Stephen O'Halloran

Stephen Edward O'Halloran (born 29 November 1987) is an Irish semi-professional footballer who plays as a defender. He began his professional career in the Premier League with Aston Villa and has earned two full international caps for the Republic of Ireland. Following two serious cruciate ligament injuries during his time at Villa Park, O'Halloran moved on to Coventry City in 2010 and currently plays for Salford City. He is also a qualified physiotherapist having graduated from the University of Salford in 2016.

Aston Villa

O'Halloran was born in Cobh and played for local side Springfield A.F.C., before joining Aston Villa. He broke into the Villa squad for their 2006–07 pre-season friendlies but did not make any first team appearances. In late-2007, O’Halloran began talks over a new long term contract. and it was later confirmed on 31 January 2008, which he signed a new contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2009.

However, at the beginning of the 2009–10 season O'Halloran was omitted from the press release announcing Villa's squad numbers. O'Halloran's number 29 shirt was given to Welsh international defender James Collins upon his signing for the club. O'Halloran returned for the reserves, in the national play-off final against Manchester United. Despite never making an appearance, O’Halloran credited O’Neill for standing by him when he was suffering from injury.

Loans

The young left-sided defender was loaned out to League Two side Wycombe Wanderers in October 2006. After appearing as an un-used substitute for four matches, O’Halloran made his Wycombe Wanderers debut, making his first start, in a 2–0 loss against Hartlepool United on 25 November 2006. After making ten appearance for the club, O’Halloran’s loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers was extended until 20 January 2007. A week after extending his lO’Halloran then played a pivotal role in guiding them to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup. However, his loan spell ran out before the second-leg, and Wycombe eventually lost 5–1 to Chelsea.

After failing to make a first team football by Martin O’Neill in the 2007–08 season, he was loaned out to Championship side Southampton on 19 January 2008 until February 2008. He made his Southampton debut on 29 January 2008, coming on as a substitute for Grégory Vignal in the 65th minutes, in a 1–0 loss against Norwich City. However, after being on the substitute bench for six matches, O’Halloran returned to his parent club.

On 28 February 2008, he signed for League One side Leeds United on an initial one-month loan deal. In the warm up for what would have been his debut for Leeds against Swindon Town at the County Ground, he suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept him out for up to a year. He was replaced in the starting line-up by Frazer Richardson. After suffering the injury he returned to Aston Villa for treatment. After returning from the loan spell at Leeds United, O’Halloran revealed he had a conversation his then team-mate Patrik Berger over injury.

On 5 November 2008, O'Halloran signed for newly promoted Championship side Swansea City on an initial three-month loan deal as competition to Argentinian-born left back Federico Bessone. The 21-year-old was signed to fill the gap left by fellow Irish defender Marcos Painter, who was out for the majority of the season through injury. O’Halloran made his Swansea City debut, where he made his first start, in a 2–2 draw against Barnsley on 9 December 2008. However, O'Halloran was the victim of yet another cruciate ligament injury in his spell at Swansea, which caused him to terminate his loan on 25 December 2008. O'Halloran did not rule out a future spell at Swansea, claiming that he "may return one day to have another crack".

Coventry City

O'Halloran signed a one-year deal with Coventry City on 23 June 2010 and was new manager Aidy Boothroyd's second signing of the close season. Upon joining the club, O’Halloran stated he could one day play in the Premier League.

O’Halloran made his Coventry City debut, coming on as a substitute, in the pre-season friendly against VF Gaflenz on 10 July 2010, which saw Coventry City won 2–0. However, a week later, O’Halloran suffered a stiff back during a pre-season friendly match against Northampton Town and missed at the start of the season.

Despite being fit, O’Halloran remained on the sidelined until on 29 December 2010, where he made his Coventry City debut, coming on as a substitute for Richard Woods in the 76th minutes, in a 1–0 win over Queen Park Rangers. After the match, O’Halloran said he was glad to make his return to the pitch. O’Halloran was given a first team run in, where he played through January and February.

However, O’Halloran later came under criticism when he conceded two late goals in two matches against Swansea City and Leicester City. O’Halloran’s form began to falter in the next game on 5 March 2011 when Coventry City lose 4–1 against Bristol City. As a result, O’Halloran lose his first team place in the left-back by Chris Hussey and was on the substitute bench for remaining games towards the end of the season.

After making eleven appearance in his first season at Coventry City, O’Halloran was released after the club decided against offering him a new contract.

Carlisle United

On 24 June 2011, during a trial at the club, O'Halloran signed a one-year deal with Carlisle United, the contract will be officially signed on 1 August 2011. Upon joining the club, O’Halloran said he joined the club to get regular first team football and was given number 29 jersey at the club.

After appearing in the first four matches as an un-used substitute, O’Halloran made his Carlisle United debut, in a 2–1 loss against Leyton Orient. After being sidelined for two matches, O’Halloran remained on the substitute bench until he sustained a cartilage injury in his knee, resulting surgery. After two months on the sidelined, O’Halloran made his return to training in January.

However, O’Halloran struggled to regain his first team place and made only three appearance before being released at the end of the 2011–12 season.

Nuneaton Town

After a brief trial, O'Halloran signed a one-year deal at Conference Premier team Nuneaton Town. He was given the number 21 jersey at the club.

O’Halloran made his Nuneaton Town debut in the opening game of the season, where he played at left back for 90 minutes, in a 5–4 loss against Ebbsfleet United. O’Halloran then played in his first match in midfield on 10 November 2012, in a 1-0 win over Kidderminister Harriers. O’Halloran went on to make thirty-seven appearance, where he played in different defence and midfield positions.

At the end of the 2012–13 season, O’Halloran was released by the club.

Stockport County

After leaving Nuneaton Town, O'Halloran joined Stockport Country on 13 June 2013.

O’Halloran finished his first season at Stockport County on a high note, resulting him signing a new contract. After the end of the 2014–15 season, O’Halloran left Stockport County, ending his two years at the club.

Salford City

In May 2015, O’Halloran signed for Salford City.

O’Halloran made his Salford City debut, in the opening game of the season, in a 0–0 draw against Marine. Having become a regular in the first team, O’Halloran scored his first Salford City goal in the second round of FA Cup, in a 1–1 draw against Hartlepool United on 3 December 2015. O’Halloran later helped Salford City when he scored the equaliser, in a 3–2 win over Workington, to help the club reach promotion to National League North. In his first season at Salford City, O’Halloran made fifty–three appearance and scoring twice in all competitions.

On 16 May 2007, O'Halloran was named in Steve Staunton's Republic of Ireland squad and played in the friendlies against Ecuador and Bolivia, despite not having played a single first team game for Aston Villa. O'Halloran also represented his country at U15, U16, U17 and U21 level and won the FAI Under 21 player of the year in 2008.