Rob Slevin

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Rob Slevin
Personal information
Full name Robert Slevin
Date of birth (1998-07-14) 14 July 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth Carrigaline, County Cork, Ireland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
Derry City
Number 6
Youth career
Carrigaline United
Cobh Ramblers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2019 UCC
2019 Waterford 12 (0)
2020–2021 Cork City 6 (0)
2022 Finn Harps 30 (0)
2023–2025 Galway United 97 (8)
2026– Derry City 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:30, 14 December 2025 (UTC)

Rob Slevin (born 14 July 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City. A left-sided centre-back who can also play at left-back, he has previously played in the League of Ireland for Waterford, Cork City, Finn Harps and Galway United, having begun his senior career with University College Cork in the Munster Senior League. [1] [2]

Contents

Club career

Early life and UCC

Slevin grew up in Carrigaline, County Cork, and joined local club Carrigaline United at the age of six, playing there throughout his youth. [3] [4] He later spent time with Cobh Ramblers at under-17 level before moving into senior football with UCC in the Munster Senior League. [1] [2]

While studying for a commerce degree at UCC, Slevin captained the university side throughout a period of success. He scored the winning goal during a man-of-the-match display in the 2019 Collingwood Cup final and was named player of the tournament. [1] [5] In May 2019 he completed the double as UCC won the Munster Senior League Premier Division. [6] He was nominated for the FAI Intermediate Player of the Year award and was later named FAI Colleges and Universities International Player of the Year for 2019. [1] [3] [4]

Waterford

In June 2019, Slevin signed his first professional contract, joining League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford until the end of the season. [1] He made his debut for the club in a league match against Bohemians on 28 June 2019. He went on to make 15 league appearances in total as the club finished 6th in the league, also appearing twice in the Scottish Challenge Cup and once in the League Cup. [7]

Cork City

In January 2020, Slevin returned to his native city to sign for fellow Premier Division side Cork City under Neale Fenn. [7] At the time of the move he was entering the final year of his commerce degree at UCC and combined his studies with top-flight football. [4]

He made six league appearances during the pandemic-affected 2020 campaign as the club were relegated to the First Division. [8] A serious back injury suffered early in 2021 required surgery and ruled him out for the entire season. He was released by Cork City at the end of the 2021 campaign. [8]

Finn Harps

Ahead of the 2022 season, Slevin returned to Premier Division football by signing for Finn Harps. [9] [10] Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan travelled to Carrigaline during the off-season to persuade him to join the club, with Slevin later recalling that he "nearly took his hand off" for the chance to return to the top flight. [9] [8]

Slevin established himself as a regular in the Finn Harps defence during the 2022 Premier Division season. He made 30 league appearances and one FAI Cup appearance in that campaign. [11] [12] Despite his performances, Finn Harps were relegated at the end of the season.

Galway United

In November 2022, Slevin signed for League of Ireland First Division club Galway United. [8] [2] He formed a central defensive partnership with Killian Brouder and also filled in at left-back when required. [13]

Slevin played in 37 of Galway's 40 league and cup games in 2023 as the club won the First Division title, their first major trophy in 27 years, and secured promotion back to the Premier Division. [13] [11] He scored five league goals and helped the team keep 17 league clean sheets; his performances earned him a place in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year. [14]

He remained a key part of Galway United's defence on their return to the Premier Division in 2024. Slevin made 29 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and providing one assist, as the club finished the season with the second-best defensive record in the division, conceding only 29 goals in 36 league matches. [15] [11] Galway re-signed him on successive one-year contracts in December 2023 and November 2024, taking him into his third season with the club in 2025. [14] [15] By the end of the 2025 season he had made over 100 appearances for Galway in all competitions. [12]

Derry City

On 1 December 2025, Slevin signed a three-year contract with Derry City ahead of the 2026 Premier Division season. [12] [2]

International career

While at UCC, Slevin was selected for the Irish Colleges and Universities national team for the 2019 Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy. [1] [4] He played against South Korea, Uruguay, Russia, Ukraine and France at the tournament, and later described the experience as "very professional" and beneficial for his development. [8]

Style of play

Slevin is primarily a left-sided centre-back but is also comfortable playing at left-back. [1] [10] [12] Standing at 1.88m tall, he has been noted for his aerial ability and versatility, as well as his defensive work-rate and willingness to put team needs ahead of personal recognition. [12] [11]

Personal life

Slevin studied for a commerce degree at University College Cork, balancing full-time studies with his commitments to UCC and later Cork City. [4] He has spoken about the challenges of managing training, gym work and matches alongside academic work, describing the need to find "a happy medium" between the two. [4]

A boyhood supporter of Manchester United, Slevin has cited Cristiano Ronaldo as a player he idolised growing up. [4]

Honours

UCC

Galway United

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "NEW SIGNING ROB SLEVIN: "I want to show people what I can do"". WaterfordFC.ie. Waterford FC. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Robert Slevin". Extratime.com. Extratime. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Horgan, Andrew (15 August 2020). "Rob Slevin is the latest Cork City player to collect prestigious FAI award". Echo Live. Cork. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ryan, Niamh Aine (19 August 2020). "Rob Slevin on balancing sport and work in college". Cork Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  5. O'Shea, John (7 February 2019). "Slevin heads UCC to Collingwood glory". Echo Live. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  6. Barry, Stephen (23 May 2019). "UCC clinch double in style with Ringmahon win". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Opportunity knocks for Cork City's new boy Slevin". Echo Live. Cork. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Lucey, Dan (26 October 2023). "Rob Slevin: 'Ollie (Horgan) showed up in Carrigaline, deep into Christmas. The lengths that he goes to sign someone, just speaks volumes about him.'". Extratime.com. Extratime. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  9. 1 2 Corcoran, Paul (4 January 2022). "Rob Slevin: 'I nearly took his hand off for the chance to come play under him and get back in the Premier Division.'". Extratime.com. Extratime. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Finn Harps sign former Cork City player Rob Slevin". Donegal Daily. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Slevin shakes off personal praise in favour of the collective". Connacht Tribune. Galway. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Slevin Signs For 2026". DerryCityFC.net. Derry City FC. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  13. 1 2 Kelly, Keith (8 March 2024). "Slevin says games against the big clubs is what Galway Utd had been striving for". Connacht Tribune. Galway. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Rob Slevin Signs for 2024". GalwayUnitedFC.ie. Galway United FC. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 "Rob Slevin Signs for 2025". GalwayUnitedFC.ie. Galway United FC. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2025.