Aiden McGeady

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Aiden McGeady (born 4 April 1986 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish-born Irish footballer who currently plays for Celtic and the Republic of Ireland internationally. McGeady won both the SPFA Players' Player of the Year and SPFA Young Player of the Year awards for the 2007-08 season. His father John McGeady played for Sheffield United^[1] and Newport County^[2] amongst other clubs. He is renowned for his dribbling and trickery and can play on either wing or up front.

[edit] Club career

After progressing through the Celtic youth and reserve teams, McGeady was handed his debut as an 18-year-old against Hearts at Tynecastle during a Scottish Premier League game late in the 2003-04 season and marked it with a goal after just 17 minutes. He made his UEFA Champions League debut the next season in a game against Serie A side A.C. Milan.

McGeady's season was hampered by a persistent knee injury, but he played a significant role in Celtic's second title winning season under Gordon Strachan, contributing 5 goals and 7 assists. The 2007–08 season was better for McGeady, earning him praise from the media.^[3] One of his most devastating performances came against Aberdeen, scoring a goal and contributing three assists, setting up a second goal for striker Scott McDonald. He continued to provide goals for his team, most importantly Scott McDonald's equalising goal against rivals Rangers, a match that Celtic went on to win 3–2. A win which proved to be crucial in Celtic successful defence of their title.

He was awarded the SPFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year on 20 April 2008, only the second player ever to receive both awards in the same season (the first was Shaun Maloney in 2006), as voted by his fellow players. He contributed seven league goals and nineteen assists, as Celtic won the championship. It was the third title in a row, which was the first time the club managed to do so since Jock Stein was manager. On 16 December 2008, the then manager Gordon Strachan fined McGeady two weeks' wages and suspended him for the club's next two fixtures due to a breach of club discipline.^[4]

[edit] International career

McGeady played for Scotland Schools while at Queen's Park. He then joined Celtic who had a policy of not permitting their youths to play for their school teams and Scotland had a rule which would not permit a player who did not play for their school team to be considered for a call-up to Scotland Schools selects.^[5] The Republic of Ireland, who had no such rule, instructed Packie Bonner, who knew of McGeady's Irish heritage, to invite McGeady to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 Schoolboys team.^{[citation needed]}

McGeady was then named in a Scotland under-16 squad, but the player declined to represent the Scots, despite attempts to persuade him to do so by the likes of Scotland head coach Berti Vogts.^[6][In interviews, McGeady and his Father have stated he always intended to play for Ireland, due to the family's cultural heritage and Aiden's self-identification. [1] McGeady made his full début for the Republic of Ireland in June 2004 against Jamaica.

[edit] Career statistics

As of 1 June 2009.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League (2006, 2007, 2008)

• Scottish League Cup (2006, 2009)
• Scottish Cup (2005, 2007)

[edit] Minor

• Reserve Scottish Premier League (2002, 2003, 2004)
• Under 19 Scottish Premier League (2003, 2004)
• Scottish Youth Cup (2003)

[edit] Individual

• Celtic FC Young Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2007)
• Celtic FC Player of the Year (2008)
• SPFA Players' Player of the Year (2008)
• SPFA Young Player of the Year (2008)
• BBC Sportsound Player of the Year (2008)
• Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Year (2008)
• Scottish Premier League Player of the Month (5)
• Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month (6)
• Eircom Republic of Ireland Young Player of the Year (2009)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Aiden McGeady career stats at Soccerbase
• Aiden McGeady's Official Website at officialplayerwebsites.com