Graham Coughlan

Football player infobox
playername = Graham Coughlan


fullname = Graham Coughlan
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|11|18
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
height = height|ft=6|in=2
currentclub = Shrewsbury Town
clubnumber = 5
position = Defender
youthyears = 1992–1994
youthclubs = Cherry Orchard
years = 1994–1995
1995–1999
1997
1999
1999–2001
2001–2005
2005–2007
2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Bray Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers
→ Swindon Town (loan)
→ Livingston (loan)
Livingston
Plymouth Argyle
Sheffield Wednesday
→ Burnley (loan)
Rotherham United
Shrewsbury Town
caps(goals) = 011 00(0)
000 00(0)
003 00(0)
006 00(0)
050 00(2)
177 0(25)
051 00(5)
002 00(0)
045 00(1)
003 00(2)
pcupdate = 15:18, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Graham Coughlan (born 18 November, 1974 in Dublin, County Dublin), is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a defender for Shrewsbury Town.

Player Profile

Coughlan started his playing career at Leinster Senior League side Cherry Orchard, he then briefly moved to Football League of Ireland club Bray Wanderers. At 21 he was brought to England by then Blackburn Rovers manager Ray Harford but struggled to earn a place in the Premier League Champions' first team. Loan spells at Swindon Town and Livingston followed before he made a permanent move to the Scottish club in the Summer of 1999 having impressed whilst on loan there.

Coughlan spent two successful seasons at Livingston before moving back to England to Devon club Plymouth Argyle.

Plymouth Argyle

A highly successful four year spell at the club followed with Graham a permanent fixture, earning his name in the PFA Division Three team of the year for 2001–02 [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/1930771.stm] and Plymouth Division Three (where he was top goalscorer) and Division Two League Championships (Where he was named as Division Two's Player of the year). Coughlan was voted the clubs player of the year in 2002 and was also named in the greatest Plymouth Team by fans to mark the clubs first 100 years as a professional club. Coughlan was also Vice Captain of Plymouth and his influence and stature was missed for nearly two seasons in their defence after he was sold to Sheffield Wednesday which they then managed to fill with Krisztián Timár.

heffield Wednesday

In the summer of 2005 he was reunited with former manager Paul Sturrock when he moved back up North to newly-promoted Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=291182&plid=9684&clid=&cpid=10] . During his first season at the club Graham has proved to be a hit with the fans and management alike, earning a regular place in the team and also taking over the role of captain from Lee Bullen whilst the Scot's injury problems had regularly kept him out of the team.

On 12 April 2006 Coughlan was named Sheffield Wednesday Player of the Year 2005/06. It was the fifth time Graham has won such an award, having previously being named Player of the Year twice at Livingston and twice at Plymouth.

On 1 March 2007 it was reported that Coughlan's younger brother had tragically drowned in a canal in Dublin. No foul play was suspected [http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=55&ArticleID=2093184] . However, Coughlan was sent on immediate compassionate leave for the next 5 games. On his return he asked to be sent on loan after failing to feature for the first team under new boss Brian Laws. He immediately managed to agree a deal to stay at Burnley until the end of the season. [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=456221&CPID=10&clid=90&lid=4&title=Burnley+bolster+backline&channel=&] However he only started one game, the 0-0 draw with Luton Town.

After returning to Sheffield Wednesday he was told by manager Brian Laws that he had no future at the club and was made available for transfer.

Rotherham United

On 4 July 2007, Coughlan was released by Sheffield Wednesday after being deemed surplus to requirements. After rejecting a deal with Leeds United, Coughlan then signed for Rotherham United on July 13. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rotherham_utd/6897634.stm|title=Defender Coughlan joins Rotherham|date=2007-07-13|accessdate=2007-07-13|publisher=BBC Sport] He made his debut on 11 August in a 0–0 draw with Hereford United, and was almost ever-present throughout the 2007-08 season.

hrewsbury Town

On 30 July, 2008, Coughlan signed a two-year contract with Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee. [cite news|url=http://www.shrewsburytown.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10443~1354614,00.html|title=Defender Signs|date=2008-07-30|accessdate=2008-07-30|publisher=www.shrewsburytown.co.uk] He scored a goal on his debut, in the 4–0 win over Macclesfield Town on 9 August.

Honours

=Plymouth Argyle=

* 2001-02 Division Three Champions
* 2003-04 Division Two Champions
* 2001-02 Named in the PFA Division Three team of the year
* 2003-04 Named As Division Two's Player of the year

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=9690|name=Graham Coughlan