Michael McGovern (footballer)

Michael McGovern (born 12 July 1984) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Heart of Midlothian and the Northern Ireland national team.

Michael McGovern
McGovern playing for Northern Ireland in 2019
Personal information
Full name Michael McGovern[1]
Date of birth (1984-07-12) 12 July 1984
Place of birth Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian
Number 12
Youth career
0000–2001 Enniskillen Town United
2001–2004 Celtic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Celtic 0 (0)
2005 → Stranraer (loan) 19 (0)
2006 → St Johnstone (loan) 1 (0)
2008–2009 Dundee United 0 (0)
2009–2011 Ross County 71 (0)
2011–2014 Falkirk 105 (0)
2014–2016 Hamilton Academical 75 (0)
2016–2023 Norwich City 32 (0)
2023– Heart of Midlothian 0 (0)
International career‡
Northern Ireland U19 3 (0)
2005–2006 Northern Ireland U21 10 (0)
2010– Northern Ireland 32 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:47, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:00, 15 November 2020 (UTC)

Born in Enniskillen, McGovern started his career with Scottish Premier League club Celtic in 2001. He spent time on loan with Scottish Second Division side Stranraer in 2005 and with Scottish First Division side St Johnstone in 2006. He left Celtic in 2008, having never made a first-team appearance for the club. After leaving Celtic, he joined fellow Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, but left after one season having not made a first-team appearance. In 2009, he went back to the First Division with Ross County, where he enjoyed a successful two-year spell. In 2011, he moved on a free transfer to fellow First Division side Falkirk. McGovern then moved to Hamilton Academical in 2014. After spending 15 years playing in Scotland, he moved to English club Norwich City in July 2016.

McGovern represented Northern Ireland at under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his senior debut in May 2010. He represented Northern Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Celtic

McGovern joined Celtic in July 2001 from hometown junior club Enniskillen Town United. His first involvement with the first-team squad was as a substitute at the Camp Nou during Celtic's UEFA Cup match against Barcelona in March 2004.[3][4] In January 2005, McGovern joined Stranraer on loan.[5] He joined St Johnstone on a one-month emergency loan in December 2006.[6] While at Celtic, he managed to pick up a Scottish Cup winners medal in 2004[7] and 2007,[8] both times as an unused substitute.

Dundee United

On 17 June 2008, McGovern agreed a pre-contract move to Dundee United, signing a one-year deal.[9] He failed to make a first-team appearance for United and manager Craig Levein confirmed McGovern's departure in May 2009.[10]

Ross County

McGovern moved to Ross County in late June 2009[11] and enjoyed a successful first season.[12] This included playing in the 2010 Scottish Cup Final, which Ross County lost 3–0 to McGovern's former club Dundee United,[13] and making his full international debut.[14]

In his second season at the club, McGovern saved two penalties in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out win against Partick Thistle in the Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final on 10 October 2010.[15] He played in the final on 10 April 2011, as Ross County lifted the trophy after a 2–0 win against Queen of the South at McDiarmid Park.[16] McGovern left Ross County at the end of the 2010–11 Scottish First Division season.[17]

Falkirk

After leaving Ross County, McGovern joined up with St Johnstone for pre-season training[18] before he signed for Falkirk on 20 July 2011.[19] He quickly established himself as first choice goalkeeper and on 21 September 2011, played in Falkirk's 3–2 Scottish League Cup win over holders Rangers.[20] On 1 April 2012, he played for Falkirk in their 1–0 win over Hamilton in the 2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[21] At the end of the season he won the Falkirk Players' Player of the Year award and Falkirk Supporters Club Player of the Year award. He was among four players nominated for the PFA Scotland First Division Player of the Year award and he was named in the PFA Scotland 2012–13 First Division Team of the Year.[22] On 17 May 2012, he signed a new one-year contract.[23]

McGovern was named Falkirk Players' Player of the Year for the second year in succession at the end of the 2012–13 season.[24] He signed a new one-year deal at Falkirk on 24 June 2013[25] and was appointed club captain upon the departure of Darren Dods. On 18 April 2014, McGovern was named in the PFA Scotland 2013–14 Championship Team of the Year.[26]

Hamilton Academical

On 9 June 2014, McGovern signed for Scottish Premiership club Hamilton Academical on a one-year contract.[27] He made his debut on 2 August 2014, in a 2–1 win against Arbroath in the Scottish League Cup.[28] On 5 October 2014, he played in Hamilton Academical's 1–0 victory over Celtic, which was their first victory at Celtic Park in 76 years.[29] During September and October 2014, McGovern set a club record of 437 minutes without conceding a goal in the Scottish top flight.[30] On 28 November 2014, he extended his contract at Hamilton Academical by a further year, until 2016.[31] In January 2015, McGovern became club captain after the incumbent Martin Canning was promoted to manager following Alex Neil's departure to Norwich City.[32]

Norwich City

On 19 July 2016, it was revealed that McGovern had signed for Championship club Norwich City on a three-year deal.[33] He made his debut on 13 August 2016, replacing John Ruddy at half-time in Norwich City's 0–0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.[34]

International career

In March 2008, McGovern received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland squad.[35] McGovern made his full debut for Northern Ireland on 31 May 2010, in a 1–0 loss to Chile. He came on at half-time for Alan Blayney and made a "stunning" save from a long-range effort by Marco Estrada.[36]

McGovern had to wait until 2015 for his second cap, after which he quickly became the number one goalkeeper for Northern Ireland, helping them qualify for Euro 2016 as qualifying group winners. He received plaudits for a series of "heroic saves" that restricted Germany to a 1–0 win during the group stages of the Euro 2016 finals on 21 June 2016, keeping Northern Ireland's goal difference down and helping them qualify for the knockout round of 16.[37]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 5 February 2022[38][39]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
2004–05 Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
2005–06 Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
2006–07 Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
2007–08 Scottish Premier League 00000000—00
Total 00000000—00
Stranraer (loan) 2004–05 Scottish Second Division 1900000—00190
St Johnstone (loan) 2006–07 Scottish First Division 100000—0010
Dundee United 2008–09 Scottish Premier League 000000——00
Ross County 2009–10 Scottish First Division 3507030—4[lower-alpha 1]0490
2010–11 Scottish First Division 3603030—5[lower-alpha 1]0470
Total 71010060—90960
Falkirk 2011–12 Scottish First Division 3502050—5[lower-alpha 1]0470
2012–13 Scottish First Division 3504020—2[lower-alpha 1]0430
2013–14 Scottish Championship 3501030—6[lower-alpha 2]0450
Total 105070100—1301350
Hamilton Academical 2014–15 Scottish Premiership 3801040——430
2015–16 Scottish Premiership 3701010——390
Total 7502050——820
Norwich City 2016–17 Championship 2002000——220
2017–18 Championship 000010——10
2018–19 Championship 001040——50
2019–20 Premier League 201000——30
2020–21 Championship 1000000——100
2021–22 Premier League 001000——10
2022–23 Championship 000000——00
Total 3205050——420
Career total 3030240260002203750
  1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup and four appearances in Scottish Championship promotion play-offs

International
As of match played 15 November 2020[40]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland 201010
201580
2016100
201790
201820
202020
Total320

Honours

Celtic

Ross County

Falkirk

Norwich City

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Norwich City" (PDF). English Football League. p. 26. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  2. "Michael McGovern". Norwich City F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  3. "McGovern on Celtic bench". BBC Sport. 24 March 2004. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  4. "Celtic stun Barcelona". BBC Sport. 25 March 2004. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  5. "McGovern joins Stranraer on loan". BBC Sport. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  6. "Celtic's McGovern moves to Saints". BBC Sport. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  7. "Larsson caps Celtic triumph". BBC Sport. 22 May 2004. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  8. Taylor, Julian (26 May 2007). "Dunfermline 0–1 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  9. "Dundee United make double swoop". BBC Sport. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  10. "Dixon delight at award from fellow Arabs". The Courier (Dundee). 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  11. "Keeper McGovern heads to County". BBC Sport. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  12. Findlay, Stuart. "The Ross County heroes that stunned Celtic in 2010: where are they now?". Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  13. McGuigan, Thomas (15 May 2010). "Dundee Utd 3–0 Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  14. "Michael McGovern is Northern Ireland's new hero". Retrieved 11 December 2020 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  15. "ALBA Cup semi final: Ross County 2 Partick Thistle 2 (4–3 after pens)". Daily Record. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  16. Miller, Stevie (10 April 2011). "Queen of the South 0–2 Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  17. Linton, Graham (18 June 2011). "McGovern set to depart County". The Inverness Courier. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  18. Spence, Jim (23 June 2011). "Goalkeeper Michael McGovern trains with St Johnstone". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  19. "McGovern signs for Falkirk". BBC Sport. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  20. "Falkirk 3–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  21. "Falkirk 1–0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  22. Ross, Jack (3 May 2012). "PFA SCOTLAND DIVISION ONE TEAM OF THE YEAR". PFA Scotland. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  23. "Falkirk seal new contract for Michael McGovern". The Falkirk Herald. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  24. "McGovern voted players' player of the year". The Falkirk Herald. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  25. "MCGOVERN DEAL CONFIRMED". Falkirk F.C. 24 June 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  26. Ross, Jack (18 April 2014). "TEAMS OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED". PFA Scotland. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  27. "Hamilton Accies sign Michael McGovern and Kieran MacDonald". BBC Sport. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  28. "Hamilton 2–1 Arbroath". BBC Sport. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  29. Campbell, Andy (5 October 2014). "Celtic 0–1 Hamilton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  30. McGilvray, Andy (31 October 2014). "My shut-out record means nothing to me at the moment, says Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  31. "Michael McGovern: Hamilton Accies goalkeeper signs new deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  32. "Hamilton Academical primed to lose keeper Michael McGovern". BBC Sport. 27 April 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  33. "MICHAEL MCGOVERN JOINS NORWICH CITY". Norwich City. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  34. "Norwich City 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016.
  35. "Johnson returns for Bulgaria game". BBC Sport. 25 January 2008. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
  36. "Chile 1–0 Northern Ireland: Paredes Header Decides Tame World Cup 2010 Warm-Up". Goal.com. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  37. Bevan, Chris (21 June 2016). "Euro 2016: Northern Ireland 0–1 Germany – player ratings". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  38. Michael McGovern at Soccerbase
  39. "Michael McGovern player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  40. "McGovern, Michael". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
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