Aaron O'Driscoll

Aaron O'Driscoll
Aaron O’Driscoll playing for Manchester City in 2014.
Personal information
Full name Aaron Maurice O'Driscoll[1]
Date of birth (1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Altona Magic
Number 4
Youth career
–2014 Cherry Orchard
2014–2016 Manchester City
2016–2020 Southampton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Mansfield Town 3 (0)
2021 → Longford Town (loan) 36 (1)
2022 Shelbourne 25 (0)
2023 Christchurch United 17 (3)
2023– Altona Magic 23 (1)
International career‡
2016 Republic of Ireland U17 1 (0)
Republic of Ireland U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:18, 28 November 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:03, 2 September 2020 (UTC)

Aaron Maurice O'Driscoll (born 4 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for NPL Victoria outfit Altona Magic.[3]

Club career

Born in Dublin,[4] O'Driscoll played youth football for Cherry Orchard before signing for Manchester City's academy in 2014.[5][6] He was released by Manchester City after two seasons at the club, having suffered an injury in his second.[6] He signed a professional contract with Southampton in July 2016.[5][6] He appeared nine times for the club's under-21 side in the EFL Trophy before being released in summer 2020.[7][4]

He signed a two-year contract with League Two side Mansfield Town following a trial period with the club.[8][7][9] He made his debut for the club on 29 August 2020 in a 4–0 EFL Trophy defeat away to Preston North End.[4] On 26 February 2021, Aaron joined Longford Town on loan until the end of November.[10] He made his debut for the club on 20 March 2021 in a 2–0 home win over Derry City.[4] In a difficult season for the team which ended with Longford's relegation from the League of Ireland Premier Division, O'Driscoll played every game and was a standout performer being awarded the supporters player of the year award.

On 13 January 2022, O'Driscoll signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne.[11]

On 23 March 2023, O'Driscoll joined New Zealand Southern League side Christchurch United.[12] He scored 3 goals in 17 appearances as the club won the 2023 Southern League.[13] On 10 September 2023 he was part of the team that won the 2023 Chatham Cup, defeating Melville United on penalties in the final.[14]

On 27 November 2023, O'Driscoll signed for NPL Victoria side Altona Magic ahead of the 2024 season.[15]

International career

O'Driscoll made one appearance for the Republic of Ireland at under-17 level.[4] He also played at under-19 level alongside future senior internationals including Aaron Connolly, Lee O'Connor and Dara O'Shea.[9]

Personal life

He is the son of former footballer Maurice O'Driscoll, who won the League of Ireland Premier Division with St Patrick's Athletic.[9]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Southampton U21 2017–18[16] — — — 3[c] 0 3 0
2018–19[17] — — — 3[c] 0 3 0
2019–20[18] — — — 3[c] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 9 0
Mansfield Town 2020–21[19] League Two 3 0 1 0 1 0 3[c] 0 8 0
2021–22[20] 0 0 — — — 0 0
Longford Town (loan) 2021[4] League of Ireland Premier Division 36 1 2 1 — — 38 2
Shelbourne 2022[4] League of Ireland Premier Division 25 0 0 0 — — 25 0
Christchurch United 2023 Southern League 17 3 7 1 – – 24 4
Total 81 4 10 2 1 0 12 0 103 6
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup & League of Ireland Cup
  3. ^ a b c d Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Christchurch United

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Mansfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 40. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Aaron O'Driscoll". www.premierleague.com. Premier League. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Aaron O'Driscoll at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b Fennessy, Paul (11 July 2016). "Promising Irish teenager thrilled to sign professional contract with Southampton". The42. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Former Manchester City starlet Aaron O'Driscoll joins Southampton". Goal. 10 July 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Stags sign O'Driscoll on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  8. ^ Thirkill, Stephen (20 August 2020). "Aaron O'Driscoll keen to establish himself in the Mansfield Town starting eleven". Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Dollery, Paul (20 August 2020). "'We might just have a top player on our hands' - O'Driscoll moves on after Southampton exit". The42. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Mansfield Town's Aaron O'Driscoll extends Longford Town loan deal". Longford Town FC. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Shelbourne announces signing of Aaron O'Driscoll". Shelbourne FC. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Aaron O'Driscoll joins Christchurch United after leaving Shelbourne". EXTRATIME. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Christchurch United FC Secures Back-to-Back Southern League Titles in 2023".
  14. ^ a b "New Zealand Football".
  15. ^ "Altona Magic SC is excited to announce the arrival of Aaron O'Driscoll who has signed for 2024!". Stefce Grujovski. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  20. ^ "Games played by Aaron O'Driscoll in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Christchurch United FC Secures Back-to-Back Southern League Titles in 2023".