Aiden McGeady
Encyclopedia
Aiden McGeady is a Scottish-born Irish
Irish-Scots
Irish-Scots are people who live in Scotland who are of immediate or traceably distinct Irish ancestry. Although migration between Ireland and Scotland has an established history owing to their close proximity, Irish migration to Scotland increased exponentially in the nineteenth century, and was...

 footballer who currently plays as a winger for Russian club Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...

. Although born and brought up in Scotland, McGeady plays internationally for 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....

, a country he qualifies for through his grandparents. McGeady's father John McGeady
John McGeady
John Thomas McGeady is a retired Scottish professional footballer who played as a Winger in Scotland, England and the United States...

 was also a professional footballer.

Celtic

McGeady ascended through the ranks of the youth and reserve teams
Celtic F.C. Reserve and Youth squads
As well as the Celtic first team, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the club also have reserve and under-19 sides.-Reserve team:Celtic Reserves are the reserve team of Celtic. The team mainly consists of Under-19 players at the club and fringe first team players...

 of Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...

 club Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...

. He was handed his senior debut on 24 April 2004 aged 18 in a league game against Hearts at Tynecastle late in the 2003–04 season. He started the match and marked it with a goal after 17 minutes. He made his UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...

 debut the next season in a game against Italian
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...

 side AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

 and made the breakthrough into the first-team that same season, with 27 appearances in the league as Celtic finished runners up in Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...

's final season with the club.

McGeady's 2005–06 season was hampered by a persistent knee injury and he struggled to get a starting place ahead of Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney
Shaun Richard Maloney is a Scottish footballer who plays for English club Wigan Athletic in the Premier League and for the Scotland national team. He plays on either Wing or as a Striker and occasionally as an Attacking Midfielder...

 and Shunsuke Nakamura
Shunsuke Nakamura
is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Yokohama F. Marinos in J. League Division 1. He is one of the most prominent and successful Asian players to have played in Scotland and on 13 September 2006 became the first Japanese player to score in the UEFA Champions League and the second Asian...

, but still managed to make 19 appearances over the course of the season as Celtic romped to the league title.

2006–07 marked the exit of Maloney to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...

 in January 2007, following a first half of the season plagued by injury. This opened a spot for McGeady where the player blossomed. He was a mainstay in the Celtic team that not only once again won the league at a canter but also qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time in club history, defeating , Benfica and Kobenhavn
F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....

 in the group stage before falling 1–0 to eventual champions AC Milan in extra time.

The 2007–08 season was McGeady's annus mirabilis
Annus mirabilis
Annus mirabilis is a Latin phrase meaning "wonderful year" or "year of wonders" . It was used originally to refer to the year 1666, but is today also used to refer to different years with events of major importance...

, earning him praise from the media, fans and fellow players. One of his most memorable performances came against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...

, scoring a goal and setting up three, including a second goal for striker Scott McDonald
Scott McDonald
Scott Douglas McDonald is an Australian football player who currently plays as a striker for English Championship side Middlesbrough and the Australian national team. Scott McDonald is of Scottish heritage.-Early career:...

 with a 360-degree turn and cross. He continued to provide goals for his team, most importantly Scott McDonald's equalising goal against rivals Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...

, a match that Celtic went on to win 3–2 which proved to be crucial in Celtic's successful defence of their title. Throughout the season, he contributed a total of eight goals and 24 assists and was awarded the SPFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year on 20 April 2008, only the second player ever to receive both awards in the same season (the first was Shaun Maloney
Shaun Maloney
Shaun Richard Maloney is a Scottish footballer who plays for English club Wigan Athletic in the Premier League and for the Scotland national team. He plays on either Wing or as a Striker and occasionally as an Attacking Midfielder...

 in 2006), as voted by his fellow players. The club reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for a second consecutive season and won the league title for the third year in a row, overhauling Rangers with one week left and winning at Dundee United on the final day of the season to clinch the trophy.

McGeady entered in 2008–09 as Celtic's star player but thanks to injuries and disharmony behind the scenes, his performances suffered as Celtic endured a poor second half to the season having led much of the way. On 16 December 2008, after a much-publicised dressing room row between him and manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...

, McGeady was fined two weeks' wages and suspended for two matches, although Strachan later denied any fall-out between him and McGeady. Celtic finished runners up to Rangers on the final day of the season and Strachan resigned in the days that followed.

The 2009–10 season began well for McGeady as he scored two against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...

 on the opening day of the season. The team's form dipped for much of the season under new manager Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray
Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...

 which led to Mowbray being sacked in March. McGeady enjoyed an improved season, staying injury free while contributing seven goals and 16 assists in 34 appearances. Former teammate Neil Lennon
Neil Lennon
Neil Francis Lennon is a former footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the current manager and former captain of Celtic....

 took over as interim manager after Mowbray's departure. Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...

 knocked Celtic out of the Scottish Cup and Celtic ended the season trophyless for the first time since 2003, having finished in second place in the SPL.

Spartak Moscow

In early August 2010, Celtic accepted an offer of around £9.5 million from Russian side Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...

 and McGeady travelled to Moscow for talks. On 13 August, McGeady completed his move to Spartak, signing a four-and-half-year contract. The move made McGeady the most expensive export in the history of Scottish football.
On 11 September, McGeady made his league debut against Saturn
FC Saturn Moscow Oblast
FC Saturn Ramenskoye was a Russian football club, based in the Moscow suburb of Ramenskoye. It is also known as FC Saturn Moscow Region . The club was founded in 1946...

 in a 2–1 win.
On 24 September, he scored his first goal for Spartak in a 2–2 draw at home to Amkar
FC Amkar Perm
FC Amkar Perm is a professional football club playing in Russian Premier League.They are based in the city of Perm and are the easternmost football club in Europe playing in top national competition...

. In the last game of the season, McGeady was sent off for a late challenge on Marcin Kowalczyk
Marcin Kowalczyk
Marcin Kowalczyk is a Polish football defender who plays for Zagłębie Lubin.-Club:In early 2006 Kowalczyk joined GKS Bełchatów, where he played for two years. On 26 February 2008 he signed with Dynamo Moscow...

 in the derby against Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...

. On 9 December 2010, the Russian Football Union named its list of 33 top players, placing McGeady as second best right winger despite joining the club mid-season.

International career

McGeady played for Scotland Schools while at Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...

. He played in an under-13 World Cup tournament in Paris. After Queen's Park he joined Celtic, who had a policy of not permitting their youths to play for their school teams due to conflicting kick off times. Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...

 had a rule which would not permit a player who did not play for their school team to be considered for a call-up to Scotland Schools selects.

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....

 had no such rule preventing a player from being selected and instructed former Celtic player Packie Bonner
Packie Bonner
Patrick Joseph "Packie" Bonner is an Irish former football goalkeeper for Celtic and the Republic of Ireland, who earned 80 caps after making his debut on his 21st birthday...

, who knew of McGeady's Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 heritage, to invite McGeady to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 Schoolboys team. McGeady qualifies for Ireland through his paternal grandparents, who hail from the Gaeltacht area of Gweedore
Gweedore
Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...

, Co. Donegal. McGeady accepted the offer and joined the Irish youth setup. McGeady was later named in a Scotland under-16 squad, but declined, citing his experience of the Irish set up, despite attempts to persuade him to do so by Scotland head coach Berti Vogts
Berti Vogts
Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a German former footballer. He played for Borussia Mönchengladbach and won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974. He later managed Germany , Scotland and Nigeria...

.

McGeady made his full debut for the Republic of Ireland in July 2004 against Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...

. He has made over 40 appearances for Ireland, being called up by manager Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....

 in each of his squads and featuring often. However, he lost his place in the starting line-up during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...

.

On 26 March 2011, McGeady scored his first goal for Ireland in the Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium
The Aviva Stadium is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 50,000 spectators. The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the...

 against Macedonia in Euro 2012 qualifier, with Ireland winning 2-1.

International goals

#Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 March 2011 Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium
The Aviva Stadium is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 50,000 spectators. The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the...

, Dublin, Ireland
1–0 2–1 Euro 2012 qualifying
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...

2 8 October 2011 Estadi Comunal d'Aixovall, Andorra 2-0 2-0 Euro 2012 qualifying
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...


Career statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
App Goals Assists App Goals Assists App Goals Assists App Goals Assists App Goals Assists
Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...

2003–04
Scottish Premier League 2003-04
The 2003–04 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic.As league champions, Celtic qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Rangers also qualifying...

4 1 2 0 0 |0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 2
2004–05
Scottish Premier League 2004-05
The 2004–05 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers.As league champions, Rangers qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Celtic also qualifying...

27 4 7 5 0 1 2 1 3 3 0 0 37 5 11
2005–06
Scottish Premier League 2005-06
The 2005–06 Scottish Premier League was won by Celtic, with a 17-point margin over their nearest challengers Hearts in the first season under the management of Gordon Strachan...

20 4 6 1 0 |1 2 0 0 1 0 0 24 4 7
2006–07
Scottish Premier League 2006-07
The 2006–07 Scottish Premier League season was the ninth season of the Scottish Premier League. It began on July 29, 2006.The league champions, Celtic and runners-up, Rangers, qualified for the UEFA Champions League on the return of Walter Smith as manager following a brief and disastrous...

34 5 8 4 0 |3 2 0 2 6 0 0 46 5 13
2007–08
Scottish Premier League 2007-08
The 2007–08 Scottish Premier League season was the tenth season of the Scottish Premier League. It began on 4 August 2007 and was originally due to end on 18 May 2008...

36 7 16 4 0 |4 1 0 0 10 1 4 51 8 24
2008–09
Scottish Premier League 2008-09
The 2008–09 Scottish Premier League season was the eleventh season of the Scottish Premier League and the second season under the sponsorship of the Clydesdale Bank...

29 3 6 3 1 |2 4 2 2 4 1 0 40 7 10
2009–10 35 7 14 4 0 |1 2 0 0 9 0 1 49 7 16
Total 185316021111133733252523783
Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow
FC Spartak Moscow is a Russian football club from Moscow. Having won 12 Soviet championships and 9 of 19 Russian championships they are one of the country's most successful clubs. They have also won the Soviet Cup 10 times and the Russian Cup 3 times...

2010
2010 Russian Premier League
The 2010 Russian Premier League is the 19th season of the Russian football championship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and 9th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season started on 12 March 2010. The last matches have been played on 29 November 2010. On 14 November 2010,...

10 2 6 0 0 0 7 0 3 17 2 9
2011–12
2011–12 Russian Premier League
The 2011–12 Russian Premier League is the 20th season of the Russian football championship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and 10th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season began on 12 March 2011. The last matches will be played in spring 2012, as the league will switch...

19 3 8 3 1 2 5 1 1 28 5 11
Total 30514312Career Total 2153674241131337453929744103

Club

Celtic
  • Scottish Premier League
    Scottish Premier League
    The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...

     (3): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
  • Scottish League Cup
    Scottish League Cup
    The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...

     (2): 2005–06
    2006 Scottish League Cup Final
    The 2006 Scottish League Cup Final was a football match played on 19 March 2006 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. It was the final match of the 2005–06 Scottish League Cup and the 59th Scottish League Cup Final. The final was contested by Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic...

    , 2008–09
    2009 Scottish League Cup Final
    The 2009 Scottish League Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Scottish League Cup, the 62nd season of the Scottish League Cup. The match was played at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 15 March 2009, and was won by Celtic, who beat Old Firm rivals and Cup holders, Rangers, 2-0 after extra...

  • Scottish Cup
    Scottish Cup
    The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...

     (2): 2004–05
    2005 Scottish Cup Final
    The 2005 Scottish Cup Final was played on 28 May 2005 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 119th Scottish Cup. The final was contested by Celtic and Dundee United. Celtic won the match with an eleventh minute goal from Alan Thompson....

    , 2006–07
    2007 Scottish League Cup Final
    The 2007 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 18 March 2007 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the 60th Scottish League Cup Final. The final was contested by Kilmarnock and Hibernian, who had never met before in a Cup Final...


Minor

  • Reserve Scottish Premier League (2002, 2003, 2004)
  • Under 19 Scottish Premier League (2003, 2004)
  • Scottish Youth Cup
    Scottish Youth Cup
    The Scottish Youth Cup is an annual Scottish football competition run by the Scottish Football Association for under-19 teams...

     (2003)

Individual

  • Celtic FC Young Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2007)
  • Celtic FC Fans Player of the Year (2008)
  • Celtic FC Players' Player of the Year (2008, 2010)
  • SPFA Players' Player of the Year (2008)
  • SPFA Young Player of the Year (2008)
  • BBC Sportsound Player of the Year (2008)
  • Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Year (2008)
  • Scottish Premier League Player of the Month (5)
  • Scottish Premier League Young Player of the Month (6)
  • Eircom Republic of Ireland Young Player of the Year (2009)

External links

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