Jon Macken

Jon Macken

Personal information
Full name	Jonathan Paul Macken
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Walsall
Number	10
Youth career
1995–1996	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–1997	Manchester United	0	(0)
1997–2002	Preston North End	189	(63)
2002–2005	Manchester City	51	(7)
2005–2007	Crystal Palace	25	(2)
2006–2007	→ Ipswich Town (loan)	14	(3)
2007–2008	Derby County	11	(0)
2007	→ Barnsley (loan)	11	(3)
2008–2010	Barnsley	94	(18)
2010–	Walsall	65	(15)
International career‡
1997	England U20	1	(0)
2004	Republic of Ireland	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:40, 6 March 2012 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:58, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Jonathan Paul "Jon" Macken (born 7 September 1977 in Blackley, Manchester) is an English-born Irish footballer who plays as a striker and currently plays for League One Walsall. He has one international cap for the Republic of Ireland.

Playing career

Early career

Macken began his career at Manchester United and signed professional in 1996, but never played a first-team game for them and left on 22 July 1997 in a £250,000 move to Preston North End in 1997 where he scored over 70 goals, twice winning the Player of the Year award. Following this success, Macken moved into the Premiership with a transfer to Manchester City in February 2002, for a fee of £5,000,000. He is most remembered at City for scoring the dramatic winner in the epic comeback win against Spurs in the 2003/04 FA Cup. However, he was severely hampered by a succession of injuries, and only made 27 league starts in over three years. This downturn in his career brought about a move away from Manchester and Macken joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2005 for £1,100,000.

Crystal Palace

Initially, Macken did not get into the Palace team, and was behind England international Andrew Johnson and Republic of Ireland International Clinton Morrison. An injury to Johnson gave him a chance, initially, but then he himself got injured. His own replacement, Dougie Freedman showed good form, and despite a recovery from injury, Macken did not get back in the team.

However, things turned upwards from there. Poor form by Morrison in the run-up to the Christmas period gave Macken his chance, and he scored his first competitive goal for Palace in the game at Coventry City, on 14 October 2005 (he had previously scored in a pre-season friendly), and scored again on 26 December, at Ipswich Town, although he was later sent off.

More injuries then continued to limit his chances, and the partnership with Johnson continued to alternate between Morrison and Dougie Freedman, with many fans voicing their discontent that Macken was not living up to his price-tag. Johnson was sold to Everton, prompting the return of Sándor Torghelle to the club from his loan at Panathinaikos, creating speculation that Macken may be leaving the club, but the appointment of Peter Taylor as manager appeared to silence this. Taylor, a known fan of Macken, was reportedly trying to sign him for Hull, while he was in charge there.

Torghelle left permanently for Greece, but again his playing opportunities were limited. On deadline-day of the Summer 2006 transfer window, he made a further move to Ipswich Town in The Championship, this time on loan, being handed the number 27 shirt. The loan was finally agreed when Ipswich agreed to pay an increased proportion of his wages. Macken scored three goals for the Tractor Boys before returning to Selhurst Park.

Derby County

On 31 January 2007 Macken joined Derby County on a free transfer. Derby were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2006–07 season, but he failed to win a regular place, or even score for The Rams, and was loaned out to Championship side Barnsley for two months in November 2007. Although he was recalled on 27 December 2007 he eventually signed a permanent deal with the Tykes on 28 January 2008 for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

Barnsley

Macken initially joined Barnsley on 1 November 2007, on loan from Derby County. He made his debut against the club that made his name, Preston North End. He remained goalless for his first nine games, despite having produced a string of fine performances. On 22 December, he scored his first Barnsley goal against promotion chasing Bristol City after a fine run and shot.

The goals were flowing for Macken and he notched a brace against Stoke City on 26 December. First a header from a Martin Devaney corner. His second goal came courtesy of a Kayode Odejayi knock-down from another Devaney cross. He then returned to Derby after Paul Jewell took over.

He made a couple of sub appearances for the Rams but his inevitable return to Barnsley was secured on 28 January 2008 for £200,000.

The next day, he marked his return with a fine finish in the home game with Colchester United. He bagged the second goal in a 2–1 win over West Bromwich Albion on 9 February and he was again on the scoresheet as the Reds thrashed Ipswich Town on 11 March.

He was released by Barnsley after the 2009–10 season and left when his contract expired in June.

Walsall

On 19 August 2010, League One club Walsall signed Macken on a one-year deal with the option of a further year.

International

Macken has represented the England U-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship earning him self one cap. Macken then went on to represents the Republic of Ireland at full international level were he received one cap in 2004.

External links

• Jon Macken profile at barnsleyfc.co.uk
• Jon Macken at Soccerbase