Stephen O'Donnell (Scottish footballer)

:"This article refers to the current St. Mirren footballer. For the Bohemian footballer, see Stephen O'Donnell (Irish footballer)"

Football player infobox
playername = Stephen O'Donnell
fullname = Stephen James O'Donnell


height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|7|10
cityofbirth = Bellshill
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = St Mirren
position = Midfielder
clubnumber = 12
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2001–2005
2003–2004
2005
2005–2007
2007–
clubs = Dundee United
→ Ross County (loan)
Boston United
Clyde
St. Mirren
caps(goals) = 17 0(0)
24 0(3)
04 0(0)
54 (14)
19 0(1)
nationalyears = 1999–2000
2001
2002–2003
nationalteam = Scotland under-16cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scotland_matches.cfm?curpageid=514|title=UNDER 16 INTERNATIONALS 1999/2000|publisher=Scottish FA|accessdate=2008-06-26]
Scotland under-19cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scotland_matches.cfm?curpageid=498|title=SCOTLAND UNDER 19 INTERNATIONALS, 2001/2002|publisher=Scottish FA|accessdate=2008-06-26]
Scotland under-20cite web|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scotland_matches.cfm?curpageid=494|title=INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES 2002/2003|publisher=Scottish FA|accessdate=2008-06-26]
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 0(0)
01 0(0)
02 0(2)
pcupdate = 22:27, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 14:40, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Stephen James O'Donnell (born 10 July 1983 in Bellshill) is a Scottish football midfielder currently playing for St. Mirren. He is the nephew of former Celtic and Motherwell player Phil O'Donnell, who died on the pitch on December 29, 2007.

Career

O'Donnell began his career with Dundee United, making his first-team début in March 2002 and featuring six times in the final months of 2001-02, signing an extended contract in the process.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/1927117.stm|title=Dundee Utd turn to youth|date=2002-04-12|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] The following season, O'Donnell featured in fourteen matches, scoring a hat-trick in the League Cup [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/2276673.stm|title=Dundee United rout Queen's Park|date=2002-09-23|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] and netting in the Scottish Cup defeat to Hibernian. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scottish_cup/2689603.stm|title=Brebner is Hibs hero|date=2003-02-13|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] Before the start of the 2003-04 season, manager Ian McCall allowed O'Donnell to join Ross County on loan, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/3030632.stm|title=O'Donnell moves to County|date=2003-06-29|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] where he was reunited with Alex Smith, who gave him his senior début at United. Initially signing on loan for six months, the deal was extended for the duration of the season, with O'Donell playing most matches. Failing to break back into the United first team in 2004-05, O'Donnell went on trial at English side Boston United, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/boston_united/3951561.stm|title=O'Donnell given trial by Pilgrims |date=2004-10-25|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] joining in February for the rest of the season. After failing to win a long-term contract, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/boston_united/4512509.stm|title=Pilgrims pair handed new deals |date=2005-05-04|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] O'Donnell returned to Scotland to sign for Clyde.

O'Donnell scored ten goals for the club during the 2005-06 season and was rewarded partway through with a new 18-month contract. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/clyde/4490624.stm|title=Four agree new Clyde contracts |date=2005-12-01|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] O'Donnell scored a penalty at Ibrox against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup, to put Clyde 2-1 up, though they lost 5-2 after extra time. O'Donnell also got the opportunity to score against the other half of the Old Firm, Celtic, a few months later in the Scottish Cup, though this time his penalty was saved. Ironically, he floated in the resulting corner, which led to the winning Clyde goal.

O'Donnell signed for St. Mirren on January 30, 2007 [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_mirren/6300435.stm|title=Clyde pair complete Buddies move |date=2007-01-30|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] and scored his first goal within three weeks, netting in the 1-1 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6362053.stm|title=Hearts 1-1 St Mirren |date=2007-02-17|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] In December 2007, O'Donnell suffered a broken metatarsal in training, ruling him out for three months. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/st_mirren/7142977.stm|title=O'Donnell injury blow for Buddies|date=2007-12-13|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26]

International career

O'Donnell has played for his country at under-16, under-19 and under-20 level. In January 2004, O'Donnell was named in the Scotland under-21 squad to play against Hungary under-21s [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3431087.stm|title=Young Scots to face Hungary|date=2004-01-26|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=2008-06-26] but failed to add to his appearances at earlier levels.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=30553|name=Stephen O'Donnell

ee also

*Clyde F.C. season 2005-06 | 2006-07