Simon Donnelly

Simon Thomas Donnelly (born 1 December 1974) is a Scottish professional football player and coach. Donnelly played as a forward or wide midfielder for Queen's Park, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle and Scotland.

For the member of the Irish Republican Army, see Simon Donnelly (Irish republican).

Simon Donnelly
Donnelly with York City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Simon Thomas Donnelly[1]
Date of birth (1974-12-01) 1 December 1974
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Striker / Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1993 Queen's Park 0 (0)
1993–1999 Celtic 146 (30)
1999–2003 Sheffield Wednesday 53 (8)
2003–2004 St Johnstone 36 (8)
2004–2006 Dunfermline Athletic 39 (4)
2006–2011 Partick Thistle 122 (14)
Total 396 (64)
National team
1994–1996 Scotland U21[2] 11 (3)
1997–1998 Scotland 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2011

He established himself at Celtic, winning the Scottish League title in 1997–98 and being a member of the Scotland squad at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 1999 he moved to English football with Sheffield Wednesday, but struggled with injuries in his time there. Returning to Scotland, he played for St Johnstone, Dunfermline and Partick Thistle before his playing retirement in 2011.

He has since moved into coaching, acting as assistant manager to Jackie McNamara at Partick Thistle, Dundee United and York City, and Mark Wilson at Brechin City.

Club career

A wide-sided forward, Donnelly started his career at Queen's Park but left in 1993 to join Celtic. He made his league debut towards the end of the 1993–94 season, appearing as a substitute in a 0–0 draw against Hibernian.[3] Playing in the majority of matches from March onwards, Donnelly netted five league goals in 12 appearances. He failed to improve on this tally in the following season as he did not score in 17 outings, although the team reached both domestic cup finals, and he was part of Celtic's Scottish Cup-winning side. In the 1995–96 season, Donnelly became a regular, missing only one league match and scoring six goals, and featured in the majority of the 1996–97 campaign.

The 1997–98 season saw Donnelly's best return of goals, scoring 10 goals in 30 league matches as Celtic won the Scottish Premier Division and Scottish League Cup. The following season, he netted five goals in 23 appearances in what was his final year at Celtic Park. In July 1999, Donnelly – along with Phil O'Donnell – joined Sheffield Wednesday on a Bosman free transfer.[4]

Donnelly's time at Wednesday was interrupted by a series of injuries and he played only a dozen matches in the Premier League that season, scoring once as Wednesday were relegated. The following season, he featured in just three matches, although he played in 23 games in the 2001–02 season.[5] In his final season at Hillsborough, Donnelly scored two goals in fifteen league matches before being released.[6]

Joining Coventry City on trial,[7] Donnelly instead returned to Scotland with St Johnstone, signing a one-year deal in August 2003.[8] Surprisingly, given his injury history, he featured in every league match of that season, scoring eight goals before signing for Dunfermline Athletic in July.[9] During his time at East End Park, his injuries returned and he was released two years later having made fewer than forty league appearances.

He joined Partick Thistle in June 2006[10] and played regularly for three seasons. He was initially released at the end of the 2008–09 season, and made a substitute appearance for Greenock Morton in a friendly against Oxford United. However, following the departure of Partick coach John Henry to Burnley, Donnelly rejoined the Jags as a player-coach, scoring against Morton in a 2–0 win at Cappielow later that season.[11] In a similar pattern, Donnelly was then released by Partick again at the end of the 2009–10 season, but soon re-signed once more on a one-year contract.[12] In 2011 he ceased playing but continued at the club as a coach after his friend and teammate Jackie McNamara was appointed manager.

International career

At end of the 1996–97 season, Donnelly made his Scotland debut, making substitute appearances in the friendly matches against Wales and Malta. The following season Donnelly also featured regularly for Scotland, playing in a number of friendlies ahead of the 1998 World Cup,[4] although he failed to make an appearance during the tournament. Donnelly won ten Scotland caps during his career, and had played for Scotland under-21 before appearing for the senior side.

Coaching career

On 30 January 2013, Donnelly left Partick Thistle and joined Dundee United as assistant manager, accompanying Jackie McNamara who had been appointed manager. He left Dundee United in September 2015, following McNamara's departure.[13]

Donnelly was announced as York City's assistant manager two months later, following McNamara to Bootham Crescent.[14] After McNamara's resignation as manager and appointment as chief executive,[15] Donnelly left the club on 16 October 2016.[16][4]

In September 2020, Donnelly landed the assistant manager's job at Scottish side Brechin City, working with another former Celtic player, Mark Wilson.[17] Donnelly and Wilson were sacked by Brechin in October 2020.[18]

Personal life

Donnelly grew up in Burnside, Rutherglen and attended Stonelaw High School.[19] His father Tom Donnelly was also a footballer, who failed to break into the team at Rangers[20] in the late 1960s but played for Motherwell and East Stirlingshire over the next decade before becoming a school teacher.[21][22]

Career statistics
As of 7 June 2011[23][24]
ClubSeasonCompetitionLeagueCupLeague CupOther[lower-alpha 1]Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic1993–94Scottish Premier Division124000000124
1994–95Scottish Premier Division170205000240
1995–96Scottish Premier Division3564131424610
1996–97Scottish Premier Division295203020365
1997–98Scottish Premier Division30103053634416
1998–99Scottish Premier League235201071436
Total14630130117419619541
Sheffield Wednesday1999-2000Premier League121303000181
2000–01First Division3100000031
2001–02First Division234002000254
2002–03First Division152001000162
Total538306000628
St Johnstone2003–04Scottish First Division3681042214311
Dunfermline Athletic2004–05Scottish Premier League213001010233
2005–06Scottish Premier League131002000151
Total394003010434
Partick Thistle2006–07Scottish First Division244102010284
2007–08Scottish First Division181502000251
2008–09Scottish First Division311203021382
2009–10Scottish First Division3581021113910
2010–11Scottish First Division140201000170
Total122141101014214717
Career total3966428140726949081
  1. Includes the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and Scottish Challenge Cup.

Honours

Celtic

References
  1. "Simon Donnelly". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. "Scotland U21 Player Simon Donnelly Details".
  3. "Simon Donnelly". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. The big interview: Ex-Celtic star Simon Donnelly has gone from Bhoy to man and has a brilliant CV - now he just needs a job, Daily Record, 13 August 2017
  5. "Simon Donnelly". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  6. "Turner wields the axe". BBC Sport. 8 May 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  7. "Coventry cool on trial duo". BBC Sport. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  8. "Donnelly signs for Saints". BBC Sport. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  9. "Donnelly seals Pars move". BBC Sport. 14 July 2004. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  10. "Donnelly makes switch to Thistle". BBC Sport. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  11. "Morton 0–2 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 7 November 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2012.
  12. "Quartet sign on again at Firhill". BBC Sport. 2 July 2010.
  13. "Dundee United confirm Jackie McNamara exit as manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  14. "York City appoint Jackie McNamara as manager after Russ Wilcox exit". The Guardian. The Guardian. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  15. Flett, Dave (16 October 2016). "York City confirm Gary Mills' return as manager and Jackie McNamara's appointment as chief executive". The Press. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  16. "Donnelly Departs". York City FC. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  17. McGinley, John (8 September 2020). "Former Celtic star Simon Donnelly lands Brechin City assistant manager post". Hail Hail. 67hailhail.com. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  18. "Mark Wilson departs as Brechin City manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  19. "Stonelaw High waves farewell to favourite teacher". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  20. No Rangers player would get in Celtic team – Simon Donnelly, The Scotsman, 10 April 2017
  21. Tom Donnelly, MotherWELLnet
  22. East Stirlingshire players, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database
  23. Simon Donnelly at Soccerbase
  24. Celtic player Simon Donnelly, FitbaStats
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