Wikipedia

Stephen O'Donnell (footballer, born 1992)

For the Irish footballer, see Stephen O'Donnell (Irish footballer). For the St Mirren footballer, see Stephen O'Donnell (footballer, born 1983).

Stephen Gerard O'Donnell (born 11 May 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and the Scotland national team. He has previously played for Partick Thistle, Luton Town and Kilmarnock, and was capped once by the Scotland under-21 team in 2013 before being selected 26 times at full level from 2018, including at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

Stephen O'Donnell
O'Donnell in 2015
Personal information
Full name Stephen Gerard O'Donnell[1]
Date of birth (1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Motherwell
Number 2
Youth career
1998–2002 Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers
2002–2009 Aberdeen
2009–2011 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Partick Thistle 121 (9)
2015–2017 Luton Town 60 (1)
2017–2020 Kilmarnock 101 (5)
2020– Motherwell 136 (2)
International career‡
2013 Scotland U21 1 (0)
2018–2022 Scotland 26 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:09, 10 March 2023 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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A pupil at St Aidan's High School in Wishaw,[3] O'Donnell began his career as a youth player with Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers and captained the Aberdeen under-17 team.[4] He then joined Celtic,[5] where he was part of the team that won the Scottish Youth Cup[6] and under-19 league title in 2010–11.

Partick Thistle

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O'Donnell was released by Celtic in 2011[7] and on 23 August 2011 signed for Partick Thistle on a one-year contract after impressing on trial.[8] He went on to make his debut on 17 September as a substitute in a 4–0 win at home to Ayr United.[9] In 2012–13, O'Donnell played in 38 matches as Partick Thistle won promotion to the Scottish Premiership and reached the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup.[9] He was named in the PFA Scotland First Division Team of the Year as a result of his performances.[10]

 
O'Donnell playing for Partick Thistle against AEL Limassol during a friendly in 2013.

On 27 January 2015, Championship club Blackpool upped an initial offer of £50,000 for O'Donnell to £125,000.[11] This offer was accepted by Partick Thistle; however, O'Donnell rejected the personal terms on offer at Blackpool in favour of seeing out the remaining six months of his contract.[12] He left Partick Thistle upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2014–15 season,[13] having made 139 appearances for the club.[9]

Luton Town

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On 22 June 2015, O'Donnell signed a two-year contract with League Two club Luton Town.[13] He made his Luton debut in a 3–1 win at home to newly promoted Championship club Bristol City in the League Cup on 11 August.[14] O'Donnell's first goal for the club was a 90th-minute winner in a 2–1 win at home to Leyton Orient in the Football League Trophy on 1 September.[15] He finished the 2015–16 season with 33 appearances and one goal.[16] O'Donnell netted his second Luton goal in 2016–17 from a 25-yard shot in a 1–1 draw at home to Yeovil Town on 13 August 2016.[17]

However, a loss of form saw O'Donnell lose his place in the team to academy graduate James Justin after a 2–0 defeat away to Crawley Town on 17 September.[18] He regained his place in the team to make his first league start in five matches after Justin suffered a calf injury in the warm up before Luton's 2–1 win away to Leyton Orient on 15 October.[19] O'Donnell lost his place once more when Justin returned from injury for Luton's 3–1 win away to Exeter City in the FA Cup on 5 November, but a half-time substitute appearance in the next round at home to National League club Solihull Moors on 3 December saw him score twice as Luton overturned a 2–0 deficit to win 6–2.[20] He was then recalled to the starting lineup by manager Nathan Jones for the subsequent league match at home to Carlisle United, which resulted in a 1–1 draw.[21] O'Donnell was released when his contract expired at the end of 2016–17.[22]

Kilmarnock

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O'Donnell signed a three-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on 4 July 2017.[23] O'Donnell performed well following the appointment of Steve Clarke as Kilmarnock manager, and he was selected for the Scotland squad in May 2018. Kilmarnock offered O'Donnell a new three-year contract in August 2019, but he opted to evaluate his contract situation at the end of the season.[24] During January 2020 Oxford United made an offer for O'Donnell,[25] but a deal was not completed before the closure of the transfer window. He rejected a new contract with Kilmarnock at the end of the 2019–20 season.[26]

Motherwell

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On 13 August 2020, Motherwell announced the signing of O'Donnell on a contract until the next transfer window.[27] On 1 February 2021, he agreed a new contract with Motherwell until the end of the season.[28] On 13 April 2021, O'Donnell signed a new two-year contract with Motherwell, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023.[29]

International career

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O'Donnell made one appearance for the Scotland under-21 team in February 2013.[30] He received his first call-up to the Scotland national team in May 2018, for friendly matches against Peru and Mexico.[31] O'Donnell made his full Scotland debut on 29 May 2018, in a 2–0 defeat to Peru.[32] He retained his place in the squad for the matches in September 2018, and "excelled" in the 2–0 win against Albania on 10 September.[33]

O'Donnell was selected in the Scotland squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and played in all three of their matches at the tournament.[34] His performance in the opening game against the Czech Republic was criticised, but was then praised after the goalless draw against England in the second match.[34] In September 2021 he gained his 23rd cap overall and 12th as a Motherwell player in a 1–0 away win over Austria during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification;[35] as well as being praised for aspects of his performance against the highly regarded David Alaba, he also equalled a long-standing Motherwell club caps record set by George Stevenson in the 1930s.[36]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 3 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Partick Thistle 2011–12[9] Scottish First Division 31 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 33 2
2012–13[9] Scottish First Division 29 2 2 0 2 0 5[a] 0 38 2
2013–14[37] Scottish Premiership 27 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 30 1
2014–15[38] Scottish Premiership 34 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 38 5
Total 121 9 6 0 7 1 5 0 139 10
Luton Town 2015–16[16] EFL League Two 30 0 0 0 2 0 1[b] 1 33 1
2016–17[39] EFL League Two 30 1 3 2 2 0 4[c] 0 39 3
Total 60 1 3 2 4 0 5 1 72 4
Kilmarnock 2017–18[40] Scottish Premiership 36 2 4 2 4 0 — 44 4
2018–19[41] Scottish Premiership 37 0 2 0 4 0 — 43 0
2019–20[42] Scottish Premiership 28 3 3 0 2 0 2[d] 0 35 3
Total 101 5 9 2 10 0 2 0 122 7
Motherwell 2020–21[43] Scottish Premiership 34 1 3 1 1 0 3[d] 1 41 3
2021–22[44] Scottish Premiership 28 0 2 0 4 0 — 34 0
2022–23[45] Scottish Premiership 27 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 28 0
2023–24[46] Scottish Premiership 37 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 44 0
2024–25[47] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 5 1
Total 127 1 8 1 14 1 3 1 152 4
Career total 409 16 26 5 35 2 15 2 485 25
  1. ^ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

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As of match played 29 March 2022[48]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Scotland 2018 6 0
2019 5 0
2020 5 0
2021 8 0
2022 2 0
Total 26 0

Honours

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Partick Thistle

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Stephen O'Donnell: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. ^ Scotland players' old schools send good luck messages, Henry Hepburn, TES (magazine), 11 June 2021
  4. ^ "School pals captain Celtic and Aberdeen U-17s". Daily Record. Glasgow. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Hibs offer trial to freed Celtic youngster Stephen O'Donnell". football.co.uk. Digital Sports Group. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Celtic U19 2–1 Rangers U19 (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Stephen will go through Hoops for hero Jackie". Evening Times. Glasgow. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Thistle complete signing of new Defender". Partick Thistle F.C. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "S. O'Donnell: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b Wilson, Fraser (2 May 2013). "In pictures: PFA Scotland Team of the Year". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  11. ^ Berry, Gavin (27 January 2015). "Partick Thistle accept £125,000 Blackpool bid for Stephen O'Donnell". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ^ Crawford, Kenny (27 January 2015). "Jags' O'Donnell rejects Blackpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Stephen O'Donnell: Luton Town sign Partick Thistle defender". BBC Sport. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  14. ^ Simmonds, Mike (11 August 2015). "Jack's the lad as Hatters shock Robins". Luton Today. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  15. ^ Simmonds, Mike (1 September 2015). "O'Donnell's fluke sends Hatters through". Luton Today. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Hatters held after O'Donnell's stunner". Luton Today. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  18. ^ "O'Donnell doesn't want Hatters youngsters to be given a chance at his expense". Luton Today. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  19. ^ "O'Donnell's display praised after late call-up at Orient". Luton Today. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  20. ^ "O'Donnell not overly worried by criticism from Hatters fans". Luton Today. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Hatters are held at home by Cumbrians". Luton Today. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Luton Town: Craig King & Dan Potts offered deals, but five depart". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Stephen O'Donnell signs for Kilmarnock after release by Luton Town". BBC Sport. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Kilmarnock: Stephen O'Donnell to hold off on contract decision". BBC Sport. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  25. ^ Mullen, Scott (30 January 2020). "Stephen O'Donnell: Oxford make approach for Kilmarnock & Scotland defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  26. ^ Dickson, Andrew (19 May 2020). "Stephen O'Donnell rejects Kilmarnock deal and will leave this summer". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  27. ^ "Stephen O'Donnell signs for Motherwell". Motherwell F.C. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  28. ^ "Stephen O'Donnell extends Motherwell deal". Motherwell FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  29. ^ "STEPHEN O'DONNELL SIGNS NEW DEAL". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Stephen O'Donnell". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Scotland: Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie & Barry Douglas withdraw from squad". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  32. ^ Lamont, Alasdair (30 May 2018). "Peru 2–0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  33. ^ English, Tom (10 September 2018). "Uefa Nations League: Scotland beat Albania 2–0 in group opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Stephen O'Donnell says reaction to his Euros displays 'over the top'". BBC Sport. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  35. ^ Watt, Martin (7 September 2021). "Austria 0–1 Scotland". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  36. ^ Thomson, Paul (7 September 2021). "Scotland's Stephen O'Donnell equals 87-year-old Motherwell record in Austria win". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  37. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  38. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  39. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  40. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  41. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  43. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  44. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  45. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  46. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  47. ^ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  48. ^ "O'Donnell, Stephen". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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