John O'Sullivan (footballer)

John O'Sullivan
Personal information
Full name John Anthony James O'Sullivan[1]
Date of birth (1993-09-18) 18 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland[2]
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[3]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Shelbourne
Number 16
Youth career
0000–2009 Belvedere[4]
2009–2013 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Blackburn Rovers 6 (0)
2014Southport (loan) 21 (5)
2014Accrington Stanley (loan) 13 (4)
2015Barnsley (loan) 8 (0)
2015–2016Rochdale (loan) 3 (0)
2016Bury (loan) 19 (0)
2016–2017Accrington Stanley (loan) 19 (3)
2017–2018 Carlisle United 35 (4)
2018–2019 Blackpool 13 (0)
2019Dundee (loan) 11 (0)
2019–2021 Morecambe 72 (7)
2021–2022 Accrington Stanley 25 (2)
2022–2023 Bohemians 27 (2)
2024– Shelbourne 24 (1)
International career
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 13 (1)
2012–2013 Republic of Ireland U21 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:21, 27 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:19, 21 August 2016 (UTC)

John Anthony James O'Sullivan (born 18 September 1993) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Shelbourne.

Club career

[edit]

In the summer of 2009, O’Sullivan, aged 15, joined Premier League side Blackburn Rovers from Dublin-based Belvedere, a youth club that's well known for its youth system which has successfully produced dozens of players who have gone on to play football throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Working his way through the ranks at Rovers, from the Academy to the Reserves, O’Sullivan begun to be featured in match day squads as an unused substitute during the 2012–13 Football League Championship campaign, the club's first season return in the second tier of English football having been relegated from the Premier League in May 2012.

On 4 May 2013, O’Sullivan made his senior professional debut for Rovers in their final game of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute against Birmingham City.[5]

On 9 January 2014, O'Sullivan joined Conference Premier side Southport on a one-month loan deal.[6] On 2 February, the loan was extended until the end of the season.[7] He scored his first goal for Southport on 22 February 2014 in a 3–1 away defeat against Forest Green Rovers.[8]

On 19 September 2014, O'Sullivan joined League Two outfit Accrington Stanley on a one-month loan deal.[9] On 20 October 2014, the loan was extended until 20 December 2014. O'Sullivan scored 4 goals in 13 appearances.[10]

In January 2017, it was announced that O’Sullivan and Blackburn Rovers had agreed to mutually terminate the player's contract, ending his eight-year association with the Lancashire outfit. In total, O’Sullivan made six first-team appearances for Rovers, having spent a majority of his last three-years with the club out on-loan at Southport, Accrington Stanley, Barnsley, Rochdale and Bury.[11]

In the same month, following his release from Blackburn Rovers, O’Sullivan signed for League Two side Carlisle United on an 18-month-deal.[12] He was released by Carlisle at the end of the 2017-18 season, having made 35 league appearances for the Cumbrian club, finding the net on two occasions.[13]

In June 2018, O’Sullivan linked up once again with former Rovers academy and first-team manager Gary Bowyer at League One Blackpool, signing a one-year deal with the Tangerines.[14]

On 4 September, O'Sullivan scored his first goal for Blackpool in a 3-3 draw against Macclesfield Town in the EFL Trophy.[15]

In late January 2019, O’Sullivan, joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on loan until the end-of-the-season.[16] He left Blackpool at the end of the season, following the expiration of his contract with the Seasiders. Blackpool had opted against activating the clause in O'Sullivan's contract to extend his stay by a further year.[17]

On 2 July 2019, O'Sullivan joined League Two outfit Morecambe, agreeing to a two-year deal with the side.[18]

On 17 June 2021, it was announced that O’Sullivan had agreed to join League One side Accrington Stanley on a three-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with newly promoted Morecambe, having turned down an offer from Morecambe to join rivals Stanley. It meant that the move was to be the first time O’Sullivan had linked up with Stanley on a permanent basis, having previously had two loan-spells with the club.[19]

On 10 June 2022, John returned home to Dublin to sign for League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians.[20]

On 8 December 2023, O'Sullivan would join Bohemian's rivals Shelbourne for the 2024 season.[21] O'Sullivan would win the League of Ireland Premier Division with the Shels at the end of the 2024 season.[22][23]

International career

[edit]

O'Sullivan made his debut for the Ireland national under 15 team in 2008, he won international u16 player of the year. He has been called up at all age groups to the Republic of Ireland U21s. In 2011, he featured in all the games for Ireland u19 team that reached the semi-final of the euro finals.

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 25 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2012–13[24] Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2013–14[25] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[26] 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2015–16[27] 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Total 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
Southport (loan) 2013–14[25] Conference Premier 21 3 0 0 0 0 21 3
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2014–15[26] League Two 13 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 4
Barnsley (loan) 2014–15[26] League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Rochdale (loan) 2015–16[27] League One 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Bury (loan) 2015–16[27] League One 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2016–17[28] League Two 19 1 2 1 3 0 1[a] 0 25 2
Carlisle United 2016–17[28] League Two 17 1 0 0 0 0 2[b] 2 19 3
2017–18[29] 18 1 4 0 0 0 1[a] 0 23 1
Total 35 2 4 0 0 0 3 2 42 4
Blackpool 2018–19[30] League One 13 0 2 0 4 0 3[a] 1 22 1
Dundee 2018–19[30] Scottish Premiership 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Morecambe 2019–20[31] League Two 34 3 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 39 3
2020–21[32] 38 4 3 1 3 0 3[c] 0 47 5
Total 72 7 4 1 4 0 6 0 86 8
Accrington Stanley 2021–22[33] League One 24 2 1 0 0 0 1[a] 1 26 3
Bohemians 2022[34] LOI Premier Division 8 1 3 0 11 1
2023[35] 19 1 5 0 2[d] 1 26 2
Total 27 2 8 0 2 1 37 3
Shelbourne 2024[36] LOI Premier Division 24 1 2 0 0 0 3[e] 0 29 1
Career total 293 22 24 2 12 0 19 5 348 29
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in the League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in the Football League Trophy and the League Two play-offs
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
  5. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

Honours

[edit]

Morecambe

Bohemians

Shelbourne

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). premierleague.com. Premier League. 2 September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 430. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ "John O'Sullivan". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Past Belvo Players". www.belvederefc.com. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Birmingham 1–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  6. ^ "John Coleman Signs Four Players Today". Southport FC. 9 January 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014.
  7. ^ "O'Sullivan Loan Extended". Blackburn Rovers FC. 2 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Forest Green 3–1 Southport". BBC Sport. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Accrington: O'Sullivan & Maguire join from Blackburn and West Ham". BBC Sport. 19 September 2014.
  10. ^ "John O'Sullivan: Blackburn midfielder extends Accrington stay". BBC Sport. 20 October 2014.
  11. ^ Dollery, Paul (17 January 2017). "Blackburn terminate Irish winger O'Sullivan's contract by mutual agreement". The42. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Former Blackburn Rovers winger John O'Sullivan joins Carlisle United". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Carlisle United release eight players after missing out on League Two play-offs". BBC Sport. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  14. ^ "John O'Sullivan: Blackpool sign out-of-contract Carlisle United midfielder". BBC. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Macclesfield 3 Blackpool 3". blackpoolfc.o.uk. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Dundee sign Scott Wright, Ryan McGowan, Ethan Robson and John O'Sullivan on loan". BBC Sport. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  17. ^ "14 players exit Dundee after relegation". BBC Sport. 20 May 2019.
  18. ^ "John O'sullivan Signs".
  19. ^ "John O'Sullivan: Accrington Stanley sign Morecambe winger on a three-year deal". BBC. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  20. ^ "BOHEMIANS SIGN MIDFIELDER JOHN O'SULLIVAN". Bohemian F.C. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  21. ^ "Damien Duff bolsters Shelbourne squad with signings of John Martin and John O'Sullivan". Independent.ie. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Premier Division: Shelbourne beat Derry to win first title since 2006". BBC Sport. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  23. ^ "Shelbourne crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions on final night of drama". Irish Independent. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  26. ^ a b c "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  30. ^ a b "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  32. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Games played by John O'Sullivan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  37. ^ "League Two play-off final: Morecambe 1–0 Newport County - Shrimps Win Promotion". BBC Sport. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  38. ^ Dempsey, Andrew. "Bohemians secure Leinster Senior Cup crown with win over Usher Celtic". extratime.com. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
[edit]