Ruaidhrí Higgins

Ruaidhrí Higgins (born 23 October 1984) is a retired Northern Irish footballer who was best known for his time at Derry City.

Ruaidhrí Higgins
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-10-23) 23 October 1984
Place of birth Limavady Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Newtown YFC
2000–2004 Coventry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2009 Derry City 60 (1)
2010 Bohemians 22 (2)
2011–2013 Derry City 88 (1)
2014–2015 Dundalk 23 (0)
2015–2016 Coleraine 43 (0)
Total 236 (4)
National team
2003–2004 Northern Ireland U21 2 (0)
2011 League of Ireland XI
Teams managed
2017–2018 Dundalk (opposition analyst)
2019–2020 Dundalk (assistant head coach)
2020– Republic of Ireland (opposition analyst)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Higgins, who was born in Limavady, Northern Ireland, began his career at the youth club, Newtown Y.F.C. before being signed by Coventry City in 1998. Higgins signed for Derry City after being released by Coventry City. He made his debut at home against Drogheda United on 14 October 2004. During his time at the Brandywell he won five trophies and played in five European ties.

After Derry City's League of Ireland contract was terminated - after the club admitted holding secondary, unofficial contracts with players - the FAI announced all of the club's players could quit the club. Now a free agent, Higgins had a trial with Aberdeen on 30 November 2009 but manager Mark McGhee reneged on his contract.

Higgins signed for Bohemians in January 2010.[1] After breaking into Pat Fenlon's starting XI, he scored his first league goal for the club on 3 May with the winner against Drogheda United.[2] However, some poor performances saw him regularly start matches on the substitute's bench and he failed to make an impact as Bohs relinquished their league title on goal difference. During the close season of 2010, Higgins was linked with a move back to his former club Derry City.[3]

Higgins re-signed for Derry City in January 2011.

Higgins was released by Derry City at the end of the 2013 season.

On 14 January 2014, Higgins completed a move to Dundalk which saw him re-united with former manager Stephen Kenny.[4]

Higgins then moved to NIFL Premiership side Coleraine and upon leaving the club in 2017,made the decision to retire and take up a coaching role at Dundalk.[5]

In May 2020, Higgins left Dundalk to link up once again with Stephen Kenny, this time with the Republic of Ireland national football team as an opposition analyst.[6]

Honours
Derry City
Bohemians
Dundalk

References
  1. Higgins signs for Bohs
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Kenny interested in Higgins return
  4. "Dundalk add to squad with Ruaidhri Higgins signing". rte.ie. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  5. https://www.derrynow.com/soccer/ex-derry-city-midfielder-ruaidhri-higgins-hangs-boots-take-coaching-role-dundalk/141947
  6. https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/ruaidhri-higgins-leaves-dundalk-to-join-stephen-kennys-backroom-team-39239118.html

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