Josh Magennis

Joshua Brendan David Magennis (born 15 August 1990) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a striker for club Wigan Athletic and the Northern Ireland national team.

On 31 October 2007, Cardiff met Liverpool in the Football League Cup but, with David Forde and on-loan goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ineligible, Magennis took a spot on the bench for the match.

The decision to include Magennis was controversial because he had been called up to the Northern Ireland under-19 team but was not allowed to join the squad by manager Dave Jones due to the need to keep the youngster at Cardiff, with only one senior goalkeeper available for the match.

Having spent the majority of his youth career as a goalkeeper, he switched to striker in 2008 before turning professional in 2009.

Magennis has previously played for Cardiff City, Grimsby Town, Aberdeen, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers, and Hull City.

Magennis began his career as an outfield player, playing up front, even representing County Down in the Milk Cup as a youngster, before eventually becoming a goalkeeper.

He was a member of the Glentoran youth team before joining the youth team at Cardiff City.

In April 2008 he reverted to playing as a striker, just before the Welsh Youth Cup final where he came on as a substitute.

Magennis signed his first professional contract on 10 April 2009 for Cardiff City, the only second year academy student to be offered a professional deal, and began working with reserve team coach Paul Wilkinson who had previously coached former Cardiff striker Cameron Jerome in a similar manner.

On 8 August 2009, Magennis made his professional debut when he replaced Jay Bothroyd as a late substitute on the opening day of the 2009–10 season in a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United.

In his fourth appearance for the club, Magennis scored his first professional goal during a 3–1 win over Bristol Rovers in the second round of the League Cup.

The return of Ross McCormack and Warren Feeney from injury meant that Magennis fell down the pecking order at Cardiff and he was allowed to join League Two side Grimsby Town on a one-month loan deal on 15 October 2009 He made his debut against Rochdale on 17 October 2009, which was to be the last game managed by Mike Newell, who was sacked the following morning.

Magennis made just one more appearance for the side before, on 29 October 2009, he was told that he and fellow loanee Arnaud Mendys loan contracts were to be terminated ahead of schedule.

Caretaker manager Neil Woods commented that "As the caretaker manager I think I need to be fair to the players that we've got here first. They've been a little bit of a victim of the circumstances of the last two weeks. They are not going to get in the eighteen and I don't think it is fair to keep loan players here."

Magennis made his first start for Cardiff on 9 January 2010 in a 1–1 draw with Blackpool, but was forced off after just 35 minutes after suffering a fractured fibula.

He made his comeback as a substitute on the last day of the regular season against Derby County.

He was given a free transfer by Cardiff at the end of the season along with Peter Enckelman, Warren Feeney, Tony Capaldi and Aaron Morris.

On 5 July 2010, Magennis signed a deal with Aberdeen, on their first day of pre-season training.

After signing for the club, Magennis said he was looking forward to developing at the club and that he believed that then-manager Mark McGhee could help him become a better striker.

He started in Aberdeen's first game of the 2010–11 season at home to Hamilton Academical, where he hit the crossbar in a 4–0 win and played 90 minutes.

On 6 November 2010, Magennis scored an own goal during a 9–0 defeat against Celtic, the scoreline was the biggest win in the SPL and also the biggest defeat in the history of Aberdeen.

He scored his first goal for the Dons on 8 January 2011, the final goal of their 6–0 Scottish Cup win over Second Division club East Fife and also set up a goal for Scott Vernon.

One month later, Magennis scored his first league goal in a 5–0 victory over Kilmarnock on 19 February 2011.

Later in the season, Magennis scored against Dundee United (3–1 loss) and Hibernian (3–1 win) during the final games of the season.

In the pre-season friendly against German side Borussia Mönchengladbach, which Aberdeen lost 5–2, Magennis scored from 45 yards.

After the match, Magennis then criticised the referee Max Ebbels for errors he'd made during the match.

He came on as a substitute in Aberdeen's first game of the 2011–12 season at home to St Johnstone in a 0–0 draw.

Magennis scored his first goal of the season in a 3–3 draw against Dunfermline Athletic on 26 November 2011.

Soon in January, Magennis was told by the club's management to look for a new club, but nothing happened in the transfer window.

Magennis then vowed to try and earn a new contract.

Towards the end of season, Magennis played in the right back position, He said about playing in this position: "I feel more comfortable because the game is in front of me and I'm able to dictate play with overlaps and what passes I'm picking. It's good for my football knowledge. I'm able to read the game better so it's a better position for me." At the end of the 2011/12 season, Magennis signed a contract extension at Aberdeen, to run until the end of the 2012–13 season.

In the 2012–13 season, Magennis continued to play at right back after Rory McArdle left the club.

On 23 September 2012, Magennis scored his first goal of the season, in injury time in a 3–3 draw against Motherwell.

His impressive performance caught the attention of the club's legend Billy Williamson who said he believed Magennis can achieve same the level of success at the club that he did.

Soon after scoring his first goal of the season, Manager Craig Brown began negotiating with Magennis to sign a new contract.

Due to the club's injury crisis, Magennis said he was willing to play in any position if any players suffered an injury.

On 27 November 2012, Magennis scored a brace in a 3–2 loss against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and on 16 March 2013, scored a brace in a 4–3 loss against Celtic.

After the match, Craig Brown was confident that Magennis would sign a new contract at the club.

Magennis, himself, said he was aiming to sign a new contract.

Eventually, at the end of the season, Magennis was the only out of contract player to be offered a new deal as thirteen players were released and he signed one-year deal to stay with the club.