Paul Connolly
 Connolly with Derby County in 2008 |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Connolly | ||
| Date of birth | 29 September 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Leeds United | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2008 | Plymouth Argyle | 162 | (1) |
| 2002 | → Bideford (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Derby County | 61 | (1) |
| 2010 | → Sheffield United (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2010– | Leeds United | 47 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:45, 31 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Paul Connolly (born 29 September 1983) is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship club Leeds United as a right back, having previously played for Plymouth Argyle, Bideford, Derby County and Sheffield United.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Plymouth Argyle
Connolly came through the youth ranks at Plymouth Argyle, and made his league debut in the final game of the 2000–01 season. Connolly was a first team regular from 2003 onwards, helping the team to gain promotion to the First Division in 2003–04.[1] He scored his first and only goal for Plymouth against Norwich on 10 November 2007.[2]
[edit] Derby County
Connolly's contract expired at the end of the 2007–08 season, and on 15 May 2008 he moved to Derby County on a free transfer.[3] Connolly later revealed that "I was becoming stale, it's a lovely part of the world [Plymouth] but it's time to move on, the enjoyment was going... I left because I felt I was losing that edge, I've been in a comfort zone." [4]
Connolly made his Derby debut as a substitute in an opening day home defeat to Doncaster Rovers. Despite initial being kept out of the starting line-up by Tyrone Mears, the latter's move to Marseille on loan ensure Connolly became the club's first choice right back and, later appointed team captain by manager Paul Jewell. He finished the season with 49 league and cup appearances, only behind Rob Hulse in terms of most appearances for the club during the 2008–09 campaign and scored one goal – a last minute header to equalise in a 1–1 draw with Burnley on April 4.[5] Connolly made his 200th career league appearance three weeks later in a 2–0 home defeat against Reading.
In August 2009, Robbie Savage was appointed Derby Captain by Nigel Clough, who had replaced Paul Jewell after he had resigned in December 2008. Clough stated that he wanted Connolly to "concentrate on his own game. (He) was quite relieved in some ways because it is a big responsibility, especially when you are at full-back and out of the action.".[6] Although Connolly started the 2009–10 season as first choice right back he eventually fell down the pecking order as Clough deciding to bring in his own players and as a result bought in Premier League rightbacks from Fulham and Bolton Wanderers in the shape of Fredrik Stoor and Nicky Hunt respectively.
[edit] Sheffield United loan
To get some games under his belt Connolly joined Sheffield United on a month long emergency loan as defensive cover,[7] making his debut the same evening in a 3–0 victory over Blackpool. The loan was initially extended for another week but, with it becoming mathematically impossible for Sheffield United to make the playoffs, he returned to Pride Park after having made seven appearances for The Blades.[7]
[edit] Return to Derby
After returning to Derby, Connolly made the bench for the penultimate game of the season against Bristol City, coming on in the second half to make his first appearance in three months. Following the end of the season, Connolly was linked with moves to Leeds United and Sheffield United[8] with Leeds agreeing a 3-year deal with the defender ahead of a medical on June 2, 2010.[9]
[edit] Leeds United
[edit] 2010–11 season
On 10 June 2010, Leeds signed Connolly from Derby County on a free transfer. He joined on a three-year contract and was the third arrival of the summer, joining Kasper Schmeichel and Billy Paynter. Delighted United boss Simon Grayson said: "Paul brings plenty of experience and know-how to the squad."[10] Connolly was given the number 2 shirt, displacing Jason Crowe who had previously occupied the shirt number. He made his Leeds debut in the first game of the season against his old club Derby County on 7 August 2010 which ended in a 2–1 defeat. Connolly missed his first game for Leeds when a hamstring injury ruled him out of the game against Doncaster Rovers.[11] Manager Simon Grayson revealed in his pre match press conference against Sheffield United that Connolly would miss the match against Sheffield through injury,[12] and also the matches against Preston and Ipswich.[13] Connolly stepped up his comeback trail when he played for Leeds reserves against Scunthorpe reserves.[14]
Connolly returned to Leeds' starting lineup after injury against Middlesbrough.[15] On 8 January, Connolly helped earn Leeds a 1–1 draw against Arsenal, Leeds were 1-0 up when Robert Snodgrass scored a second half penalty, Arsenal equalised in the 90th minute when Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty.[16] Connolly was ruled out for several games with injury and lost his place in the Leeds side to Eric Lichaj, however once Connolly recovered from injury he returned to the Leeds side and Lichaj was moved to the left back position.[17]
[edit] 2011–12 season
Connolly started for Leeds the opening day of the season as they lost 3–1 against Southampton.[18] Connolly was substituted against Bradford City and his replacement Tom Lees made an impressive impact, which meant that Connolly was dropped for the following matches.[19]
After a spell out of the squad, Connolly returned to Leeds' starting 11 against Portsmouth on 1 October at right back with Tom Lees moving back into the centre back position, Leeds also kept their first clean sheet of the season in the same game.[20]
[edit] Career statistics
(correct as of 12 May 2010)
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other 1 | Total | |||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2000–01 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2001–02 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2002–03 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2003–04 | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 0 | |
| 2004–05 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 47 | 1 | |
| Derby County | 2008–09 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 1 |
| 2009–10 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Sheffield United (loan) | 2009–10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Career Total | 230 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 255 | 2 | |
^1 Football League Trophy
[edit] References
- ^ BBC Sport (November 6, 2006). "Connolly pens new Plymouth deal". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/6121258.stm/. Retrieved 3 January 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "Plymouth 3–0 Norwich". BBC. 10 November 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7076443.stm. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Derby snap up Plymouth defender". BBC Sport. 2008-05-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7400064.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
- ^ BBC Sport (June 20, 2008). "http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7465634.stm". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/7465634.stm. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ "Derby 1–1 Burnley". BBC. 4 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7972851.stm. Retrieved 29 May 2010.
- ^ "Switch of skipper will aid Connolly". Derby Evening Telegraph. 2009-08-19. http://www.therams.co.uk/news/Switch-skipper-aid-Connolly/article-1263886-detail/article.html. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- ^ a b "Blades bring in Connolly". sufc.co.uk. 2010-03-16. http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1995814,00.html. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- ^ "Connolly wanted by Leeds". therams.co.uk. 25 May 2010. http://www.therams.co.uk/news/Connolly-wanted-Leeds/article-2210144-detail/article.html?.
- ^ "Connolly's move to Leeds is set to be completed this week". therams.co.uk. 2 June 2010. http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/sport/Connolly-s-Leeds-set-completed-week/article-2239688-detail/article.html?.
- ^ "United complete defender signing". leedsunited.co.uk. 2010-06-10. http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100610/united-complete-defender-signing_2247585_2068179. Retrieved 2010-06-10.
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20100917/united-held-at-doncaster_2247585_2157209
- ^ http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Leeds-United-Testing-time-for.6548719.jp
- ^ "McCartney will strengthen Leeds - Grayson". BBC News. 23 September 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/9028386.stm.
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20101012/duo-return-to-action-in-reserves_2247585_2181615
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20101016/boro-live_2247585_2185882
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110108/late-leveller-denies-united-arsenal-scalp_2247585_2260931
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110422/dominant-united-held-at-home_2247585_2344644
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110806/united-crash-at-southampton_2247585_2411474
- ^ "Leeds 0 - 1 Middlesbrough". BBC. 13 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/14429778.stm. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Leeds Vs Portsmouth". LUFC. 1 October 2011. http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20111001/portsmouth-live_2247585_2469041. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
[edit] External links
- Paul Connolly player profile at dcfc.co.uk
- Paul Connolly player profile at pafc.co.uk
- Paul Connolly career stats at Soccerbase
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Stubbs |
Derby County Captain 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by Robbie Savage |
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