Roy O'Donovan
Encyclopedia
Roy Simon O'Donovan is an Irish
footballer who plays for Football League Championship
side Coventry City
. He has been capped for his country at Under-19, Under-21 and B level.
as a trainee, before being released in December 2004 without making a first team appearance for the club.
and joined his hometown club Cork City in early 2005. In his first season at Cork City they captured the League of Ireland
championship after a twelve year absence. He played mainly as a wide-right attacking midfielder after joining Cork, but was soon moved up front as a striker
, becoming the top goalscorer in the League of Ireland
. He scored in a UEFA Cup
win in July 2005 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2005/0715/Pg019.html#Ar01902. He was named the eircom
/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) Player of the Month for November 2005 and won the award again in November 2006 after being switched to centre forward from midfield, he was also a nominee for the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) player of the year the same season.
On 21 November it was reported that Wolverhampton Wanderers
were interested in signing O'Donovan, but that they were denied permission to speak to him about a move by Cork City.
On 7 July 2007, he scored as Cork City drew 1–1 with Swedish
Allsvenskan
club Hammarby
in the second round of the 2007
Intertoto Cup
. He scored a total of 31 league goals in 74 league appearances for the club, as well as 2 goals in European competitions.
agreed a fee with Cork City to sign O'Donovan, however, Roy Keane
signed him for Sunderland on 7 August for an League of Ireland record transfer fee of €500,000, with O'Donovan saying, "I had a choice between Fulham and Sunderland but when I spoke to the gaffer [Roy Keane] my mind was made up." The fee can increase to €1 million depending on appearances for club and country. He signed a three-year contract, reportedly worth €8,000 a week. He made his Premier League debut for Sunderland as a 70th minute substitute in the 2–2 draw with Birmingham City
at St Andrew's on 15 August. His first start of the season came on 21 October in the 3–1 defeat to West Ham United
at Upton Park
, although he was substituted in the 46th minute. O'Donovan made seventeen appearances for the Black Cats in the 2007–08
season, starting just four times.
His first goal for Sunderland came in a pre-season against Portuguese Liga
club Sporting Clube de Portugal on 20 July 2008.
at New Douglas Park
. He scored his first goal in a 2–0 home win over St Mirren on 25 October, after coming on as a 67th minute substitute: the goal was a memorable one, coming in front of a full stadium of supporters who had turned up to commemorate the passing of the popular club chairman Eddie Thompson
. On 1 November, he was sent off
in the 57th minute of the 0–0 draw against Falkirk
at the Falkirk Stadium
. However, he failed to win back his place in the side following suspension and in late December he was one of three players along with Michael Chopra
and Anthony Stokes recalled by Sunderland who were struggling with injuries.
club Blackpool
on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for the Seasiders in the 2–1 defeat to Coventry City
at the Ricoh Arena
on 17 January. He played mainly as a right sided midfielder and wore the famous number 7 shirt. What had been a successful loan spell up to this point took a turn for the worse when on 10 March, he was taken to hospital after being taken ill with suspected appendicitis
before Blackpool's game against Sheffield United
at Bramall Lane
. Two days later he had keyhole surgery
to remove his appendix
. He returned to action on 11 April in Blackpool's 1–0 West Lancashire Derby
win over Preston North End
at Deepdale
. He retained his place in the side for the following game a 2 – 2 draw against play – off hopefuls Reading F.C.
on an one month loan deal. He scored on his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion, in the 3–2 win. O'Donovan made a further two league appearances plus one in the Football League Trophy
before returning to Sunderland once the loan was completed.
on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made his debut for Hartlepool in their 4–1 home win over Carlisle United
on 23 February 2010. On 6 March 2010, he scored his first goals for Hartlepool, a hat-trick against Southend, who he was with at the beginning of the season. O'Donovan went on to make 15 appearance scoring 9 goals before returning to parent club Sunderland at the end of the season.
on 25 June 2010 becoming new manager Aidy Boothroyd's third signing of the close season. He officially transferred to Coventry on 1 July 2010, five years after leaving them as an academy youth player.
teams. He made his debut for the Under-21 team in August 2005 against Northern Ireland
. On 18 May, he scored as the Irish Under-21's beat Azerbaijan
3–0 in a 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
preliminary round match, He went on to make eight appearances for the under-21's, scoring once.
On 21 November 2007, he played for Republic of Ireland B as they drew 1–1 with Scotland B
in a friendly international at the Excelsior Stadium
, Airdrie
.
In May 2007, O'Donovan expressed his surprise and disappointment at not being part of the Republic of Ireland
squad for the end of season international matches against Ecuador
and Bolivia
, a squad in which his Cork City teammate Joe Gamble
was included. O'Donovan said, "I’m surprised to be honest with you. I’ve scored 25 goals in the last 25 or 26 games so I can’t do any more. I would have liked a reason why I’m not in it but that’s life."
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,...
footballer who plays for Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side 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...
. He has been capped for his country at Under-19, Under-21 and B level.
Club career
O'Donovan played schoolboy football for Leeds A.F.C. Cork, and Blarney Street in Cork. In 2001 he signed for English club 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...
as a trainee, before being released in December 2004 without making a first team appearance for the club.
Cork City
O'Donovan moved back to IrelandRepublic 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,...
and joined his hometown club Cork City in early 2005. In his first season at Cork City they captured the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
championship after a twelve year absence. He played mainly as a wide-right attacking midfielder after joining Cork, but was soon moved up front as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, becoming the top goalscorer in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. He scored in a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
win in July 2005 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2005/0715/Pg019.html#Ar01902. He was named the eircom
Eircom
Eircom Group LTD is a telecommunications company in the Republic of Ireland, and a former state-owned incumbent. It is currently the largest telecommunications operator in the Republic of Ireland and operates primarily on the island of Ireland, with a point of presence in Great Britain.As Bord...
/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) Player of the Month for November 2005 and won the award again in November 2006 after being switched to centre forward from midfield, he was also a nominee for the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland (SWAI) player of the year the same season.
On 21 November it was reported that Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
were interested in signing O'Donovan, but that they were denied permission to speak to him about a move by Cork City.
On 7 July 2007, he scored as Cork City drew 1–1 with Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan
Allsvenskan is a Swedish professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Swedish football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Superettan...
club Hammarby
Hammarby IF
Hammarby Fotboll is a Swedish football club based in Johanneshov - just south of Södermalm, the southernmost district of Stockholm city centre...
in the second round of the 2007
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2007
The UEFA Intertoto Cup 2007 was the 19th and penultimate edition of the competition and took 50 entries. Three rounds were held, and 11 teams qualified for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. The draw took place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on 23 April 2007...
Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
. He scored a total of 31 league goals in 74 league appearances for the club, as well as 2 goals in European competitions.
Sunderland
In July 2007, FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
agreed a fee with Cork City to sign O'Donovan, however, 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....
signed him for Sunderland on 7 August for an League of Ireland record transfer fee of €500,000, with O'Donovan saying, "I had a choice between Fulham and Sunderland but when I spoke to the gaffer [Roy Keane] my mind was made up." The fee can increase to €1 million depending on appearances for club and country. He signed a three-year contract, reportedly worth €8,000 a week. He made his Premier League debut for Sunderland as a 70th minute substitute in the 2–2 draw with Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
at St Andrew's on 15 August. His first start of the season came on 21 October in the 3–1 defeat to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
, although he was substituted in the 46th minute. O'Donovan made seventeen appearances for the Black Cats in the 2007–08
Premier League 2007–08
The 2007–08 Premier League season was the sixteenth since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 11 August 2007, and the season ended on 11 May 2008...
season, starting just four times.
His first goal for Sunderland came in a pre-season against Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
club Sporting Clube de Portugal on 20 July 2008.
Dundee United
On 8 August 2008, he signed a one-year loan deal with Dundee United. He made his debut for the Tangerines on 11 August in a 3–1 defeat to Hamilton AcademicalHamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
at New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park
New Douglas Park is a football stadium in Hamilton which serves as the home of Hamilton Academical. It takes its name from Douglas Park, the club's former stadium.-Stadium:...
. He scored his first goal in a 2–0 home win over St Mirren on 25 October, after coming on as a 67th minute substitute: the goal was a memorable one, coming in front of a full stadium of supporters who had turned up to commemorate the passing of the popular club chairman Eddie Thompson
Eddie Thompson
Edward Henry "Eddie" Thompson, OBE was a Scottish businessman, he was the chairman of Scottish football club Dundee United and a well known figure in the Scottish retail industry....
. On 1 November, he was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
in the 57th minute of the 0–0 draw against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
at the Falkirk Stadium
Falkirk Stadium
The Falkirk Stadium is a football stadium in Falkirk in central Scotland, which plays host to the home matches of Falkirk F.C. although the stadium itself sits partly within the boundaries of the neighbouring town of Grangemouth...
. However, he failed to win back his place in the side following suspension and in late December he was one of three players along with Michael Chopra
Michael Chopra
Rocky Michael Chopra is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship side Ipswich Town. He is of mixed Indian and British descent....
and Anthony Stokes recalled by Sunderland who were struggling with injuries.
Blackpool
On 9 January 2009, he signed for ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut for the Seasiders in the 2–1 defeat 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...
at the Ricoh Arena
Ricoh Arena
The Ricoh Arena , home to Coventry City F.C., is a stadium complex situated in the Rowleys Green district of the city of Coventry, England containing a 32,609 seater football stadium, a 6,000 square-metre exhibition hall, a hotel, a leisure club, and a casino...
on 17 January. He played mainly as a right sided midfielder and wore the famous number 7 shirt. What had been a successful loan spell up to this point took a turn for the worse when on 10 March, he was taken to hospital after being taken ill with suspected appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
before Blackpool's game against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
. Two days later he had keyhole surgery
Laparoscopic surgery
Laparoscopic surgery, also called minimally invasive surgery , bandaid surgery, or keyhole surgery, is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions as opposed to the larger incisions needed in laparotomy.Keyhole surgery makes use of images...
to remove his appendix
Vermiform appendix
The appendix is a blind-ended tube connected to the cecum , from which it develops embryologically. The cecum is a pouchlike structure of the colon...
. He returned to action on 11 April in Blackpool's 1–0 West Lancashire Derby
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
win over Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
. He retained his place in the side for the following game a 2 – 2 draw against play – off hopefuls Reading F.C.
Southend United
On 16 September 2009, O'Donovan joined Southend UnitedSouthend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on an one month loan deal. He scored on his debut against Brighton & Hove Albion, in the 3–2 win. O'Donovan made a further two league appearances plus one in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
before returning to Sunderland once the loan was completed.
Hartlepool United
On 23 February 2010, he joined Hartlepool UnitedHartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on loan until the end of the 2009–10 season. He made his debut for Hartlepool in their 4–1 home win over 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....
on 23 February 2010. On 6 March 2010, he scored his first goals for Hartlepool, a hat-trick against Southend, who he was with at the beginning of the season. O'Donovan went on to make 15 appearance scoring 9 goals before returning to parent club Sunderland at the end of the season.
Coventry City
O'Donovan signed a three–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 25 June 2010 becoming new manager Aidy Boothroyd's third signing of the close season. He officially transferred to Coventry on 1 July 2010, five years after leaving them as an academy youth player.
International career
O'Donovan has played for the Republic of Ireland Under-19, Under-21 and BRepublic of Ireland B national football team
Republic of Ireland B is the reserve team of the Republic of Ireland national football team. There are no competitions for B teams. However since 1957 the Football Association of Ireland has arranged occasional friendlies.-Early B internationals:...
teams. He made his debut for the Under-21 team in August 2005 against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
. On 18 May, he scored as the Irish Under-21's beat Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan national under-21 football team
The Azerbaijan national under-21 football team are a feeder team to the Azerbaijan Senior team.- UEFA U-21 Championship Record:* 2002: Did not qualify. Finished 5th of 6 in qualification group....
3–0 in a 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
Qualifying for the UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 began in May 2006.Netherlands qualify as hosts and are exempt from qualifying. Of UEFA's 52 member countries, only the Faroe Islands chose not compete...
preliminary round match, He went on to make eight appearances for the under-21's, scoring once.
On 21 November 2007, he played for Republic of Ireland B as they drew 1–1 with Scotland B
Scotland B national football team
The Scotland B national football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is a secondary football team of Scotland, run occasionally as support for the Scotland national football team as a second string side to the first team....
in a friendly international at the Excelsior Stadium
Excelsior Stadium
The Excelsior Stadium is the home of Airdrie United F.C. of the Scottish Football League Second Division. It was built in 1998 to house Airdrieonians F.C., and when Airdrieonians went into liquidation four years later, Airdrie United began playing their home games there.When the stadium first...
, Airdrie
Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
Airdrie is a town within North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft above sea level, and is approximately 12 miles east of Glasgow city centre. Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge, in the former district known as the Monklands. As of 2006,...
.
In May 2007, O'Donovan expressed his surprise and disappointment at not being part of 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....
squad for the end of season international matches 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...
, a squad in which his Cork City teammate Joe Gamble
Joe Gamble
Joe Gamble is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Limerick.-Cork City:Gamble made his debut for Cork in the Super Cup against Bohemians in July 2000. Soon after he signed for Reading before he returned to Cork City in 2004...
was included. O'Donovan said, "I’m surprised to be honest with you. I’ve scored 25 goals in the last 25 or 26 games so I can’t do any more. I would have liked a reason why I’m not in it but that’s life."
Honours
- Cork City
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 2005 - Munster Senior Cup: 2004–05
- League of Ireland
External links
- Roy O'Donovan profile at safc.com
- Roy O'Donovan profile at Vital Hartlepool