Stephen O'Halloran
Encyclopedia
Stephen Edward O'Halloran (born 29 November 1987) is an Irish
professional footballer who plays as a defender
for Carlisle United
in League One
, the third tier of English
football. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa
and earned two full international caps for the Republic of Ireland
in 2007, despite not making an appearance for his club. Following two serious cruciate ligament
injuries during his time at Villa Park
, O'Halloran moved on to Coventry City
in 2010 before joining current club Carlisle United a year later.
from Springfield A.F.C, located in Cobh, County Cork. The schoolboy section at Springfield has since changed and has joined forces with the former club of Roy Keane
, Cobh Ramblers and is now known as Springfield Ramblers. The senior teams at Springfield still play under the banner of Springfield AFC.
The Cobh
native broke into the Villa squad for their 2006–2007 pre-season friendlies but did not make any first team appearances. In 2007 O'Halloran signed a new contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2009. However, at the beginning of the 2009–10 season O'Halloran was omitted from the press release announcing Villa's squad number
s. O'Halloran's number 29 shirt was given to Welsh
international defender James Collins
upon his signing for the club. O'Halloran returned for the reserves, in the national play off final against Manchester United.http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2041663,00.html
. However, his loan spell ran out before the second-leg, and Wycombe eventually lost 5–1 to Chelsea
.
on loan until February 2008, making only one substitute appearance.
In the warm up
for what would have been his debut for Leeds against Swindon Town
at the County Ground, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament
injury which kept him out for up to a year. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Frazer Richardson
. After suffering the injury he returned to Aston Villa for treatment.
-born left back Federico Bessone
. The 21 year old was signed to fill the gap left by fellow Irish defender Marcos Painter
, who was out for the majority of the season through injury. O'Halloran was the victim of yet another cruciate ligament
injury in his spell at Swansea, which caused him to terminate his loan on 25 December 2008. O'Halloran did not rule out a future spell at Swansea, claiming that he "may return one day to have another crack".
on 23 June 2010 and was new manager Aidy Boothroyd's second signing of the close season.
, the contract will be officially signed on August 1 2011.
O'halloran was given number 29 jersey at the club
's Republic of Ireland
squad and played in the friendlies against Ecuador
and Bolivia
, despite not having played a single first team game for Aston Villa. O'Halloran has also represented his country at U15, U16, U17 and U21 level.
Irish U-21 Player of the Year 2007
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 footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in 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....
, the third tier of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and earned two full international caps for 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....
in 2007, despite not making an appearance for his club. Following two serious cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injuries during his time at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
, O'Halloran moved on to 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...
in 2010 before joining current club Carlisle United a year later.
Aston Villa
O'Halloran signed for Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
from Springfield A.F.C, located in Cobh, County Cork. The schoolboy section at Springfield has since changed and has joined forces with the former club of Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
, Cobh Ramblers and is now known as Springfield Ramblers. The senior teams at Springfield still play under the banner of Springfield AFC.
The Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
native broke into the Villa squad for their 2006–2007 pre-season friendlies but did not make any first team appearances. In 2007 O'Halloran signed a new contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2009. However, at the beginning of the 2009–10 season O'Halloran was omitted from the press release announcing Villa's squad number
Squad number
In team sports, the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, uniform number or simply a number is the number worn on a player's uniform, to identify and distinguish each player from others wearing the same or similar uniforms...
s. O'Halloran's number 29 shirt was given to Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international defender James Collins
James Collins (footballer)
James Michael Collins is a Welsh footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Wales national football team.-Cardiff City:...
upon his signing for the club. O'Halloran returned for the reserves, in the national play off final against Manchester United.http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/FootballNewsDetail/0,,10265~2041663,00.html
Wycombe Wanderers
The young left-sided defender was loaned out to Wycombe Wanderers in October 2006, and played a pivotal role in guiding them to the semi-finals of the Football League CupFootball 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...
. However, his loan spell ran out before the second-leg, and Wycombe eventually lost 5–1 to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
.
Southampton
On 16 January 2008, he signed for SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on loan until February 2008, making only one substitute appearance.
Leeds United
On 28 February he signed for Leeds United on an initial one month loan deal.In the warm up
Warming up
A warm-up is usually performed before participating in technical sports or exercising. A warm-up generally consists of a gradual increase in intensity in physical activity , a joint mobility exercise, stretching and a sport related activity. For example, before running or playing an intense sport...
for what would have been his debut for Leeds against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
at the County Ground, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury which kept him out for up to a year. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Frazer Richardson
Frazer Richardson
Frazer Richardson is an English professional footballer who plays for Southampton. He had been Leeds' longest-serving player, and in 2009 was the only member of the Leeds squad who was with the club when relegated from the Premiership in 2004.- Leeds United :Richardson made his Leeds debut as a...
. After suffering the injury he returned to Aston Villa for treatment.
Swansea City
On 5 November O'Halloran signed for Swansea City on an initial 3 month loan deal as competition to ArgentinianArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
-born left back Federico Bessone
Federico Bessone
Federico "Fede" Bessone Luna is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Welsh team Swansea City after re-joining the club from Leeds United as a left back.-Career:...
. The 21 year old was signed to fill the gap left by fellow Irish defender Marcos Painter
Marcos Painter
Marcos David Painter is a footballer who is currently contracted to Brighton & Hove Albion.-Career:Born in Birmingham, Painter was brought up in the Chelmsley Wood area of Solihull and attended the Archbishop Grimshaw secondary school....
, who was out for the majority of the season through injury. O'Halloran was the victim of yet another cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury in his spell at Swansea, which caused him to terminate his loan on 25 December 2008. O'Halloran did not rule out a future spell at Swansea, claiming that he "may return one day to have another crack".
Coventry City
O'Halloran signed a one-year deal with Coventry CityCoventry 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...
on 23 June 2010 and was new manager Aidy Boothroyd's second signing of the close season.
Carlisle United
On June 24 2011, during a trial at the club, O'Halloran signed a one year deal with Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, the contract will be officially signed on August 1 2011.
O'halloran was given number 29 jersey at the club
International career
On 16 May 2007, O'Halloran was named in Steve StauntonSteve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
's 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....
squad and played in the friendlies against Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
and Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
, despite not having played a single first team game for Aston Villa. O'Halloran has also represented his country at U15, U16, U17 and U21 level.
Personal
- BBC Radio WM Young Player of the Month
- Winner: January 2008
Irish U-21 Player of the Year 2007