Stephen O'Donnell (footballer, born 1992)

Last updated

Stephen O'Donnell
SODPartick15.jpg
O'Donnell in 2015
Personal information
Full name Stephen Gerard O'Donnell [1]
Date of birth (1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 (age 33) [2]
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s) Right-back
Team information
Current team
 Motherwell
Number 2
Youth career
1998–2002 Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers
2002–2009 Aberdeen
2009–2011 Celtic
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2015 Partick Thistle 121 (9)
2015–2017 Luton Town 60 (1)
2017–2020 Kilmarnock 101 (5)
2020– Motherwell 159 (2)
International career‡
2013 Scotland U21 1 (0)
2018–2022 Scotland 26 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:50, 12 September 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:09, 10 March 2023 (UTC)

Stephen Gerard O'Donnell (born 11 May 1992) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and the Scotland national team. He has previously played for Partick Thistle, Luton Town and Kilmarnock, and was capped once by the Scotland under-21 team in 2013 before being selected 26 times at full level from 2018, including at the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

Contents

Club career

Early career

A pupil at St Aidan's High School in Wishaw, [3] O'Donnell began his career as a youth player with Wishaw Wycombe Wanderers and captained the Aberdeen under-17 team. [4] He then joined Celtic, [5] where he was part of the team that won the Scottish Youth Cup [6] and under-19 league title in 2010–11.

Partick Thistle

O'Donnell was released by Celtic in 2011 [7] and on 23 August 2011 signed for Partick Thistle on a one-year contract after impressing on trial. [8] He went on to make his debut on 17 September as a substitute in a 4–0 win at home to Ayr United. [9] In 2012–13, O'Donnell played in 38 matches as Partick Thistle won promotion to the Scottish Premiership and reached the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup. [9] He was named in the PFA Scotland First Division Team of the Year as a result of his performances. [10]

O'Donnell playing for Partick Thistle against AEL Limassol during a friendly in 2013. SOD vs Limassol.jpg
O'Donnell playing for Partick Thistle against AEL Limassol during a friendly in 2013.

On 27 January 2015, Championship club Blackpool upped an initial offer of £50,000 for O'Donnell to £125,000. [11] This offer was accepted by Partick Thistle; however, O'Donnell rejected the personal terms on offer at Blackpool in favour of seeing out the remaining six months of his contract. [12] He left Partick Thistle upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2014–15 season, [13] having made 139 appearances for the club. [9]

Luton Town

On 22 June 2015, O'Donnell signed a two-year contract with League Two club Luton Town. [13] He made his Luton debut in a 3–1 win at home to newly promoted Championship club Bristol City in the League Cup on 11 August. [14] O'Donnell's first goal for the club was a 90th-minute winner in a 2–1 win at home to Leyton Orient in the Football League Trophy on 1 September. [15] He finished the 2015–16 season with 33 appearances and one goal. [16] O'Donnell netted his second Luton goal in 2016–17 from a 25-yard shot in a 1–1 draw at home to Yeovil Town on 13 August 2016. [17]

However, a loss of form saw O'Donnell lose his place in the team to academy graduate James Justin after a 2–0 defeat away to Crawley Town on 17 September. [18] He regained his place in the team to make his first league start in five matches after Justin suffered a calf injury in the warm up before Luton's 2–1 win away to Leyton Orient on 15 October. [19] O'Donnell lost his place once more when Justin returned from injury for Luton's 3–1 win away to Exeter City in the FA Cup on 5 November, but a half-time substitute appearance in the next round at home to National League club Solihull Moors on 3 December saw him score twice as Luton overturned a 2–0 deficit to win 6–2. [20] He was then recalled to the starting lineup by manager Nathan Jones for the subsequent league match at home to Carlisle United, which resulted in a 1–1 draw. [21] O'Donnell was released when his contract expired at the end of 2016–17. [22]

Kilmarnock

O'Donnell signed a three-year contract with Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on 4 July 2017. [23] O'Donnell performed well following the appointment of Steve Clarke as Kilmarnock manager, and he was selected for the Scotland squad in May 2018. Kilmarnock offered O'Donnell a new three-year contract in August 2019, but he opted to evaluate his contract situation at the end of the season. [24] During January 2020 Oxford United made an offer for O'Donnell, [25] but a deal was not completed before the closure of the transfer window. He rejected a new contract with Kilmarnock at the end of the 2019–20 season. [26]

Motherwell

On 13 August 2020, Motherwell announced the signing of O'Donnell on a contract until the next transfer window. [27] On 1 February 2021, he agreed a new contract with Motherwell until the end of the season. [28] On 13 April 2021, O'Donnell signed a new two-year contract with Motherwell, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2023. [29]

On 3 June 2024, Motherwell announced that O'Donnell had signed a new two-year contract with the club. [30] On 18 March 2025, Motherwell announced that they had triggered their one-year contract extension with O'Donnell. [31]

International career

O'Donnell made one appearance for the Scotland under-21 team in February 2013. [32] He received his first call-up to the Scotland national team in May 2018, for friendly matches against Peru and Mexico. [33] O'Donnell made his full Scotland debut on 29 May 2018, in a 2–0 defeat to Peru. [34] He retained his place in the squad for the matches in September 2018, and "excelled" in the 2–0 win against Albania on 10 September. [35]

O'Donnell was selected in the Scotland squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and played in all three of their matches at the tournament. [36] His performance in the opening game against the Czech Republic was criticised, but was then praised after the goalless draw against England in the second match. [36] In September 2021 he gained his 23rd cap overall and 12th as a Motherwell player in a 1–0 away win over Austria during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification; [37] as well as being praised for aspects of his performance against the highly regarded David Alaba, he also equalled a long-standing Motherwell club caps record set by George Stevenson in the 1930s. [38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 October 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partick Thistle 2011–12 [9] Scottish First Division 312200000332
2012–13 [9] Scottish First Division29220205 [a] 0382
2013–14 [39] Scottish Premiership 270003100301
2014–15 [40] Scottish Premiership345202000385
Total121960715013910
Luton Town 2015–16 [16] EFL League Two 30000201 [b] 1331
2016–17 [41] EFL League Two30132204 [c] 0393
Total601324051724
Kilmarnock 2017–18 [42] Scottish Premiership3624240—444
2018–19 [43] Scottish Premiership3702040—430
2019–20 [44] Scottish Premiership28330202 [d] 0353
Total101592100201227
Motherwell 2020–21 [45] Scottish Premiership34131103 [d] 1413
2021–22 [46] Scottish Premiership2802040—340
2022–23 [47] Scottish Premiership270100000280
2023–24 [48] Scottish Premiership370205000440
2024–25 [49] Scottish Premiership101006100162
Total136281121311635
Career total4181726535215249626
  1. ↑ Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  4. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 29 March 2022 [50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland 201860
201950
202050
202180
202220
Total260

Honours

Partick Thistle

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". English Football League. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Stephen O'Donnell: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  3. ↑ Scotland players' old schools send good luck messages, Henry Hepburn, TES (magazine), 11 June 2021
  4. ↑ "School pals captain Celtic and Aberdeen U-17s". Daily Record. Glasgow. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Hibs offer trial to freed Celtic youngster Stephen O'Donnell". football.co.uk. Digital Sports Group. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. ↑ "Celtic U19 2–1 Rangers U19 (aet)". BBC Sport. 27 April 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Stephen will go through Hoops for hero Jackie". Evening Times. Glasgow. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Thistle complete signing of new Defender". Partick Thistle F.C. 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "S. O'Donnell: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  10. 1 2 Wilson, Fraser (2 May 2013). "In pictures: PFA Scotland Team of the Year". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Berry, Gavin (27 January 2015). "Partick Thistle accept £125,000 Blackpool bid for Stephen O'Donnell". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Crawford, Kenny (27 January 2015). "Jags' O'Donnell rejects Blackpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Stephen O'Donnell: Luton Town sign Partick Thistle defender". BBC Sport. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (11 August 2015). "Jack's the lad as Hatters shock Robins". Luton Today. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (1 September 2015). "O'Donnell's fluke sends Hatters through". Luton Today. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Hatters held after O'Donnell's stunner". Luton Today. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "O'Donnell doesn't want Hatters youngsters to be given a chance at his expense". Luton Today. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "O'Donnell's display praised after late call-up at Orient". Luton Today. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "O'Donnell not overly worried by criticism from Hatters fans". Luton Today. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  21. ↑ "Hatters are held at home by Cumbrians". Luton Today. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Luton Town: Craig King & Dan Potts offered deals, but five depart". BBC Sport. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "Stephen O'Donnell signs for Kilmarnock after release by Luton Town". BBC Sport. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  24. ↑ "Kilmarnock: Stephen O'Donnell to hold off on contract decision". BBC Sport. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  25. ↑ Mullen, Scott (30 January 2020). "Stephen O'Donnell: Oxford make approach for Kilmarnock & Scotland defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  26. ↑ Dickson, Andrew (19 May 2020). "Stephen O'Donnell rejects Kilmarnock deal and will leave this summer". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  27. ↑ "Stephen O'Donnell signs for Motherwell". Motherwell F.C. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "Stephen O'Donnell extends Motherwell deal". Motherwell FC. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  29. ↑ "STEPHEN O'DONNELL SIGNS NEW DEAL". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  30. ↑ "STEPHEN O'DONNELL EXTENDS HIS STAY AT THE CLUB". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  31. ↑ "SLATTERY AND O'DONNELL SIGN ON FOR NEXT SEASON". motherwellfc.co.uk. Motherwell F.C. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  32. ↑ "Stephen O'Donnell". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  33. ↑ "Scotland: Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie & Barry Douglas withdraw from squad". BBC Sport. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  34. ↑ Lamont, Alasdair (30 May 2018). "Peru 2–0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  35. ↑ English, Tom (10 September 2018). "Uefa Nations League: Scotland beat Albania 2–0 in group opener". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  36. 1 2 "Stephen O'Donnell says reaction to his Euros displays 'over the top'". BBC Sport. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  37. ↑ Watt, Martin (7 September 2021). "Austria 0–1 Scotland". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  38. ↑ Thomson, Paul (7 September 2021). "Scotland's Stephen O'Donnell equals 87-year-old Motherwell record in Austria win". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Stephen O'Donnell in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  50. ↑ "O'Donnell, Stephen". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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