![]() Williams playing for Milton Keynes Dons in 2013 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Shaun Williams [1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 19 October 1986||
Place of birth | Portmarnock, Dublin, Ireland [3] | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
2005–2006 | Drogheda United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2006–2008 | Drogheda United | 4 | (0) |
2007 | → Dundalk (loan) | 25 | (8) |
2008 | → Finn Harps (loan) | 14 | (2) |
2009–2010 | Sporting Fingal | 45 | (13) |
2011–2014 | Milton Keynes Dons | 108 | (19) |
2014–2021 | Millwall | 257 | (18) |
2021–2022 | Portsmouth | 31 | (0) |
2022–2024 | Gillingham | 43 | (4) |
International career‡ | |||
2007 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (1) |
2010 | Republic of Ireland U23 | 1 | (1) |
2010 | League of Ireland XI | 1 | (0) |
2018 | Republic of Ireland | 3 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:47, 10 September 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 March 2021 (UTC) |
Shaun Williams (born 19 October 1986) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder, most recently for English League Two club Gillingham. He has previously played for Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Sporting Fingal, MK Dons, Millwall and Portsmouth. He represented the Republic of Ireland national team at various levels, gaining three caps for the senior team in 2018.
Raised in Portmarnock in North Dublin, Williams signed for nearby League of Ireland club Drogheda United from schoolboy club Home Farm FC at the start of the 2005 season and played with the club's under 21 side for the year. After impressing for the under 21 side, Williams was offered a full-time professional contract with the club which he signed ahead of the 2006 season. Struggling to make his first team breakthrough that year, Drogheda looked to loan him out for the following year for experience. [3]
Williams spent the 2007 League of Ireland First Division season on loan at Drogheda United's County Louth rivals Dundalk. He made 25 appearances, scoring 8 goals as Dundalk finished in 3rd place. [4]
He spent the opening half of the 2008 season on loan from Drogheda United at Finn Harps following their promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division in 2007 via the playoffs. He made 14 appearances, scoring two goals. [4] His first goal came in the opening match of the season as Harps beat fellow Premier Division newcomers Cobh Ramblers 2–1 in Finn Park. [5] He followed that up with his second in three games as Harps beat U.C.D. 1–0. [6] Failing to score in the rest of his appearances for Harps, his loan ended in Summer 2008 as he returned to Drogheda United for the remainder of the season. [4]
He made his first team debut for the club on 20 July 2008, coming off the bench at halftime for Sami Ristilä in a 1–0 win over Cork City. [7] He went on to make a further 3 appearances before the end of the season. [4]
Williams signed for League of Ireland First Division side Sporting Fingal and made his debut away to Waterford United on 7 March 2009. [8] He scored 10 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions as his side finished 3rd in the league, beating Bray Wanderers 4–2 on aggregate in the Promotion/relegation play-off final. [9] They also beat Sligo Rovers to win the 2009 FAI Cup with Williams playing the full 90 minutes of the Final at Tallaght Stadium. [10] He was voted into the PFAI First Division Team of the Year at the end of the season. [11] The 2010 season was Fingal's first ever season in the League of Ireland Premier Division but they and Williams took to it well, finishing in 4th place and earning a UEFA Europa League place for the following season. [12] Williams made his first appearances in European competition in July 2010 when he captain his side at home and away to C.S. Marítimo of Portugal as they lost both legs 3–2. [13] [14] Williams was selected in the League of Ireland XI to play a friendly against Manchester United in the first ever match at the Aviva Stadium. [15] At the end of the season, Williams won the 2010 PFAI Young Player of the Year award as voted by his fellow players at the end of the season. [16] Just weeks before the 2011 season, Sporting Fingal went out of existence due to financial difficulties leaving Williams a free agent. [17]
On 16 March 2011, Williams signed for MK Dons. Despite making his name as a midfielder, he primarily as a centre-half for the club due to injuries and a small squad. At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, Williams was crowned the MK Dons Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year. [18]
On 27 January 2014, Williams signed for Millwall on a 2+1⁄2-year contract for an undisclosed fee. [19] During his time at Millwall he accumulated 290 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals.
On 25 June 2021, Williams signed for Portsmouth of League One. [20] Williams was released after one season at the club. [21]
On 10 June 2022, Williams signed for League Two side Gillingham on a one-year contract, [22] reuniting with his former Millwall manager Neil Harris. He made his debut for the Kent side on the opening day of the 2022–23 season in a 2–0 away defeat to AFC Wimbledon. [23] He scored his first goal for Gillingham on 5 February 2023, the only goal in a 1–0 home victory over Crawley Town. [24] On 28 April 2023 it was announced that Williams had signed a new contract with the Kent club. [25] On 3 August 2023 he was named as Gillingham club captain ahead of the 2023–24 season. [26]
On 15 May 2024, the club announced that he would be released in the summer when his contract expired. [27]
He made his senior Republic of Ireland debut at the age of 31 in a 2–0 friendly loss against France in May 2018. [28] Williams scored his first senior international goal for Ireland on 6 September 2018, after coming off the bench against Wales in the UEFA Nations League. [29] He made his third and final appearance for the national side in a 1–1 friendly draw to Poland on 11 September 2018. [30]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 6 September 2018 | Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales | ![]() | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B |
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Drogheda United | 2006 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 [lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 0 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2007 | LOI Premier Division | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
2008 | LOI Premier Division | 4 | 0 | — | — | 0 [lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 0 [lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Dundalk (loan) | 2007 | LOI First Division | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 8 | ||
Finn Harps (loan) | 2008 | LOI Premier Division | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||
Sporting Fingal | 2009 | LOI First Division | 13 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 [lower-alpha 4] | 1 | 25 | 10 | |
2010 | LOI Premier Division | 32 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 [lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 0 [lower-alpha 6] | 0 | 40 | 6 | |
Total | 45 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 65 | 16 | ||
Milton Keynes Dons | 2011–12 | League One | 39 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 [lower-alpha 7] | 0 | 49 | 8 | |
2012–13 | League One | 44 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 1 [lower-alpha 8] | 0 | 55 | 6 | ||
2013–14 | League One | 25 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 [lower-alpha 8] | 1 | 33 | 10 | ||
Total | 108 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 8 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | 137 | 24 | |||
Millwall | 2013–14 | Championship | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 1 | ||||
2014–15 | Championship | 38 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 2 | |||
2015–16 | League One | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 [lower-alpha 9] | 2 | 43 | 4 | ||
2016–17 | League One | 45 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 [lower-alpha 10] | 0 | 56 | 5 | ||
2017–18 | League One | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 40 | 2 | ||
2018–19 | Championship | 31 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 37 | 6 | |||
2019–20 | Championship | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 2 | |||
2020–21 | Championship | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||
Total | 257 | 18 | 15 | 0 | 11 | 2 | — | 12 | 0 | 290 | 22 | |||
Portsmouth | 2021–22 | League One | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
Gillingham | 2022–23 | League Two | 37 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 47 | 3 | |
2023–24 | League Two | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
Total | 43 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 54 | 4 | |||
Career Total | 522 | 57 | 47 | 6 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 625 | 69 |
Millwall
Individual
Richie Baker is an Irish former footballer. Besides the Republic of Ireland, he has played in the United States.
Dean Delany is an Irish former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Mark Quigley is an Irish former professional footballer who played for Millwall, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians, Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and Derry City.
Shaun Maher is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender.
Ronan Finn is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division side UCD, where he is also club captain. Across a playing career spanning nearly 20 years, he has turned out for UCD, Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers. Having made over 50 appearances in European competition, Finn competed in the group stages of the Europa League with both Shamrock Rovers (2011) and Dundalk (2016).
Alan Kirby is an Irish former footballer. He played as a midfielder, most often on the right wing.
James Chambers, born 14 February 1987 in Dublin, is an Irish former professional footballer who played for Shelbourne, Waterford United, Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic in Ireland, Solihull Moors in England, Hamilton Academical in Scotland and Bethlehem Steel in the United States. Chambers is currently the head coach of Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the USL Championship.
Éamon Zayed is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently the head coach of Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in USL League One. Born in the Republic of Ireland, he represented the Libya national team as a player.
Ian Bermingham is an Irish former professional footballer who spent 13 seasons with League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patricks Athletic, where he was club captain and is the all-time appearance record holder. He previously spent two seasons at UCD and a season at Shamrock Rovers.
Chris Turner is a Northern Irish footballer. He has been capped at under-19 and under-21 level by Northern Ireland.
Christopher Stephen Forrester is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He has also previously played for Bohemians, Peterborough United, Aberdeen and the Republic of Ireland under-21's. In March 2016 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad but has yet to be capped.
Sean Gannon is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Shelbourne in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He previously played for Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk and has won 10 League of Ireland Premier Division winners medals. Gannon has featured regularly in European competition for Dundalk and was part of their team that became only the second Irish side ever to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in August 2016.
Daryl Jeremiah Horgan is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk. He has been capped 17 times for the Republic of Ireland national team between 2017 and 2021.
Andrew Boyle is an Irish professional footballer who primarily plays as a centre-back. He plays for Dundalk. He has previously played for League of Ireland sides Dundalk, UCD and Shelbourne, Scottish club Dundee, English Club Preston North End and on loan at Ross County. With Dundalk, Boyle was the team's vice-captain and was part of the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016 and qualified for the Europa League group stages. Boyle also played regularly in 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Dane Massey is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division clubs Bray Wanderers, Dundalk and Drogheda United, as well as for the Republic of Ireland national futsal team. Massey has made all 14 of his appearances in European competition for Dundalk and was part of their team that became the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016.
David Webster is an Irish professional footballer for League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United. He has previously played for Bray Wanderers, Shamrock Rovers, Waterford, St Patrick's Athletic and Finn Harps.
Daniel O'Reilly is an Irish professional footballer who currently plays for Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle as a centre back.
Mark Doyle is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for USL Championship club Rhode Island, having previously spent six seasons at Drogheda United and two seasons with St Patrick's Athletic.
Ruairí Thomas Keating is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City. His previous clubs are Sligo Rovers, Finn Harps, Galway United, Torquay United, Gateshead and St Patrick's Athletic.
Greg Bolger is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Cork City. His previous clubs are UCD, Sporting Fingal, Dundalk, St Patrick's Athletic, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.