Patrick McCourt

Football player infobox


playername = Pat McCourt
fullname = Patrick McCourt
height = height|m=1.82
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|12|16
cityofbirth = Derry
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
currentclub = Celtic
clubnumber = 20
position = Winger
youthyears = 1998-2000
2000-2001
youthclubs = Foyle Harps
Rochdale
years = 2001-2005
2005
2005-2008
2008-
clubs = Rochdale
Shamrock Rovers
Derry City
Celtic
caps(goals) = 79 (8)
17 (7)
53 (5)
00 (0)
nationalyears = 2001-2002
2002
nationalteam = Northern Ireland U21
Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = ? (0)
01 (0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Patrick McCourt " (born 16 December, 1983, Derry), is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a winger with Scottish Premier League champions Celtic. Before joining the Scottish Champions from Derry City, McCourt, had a reputation as one of the most skillful players in the League of Ireland. He is the brother of former Derry City striker Harry McCourt.

Career

Rochdale

McCourt, educated at Steelstown Primary School in Derry, began his career with an early move from Foyle Harps to Rochdale on a youth team contract and was billed as a promising winger.His potential quickly persuaded the Spotland club to sign him on a 3 and a half year contract in December 2001, shortly after making his debut against Kidderminster Harriers. His first season ended with 23 appearances and 4 goals. This was complemented by the 9 caps he received at Under 21 level for Northern Ireland. In June 2002, he seemed to have the world at his feet when the then Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy handed him his senior international debut against the might of Spain at Windsor Park [" [http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2045/under-21/patrick-mccourt-midfielder/ Patrick McCourt - Player Profile] ", "Irish Football Association", 18 August2005.] . This came at the peak of McCourt's career [" [http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/sport/s/32/32912_hard_work_still_to_be_done_for_patrick.html Hard work still to be done for Patrick] ", Jonathan Greaney, "Rochdale Observer", 11 March2003.] , and he attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs during 2002-03, including Blackburn Rovers. A formal bid of £1.5m was made by Manchester City, however, this was rejected by Rochdale and the deal fell through.

In the 2003-04 season, McCourt managed just a handful of starts for the club and had two spells away on trial with English First Division sides Norwich City [" [http://www.ex-canaries.co.uk/players/mccourt.htm Patrick McCourt - Biography] ", "Flown From the Nest", 10 September2005.] and Crewe Alexandra, though neither club followed up their initial interest in him. Despite scoring some spectacular goals during his spell at Spotland Stadium, a combination of injuries and loss of form hastened his departure from Rochdale in February 2005. McCourt has been described by Rochdale fans as "unbelievably poor, or frustratingly under-achieving".

hamrock Rovers

After Rochdale manager Steve Parkin had informed him that he was to be released, McCourt headed for another trial, this time with Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell. Again a move failed to materialise after a two-week stay at Fir Park, but shortly afterwards his career was thrown a life-line when he was signed by Roddy Collins, manager of Eircom League full-timers Shamrock Rovers.

A rejuvenated McCourt wasted no time in becoming a firm favourite with the Rovers fans when he scored three goals in his first six appearances for the Dublin club and topped the goalscoring table by May 2005. As the club ran into financial difficulty, mainly due to the costs surrounding the building of Tallaght Stadium, the club were forced to place all their players on the transfer list for free, however, this excluded McCourt who they felt was an indispensable asset of the club. However, after 7 goals in 17 appearances (3 of which were goal of the season contenders [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/reports/vbray_060505.html] ) and following interest from Bristol City and Queen's Park Rangers, Shamrock Rovers, in need of funds, decided to let McCourt go. The player was signed by his home-town club, Derry City, for a fee thought to be around £60,000. He still ended as Rovers top goalscorer that season and won the Professional Footballers Association of Ireland award of 'Young Player of the Year' [http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ierpoy.html]

Derry City

McCourt helped Derry to the runners-up position in both the 2005 and 2006 League of Ireland seasons. There can be no question about McCourt's ability, although his consistency is sometimes brought into question. McCourt scored 6 goals in 31 appearances for City in the 2007 season and won an FAI League Cup medal. His skill had reportedly interested West Bromwich Albion, and Derry City announced in June 2008 that they had reached agreement with the newly-promoted Premier League side. [http://www.derrycityfc.net/season/08/news/displaystory.php?storyid=312] .

Celtic

In June 2008, it was reported Derry City had agreed a fee with Celtic with McCourt travelling to Glasgow to finalise terms and undergo a medical at Celtic's Training Camp in Lennoxtown. West Brom had agreed terms with both player and club, but the lure of joining the club he supported as a boy persuaded McCourt to move to Glasgow [>cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/spl-football/celtic-fc/2008/06/20/celtic-new-boy-paddy-mccourt-s-got-more-talent-than-aiden-mcgeady-says-former-boss-86908-20614519/|title=Celtic new boy Paddy McCourt's got more talent than Aiden McGeady, says former boss|publisher=Daily Record|accessdate=August 18|accessyear=2008] . On 19 June 2008 Celtic announced that Patrick had signed for the club for an undisclosed fee after agreeing a three year contract. After he had signed for Celtic, he quoted "to get the chance to play for the club is unbelievable". And on 8 July 2008, more good news reached McCourt, when Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington said that McCourt, commonly likened to Pavel Nedved in both appearance and ability, was likely to be recalled to the national squad. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7462901.stm|title=McCourt seals transfer to Celtic|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=June 20|accessyear=2008]

References

External links

*soccerbase|44179|Patrick McCourt
* [http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2045/under-21/patrick-mccourt-midfielder/?keywords=patrick+mccourt Player Profile - Official IFA site]
* [http://derrycityfc.net/players/current/pmccourt.php McCourt's player profile on "CityWeb"]