Stephen O'Halloran

Stephen Edward O'Halloran (born 29 November 1987) is an Irish former footballer who retired from football in May 2022.

He finished his playing career as a defender for Stalybridge Celtic in the NLS.

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 he left the club without making a first team appearance.

He broke into the Villa squad for their 2006–07 pre-season friendlies but did not make any first team appearances.

O'Halloran 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 appearances for the club, O'Halloran's loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers was extended until 20 January 2007.

A week after extending his loan, O'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.

In late 2007, O'Halloran began talks over a new long-term contract; it was later confirmed on 31 January 2008, when he signed a new contract with Aston Villa, keeping him at the club until 2009.

After failing to make a first team appearance under 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 minute, 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 teammate 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".

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.

O'Halloran went on to play professional football with Coventry City in 2010–11 and Carlisle United in 2011–12 before moving into semi-professional football in 2012.

O'Halloran has gone on to play for Nuneaton Town, Stockport County, Salford City and FC United of Manchester during his NLS career.

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.

After recovering to full fitness, O'Halloran remained on the sidelines until on 29 December 2010, where he made his Coventry City debut, coming on as a substitute for Richard Woods in the 76th minute, 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 the team conceded two late goals in two matches against Swansea City and Leicester City.

He is also a qualified physiotherapist having graduated from the University of Salford in 2016.

O'Halloran was born in Cobh and played for local side Springfield A.F.C., before joining Aston Villa.