Shaun Williams (footballer)

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Shaun Williams
Shaun Williams.jpg
Williams playing for Milton Keynes Dons in 2013
Personal information
Full name Shaun Williams[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986 (age 34)[2]
Place of birth Portmarnock, Dublin, Ireland[3]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive-midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Portsmouth
Number 6
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 252 (18)
2021– Portsmouth 5 (0)
National team‡
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)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 September 2021 (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 for League One club Portsmouth. He has previously played for Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Sporting Fingal, MK Dons and Millwall.

Career[]

Drogheda United[]

Raised in Portmarnock in North Dublin, Williams signed for nearby League of Ireland club Drogheda United 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]

Dundalk loan[]

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]

Finn Harps loan[]

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 play offs. 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]

Return from loans[]

He made his first team debut for the club on 20 July 2008, coming off the bench at half time 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]

Sporting Fingal[]

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]

Milton Keynes Dons[]

On 16 March 2011, Williams signed for MK Dons. Despite making his name as an attacking midfielder, he has played primarily as a centre half for MK Dons, 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.[citation needed]

Millwall[]

Williams in action for Millwall against Swindon Town in 2015.

On 27 January 2014, Williams signed for Millwall on a 2+1⁄2-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[18] During his time at Millwall he accumulated 252 apperences scoring 18 times.

Portsmouth[]

On 25th June 2021, Williams signed for Portsmouth.[19]

International career[]

He made his senior Republic of Ireland debut at the age of 31 in a 2-0 friendly loss against France in May 2018.[20] 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.[21]

International goals[]

Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 September 2018 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 1–4 1–4 2018–19 UEFA Nations League B

Career statistics[]

Professional appearances – correct as of 11 September 2021.[22]

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 League of Ireland Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0[a] 0 0[b] 0 0 0
Dundalk (loan) 2007 League of Ireland First Division 25 8 0 0 0 0 — — 25 8
Finn Harps (loan) 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division 14 2 0 0 1 0 — — 15 2
Drogheda United 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division 4 0 — — 0[c] 0 0[b] 0 4 0
Drogheda United Total 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Sporting Fingal 2009 League of Ireland First Division 13 8 6 1 3 0 — 3[d] 1 25 10
2010 League of Ireland Premier Division 32 5 5 1 1 0 2[e] 0 0[f] 0 40 6
Sporting Fingal Total 45 13 11 2 4 0 2 0 3 1 65 16
Milton Keynes Dons 2011–12 EFL League One 39 8 4 0 3 0 — 3[g] 0 49 8
2012–13 44 3 7 3 3 0 — 1[h] 0 55 6
2013–14 25 8 4 1 2 0 — 2[h] 1 33 10
Milton Keynes Dons Total 108 19 15 4 8 0 — 6 1 137 24
Millwall 2013–14 EFL Championship 17 1 — — — — 17 1
2014–15 38 2 0 0 1 0 — — 39 2
2015–16 EFL League One 33 2 2 0 1 0 — 7[i] 2 43 4
2016–17 45 4 6 0 1 1 — 4[j] 0 56 5
2017–18 35 2 3 0 2 0 — 0[h] 0 40 2
2018–19 EFL Championship 31 5 4 0 2 1 — — 37 6
2019–20 32 2 0 0 2 0 — — 34 2
2020–21 22 0 0 0 2 0 — — 24 0
Millwall Total 252 18 15 0 11 2 — 12 0 290 22
Portsmouth 2021–22 League One 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Career Total 453 53 41 6 25 2 2 0 21 2 542 65
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearances in League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  7. ^ 1 appearance in EFL Trophy & 2 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy
  9. ^ 4 appearances in EFL Trophy & 3 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs
  10. ^ 2 appearances in EFL Trophy & 3 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs

Honours[]

Millwall

Individual

References[]

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Millwall" (PDF). English Football League. p. 25. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Shaun Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b https://www.extratime.com/player/591/shaun_williams/[bare URL]
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Shaun Williams - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive".
  5. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division - Finn Harps -v- Cobh Ramblers". Extratime.ie.
  6. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division - Finn Harps -v- UCD". Extratime.ie.
  7. ^ "Drogheda United 0 - 1 Cork City".
  8. ^ "Waterford United 1 - 1 Sporting Fingal".
  9. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20091119053905/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1116/braywanderers_sportingfingal.html[bare URL]
  10. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20100330184009/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1122/sporting_sligo.html[bare URL]
  11. ^ "Bohemians dominate PFAI selections". 5 November 2009.
  12. ^ "Summary - Premier Division - Republic of Ireland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".
  13. ^ "CS Maritimo 3-2 Sporting Fingal". 15 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Sporting Fingal 2 - 3 Maritimo".
  15. ^ "Airtricity XI 1-7 Manchester United". 4 August 2010.
  16. ^ "Ryan wins PFAI Player of the Year". RTè.ie. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  17. ^ "League in new crisis as Fingal go to wall".
  18. ^ "Williams set to sign". Millwall FC. 27 January 2014.
  19. ^ "Blues Complete Williams Signing". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  20. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "France vs. Ireland (2:0)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  21. ^ Leahy, Ed (6 September 2018). "Cardiff nightmare for O'Neill as clinical Wales coast to victory". www.rte.ie. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Republic of Ireland – S.Williams". Ie.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  23. ^ Hunt, Josh (20 May 2017). "Bradford City 0–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Young Player of the Year - previous winners". PFAI. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "Williams named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2018.

External links[]

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