Conor McLaughlin
FullnameConor Gerard McLaughlin[1]
Birth date26 July 1991 (age 35)[2]
Birth placeBelfast, Northern Ireland
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
PositionRight back
Youthclubs 1Lisburn Youth
Youthyears 2–2007
Youthclubs 2Linfield
Youthyears 32007–2009
Youthclubs 3Preston North End
Years 12009–2012
Clubs 1Preston North End
Caps 124
Goals 10
Years 22012
Clubs 2→ Shrewsbury Town (loan)
Caps 24
Goals 20
Years 32012–2017
Clubs 3Fleetwood Town
Caps 3172
Goals 37
Years 42017–2019
Clubs 4Millwall
Caps 432
Goals 41
Years 52019–2021
Clubs 5Sunderland
Caps 540
Goals 50
Years 62021–2022
Clubs 6Fleetwood Town
Caps 69
Goals 60
Totalcaps281
Totalgoals8
Nationalteam 1Northern Ireland U16
Nationalcaps 19
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalteam 2Northern Ireland U17
Nationalcaps 29
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalteam 3Northern Ireland U19
Nationalcaps 314
Nationalgoals 31
Nationalyears 42010–2012
Nationalteam 4Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps 47
Nationalgoals 40
Nationalyears 52011–2021
Nationalteam 5Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps 543
Nationalgoals 51

Conor Gerard McLaughlin (born 26 July 1991) is a Northern Irish former footballer who played as a right back.

Club career

Preston North End

Born in Belfast, he played for Lisburn Youth in Drumbo for the u-12's.[3] McLaughlin turned professional with Preston North End in January 2010.[4] He made his début for Preston on 12 November 2010, in a 0–2 loss against Hull City.[5] In December 2010, McLaughlin signed a contract extension, keeping him with Preston until 2013.[6] He signed a two-month loan deal with Shrewsbury Town in March 2011.[7]

He was transfer-listed by the club in May 2012.[8]

Fleetwood Town

McLaughlin joined Fleetwood Town on 20 July 2012.[9][10] He signed a new three-year contract with the club in June 2014.[11] He scored his first goal – for any club – in the Football League in February 2015.[12]

Millwall

McLaughlin signed for Millwall in July 2017.[13] He scored his first goal for Millwall in a 2–2 draw with Queens Park Rangers on 12 September 2017.[14]

Sunderland

After leaving Millwall he moved to Sunderland on a free transfer on 1 July 2019.[15] On 25 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Sunderland at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[16]

Return to Fleetwood Town and retirement

He re-signed for Fleetwood Town on a short-term deal in October 2021.[17] On 14 January 2022, McLaughlin left Fleetwood for a second time following the expiration of his short-term deal, leaving the club as their all-time third highest EFL appearance maker.[18]

On 14 April 2022, McLaughlin announced his retirement "due to injury".[19]

International career

McLaughlin has represented Northern Ireland at youth international level.[20][21][22]

He received his first call-up for the senior national team in October 2011,[23] making his senior début later that month, in a 0–3 defeat against Italy on 11 October 2011.[24][25]

McLaughlin started Northern Ireland's first game of Euro 2016 against Poland.[26]

Personal life

Conor McLaughlin is the elder brother of Ryan McLaughlin; both have been capped by Northern Ireland.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Preston North End2009–10[28]Championship000000—00
2010–11[29]Championship701000—80
2011–12[29]League One17020001[a]0200
Total240300010280
Shrewsbury Town (loan)2011–12[29]League Two40———40
Fleetwood Town2012–13[30]League Two190101000210
2013–14[31]League Two35030009[b]1471
2014–15[32]League One391101000411
2015–16[33]League One37210103[a]0422
2016–17[34]League One42440102[c]0494
Total1727100401412008
Millwall2017–18[14]Championship2412000—261
2018–19[35]Championship800030—110
Total321203000371
Sunderland2019–20[36]League One150104010210
2020–21[37]League One25010003[a]0290
Total400204040500
Fleetwood Town2021–22[38]League One9010002[a]0120
Career total28181801102113319
  1. ^ Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Six appearances in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in the League One play-offs

International

[39]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland201110
201460
201570
201691
201780
201830
201940
202040
202110
Total431
As of match played 9 November 2017. Northern Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each McLaughlin goal.
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
111 November 2016Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland22Azerbaijan3–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Fleetwood Town

Sunderland

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13". The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 62. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Conor McLaughlin". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  3. ^ Walker, Michael. "Conor McLaughlin the underdog in a team of underdogs". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  4. ^ "Preston hand Conor McLaughlin professional contract". BBC Sport. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Preston 0 – 2 Hull". BBC Sport. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Conor McLaughlin signs Preston contract extension". BBC Sport. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Shrewsbury Town sign Preston defender Conor McLaughlin". BBC Sport. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  8. ^ "Graham Westley wields the axe at Preston North End". BBC Sport. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  9. ^ "McLaughlin Joins Fleetwood". Preston North End F.C. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Fleetwood sign Conor McLaughlin from Preston North End". BBC Sport. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Conor McLaughlin: Fleetwood full-back signs three-year contract". BBC Sport. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  12. ^ Rob Stocks (11 February 2015). "Fleetwood's Oakwell victory 'massive'". Fleetwood Today. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Conor McLaughlin: Millwall sign Fleetwood & Northern Ireland right-back". BBC Sport. 5 July 2017.
  14. ^
  15. ^ "Conor McLaughlin: Sunderland sign Northern Ireland defender". BBC Sport. 1 July 2019.
  16. ^ "2021-22: Retained list confirmed". safc.com. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Fleetwood re-sign defender McLaughlin". BBC.
  18. ^ "Conor McLaughlin departs Fleetwood Town". fleetwoodtownfc.com. 14 January 2022.
  19. ^ Leebody, Christopher (14 April 2022). "Northern Ireland international Conor McLaughlin announces retirement from football 'due to injury'". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  20. ^ Jcd (6 February 2011). "Conor McLaughlin"
  21. ^ "Irish FA profile". Archived from the original on 7 August 2010.
  22. ^ "Preston North End F.C. profile". Archived from the original on 30 November 2010.
  23. ^ "NI Squad Update". Irish FA. 3 October 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  24. ^ "McLaughlin Makes Senior Bow". Preston North End F.C. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  25. ^
  26. ^ "Poland 1–0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 12 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  27. ^ "Northern Ireland: Ryan McLaughlin replaces George Saville for Central American tour". BBC Sport. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  28. ^
  29. ^
  30. ^
  31. ^
  32. ^
  33. ^
  34. ^
  35. ^
  36. ^
  37. ^
  38. ^
  39. ^
  40. ^ "Starting Lineups - Burton Alb vs Fleetwood". Sky Sports. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  41. ^ Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  42. ^ "EFL Awards: The complete 2017 winners list". EFL.com. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2022.