Liam Kelly (footballer, born 1996)

Liam Patrick Kelly (born 23 January 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell and the Scotland national team. Kelly has previously played for Rangers, East Fife, Livingston and Queens Park Rangers.

For other people named Liam Kelly, see Liam Kelly (disambiguation).

Liam Kelly
Personal information
Full name Liam Patrick Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1996-01-23) 23 January 1996
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Motherwell
Number 1
Youth career
2006–2015 Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Rangers 0 (0)
2016 → East Fife (loan) 16 (0)
2016–2017 → Livingston (loan) 34 (0)
2018–2019 Livingston 36 (0)
2019–2021 Queens Park Rangers 19 (0)
2021 → Motherwell (loan) 18 (0)
2021– Motherwell 76 (0)
International career‡
2011–2012 Scotland U16[3] 3 (0)
2012 Scotland U17[3] 5 (0)
2012–2015 Scotland U19[3] 11 (0)
2016 Scotland U21[3] 2 (0)
2023– Scotland[3] 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:18, 17 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Rangers

Kelly joined Rangers aged ten and played in the club's youth sides, notably scoring the final penalty during Rangers under-17s Glasgow Cup win in 2012.[4][5]

After training with the first-team for the majority of the 2014–15 season and featuring on the bench, Kelly signed a contract extension on 25 February 2015, until the summer of 2018.[6]

Loan moves

On 8 January 2016, Kelly joined East Fife in Scottish League Two on a six-month loan.[7] During his time at Bayview Stadium, Kelly played in 16 league matches and was part of the side which won the League Two title.[8] Upon returning to Rangers, Kelly travelled to the United States with the first team for a pre-season training camp.[9] However, on 15 July 2016, he was loaned out to the then Scottish League One team Livingston until January 2017.[10] He made his debut for Livi the next day in a League Cup match against St Mirren.[11]

Livingston

Kelly moved to Livingston, where he had previously been on loan, for an undisclosed fee in June 2018.[12] He played regularly for Livingston in the 2018–19 season, but then invoked a release clause in his contract.[13]

Queens Park Rangers

On 14 June 2019, Kelly signed for Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.[14] He made his debut on 13 August 2019, in an EFL Cup match against Bristol City saving two penalties in a 5–4 penalty shootout win.

Motherwell (loan)

On 6 January 2021, Kelly moved on loan to Motherwell for the remainder of the season.[15]

Motherwell

On 5 July 2021, Kelly returned to Motherwell on a permanent transfer from Queens Park Rangers, signing a three-year contract.[16]

International career

Kelly has represented Scotland at various age levels, up to an including the under-21 team.[3]

Kelly received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in March 2019 for games against Kazakhstan and San Marino.[17] After many call-ups to the squad, Kelly made his full international debut in a friendly against France on 17 October 2023.[18]

Style of play

Kenny Miller, who played alongside Kelly at Rangers and was also his player-manager at Livi, said of him in 2018: "He's excellent with the ball at his feet. He's a proper modern-day goalkeeper".[19]

Personal life

He is the brother of Livingston defender Sean Kelly.[20] In October 2023 the siblings faced each other from 12 yards in a Scottish Premiership fixture, with Sean scoring his penalty past Liam.[21]

Career statistics
As of match played 28 May 2023[22]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rangers 2015–16 Scottish Championship 0000000000
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 000000—00
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 0000000000
Total 0000000000
East Fife (loan) 2015–16 Scottish League Two 160000000160
Livingston (loan) 2016–17 Scottish League One 340204000400
Livingston 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 3601050—420
Queens Park Rangers 2019–20 Championship 1901020—220
2020–21 Championship 000000—00
Total 190102000220
Motherwell (loan) 2020–21 Scottish Premiership 1803000—210
Motherwell 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 3803050—460
2022–23 Scottish Premiership 380202020440
Total 760507020900
Career total 1990120180202310

Honours

Club
Rangers under-17
East Fife
Livingston

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  2. "Player Profile: Goalkeeper Liam Kelly". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  3. Liam Kelly at the Scottish Football Association
  4. "Goalkeeper Liam Kelly is the hero as Rangers colts triumph in Glasgow Cup penalty shoot-out". Evening Times. Glasgow: Herald & Times Group. 17 April 2012.
  5. Dickson, Andrew (16 April 2012). "Gers Win Glasgow Cup". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. "Kelly Delight At New Deal". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 25 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  7. "Kelly Joins East Fife". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 8 January 2016.
  8. Macgregor, Archie (16 April 2016). "Clyde 0-0 East Fife: League 2 title joy for Fifers". The Scotsman. Edinburgh: Johnston Press.
  9. "Gers head to America". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club. 27 June 2016.
  10. Thomson, Nick (15 July 2016). "Kelly Moves On Loan". Rangers.co.uk. Rangers Football Club.
  11. McLauchlin, Brian (16 July 2016). "Livingston 2-3 St Mirren". BBC Sport. BBC.
  12. "Liam Kelly Joins Livingston". Rangers FC. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  13. "Liam Kelly triggers Livingston release clause amid English Championship interest". BBC Sport. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  14. "Liam Kelly: QPR sign goalkeeper from Livingston". BBC Sport. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  15. "Liam Kelly signs on loan". motherwellfc.co.uk. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  16. "LIAM KELLY RETURNS TO MOTHERWELL". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  17. "Scotland: Andy Robertson to miss Kazakhstan clash as trio also pull out". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  18. "France 4-1 Scotland: Star-studded hosts inflict heavy defeat on makeshift Scots". BBC Sport. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  19. "Liam Kelly 'could lead next batch of Scotland goalkeepers' - Kenny Miller". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  20. Charlie Rhodes (25 November 2018). "Sean Kelly says Liam Kelly 'has the ability and mindset' to play for Rangers". Sports Lens.
  21. Motherwell kid Lennon Miller has wise head on his shoulders, red card won't affect him, says skipper, Andy McGilvray, Daily Record, 10 October 2023
  22. "L. Kelly". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  23. "Livingston 2–1 Alloa Athletic". Livingston F.C. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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