dismissed for gross misconduct on a tour of Canada....
- St Mirren F.C. season 2007-08St Mirren F.C. season 2007-08The 2007–08 season was St. Mirren's second consecutive season in the Scottish Premier League, and they were looking to improve on last season's 11th placing ahead of Dunfermline....
- St Mirren F.C. season 2008-09St Mirren F.C. season 2008-09St. Mirren will compete once again in the Scottish Premier League after finishing in 10th place for season 2007–08. It will also mark the end of their stay at the current St. Mirren Park or "Love Street", their home since 1894...