Jim Goodwin

James Michael Goodwin (born 20 November 1981) is an Irish football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Dundee United.

Goodwin had a playing career from 2000 to 2019 in Scotland and England, playing in a defensive role with Celtic, Stockport County, Scunthorpe United, Huddersfield Town, Hamilton Academical, St Mirren and Alloa Athletic.

He also had a loan spell at Oldham Athletic.

Goodwin also played at various levels with Ireland.

Born in Tramore, he began his professional career with Scottish club Celtic where he made one appearance for the club in 2000 before moving to Stockport County in 2002.

Goodwin made his debut for Stockport in their 1–1 draw at home to Queens Park Rangers, he made 33 appearances scoring 3 goals during his first season at the club.

He played once for the full Republic of Ireland national team, in 2002, and was capped once by the Republic of Ireland B team, in 2007.

Goodwin began his coaching career at St.Mirren as a player-coach.

After a stint as assistant manager at Alloa Athletic, he became the club's manager and helped them win a promotion.

His first game of the 2003–04 season came in their 1–0 loss away at Wycombe Wanderers and his first goal of the season came in Stockport's 2–2 draw at home to Notts County in October 2003.

Goodwin made 34 appearances, scoring 4 goals throughout the 2003–04 season.

Goodwin left Stockport in 2005 after making 103 appearances and scoring seven goals from 2002 to 2005.

Goodwin was signed by Scunthorpe United in 2005, where he made 84 appearances scoring six goals between 2005 and 2008.

He was injured in a pre-season friendly shortly after signing, and then suffered a further setback with the injury.

In an eventful debut he scored his first goal for the club in their 3–1 home defeat to Brentford on 26 November 2005, and was also sent off.

He was part of the Scunthorpe side that won League One in the 2006–07 season.

He was also named as Scunthorpe player of the year 2007 and won goal of the season 2007.

Goodwin was released by Scunthorpe on 8 May 2008, along with two other players after the club were relegated from The Championship after one season in the division.

His last game being the victory at home against Cardiff City, when he was substituted at half-time.

On 5 June 2008, he signed a three-year deal at Huddersfield Town.

He along with five other players made his debut in the 1–1 draw against Stockport County at the Galpharm Stadium on 9 August 2008.

On 28 December, he scored his first goal for Huddersfield when he scored to give Town the lead against ex-club Scunthorpe in a 2–0 victory.

After missing the beginning of the 2009–10 season due to a knee operation, he made his first appearances of the season coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home win over Yeovil Town on 29 August 2009.

His first start came in the next match, a Football League Trophy first-round tie at Rotherham United on 1 September, which Town won 2–1.

He made his first and only League start for Huddersfield in the 2009–10 season, in a 2–1 loss away at Walsall.

Goodwin made seven appearances for the Terriers during the 2009–10 season, before moving on loan to Oldham Athletic until the end of the season.

The loan was then extended until the end of the 2009–10 season.

Goodwin made eight appearances in his time at the club.

Goodwin was released from his contract on 31 August 2010.

On 1 January 2010, he joined fellow League One side Oldham on an emergency month's loan.

He made his debut in the 2–1 defeat by Hartlepool United the following day.

After leaving Huddersfield, he joined Hamilton Academical on 6 September 2010.

His debut for the club came on 11 September 2010, in a 2–1 home defeat against Rangers.

Goodwin signed for St Mirren after his contract at Hamilton expired in January 2011.

He made his debut at St Mirren Park on 8 January, when he started against Peterhead in a Scottish Cup tie.

After the release of defender John Potter, Goodwin was appointed captain of the club for the 2011–12 season.

Goodwin quickly became a fans' favourite due to his tough tackling, leadership qualities, diving headers and the quality of his long-range shooting.

He returned to St Mirren in June 2019 as manager.

In February 2022 he left St Mirren to take over as manager of Aberdeen, but was sacked 11 months later.

In March 2023, Goodwin was appointed manager of Dundee United who were relegated at the end of that season.