Aiden McGeady

Football player infobox
playername = Aiden McGeady


fullname = Aiden McGeady
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1986|4|4
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
height = height|ft=5|in=10
currentclub = Celtic
clubnumber = 46
position = Winger
youthyears =
2001–2004
youthclubs = Queen's Park
Celtic
years = 2004–
clubs = Celtic
caps(goals) = 167 (23)
nationalyears = 2004–
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 020 0(0)
pcupdate = 3 September, 2008
ntupdate = 9 September, 2008

Aiden McGeady (born April 4,1986 in Glasgow) is a professional footballer, who currently plays for Celtic F.C.. Born and raised in Scotland, he represents the Republic of Ireland, the land of his grandmother, at international level. He plays as both a left and right winger.

Club career

The Celtic support had heard exciting rumours about McGeady's potential, and was handed his debut as an 18-year-old against Hearts at Tynecastle, late in the 2003/4 season, after progressing through the Celtic youth and reserve teams. McGeady showed flashes of his skill in that first match and capped it off by scoring his team's only goal. He made his UEFA Champions League debut the next season in a game against Serie A giants AC Milan.

Since then, McGeady's career at Celtic has contunued to improve under their current manager, Gordon Strachan. McGeady's season was hampered by a persistent knee injury, but he played a significant role in Celtic's second title winning season under Gordon Strachan, contributing 5 goals and 7 assists.

The 2007/08 season was better for McGeady earning him praise from the media. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/7239472.stm Chick Young's View] BBC Sport, 11 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008. ]

This has been underlined by his some good displays throughout the season. One of his most devastating performances came against Aberdeen, scoring a goal and contributing three assists, setting up a second goal for striker Scott McDonald. He continued to provide goals for his team, most importantly Scott McDonald's equalising goal against rivals Rangers, a match that Celtic went on to win 3-2. A win which proved to be crucial in Celtic's successful defence of their title.

He was awarded the SPFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year on April 20, 2008, only the second player ever to receive both awards in the same season, as voted by his fellow players.

He contributed 7 SPL goals and 19 assists, as Celtic won the SPL, winning three titles in a row for the first time since Jock Stein was manager and was one of five players who scored a hat-trick in the 2007-08 season.

International career

McGeady played for Scotland Schools while at Queen's Park. He then joined Celtic who had recently introduced a policy of not allowing their youths to play for their school teams. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article1055553.ece Bhoy who would be king] The Times, April 4 2004.] At the time Scotland had a rule, which has since been changed, that should a young player not play for their school team they would not be considered for a call-up to Scotland Schools selects. The Republic of Ireland, who had no such rule, instructed Packie Bonner, who knew of McGeady's limited Irish lineage, (his grandmother hailed from Gweedore, County Donegal - his other three grandparents from Scotland) to invite McGeady to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 Schoolboys team, and he has since gone on to be a full Republic of Ireland international. Tommy Burns, Celtic's former Head of Youth Development and First team Coach, stated that McGeady's father wanted him to play for Scotland but, despite his father's urgings, McGeady still decided to play for the Republic of Ireland. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3662853.stm/ No U-turn for McGeady] ] McGeady was even named in a Scotland under-16 squad but, despite attempts to persuade him to do so by the likes of then Scotland head coach Berti Vogts, the player declined to represent the Scots. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20040502/ai_n12588630 Who’s to blame in sorry tale of the one that got away?] ] McGeady made his full début for the Republic of Ireland in June 2004 against Jamaica, and he has since gone on to win 18 caps for his Grandmother's country.

tatistics

"Last updated October 5 2008"

Honours

*flagicon|Scotland Celtic
*Scottish Premier League (2006, 2007, 2008)
*Scottish League Cup (2006)
*Scottish Cup (2005, 2007)

Awards

Since making his début, aged 18, McGeady has received the following awards:

*Celtic FC Young Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2007)
*Celtic FC Player of the Year (2008)
*SPFA Players Player of the Year (2008)
*SPFA 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)

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=38265|name=Aiden McGeady
* [http://www.icons.com/mcgeady/ Aiden McGeady Official Website] at Icons.com

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