Sam Curtis

A native of Navan, County Meath, Curtis began playing with his local side Parkvilla, before moving to top Dublin youth side, St Kevin's Boys before moving to the academy of League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. In June 2019, he captained the Dublin District Schoolboys League representative team to winning the prestigious Kennedy Cup.[1] While at Rovers, he made his debut in senior football for the club's reserve team Shamrock Rovers II in Ireland's second tier, the League of Ireland First Division.[2] His debut came on 17 October 2020 in a 3–1 win over Athlone Town at age 14, making him the youngest player in League of Ireland history.[3] He spent time on trial at AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2021.[4]

On 25 July 2021, it was announced that Curtis, as well as his brother Ben, had signed for St Patrick's Athletic, where they would initially play with the club's under 19 side.[5] Curtis made his senior debut for the club came on 13 August 2021, replacing the injured Lee Desmond in injury time of a 2–1 win over Waterford at Richmond Park, making him the club's youngest ever player at 15 years and 255 days old (this record has since been taken by Mason Melia in 2023).[6][7] He made his UEFA Youth League debut on 29 September 2021 in a 2–1 loss to Serbian side Crvena Zvezda.[8]

Both Sam and brother Ben Curtis signed their first professional contracts on 20 January 2022.[9][10][11] Curtis' first start for the club came on 6 May 2022 in a 4–0 win away to Drogheda United at United Park.[12] His form in May 2022 saw him voted as the club's Player of the Month by supporters.[13] His first appearances in European competition came in the summer of 2022 when he came off the bench in a 1–1 draw with NŠ Mura of Slovenia[14] and in a 1–0 away win against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa Conference League.[15] He won the clubs' Player of the Month award for the second time in the season, for September 2022.[16] He made a total of 20 appearances in all competitions during his first full season at the club.[2] His form in his breakthrough season at the club led to reported interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

Curtis started the 2023 season off well, making the Right wingback position his own following the departure of Barry Cotter in the offseason. He started the first 6 games of the season in the position, leading up to the March international break which earned him his first callup to the Republic of Ireland U21 side with Pats assistant manager Jon Daly tipping him for a bright future in the game.[23] He earned the club's Player of the Month award for his performances in March 2023.[24] On 19 May 2023, Curtis scored the first goal of his senior career, heading home a Jake Mulraney corner in a 1–0 Dublin derby win away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.[25] He was voted as the club's Player of the Month for the second time in the season for May 2023.[26] On 30 June 2023, Curtis scored a header from a Jake Mulraney corner to give his side a 3 goal lead in an eventual 7–0 win over UCD at Richmond Park.[27] On 4 August 2023, he scored his 3rd goal of the season, volleying home his sides second goal in a 2–0 win away to Sligo Rovers at the The Showgrounds, in what was his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions.[28]