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Patrick McClean
Personal information
Full name Patrick McClean
Date of birth (1996-11-22) 22 November 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Derry, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Sligo Rovers
Youth career
–2014 Derry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Derry City 14 (1)
2017 Waterford 23 (2)
2018 Sligo Rovers 27 (1)
2019 Derry City 10 (1)
2019–2023 Glentoran 118 (8)
2023–2025 Glentoran 46 (4)
2025– Sligo Rovers 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:04, 26 June 2025 (UTC)

Patrick McClean (born 22 November 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers. His previous clubs are Derry City (over 2 spells), Waterford & Glentoran (over 2 spells).

Club career

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Youth career

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Derry native McClean was raised in the Creggan area of the city and came through the Derry City academy, with his first involvement at first team level coming when he was named on the bench against Galway United on 6 February 2015.[1]

Derry City

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McClean made his senior debut for Derry City on 18 September 2015, replacing Ryan McBride from the bench in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 win at home to Shamrock Rovers.[2] On 16 April 2016, he scored his first goal in senior football, with a 35 yard equaliser in a 1–1 draw away to Longford Town.[3][4]

Waterford

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On 4 January 2017, McClean signed for League of Ireland First Division club Waterford on a 1 year contract.[5] He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 loss away to Athlone Town on 24 February 2017 in the first game of the season.[6] His first goal for the club came on 10 March 2017, opening the scoring in a 2–0 win over UCD at the UCD Bowl.[7] He scored 2 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions as the club won the 2017 League of Ireland First Division title to gain promotion to the Premier Division.[8] On 6 November 2017, he signed a new 1 year contract with the club,[9] but departed just 4 months later, a week into the new season.[10]

Sligo Rovers

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On 22 February 2018, McClean signed a 2 year contract with Sligo Rovers after they had agreed an undisclosed fee with Waterford for his signature.[11] He made his debut on 23 February 2018 in a 2–1 win over his hometown club Derry City at The Showgrounds.[12] McClean's first goal for the club came on 15 June 2018, in a 3–0 win away to St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park.[13] He scored 1 goal in 33 appearances in all competitions during his first season with the club.[14] On 24 December 2018, the club announced that they had accepted a bid from Derry City for McClean for an undisclosed fee, and that Derry were then free to negotiate a contract with him.[15]

Return to Derry City

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On 3 January 2019, Derry City announced that McClean had returned to his hometown club for an undisclosed fee, 2 years after first departing the club.[16] His returning debut for the club was in a 3–0 win over UCD on 15 February 2019 in the opening game of the season at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.[17] He struggled for regular game time with the club, making just 10 appearances, scoring once, midway through the season, which resulted in him departing the club for more regular game time.[18]

Glentoran

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On 28 July 2019, McClean signed for NIFL Premiership club Glentoran, after rejecting fellow Belfast club Cliftonville who were also after his signature.[19] On 9 August 2019, he made his debut for the club in a 1–1 draw away to Glenavon at Mourneview Park.[20] He scored his first goal for the club on 21 September 2019, with an injury time match winning header in a 2–1 victory at home to Warrenpoint Town.[21] On 31 July 2020, he played the full 120 minutes as his side beat Ballymena United 2–1 after extra time at Windsor Park to win the 2019–20 Irish Cup.[22] He made his career debut in European football on 20 August 2020, in a 1–0 win over Faroese club HB in the UEFA Europa League.[23] On 12 February 2023, McClean announced his retirement from football aged 26 with immediate effect, stating in a social media post "I’ve decided to call it a day on my football career. It's not been an easy decision but it's the one that I've been thinking about for a while now. I've had a good journey and met some amazing people that will be friends for life and worked with some top players/coaches. Thank you to everyone who's been a part of it, over and out."[24] He later stated that he had several reasons for retiring from football, including becoming bit disillusioned with the game amidst upheaval at the club after manager Rodney McAree had taken over from Mick McDermott, as well as issues in his personal life. During his time out of football, he worked on a building site in Dublin with friends.[25]

Return to Glentoran

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On 23 July 2023, McClean returned to Glentoran, just 5 months after announcing his retirement from the game, stating "I want to apologise to the club, to my team mates and especially to the supporters for how I left in February, I know the timing was poor but at the time I had issues in my life that I was struggling with and I couldn’t concentrate on football the way I needed to."[26] On 13 October 2023, he scored his first goal since returning to the club, in a 6–0 win over Loughgall at The Oval.[27] He departed the club in June 2025, stating that it had been a "Real pleasure to play for Glentoran".[28]

Return to Sligo Rovers

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On 21 June 2025, McClean returned to League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers for an undisclosed fee, 7 years after his last season with the club, with his 18 month contract set to commence from 1 July.[29][30]

Personal life

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He is the younger brother of fellow professional footballer James McClean, who has played in the Premier League and for the Republic of Ireland national team.[31] In April 2025, his club Glentoran launched an investigation after videos of McClean had circulated online of him allegedly attending an Easter Monday parade in Derry that was linked to the New Irish Republican Army.[32][33][34]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 30 May 2025[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derry City 2015 LOI Premier Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 — — 2 0
2016 12 1 0 0 1 0 — — 13 1
Total 14 1 0 0 1 0 — — 15 1
Waterford 2017 LOI First Division 23 2 1 0 3 0 — 0[c] 0 27 2
Sligo Rovers 2018 LOI Premier Division 27 1 1 0 3 0 — 2[d] 0 33 1
Derry City 2019 LOI Premier Division 10 1 — 0 0 — — 10 1
Glentoran 2019–20 NIFL Premiership 28 2 1 0 0 0 — 0[e] 0 29 2
2020–21 35 2 0 0 0 0 2[f] 0 0[e] 0 37 2
2021–22 35 2 2 0 2 0 2[g] 0 2[h] 0 43 2
2022–23 20 2 1 0 2 2 — 0[e] 0 23 4
Total 118 8 4 0 4 2 4 0 2 0 132 10
Glentoran 2023–24 NIFL Premiership 30 3 4 0 1 0 1[i] 0 2[j] 0 36 3
2024–25 16 1 0 0 0 0 — 0[e] 0 16 1
Total 46 4 4 0 1 0 — 2 0 53 4
Sligo Rovers 2025 LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 — — — 0 0
Career total 238 17 10 0 12 2 4 0 6 0 270 19
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup & Irish Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup & Northern Ireland Football League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in the Munster Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ a b c d Appearances in the County Antrim Shield
  6. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  8. ^ Appearances in the 2021–22 NIFL Premiership Playoffs
  9. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  10. ^ Appearances in the 2023–24 NIFL Premiership Playoffs

Honours

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Waterford
Glentoran

References

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  1. ^ "Patrick McClean | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  2. ^ "League of Ireland: Derry City 1-0 Shamrock Rovers". September 17, 2015 – via www.bbc.com.
  3. ^ Collins, Simon (April 16, 2016). "McClean's wonder strike saves high-flying Derry from defeat in Longford". The 42.
  4. ^ Buttner, Paul (April 18, 2016). "Patrick McClean makes a point for Derry". Irish Examiner.
  5. ^ "Waterford FC sign four, including James McClean's brother". The Irish Times.
  6. ^ "League Report: Athlone Town 1 - 0 Waterford FC". extratime.com.
  7. ^ FC, Waterford (March 12, 2017). "First Team Match Report: UCD 0 Waterford FC 2 (Patrick McClean 61, Tom Smith 85)".
  8. ^ "Waterford promoted to the top flight as champions". September 16, 2017 – via www.rte.ie.
  9. ^ FC, Waterford (November 6, 2017). "McClean Commits for 2018".
  10. ^ FC, Waterford (February 21, 2018). "Patrick McClean Departs for Sligo Rovers".
  11. ^ Donnelly, Dave. "Sligo Rovers sign defender Patrick McClean from Waterford". extratime.com.
  12. ^ "League of Ireland: Sligo Rovers 2-1 Derry City". BBC Sport. February 22, 2018.
  13. ^ Donnelly, Dave (June 15, 2018). "Sligo earn huge win as perfect away performance condemns Pat's to fifth straight defeat". The 42.
  14. ^ "Patrick McClean | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  15. ^ "Squad update: Patrick McClean – Sligo Rovers". December 24, 2018.
  16. ^ Grimes, Gerard. "Derry City sign teenage striker David Parkhouse on loan from Sheffield United while Patrick McClean returns". extratime.com.
  17. ^ "League of Ireland: Derry City 3-0 UCD". February 15, 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  18. ^ "Patrick McClean | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  19. ^ "Welcome Patrick McClean | Glentoran FC". www.glentoran.com.
  20. ^ "Glenavon 1-1 Glentoran | Glentoran FC". www.glentoran.com.
  21. ^ "Late McClean header sinks Warrenpoint" – via www.bbc.com.
  22. ^ "Glentoran edge out Ballymena United to win Sadler's Peaky Blinder Irish Cup". IFA.
  23. ^ "Europa League: Robbie McDaid strike gives Glentoran win over HB Torshavn". August 19, 2020 – via www.bbc.com.
  24. ^ "Creggan native McClean decides to call it a day and hangs up his football boots". Derry Journal. February 12, 2023.
  25. ^ "Patrick McClean on the 6am wake-up call that ended his football retirement". Belfast Live. December 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "'He's one of the best defenders in the league and has been since he joined Glentoran.'". Belfast News Letter. July 23, 2023.
  27. ^ "Glentoran hit Loughgall for six to end poor league run". October 13, 2023 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  28. ^ "Patrick McClean reflects on 'real privilege to play for Glentoran' after sealing League of Ireland return to club 'I wish I never left'". Belfast News Letter. June 22, 2025.
  29. ^ "Sligo Rovers Welcome Back Patrick McClean to the Showgrounds – Sligo Rovers". June 21, 2025.
  30. ^ "Irish Premiership: Sligo sign Glentoran defender Patrick McClean". BBC Sport. June 21, 2025.
  31. ^ Fennessy, Paul (March 8, 2018). "'I never had an interest in being a footballer until I saw what James had'". The 42.
  32. ^ "Club launches probe as Patrick McClean appears to attend New IRA parade". April 24, 2025.
  33. ^ "Patrick McClean left out of Glentoran squad amid club investigation into appearance at New IRA parade". April 26, 2025 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  34. ^ "Glentoran probe video of player Patrick McClean, brother of James McClean". Belfast News Letter. April 23, 2025.
  35. ^ "Republic of Ireland - P. McClean - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
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