Paul McLaren

Paul Andrew McLaren (born 17 November 1976) is an English former professional footballer who last played for Oxford United in 2012. He was born in High Wycombe.

Paul McLaren
Personal information
Full name Paul Andrew McLaren
Date of birth (1976-11-17) 17 November 1976
Place of birth High Wycombe, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–2001 Luton Town 166 (4)
2001–2004 Sheffield Wednesday 96 (8)
2004–2006 Rotherham United 71 (4)
2006–2008 Tranmere Rovers 85 (5)
2008–2009 Bradford City 34 (3)
2009–2010 Tranmere Rovers 44 (0)
2010–2012 Oxford United 42 (2)
Total 538 (26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

He began his career as a trainee for Luton Town, playing over 160 games over eight seasons. He left Luton to step up a Division for Sheffield Wednesday where he played 96 games and scored six goals. He turned down a contract offer, however, by Chris Turner after the club's relegation and subsequent failure to gain promotion to The Championship. He played for Rotherham United under Ronnie Moore and in the 2006–07 close season signed a two-year contract for Moore's new club Tranmere Rovers having left Rotherham. In his debut season at the centre of the Rovers midfield McLaren started 42 of Tranmere's 46 games in League One, and a further 43 the following season and being named Player of the year.

McLaren is a central midfielder, with an excellent assist record—13 during the 2007–08 season—mainly due to his passing and set piece ability.

He turned down a new contract offer from Tranmere and instead, on 1 July 2008, signed a two-year deal with League Two club Bradford City.[1] He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County, which Bradford won 2–1.[2] His first goal for his new club came on 30 August 2008, with the opening goal in a 3–2 defeat to Aldershot Town.[3] He was a regular in the Bradford side but missed a month of the season during February and March because of a calf injury,[4] before leaving at the end of the season.

On 10 July 2009 McLaren rejoined Tranmere on a two-year contract. He scored his first Tranmere goal upon his return when he scored at home to Grimsby in a first-round League Cup tie on 11 August 2009.[5] On 26 November 2010, McLaren decided to leave Tranmere Rovers as he wasn't enjoying the type of football they were playing.[6] A little over a month later, on 31 December 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of the 2010–11 season. [7] In May 2012, McLaren left the club and rejoined his family in Cheshire.[8]

References
  1. "Tranmere's McLaren joins Bradford". BBC Sport. 1 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  2. "Bradford 2–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  3. "FT Aldershot Town 3 Bradford City 2". Yorkshire Post. 30 August 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
  4. Parker, Simon (12 March 2009). "Rehman: No point in feeling sorry for ourselves". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  5. "Tranmere 4 – 0 Grimsby". BBC. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  6. "McLaren's contract cancelled". Tranmere Rovers: the official website. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  7. "United Sign McLaren". Oxford United: the official website. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  8. "Trio land new Oxford deals". Sky Sports. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
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