Declan Joseph McManus (born 3 August 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Cymru Premier club The New Saints. McManus has previously played for Aberdeen, Fleetwood Town, Greenock Morton, Alloa Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dunfermline Athletic, Ross County and Falkirk.

Declan McManus
Personal information
Full name Declan Joseph McManus
Date of birth (1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
The New Saints
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2012 Aberdeen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2015 Aberdeen 12 (0)
2013Alloa Athletic (loan) 18 (1)
2014–2015Greenock Morton (loan) 19 (9)
2015Greenock Morton (loan) 13 (11)
2015–2017 Fleetwood Town 7 (1)
2016Greenock Morton (loan) 17 (4)
2016–2017Raith Rovers (loan) 34 (5)
2017–2018 Dunfermline Athletic 32 (7)
2018–2020 Ross County 32 (2)
2019–2020Falkirk (loan) 26 (19)
2020–2021 Dunfermline Athletic 27 (9)
2021– The New Saints 80 (71)
International career
2012 Scotland U18 2 (1)
2012–2013 Scotland U19 8 (3)
2014–2015 Scotland U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:15, 17 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:42, 11 August 2015 (UTC)

Career

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Aberdeen

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McManus made his debut for Aberdeen's first team on 28 April 2012, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic.[2] In the new season, McManus goalscoring form in the U20 league caught the eye of Dundee and Partick Thistle, who were keen to sign him on loan.[3] In November 2012, McManus signed a new contract with the club that will keep him until 2015.[4]

On 31 July 2013 McManus joined Alloa Athletic on a six-month loan deal.[5] McManus made his first ever senior start in Alloa Athletic's 2–0 win in the League Cup First Round fixture against Peterhead.[6] On 14 December 2013, McManus scored his first senior goal in Alloa's 2–0 win against Greenock Morton.[7]

McManus moved on loan to Scottish League One club Greenock Morton on 8 August 2014.[8][9] He scored his first ever senior hat-trick in a 5–2 cup victory over Berwick Rangers in August 2014,[10] and left the club at the end of his loan spell having scored 12 goals in 21 starts.[11] On 2 February 2015, McManus joined Greenock Morton for a second loan spell, signing until the end of the 2014–15 season.[12][13] McManus was nominated for the SPFA League One player of the year for 2014–15,[14] as well as being included in the League One Team of the Year with teammate Mark Russell.[15] He won the Player of the Year award.[16]

Fleetwood Town

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On 15 May 2015, McManus signed a pre-contract agreement with Fleetwood Town.[17] On 31 December 2015, McManus returned for his third loan spell with Morton.[18] In July 2016, McManus returned to Scotland, joining Scottish Championship side Raith Rovers on loan.[19] In May 2017 he left Fleetwood at the end of his contract[20]

Dunfermline Athletic

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McManus returned north to Scotland in June 2017, signing for Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic on a one-year deal.[21]

Ross County

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McManus signed for Ross County in June 2018[22] and was loaned to Falkirk on 16 July 2019.[23] McManus was released by County in May 2020, following the end of his contract.[24]

Dunfermline return

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Following his release from County, McManus re-signed for Dunfermline Athletic on 10 July 2020, joining the club on a two-year deal.[25]

The New Saints

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After one season with Dunfermline, McManus moved to Cymru Premier club The New Saints on 14 June 2021, for a fee of £60,000.[26] McManus scored a second half penalty to secure the Welsh sides first ever win a competitive European match, defeating FC Astana 2-0.[27]

International career

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Having represented Scotland in U18 and U19 Levels, McManus was called up for the U21 squad.[28][29]

Career statistics

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As of 16 November 2024[11][30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 2011–12[31] Scottish Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2012–13[32] 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
2013–14[33] Scottish Premiership 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2014–15[34] 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 13 0
Alloa Athletic (loan) 2013–14[33] Scottish Championship 18 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 1
Greenock Morton (loan) 2014–15[34] Scottish League One 19 9 0 0 1 0 1[b] 3 21 12
13 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 11
Total 32 20 0 0 1 0 1 3 34 23
Fleetwood Town 2015–16[35] Football League One 7 1 1 0 1 0 1[c] 0 10 1
2016–17[36] EFL League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 7 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 10 1
Greenock Morton (loan) 2015–16[37][35] Scottish Championship 17 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 5
Raith Rovers (loan) 2016–17[36] 34 5 2 1 2 0 3[d] 3 41 9
Dunfermline Athletic 2017–18[38] 32 7 2 2 5 3 5[e] 1 44 13
Ross County 2018–19[39] Scottish Championship 32 2 3 0 5 1 5[b] 1 45 4
Falkirk (loan) 2019–20[39] Scottish League One 26 19 4 2 3 3 1[b] 0 34 24
Dunfermline Athletic 2020–21[40] Scottish Championship 27 9 1 0 6 1 2[f] 0 36 10
The New Saints 2021–22 Welsh Premier League 28 24 3 1 0 0 6[g] 6 37 31
2022–23 25 29 4 3 0 0 4[h] 0 33 32
2023–24 18 13 3 5 2 0 3[i] 3 26 21
2024–25 9 5 1 0 0 0 9[j] 1 19 6
Total 80 71 11 9 2 0 22 10 115 90
Career total 317 139 27 14 25 9 41 18 410 180
  1. ^ Appearance in the Europa League
  2. ^ a b c Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  3. ^ Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in the Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Appearance in the Premiership play-offs
  6. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Championship play-off
  7. ^ Appearances in the Europa Conference League Qualifiers
  8. ^ 2 appearances in the Europa League & 2 appearances in Champions League
  9. ^ Appearance & 1 goal in UEFA Champions League, two appearances & 2 goals in UEFA Europa Conference League
  10. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League three appearances & 1 goal in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

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Greenock Morton

Ross County

The New Saints

Individual

References

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  1. ^ Declan McManus at Soccerway. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  2. ^ Andy Campbell (28 April 2012). "Dunfermline 3–0 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Aberdeen hitkid Declan McManus set for loan spell with Dundee or Partick Thistle". Daily Record. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Declan McManus has signed a new contract to keep him at Aberdeen until 2015". Sky Sports. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Hartley signs striker". Alloa Athletic. 31 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013.
  6. ^ "Peterhead 0–2 Alloa Athletic". Alloa Athletic. 4 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Alloa 2–0 Morton". BBC Sport. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Loan Signing". Greenock Morton F.C. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (8 August 2014). "Morton land Dons striker on loan". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Morton 5–2 Berwick Rangers". Scottish Professional Football League. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Declan McManus's Soccerbase profile". Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  12. ^ "McManus re-joins Morton". Aberdeen F.C. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (2 February 2015). "McManus makes deadline-busting Morton return". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  14. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (22 April 2015). "Morton striker nominated for League One Player of the Year". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  15. ^ a b "PFA Scotland Teams of the Year". Scottish Professional Football League. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  16. ^ a b "PFA Scotland award winners". Scottish Professional Football League. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Striker Declan McManus agrees to join Fleetwood Town". Fleetwood Town F.C. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  18. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (31 December 2015). "Ton in sensational striker swoop". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Major signing news: Skacel and McManus join Locke's Rovers". Raith Rovers FC. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  20. ^ "Retained list 2016/17: First Team". Fleetwood Town FC. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  21. ^ "Declan joins the lap of honour". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  22. ^ "Declan McManus signs for the Staggies". Ross County FC. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  23. ^ "Declan joins McKinnon's Bairns on Loan". Ross County FC. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  24. ^ Skinner, Andy (26 May 2020). "Staggies release 14 players in end of season cull". Press and Journal. Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Declan McManus signs for the Pars". Dunfermline Athletic FC. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Second signing of the season, as Declan McManus joins The New Saints". The New Saints. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Holden and McManus seal The New Saints victory in Conference League". Border Counties Advertizer. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  28. ^ "King, McKenzie and McManus added to under-21 squad". Scottish Football Association. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ Mitchell, Jonathan (6 September 2014). "Morton striker's pride at international call-up". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  30. ^ "Scotland - D. McManus - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Games played by Declan McManus in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Games played by Declan McManus in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Declan McManus in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  34. ^ a b "Games played by Declan McManus in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Declan McManus in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Declan McManus in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  37. ^ "Ross given goal against Alloa but no double for Morton striker Declan". Greenock Telegraph. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  38. ^ "Games played by Declan McManus in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Declan McManus in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  40. ^ "Games played by Declan McManus in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  41. ^ "Ross County lifted the Challenge Cup for a third time". BBC Sport. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  42. ^ "Cymru Premier: The New Saints win title with point against Penybont". BBC Sport. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  43. ^ "McManus lands February award". Scottish Professional Football League. 14 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
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