Conor Hourihane

Conor Hourihane (born 2 February 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Conor Hourihane
Personal information
Full name Conor Hourihane[1]
Date of birth (1991-02-02) 2 February 1991[2]
Place of birth Bandon, Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Playing position(s) Central midfielder[4]
Club information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Number 14
Youth career
2007–2009 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Sunderland 0 (0)
2010–2011 Ipswich Town 0 (0)
2011–2014 Plymouth Argyle 125 (15)
2014–2017 Barnsley 112 (29)
2017- Aston Villa 128 (22)
National team‡
2009–2010 Republic of Ireland U19 14 (0)
2010–2012 Republic of Ireland U21 8 (1)
2017– Republic of Ireland 17 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:05, 26 July 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 June 2019 (UTC)

His previous clubs include Barnsley, Plymouth Argyle, Sunderland and Ipswich Town. He has represented the Republic of Ireland senior side at international level as well as under-19 and under-21 levels.

Club career

Early career

Hourihane came through the youth team of Sunderland[5] and stayed with the Black Cats until 2010 when his contract expired. He was offered a new deal by Sunderland but chose to sign for his idol Roy Keane's Football League Championship side Ipswich Town, who had to offer compensation for the deal.[6][7] Hourihane failed to make an appearance for Ipswich in the 2010–11 season.

Plymouth Argyle

He signed for Football League Two side Plymouth Argyle on 30 July 2011 on a free transfer after being released by Ipswich and impressing on trial.[8] He made his professional debut on 6 August 2011, in the opening day draw with Shrewsbury Town at the New Meadow.[9] On 15 October, Hourihane scored his first goal for Plymouth in a 3–2 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.[10] He became the club's captain during the 2012–13 season following the departure of Darren Purse to Port Vale and signed a new two-year contract in May 2013. Hourihane impressed for Plymouth in the 2013–14 season, starting 53 games and missing only one match all season because of suspension, scoring nine goals in the process.

Barnsley

Hourihane joined Barnsley on 23 June 2014 for a fee of £250,000, signing a three-year contract with the Tykes.[11] He earned the League One Player of the Month award for August 2014, after making an impressive start to his Barnsley career. Hourihane became captain of the club in December 2015.[12]

Hourihane and his teammates won two trophies at Wembley Stadium in London, during the 2015–2016 season: The first visit to Wembley was on 3 April 2016 for the Football League Trophy, in which Barnsley won 3–2 in the League Trophy final, after beating Oxford United of League Two.[13] The second visit to Wembley was on 29 May 2016, for the Football League One play-offs final. Barnsley won promotion to the Championship, after beating Millwall 3–1 in the Play-off final.[14]

Hourihane and Barnsley had a highly successful start to life in the Championship, winning five out of their first seven games, including 4–0 wins against Rotherham[15] and Wolverhampton Wanderers,[16] and with Hourihane scoring three goals in these first seven games and assisting a further five. He went on to win the Championship Player of the Month for August 2016.[17]

Despite speculation linking Hourihane with Aston Villa on 21 January 2017, Hourihane captained Barnsley to a 3–2 victory against Leeds United with Hourihane scoring the match winning goal with a free-kick.[18]

On 26 January 2017, it was confirmed that Hourihane had left Barnsley to sign for Championship rivals Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee. Both Hourihane and Barnsley released a statement, the player thanking the fans and commenting that Barnsley "will always have a special place in my heart".[19]

Aston Villa

On 26 January 2017, Hourihane joined Aston Villa on three-and-a-half-year deal.[20] Hourihane made 17 appearances as Villa finished the season in 13th place, scoring his first Villa goal against Bristol City in February. He scored his first hat trick for the club in a 4–2 victory at home against Norwich City in August 2017.[21]

Hourihane signed a new three-year deal in the summer of 2019 as a reward for helping the side win promotion to the Premier League[22] On 5 October 2019, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-1 away victory over Norwich City - which meant that he had scored in all four levels of the English football league system.[23]

International career

On 28 March 2017, Hourihane made his senior international debut, starting in a 1–0 friendly defeat against Iceland at the Aviva Stadium.[24] Hourihane won his second cap in a friendly against Mexico on 2 June 2017. On 26 March 2019, Hourihane scored his first senior international goal in a 1–0 win over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium.[25] The Republic of Ireland's first home match in Euro 2020 qualifying received additional coverage due to a protest against the former CEO of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), John Delaney. A portion of the Republic of Ireland supporters threw tennis balls on the pitch during the 33rd minute to express their discontent at Delaney remaining part of the FAI hierarchy.[26]

Career statistics
As of games played on 26 July 2020[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 2009–10 Premier League 0000000000
Ipswich Town 2010–11 Championship 0000000000
Plymouth Argyle 2011–12 League Two 38220101[lower-alpha 1]0422
2012–13 42510202[lower-alpha 1]0475
2013–14 45851102[lower-alpha 1]0539
Total 125158145014216
Barnsley 2014–15 League One 46133110305314
2015–16 41101021615012
2016–17 Championship 256102000286
Total 1122971519112632
Aston Villa 2016–17 Championship 171000000171
2017–18 411110103[lower-alpha 2]04611
2018–19 43700213[lower-alpha 2]1489
2019–20 Premier League 273106400347
Total 1282220956114528
Career total 3656615218620241876
  1. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. Games played in EFL Championship play-offs

International
As of match played 18 November 2019[28]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 201740
201840
201991
Total171

International goals
Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hourihane goal.[29]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.26 March 2019Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Georgia1–01–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualification

Honours

Barnsley

Aston Villa

Individual

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References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Aston Villa" (PDF). English Football League. p. 2. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. "Conor Hourihane". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  3. "Conor Hourihane: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  4. Connor, Dan (9 March 2019). "Hourihane 100: All his stats, goals and assists for Aston Villa". Aston Villa F.C. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  5. Bohane, John (7 July 2007). "Conor is heading off to join Roy at Sunderland". The Southern Star. Skibbereen. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  6. "Conor Signs One Year Deal". Ipswich Town F.C. 16 July 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  7. "Ipswich Town sign Sunderland midfielder Conor Hourihane". BBC Sport. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  8. "Conor Hourihane is set to join Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  9. "Shrewsbury 1–1 Plymouth". Sky Sports. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  10. "Dag & Red 2–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  11. "Argyle explain reasons behind £200,000 transfer of Conor Hourihane to Barnsley". Plymouth Herald. 24 June 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. Barnsley Irish Star Conor Hourihane Irish Post
  13. Cartwright, Phil (3 April 2016). "Barnsley 3 Oxford United 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  14. Stevens, Rob. "Barnsley 3–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  15. "Barnsley 4–0 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016.
  16. "Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–4 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 13 September 2016.
  17. "Sky Bet English Football League: David Wagner and Conor Hourihane lead August awards". Sky Sports.
  18. "Barnsley 3 Leeds 2". Sky Sports. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  19. "Club Statement: Conor Hourihane Leaves Oakwell". Barnsley Official Site. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  20. "Conor Hourihane: Aston Villa sign Barnsley captain for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 26 January 2017.
  21. "Aston Villa 4–2 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 19 August 2017.
  22. https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2019/07/12/conor-hourihane-signs-new-contract
  23. Twigg, Sonia (5 October 2019). "Conor Hourihane scores one and sets up another as Aston Villa hammer Norwich". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  24. "Iceland's Hordur Magnusson proves too much for Ireland's second string". The Guardian. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  25. "Republic of Ireland 1–0 Georgia: Conor Hourihane fires ace amid tennis ball protests". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  26. "WATCH: Ireland fans' tennis ball protest before Conor Hourihane goal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  27. "Conor Hourihane". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  28. Conor Hourihane at National-Football-Teams.com
  29. "Conor Hourihane". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  30. Cartwright, Phil (3 April 2016). "Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  31. Stevens, Rob (29 May 2016). "Barnsley 3–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  32. Woodcock, Ian (27 May 2019). "Aston Villa 2–1 Derby County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  33. McNulty, Phil (1 March 2020). "Aston Villa 1–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  34. "Conor Hourihane named Sky Bet League 1 Player of the Month". football-league.co.uk. The Football League. 4 September 2014.
  35. "Player of the Year Winners 1969 Present Day". Barnsley F.C. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  36. "Sky Bet English Football League: David Wagner and Conor Hourihane lead August awards". Sky Sports. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
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