Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1990) explained

Alex MacDonald
Fullname:Alexander MacDonald[1]
Birth Date:14 April 1990[2]
Birth Place:Warrington, England
Height:[3]
Position:Winger, forward
Currentclub:Stevenage
Clubnumber:7
Youthyears1:2006–2008
Youthclubs1:Burnley
Years1:2008–2013
Clubs1:Burnley
Caps1:11
Goals1:0
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Falkirk (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:0
Years3:2011
Clubs3:Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan)
Caps3:10
Goals3:1
Years4:2012
Clubs4:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps4:18
Goals4:4
Years5:2012
Clubs5:Plymouth Argyle (loan)
Caps5:16
Goals5:1
Years6:2013
Clubs6:Burton Albion (loan)
Caps6:15
Goals6:1
Years7:2013–2015
Clubs7:Burton Albion
Caps7:56
Goals7:7
Years8:2015–2017
Clubs8:Oxford United
Caps8:77
Goals8:9
Years9:2017–2020
Clubs9:Mansfield Town
Caps9:109
Goals9:6
Years10:2020–2023
Clubs10:Gillingham
Caps10:87
Goals10:4
Years11:2023–
Clubs11:Stevenage
Caps11:26
Goals11:2
Nationalyears1:2008–2009
Nationalteam1:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:7
Nationalyears2:2010–2012
Nationalteam2:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:1
Club-Update:16:38, 24 June 2024 (UTC)

Alexander MacDonald (born 14 April 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Rotherham United. His previous clubs include Stevenage, Burnley, Falkirk, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Plymouth Argyle, Burton Albion, Oxford United, Mansfield Town and Gillingham. Born in England, he has represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level.

Club career

Youth career

MacDonald started his career in the youth team at Burnley and signed a two-year scholarship in 2006, after previously having a trial at Liverpool. He impressed for the youth team and was voted Youth Team Player of the Year for the 2007–08 season, being rewarded with a professional contract in the summer of 2008.[3]

Burnley

MacDonald made his debut on 26 April 2008, coming on as a substitute for Wade Elliott in the Championship 3–3 draw against Cardiff City in the final home game of the season.[4] He also featured a week later in the final game of the season, a 5–0 defeat to Crystal Palace. In the 2008–09 season he featured mainly in the reserve side; however, he did make six appearances as a substitute for the first team, with his first coming in a 3–2 away win over Sheffield United. He also featured heavily in the FA Cup, making three appearances in the run to the sixth round, which came to an end in a 3–0 defeat against Arsenal.

When Burnley got promoted to the Premier League in May 2009 via the play-offs, MacDonald struggled to fight for a place in the team and joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk on a six-month loan in July.[5] He made his debut for the Bairns on 16 July 2009 in the Europa League second qualifying round tie first leg tie against FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein, starting the match in a 1–0 win.[6] He made thirteen appearances in all competitions during his stay with the Scottish club, scoring no goals before returning to Turf Moor in January 2010. He suffered a double hernia injury towards the end of the season and did not feature for the rest of the campaign. He suffered greater troubles when his mother died in March, but he continued to train as usual with the first team as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League.[7]

MacDonald thought he would feature more in the 2010–11 season under Brian Laws in the Championship, but he did not find himself in contention for the first team and was again sent on loan to Scotland in January 2010, joining SPL side Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the season.[8] He made his first appearance for Terry Butcher's side on 5 February 2011, in 5–1 victory over Morton in the Scottish Cup second round, coming on as a substitute for Adam Rooney. He scored his first goal for the club 5 March 2011, scoring with his first touch in a 3–0 win over Motherwell in the SPL after coming on as a substitute.

After a very impressive pre-season in 2011, MacDonald finally broke back into the Burnley team on 20 August 2011, coming on as a late substitute for Ross Wallace in a 1–1 draw against Cardiff City.[9] On 31 January 2012, he was loaned to League Two side Plymouth Argyle on an emergency loan until 6 March.[10] MacDonald extended his loan with the club until the end of the campaign on 28 February.[11]

On 31 August 2012, MacDonald re-signed for Plymouth Argyle until 6 October on an emergency loan. On 1 October, after his loan spell was extended, Alex expressed his liking for the club and the city by saying that he wanted a permanent move to Plymouth.[12] On 4 December, he returned to Burnley from his loan spell.[13] On 31 January 2013, he joined League Two side Burton Albion on an initial one-month loan.[14]

Burton Albion

After his release from Burnley in May 2013, MacDonald joined Burton on a two-year contract.[15]

Oxford United

On 2 February 2015, MacDonald joined Oxford United on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[16] On 31 January 2017, he left Oxford by mutual consent.[17] While with Oxford, he scored 12 goals in 97 appearances, 9 of them in league matches

Mansfield Town

MacDonald signed for Mansfield Town on 31 January 2017. He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2019–20 season.[18]

Gillingham

MacDonald signed for EFL League One side Gillingham on 14 August 2020.[19] He made his debut for the Kent side on 5 September 2020 in a 1–0 win over Southend United in the first round of the EFL Cup.[20]

Following the departure of manager Steve Evans from the club on 9 January 2022, he was appointed to assist caretaker manager Steve Lovell.[21]

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, manager Neil Harris confirmed that the club were in conversation with Macdonald over an extension.[22]

Stevenage

MacDonald signed for Stevenage in June 2023.[23]

Rotherham United

On 24 June 2024, MacDonald agreed to join League One side Rotherham United on a one-year deal, linking up for a third spell with manager Steve Evans.[24]

International career

MacDonald was born in England, but qualified to play for Scotland through his father. He scored in his second appearance for the under-19s against Azerbaijan on 20 October 2008 and scored two more against San Marino a couple of days later.[25] In his fifth match for the team, against France on 25 February 2009, MacDonald captained the side and scored twice.[25] In total, he received eight caps at under-19 level and scored seven goals.[25] He made his under-21 debut on 17 November 2010 against Northern Ireland and scored his first goal for the team in his fourth appearance, against Luxembourg.[26] He dedicated the goal to his mother, Janette, who died 18 months earlier at the age of 40.[27]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
BurnleyChampionship20000020
Championship3030000060
2009–10[28] Premier League00000000
2010–11[29] Championship00000000
2011–12[30] Championship50101070
2012–13[31] Championship10001020
Total110402000170
Falkirk (loan)2009–10[32] Scottish Premier League110000020130
Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan)2010–11[33] Scottish Premier League101100000111
Plymouth Argyle (loan)2011–12[34] League Two184000000184
2012–13[35] League Two161000011172
Total345000011356
Burton Albion (loan)2012–13[36] League Two151000020171
Burton Albion2013–14[37] League Two350301020410
2014–15[38] League Two217102010257
Total718403050838
Oxford United2014–15[39] League Two153000000153
2015–16[40] League Two405402061526
2016–17[41] League One221412021303
Total7798140829712
Mansfield Town2016–17League Two181000000181
2017–18League Two413400010463
2018–19League Two211002030261
2019–20League Two291100030331
Total10965020701236
Gillingham2020–21League One371103040451
2021–22League One7000001080
2022–23League Two432504030552
Total8736070801083
Stevenage2023–24League One262402020342
Career total4363432120033352138

Honours

Oxford United

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Gillingham . English Football League . 31 . 21 September 2020.
  2. Book: Hugman. Barry J. . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. 2008. 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. Web site: Alex MacDonald. Burnley F.C. 4 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100110050957/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10413~40025,00.html. 10 January 2010. dead.
  4. Web site: Memorable day for young Clarets striker Alex MacDonald . Burnley Citizen . 2008-05-02.
  5. News: Falkirk bring in three new faces. BBC Sport. 9 July 2009. 9 July 2009.
  6. News: Alex makes European debut. Claretsmad. 16 July 2009. 2011-10-04.
  7. News: Burnley FC mourning after death of Alex MacDonald's mum (40). Burnley Express. 4 March 2010. 2011-10-04.
  8. News: Burnley's Alex MacDonald joins Inverness on loan . BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. 2011-10-04.
  9. Web site: Burnley vs Cardiff City . Burnley F.C. . 20 August 2011 . 31 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111227174312/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10413~57918%2C00.html . 27 December 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Macca Off To Be A Pilgrim . 15 February 2012 . Burnley F.C. . https://web.archive.org/web/20120305120206/http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/page/LatestHeadlines/0%2C%2C10413~2595052%2C00.html . 5 March 2012 . 31 May 2016 . dead .
  11. News: Alex MacDonald's delighted to extend stay at Home Park . https://archive.today/20130505070911/http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Alex-MacDonald-s-delighted-extend-stay-Home-Park/story-15341277-detail/story.html . dead . 5 May 2013 . The Herald . Plymouth . 28 February 2012 . 31 May 2016 .
  12. Web site: Macca back with the Pilgrims. Burnley FC. 31 August 2012. 31 August 2012.
  13. Web site: MacDonald keen on Plymouth switch. Claretsmad. 4 December 2012. 5 December 2012.
  14. Web site: Brewers Add Fire Power. Burton Albion. 31 January 2013. 31 January 2013.
  15. Web site: Burton: Alex MacDonald, Dominic Knowles and Adam Reed sign. BBC Sport. 18 June 2013. 4 August 2013.
  16. Web site: Transfer Deadline Day: Oxford sign Burton's Alex MacDonald. BBC Sport. 2 February 2015. 2 February 2015.
  17. Web site: Alex MacDonald departs Oxford United on deadline day by mutual consent. Oxford Mail. 31 January 2017. 31 January 2017.
  18. News: Mansfield Town announce retained list . 20 May 2020 . . 18 May 2020.
  19. News: Alex MacDonald: Gillingham sign forward after release from Mansfield Town . BBC Sport . 14 August 2020 . 14 August 2020.
  20. Web site: Report Gillingham 1-0 Southend United. 2022-01-30. gillinghamfootballclub.com. en-gb.
  21. Web site: 2022-01-10. Steve Lovell and Alex MacDonald to lead Gillingham after Ipswich thrashing. 2022-01-30. ITV News. en.
  22. Web site: Gillingham in contract talks with Alex MacDonald and David Tutonda; Manager Neil Harris confirms Stuart O'Keefe will leave in the summer while striker Lewis Walker remains. Kent Online. Cawdell. Luke. 3 May 2023. 3 May 2023.
  23. https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2023/june/alex-macdonald-signing-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-one-efl-english-football-league/ Alex MacDonald joins Stevenage
  24. Web site: SIGNING MACDONALD MAKES IT NINE SUMMER SIGNINGS FOR THE MILLERS. www.themillers.co.uk. 24 June 2024. 24 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Alexander MacDonald – U19 Squad. Scottish Football Association. 29 February 2012.
  26. Web site: Alexander MacDonald – U21 Squad. Scottish Football Association. 29 February 2012.
  27. Web site: Super Mac on Target For Scots. Burnley F.C. 29 February 2012. 7 October 2011.
  28. Web site: Burnley 2009/2010 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  29. Web site: Burnley 2010/2011 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  30. Web site: Burnley 2011/2012 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  31. Web site: Burnley 2012/2013 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2012-06-18.
  32. Web site: Falkirk 2009/2010 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  33. Web site: Inverness CT 2010/2011 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  34. Web site: Plymouth 2011/2012 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2011-08-31.
  35. Web site: Plymouth 2012/2013 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2012-09-02.
  36. Web site: Burton 2012/2013 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2012-09-02.
  37. Web site: Burton 2013/2014 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2013-08-07.
  38. Web site: Burton 2014/2015 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2015-02-02.
  39. Web site: Oxford 2014/2015 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2015-02-02.
  40. Web site: Oxford 2015/2016 player appearances. Soccerbase. 2015-11-01.
  41. Web site: Oxford 2016/2017 player appearances. Soccerbase. 30 January 2017.
  42. News: Johnstone's Paint Trophy final: Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United . Cartwright . Phil . BBC Sport . 3 April 2016 . 13 March 2024.