Mark Reynolds (footballer, born 1987)

Mark Reynolds (born 7 May 1987) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central defender for Scottish Premiership side Dundee United. He began his career at Motherwell and has also played for Sheffield Wednesday and Aberdeen.

Mark Reynolds
Reynolds playing for Motherwell in 2009
Personal information
Full name Mark Reynolds[1]
Date of birth (1987-05-07) 7 May 1987[2]
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland[2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
Dundee United
Number 6
Youth career
2003–2005 Motherwell
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2011 Motherwell 166 (6)
2011–2013 Sheffield Wednesday 10 (0)
2012Aberdeen (loan) 16 (0)
2012Aberdeen (loan) 23 (1)
2013–2019 Aberdeen 147 (5)
2019Dundee United (loan) 12 (0)
2019– Dundee United 51 (1)
National team
2007 Scotland U20 5 (1)
2007–2008 Scotland U21 8 (0)
2009 Scotland B 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:53, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 August 2009

Club career

Motherwell

Reynolds started his career at hometown club Motherwell and made his debut on 3 May 2006, starting in a 1–0 win over relegated Livingston.[4] He would then sign a two-year contract.[5] The following season, he became a regular in the first team. His first goal came on 30 September 2006, in a 5–0 win over Kilmarnock and he scored his second later in the season in a 3–2 loss against Dundee United on 16 December 2006. In November 2007, Reynolds, along with David Clarkson, signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2011.[6] He went on to play more than 200 games for Motherwell,[7] with his 100th game being a 2–0 Lanarkshire derby win over Hamilton Accies in November 2008.

In June 2008, it was reported that Rangers had made an offer of £750,000 for Reynolds, which was turned down.[8] Then-Motherwell manager Mark McGhee explained that he wanted to retain the club's better players ahead of their UEFA Cup campaign.[8] Reynolds would stay at Motherwell for another season[9] and stated he would prefer to play in the English Premier League than join either of a Scotland's Old Firm clubs.[10] He went on to make his European debut where he played both legs against Nancy in the first round. In the 2009–10 season, Reynolds played in all six games of Motherwell's Europa League campaign where the club were eventually eliminated by Steaua București. In the league, Reynolds scored four goals during the season against Hibernian, Celtic, Heart of Midlothian and Dundee United. Reynolds later credited McGhee for putting his career on track from "the lowest point in his career".[11]

On 31 August 2010, it was reported that Swansea City had put in a bid for the defender, which was turned down by Motherwell as it did not meet their valuation for the player, who was in the final year of his contract.[12] Manager Craig Brown admitted they need to sell Reynolds to improve their finances.[13] However, Reynolds would remain at the club throughout the summer transfer window.[14] During the season, he scored an own goal in a 2–1 loss against Heart on 14 December 2010 and played his 200th game for Motherwell in a Lanarkshire derby against Hamilton in January 2011.

Sheffield Wednesday

An offer of £100,000 plus additional clauses from Sheffield Wednesday was accepted on 15 January 2011.[7] The deal was completed a day later.[15] After his move, Reynolds said he had made the right decision to join the club and was looking forward to making an impact in English football.[16] Reynolds also stated that a reason for joining the club was to play in front of 20,000 supporters.[17]

Reynolds made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Yeovil Town on 25 January 2011. In his first half-season, he made 7 appearances for the club. The following campaign, he found himself out of the first team and began to struggle to get his place back.[18] He made only ten league appearances for Wednesday during 2011.

Aberdeen

In January 2012, Reynolds was loaned out to Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen,[19] joining up with manager Craig Brown who had previously been his manager at Motherwell.[19] Reynolds, who was brought in as a replacement for Richard Foster, made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Kilmarnock on 14 January 2012. In March, he played twice against his former club (one in the Scottish Cup and the other in the League).[20] On 2 May 2012, Reynolds scored an own goal early on in a game with Hibernian at Pittodrie, which the visitors went on to win 2–1.

After being told by Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones that he was surplus to requirements and won't get first team guarantee,[21] Reynolds returned to Aberdeen on loan for the 2012–13 season.[22] Upon arriving for the second time, Reynolds said he joined Aberdeen instead of Rangers as "it's a strange situation there at the moment", as the Glasgow team had been re-admitted to the bottom tier of the Scottish leagues.[23]

He played his first match of his second loan spell as a substitute in a 2–1 win over St Johnstone on 18 August 2012, and two months later scored his first goal in a 4–1 win over St Mirren.[24] The following month, Aberdeen chief executive Duncan Fraser announced that the club had opened negotiations to sign Reynolds on a permanent deal, with a possible three-year contract on the table.[25] Reynolds left Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent on 31 January 2013 after returning to the Owls from his second loan spell with Aberdeen.[26] He immediately rejoined Aberdeen on a free transfer, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract.[27]

Reynolds was appointed vice-captain of Aberdeen for the 2013–14 season. In August 2013, he scored in a 3–1 win against his former club Motherwell.[28] On 28 February 2014, Reynolds signed a new four-year contract extension.[29] At that time, former Aberdeen captain Willie Miller compared Reynolds's central defensive partnership with Russell Anderson to his own successful pairing with Alex McLeish.[30]

The following month, Reynolds started in the 2014 Scottish League Cup Final victory against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, his first domestic honour and Aberdeen's first piece of silverware in 19 years.[31]

In the 2014–15 season, Reynolds featured in six matches in the Europa League and scored his first European goal in the second leg of third round, as Aberdeen lost 3–2 to Real Sociedad.[32]

In September 2017, Reynolds extended his contract with Aberdeen to the summer of 2019.[33] To that date he had made 226 appearances and scored seven goals for the club.[33] Reynolds underwent knee surgery in July 2018, requiring him to stop playing for the rest of the calendar year.[34] He left Aberdeen in January 2019, initially on loan.[35]

Dundee United

On 31 January 2019, Reynolds moved to Dundee United on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[35] During his loan spell, he signed a pre-contract agreement with United;[36] his arrival on a three-year contract was confirmed in June 2019, despite the club failing to win promotion.[37] He scored his first goal for Dundee United on 8 August 2020, in a 1–0 win away to his former club Motherwell.[38]

International career

Reynolds represented Scotland at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, scoring a goal against Costa Rica. He has also been capped at under-21 level and played once for the Scotland B side in 2009.[39] On 16 May 2014, Reynolds was called into the senior Scotland squad for the first time, for the friendly against Nigeria.[40] He was recalled to the squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against England in June 2017.[41]

Personal life

Reynolds has become involved in the project to encourage literacy.[42] He attended Our Lady's High School in Motherwell and almost quit football when he was "accepted into almost every top university in Scotland."[5] He was held up as an example to aspiring local footballers (such as future Aberdeen teammate Mikey Devlin who lived on the same street) for achieving academically as well as in sport.[43]

In 2019, while still playing, he completed a degree course in mechanical and offshore engineering.[44]

His father Brian is a former football player and current coach who has also worked at Motherwell[45] as well as at Queen's Park, where his son joined in training sessions at Hampden Park as a child.[46]

Career statistics

As of 1 February 2021[47][48]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Motherwell 2005–06 Scottish Premier League 100000000010
2006–07 Scottish Premier League 35230300000412
2007–08 Scottish Premier League 38030300000440
2008–09 Scottish Premier League 36030102000420
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 37410206000464
2010–11 Scottish Premier League 19010206000220
Total 1666110110140002026
Sheffield Wednesday 2010–11 League One 701000000080
2011–12 League One 300020001060
2012–13 Championship 000000000000
Total 10010200010140
Aberdeen (loan) 2011–12 Scottish Premier League 16050000000210
2012–13 Scottish Premier League 23120300000281
Aberdeen 2012–13 Scottish Premier League 12010000000130
2013–14 Scottish Premiership 37240500000462
2014–15 Scottish Premiership 37210306100473
2015–16 Scottish Premiership 22010001000240
2016–17 Scottish Premiership 26040305000380
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 13110204000201
2018–19 Scottish Premiership 000000000000
Total 1475120130161001886
Dundee United (loan) 2018–19 Scottish Championship 1202000004[lower-alpha 1]0180
Dundee United 2019–20 Scottish Championship 26010400000310
2020–21 Scottish Premiership 25100300000281
Total 51110700000591
Career total 425133403603015053014
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Premiership playoffs.

Honours

Aberdeen

Individual

References

  1. "Mark Reynolds". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  2. "Scotland - M. Reynolds - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  3. "Mark Reynolds". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United F.C. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  4. "Livingston 0–1 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 3 May 2006. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  5. "I was two weeks from leaving football, says Motherwell's Mark Reynolds". Daily Record. 6 July 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. "New deals for Well youngsters". Sky Sports. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  7. Barnes, John (15 January 2011). "Mark Reynolds agrees deal with Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  8. "Rangers no longer in for Reynolds". BBC Sport. 4 June 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  9. "Reynolds set to stay put". Sky Sports. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  10. "Motherwell starlet Mark Reynolds to snub Old Firm in favour of Premiership switch". Daily Record. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  11. "Motherwell stopper Mark Reynolds hails boss Mark McGhee for rescuing him from form slump". Daily Record. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  12. "Motherwell dismiss Swansea's bid for Mark Reynolds". BBC Sport. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  13. "Brown – We need Reynolds cash". Sky Sports. 29 June 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  14. "Top asset stays at Fir Park". Motherwell Times. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  15. "Sheffield Wednesday sign Gary Madine & Mark Reynolds". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  16. "Reynolds happy with Owls move". Sky Sports. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  17. "Ex-Motherwell star Mark Reynolds: Signing for Sheffield Wednesday was easy when 20,000 fans turned up for League One game". Daily Record. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  18. "Reynolds faces a 'losing' battle to regain his place". The Star. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  19. "Aberdeen complete loan signing of Mark Reynolds". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  20. "Reynolds relishes return to Fir Park". Motherwell Times. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  21. "Sheffield Wednesday: No Owls future for duo". The Star. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  22. "Mark Reynolds rejoins Aberdeen on loan from Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  23. "Joining Rangers would have been a waste of time, says Dons new boy Mark Reynolds". Daily Record. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  24. "St Mirren 1 Aberdeen 4: Aberdeen score four in emphatic win over sorry St Mirren". Daily Record. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  25. "Dons want Reynolds full-time". Daily Express. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  26. "Sheffield Wednesday: Reynolds and Kyle leave Owls". The Star. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  27. "Aberdeen make Mark Reynolds' Pittodrie stay permanent". BBC Sport. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  28. "Motherwell 1 - 3 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  29. "Mark in for the journey". Aberdeen FC. 28 February 2014.
  30. "Aberdeen legend Willie Miller: Defensive duo Mark Reynolds and Russell Anderson are the new Alex McLeish and me". Daily Record. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  31. Campbell, Andy (16 March 2014). "Aberdeen 0-0 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  32. "Aberdeen 2-3 Real Sociedad (agg 2-5)". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  33. "Mark Reynolds: Aberdeen defender commits to new contract". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  34. "Aberdeen: Mark Reynolds out of action until next year". BBC Sport. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  35. "Dons defender Mark Reynolds joins Dundee United on loan". Press and Journal. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  36. "Mark Reynolds: Dundee United agree permanent switch for Aberdeen defender". BBC Sport. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  37. "Reynolds believes everyone is buying into Mark Ogren's Dundee United vision". Discovery Sports Media. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  38. McPheat, Nick (8 August 2020). "Motherwell 0–1 Dundee United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  39. "Scotland B 3-0 N Ireland B". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  40. "Scotland: Call for Aberdeen's Mark Reynolds and Peter Pawlett". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  41. "Scotland call up Jamie Murphy, Kenny McLean and Mark Reynolds to face England". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  42. "'Well star promotes reading scheme". Motherwell Times. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  43. "Matchday interview: Michael Devlin". Aberdeen F.C. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  44. "Mark Reynolds: Dundee United's new graduate says footballer students no longer 'pariahs'". BBC Sport. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  45. "Academy Staff". Motherwell F.C. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  46. Law, Danny. "Mark Reynolds looking to make Hampden experience count in Betfred Cup final". Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  47. Mark Reynolds at Soccerbase
  48. Mark Reynolds at Soccerway
  49. "League Cup final: Aberdeen 0-3 Celtic as it happened". BBC Sport. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  50. "Celtic 2 - 1 Aberdeen: Celtic complete treble and make history". The Scotsman. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  51. "Award-winner Reynolds confident". BBC Sport. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
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