Enda Stevens

Enda Stevens

Stevens playing for Sheffield United in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Enda John Stevens [1]
Date of birth	(1990-07-09) 9 July 1990 (age 33) [2]
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) [3]
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Stoke City
Number	3
Youth career
–2006	Cherry Orchard
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008	UCD	2	(0)
2009	St Patrick's Athletic	30	(0)
2010–2011	Shamrock Rovers	46	(0)
2012–2015	Aston Villa	7	(0)
2013	→ Notts County (loan)	2	(0)
2013–2014	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	13	(0)
2014	→ Northampton Town (loan)	4	(1)
2014–2015	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	28	(1)
2015–2017	Portsmouth	90	(1)
2017–2023	Sheffield United	192	(8)
2023–	Stoke City	18	(0)
International career‡
2011	Republic of Ireland U21	3	(0)
2018–	Republic of Ireland	26	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:11, 13 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:10, 7 September 2023 (UTC)

Enda John Stevens (born 9 July 1990) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left back for EFL Championship club Stoke City and the Republic of Ireland national team.

He started his career in the League of Ireland with UCD, before gaining experience of European football with fellow League of Ireland teams St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers. Following Rovers' exit from the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League, Stevens joined Aston Villa in the Premier League. After a sequence of loan spells away from the Villans, he signed for Portsmouth, followed by a six-year spell with Sheffield United, before joining Stoke.

Early life and career

Stevens was born in Dublin, County Dublin. ^[4] He played Gaelic football for St James Gaels and Templeogue Synge St before playing association football professionally. ^[5]

Club career

Early career

Following a spell in the Cherry Orchard youth team Stevens signed professionally with UCD but was released at the end of the 2009 season. He had trials with Nottingham Forest, Hull City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town. He was one of Jeff Kenna's first signings for St Patrick's Athletic. He plays as a centre back or as a left back. He made his professional debut in a 1–0 win over Cork City at Turners Cross in March 2009. ^[6]

Stevens made a breakthrough into the first team where he made himself the first choice left back with performances in the league, FAI Cup, and Europa League qualifiers. He made six appearances in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League as Pats advanced through two rounds to the play-off round.

Shamrock Rovers

He signed for Shamrock Rovers in December 2009. ^{[7] [8]} Stevens made his Rovers League debut at home to Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium on 21 March 2010. ^[9] He capped off his first League of Ireland season with Rovers by winning his first title as Shamrock Rovers won the league title on the final day of the season.

In 2011, he won the All Ireland Setanta Cup with Rovers. He won the league title again in 2011. He competed in the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League with Rovers, the club's first ever appearance in the competition. Over the course of two seasons, Stevens made 15 appearances for Rovers in European competition.

He capped off a memorable year by winning the PFAI Young Player of the Year award. ^[10]

Aston Villa

On 31 August 2011, it was announced by Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish that Stevens would sign a three-year contract with the Premier League club, effective from January 2012. The agreement allowed Stevens to remain at Rovers until January 2012 to support them in their maiden UEFA Europa League campaign. ^[11] Following Shamrock Rovers' exit from European competition, Aston Villa officially announced the signing of Stevens on 3 January 2012. ^[12]

Stevens spent most of his first months at Villa playing for the reserve team. He then made his first start for the first team in a 2–1 pre-season victory over Burton Albion, on 14 July 2012. He made his full debut for the team, starting in Villa's 3–0 win against Tranmere Rovers in the League Cup second round and also came off the bench in the fourth round win over Swindon Town. ^{[13] [14]}

On 3 November 2012, Stevens made his first league appearance for Villa in a 1–0 win against Sunderland, coming on as a substitute for Eric Lichaj. ^[15] Stevens made his full league debut for Villa in the next match, starting against Manchester United on 10 November 2012, due to an injury to Joe Bennett and the suspension of Lichaj. ^[16] In the next game, only Stevens' third league appearance for the club, the Villa defence conceded five goals as they were beaten 5–0 by champions Manchester City. ^[17]

Loans

Stevens joined Notts County on loan in August 2013, making his debut in a League Cup tie against Liverpool. ^{[18] [19]} Stevens returned to Aston Villa after a month's loan, having made four appearances in all competitions for the Magpies.

Stevens signed on a one-month loan deal with Doncaster Rovers on 28 November 2013. ^[20] He then signed a one-month loan deal with Northampton Town on 10 October 2014. ^[21]

Stevens was again loaned to Doncaster on a one-month loan on 6 November 2014. ^[22]

Portsmouth

On 15 June 2015, Stevens signed a two-year deal with Portsmouth. ^[23] He scored his first goal for Portsmouth in a 3–2 win against Newport County on 26 December 2016. ^[24] In his first season at Portsmouth, Stevens quickly established himself as a key member of one of the division's tightest defences, racking up 53 appearances in the process, as Portsmouth finished sixth in manager Paul Cook's first season in charge.

As he approached the end of a second season as Portsmouth's first-choice left back, on 9 April 2017, Stevens was named in the Team of the Season at the EFL Awards. ^[25] This was a season in which he notched in with one goal and a very notable seven assists which contributed to Portsmouth's promotion to League One.

Sheffield United

Stevens joined Sheffield United in May 2017. ^[26] On 28 April 2019 Stevens gained promotion with United to the Premier League. ^[27] In March 2020, Stevens signed a contract extension that see him remain at Sheffield United until 2023. ^[28] He was joint-highest assist provider for Sheffield United in the 2019/20 season along with Lys Mousset on four assists. ^[29]

Stoke City

On 5 July 2023, Stevens joined Championship club Stoke City on a free transfer after the expiry of his Sheffield United contract. ^[30]

International career

Stevens made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut in a friendly in Cyprus in February 2011. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 April 2024 ^{[32] [33] [34]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
UCD	2008 [32]	League of Ireland Premier Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	—		2	0
St Patrick's Athletic	2009 [32]	League of Ireland Premier Division	30	0	5	0	1	0	6 [lower-alpha 1]	0	42	0
Shamrock Rovers	2010 [32]	League of Ireland Premier Division	18	0	5	0	1	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	27	0
	2011 [32]	League of Ireland Premier Division	28	0	1	0	0	0	16 [lower-alpha 2]	0	45	0
	Total		46	0	6	0	1	0	19	0	72	0
Aston Villa	2011–12 [35]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2012–13 [36]	Premier League	7	0	0	0	2	0	—		9	0
	2013–14 [37]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2014–15 [38]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	9	0
Notts County (loan)	2013–14 [37]	League One	2	0	0	0	1	0	1 [lower-alpha 3]	0	4	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2013–14 [37]	Championship	13	0	1	0	0	0	—		14	0
Northampton Town (loan)	2014–15 [38]	League Two	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2014–15 [38]	League One	28	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	32	1
Portsmouth	2015–16 [39]	League Two	45	0	5	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	53	0
	2016–17 [40]	League Two	45	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	46	1
	Total		90	1	6	0	1	0	2	0	99	1
Sheffield United	2017–18 [41]	Championship	45	1	2	0	0	0	—		47	1
	2018–19 [42]	Championship	45	4	0	0	1	0	—		46	4
	2019–20 [43]	Premier League	38	2	1	0	1	0	—		40	2
	2020–21 [44]	Premier League	30	0	2	0	0	0	—		32	0
	2021–22 [45]	Championship	22	1	0	0	1	1	1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	24	2
	2022–23 [46]	Championship	12	0	1	0	0	0	—		13	0
	Total		192	8	6	0	3	1	1	0	202	9
Stoke City	2023–24 [47]	Championship	18	0	0	0	0	0	—		18	0
Career total			432	11	29	0	9	1	29	0	499	12

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Four appearances in Setanta Sports Cup, four in UEFA Champions League and eight in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearance in Football League Trophy
4. Appearances in League Two play-offs
5. Appearances in Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 7 September 2023 ^[48]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Republic of Ireland	2018	6	0
	2019	8	0
	2020	5	0
	2021	4	0
	2022	2	0
	2023	1	0
Total		26	0

Honours

Shamrock Rovers

• League of Ireland Premier Division: 2010, 2011 ^[34]
• Setanta Sports Cup: 2011 ^[34]

Portsmouth

• EFL League Two: 2016–17 ^[49]

Sheffield United

• EFL Championship runner-up: 2018–19, ^[50] 2022–23

Individual

• PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2016–17 League Two ^[51]

• PFAI Young Player of the Year: 2011 ^{[ citation needed ]}
• EFL Team of the Season: 2016–17 ^[52]
• PFA Team of the Year: 2016–17 League Two ^[53]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2017 and 31/07/2017". The Football Association. p. 34. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
2. "Enda Stevens: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
3. "Enda Stevens: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
4. "Enda Stevens: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
5. "Enda Stevens' circuitous career justifies the term 'journey'". The Irish Times. 25 November 2017. Father Gerry and Enda were both keen Gaelic footballers and Enda continued to play - quietly - once he had moved from UCD to St Patrick's Athletic in 2009 when he was 18. 'Me Da played soccer as a kid, I think as far as Home Farm. Then he went into the Gaelic and hurling. I played both as well until I was 16. Even when I was playing for Pat's I was sneaking around playing Gaelic for St James Gaels on a Wednesday – my day off. Wednesday nights down the Iveagh Grounds. I loved it, always been a big part of my family, we'd all get together on a Sunday for Dublin games'.
6. "Cork City 0 – St Patrick's Athletic 1". St Patrick's Athletic F.C. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
7. "Latest new signing – Enda Stevens". shamrockrovers.ie. 10 December 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
8. Aidan Fitzmaurice (7 December 2009). "Mahon unsure of future St Pat's plans". Herald.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
9. "Latest Result – Rovers 0:2 Dundalk". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
10. "Extratime.ie – League of Ireland Sports news, stats, match results, features and news". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
11. Bailey, Graeme (31 August 2011). "McLeish confirms Shamrock move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
12. "Picture gallery: Stevens signs Villa deal while Lichaj returns". avfc.co.uk. 3 January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
13. "Aston Villa 3–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
14. "Swindon 2–3 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
15. "Sunderland 0–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
16. "Aston Villa 2–3 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
17. "Manchester City 5–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
18. "Stevens: I Thought It Was A Pen". www.nottscountyfc.co.uk. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
19. "Liverpool 4–2 Notts County (after extra-time)". BBC Sport. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
20. "Search For A Left Back 'Enda's". DRFC Official Site. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
21. "Aston Villa's Enda Stevens joins Northampton Town on loan". BBC Sport. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
22. "Doncaster Rovers sign Aston Villa's Enda Stevens on loan". BBC Sport. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
23. "Stevens signs for Pompey". Portsmouth FC. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
24. "Newport 2–3 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
25. "EFL team of the season: Chris Wood, Anthony Knockaert and Billy Sharp included". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
26. "Enda Stevens: Sheffield United sign Portsmouth left-back on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
27. "Sheffield United promoted to Premier League after Leeds draw". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
28. "Ireland's Enda Stevens rewarded with new long-term deal at Sheffield United". the42.ie. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
29. "ESPN: Serving sports fans. Anytime. Anywhere. - ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
30. "Stoke sign ex-Sheff Utd & Villa defender Stevens". BBC Sport. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
31. "McLoughlin saves penalty in U21s stalemate". Football Association of Ireland. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
32. "Enda Stevens". Extratime.com. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
33. "Enda Stevens". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
34. "Enda Stevens". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
35. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
36. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
37. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
38. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
39. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
40. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
41. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
42. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
43. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
44. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
45. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
46. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
47. "Games played by Enda Stevens in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
48. "Enda Stevens". eu-football.info. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
49. Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 298–299. ISBN   978-1-4722-3397-4.
50. Anderson, John, ed. (2019). Football Yearbook 2019–2020. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 320–231. ISBN   978-1-4722-6111-3.
51. "Enda Stevens wins PFA Fans' League Two Player of the Season award". Sky Sports. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
52. "EFL Awards: The complete 2017 winners list". EFL.com. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
53. "PFA teams of the year: Chelsea and Tottenham dominate Premier League XI". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.

External links

• Enda Stevens at Soccerbase