Alfie McCalmont explained

Alfie McCalmont
Fullname:Alfie McCalmont[1]
Birth Date:25 March 2000[2]
Birth Place:Thirsk, England
Height:1.75m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Central Coast Mariners
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:–2018
Youthclubs1:Leeds United
Years1:2018–2023
Clubs1:Leeds United
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Oldham Athletic (loan)
Caps2:32
Goals2:8
Years3:2021–2022
Clubs3:Morecambe (loan)
Caps3:26
Goals3:1
Years4:2023
Clubs4:Carlisle United (loan)
Caps4:16
Goals4:2
Years5:2023–2024
Clubs5:Carlisle United
Caps5:50
Goals5:4
Years6:2024–
Clubs6:Central Coast Mariners
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U17
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017–2018
Nationalteam2:Northern Ireland U19
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2019–
Nationalteam3:Northern Ireland U21
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2019–
Nationalteam4:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps4:4
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:12 July 2024 (UTC)

Alfie McCalmont (born 25 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Central Coast Mariners and the Northern Ireland national team.

Career

Born in Thirsk, he attended Thirsk School and Sixth Form College and came through the youth academy at Leeds United.[3] He signed a professional contract extension on 22 January 2019 keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.[4] During the 2018–19 season, he featured regularly for Carlos Corberán's Leeds United under 23s side that won the PDL Northern League 2018–19 league title;[5] they then became the national Professional Development League Champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.[6]

McCalmont started the first pre-season friendly of the 2019–20 season against York City in a 5–0 win on 10 July,[7] and was named in the 1st team travelling squad on 4 August in Leeds' opening day 3–1 EFL Championship victory against Bristol City; he was left out of the final 18, but was allocated the 38 shirt for the season.[8]

He was given his first team debut by head coach Marcelo Bielsa on 13 August in the EFL Cup against Salford City, coming on as a substitute for Jack Clarke in the 70th minute.[9]

He made his first Leeds start on 27 August 2019 in Leeds' EFL Cup match against Stoke City, with Leeds losing 4–5 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.[10]

After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was resumed during June, where McCalmont was part of the squad who earned promotion with Leeds to the Premier League and also become the EFL Championship Champions for the 2019–20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season. Despite not playing a League game he qualified for a league medal due to being named in enough matchday squads.[11]

In August 2020, McCalmont signed a new four-year contract with Leeds United.[12] He was named on the bench by Marcelo Bielsa on 16 September 2020 as an unused substitute for Premier League Leeds in a 1–1 draw against Hull City in the EFL Cup.[13]

Loan spells

He joined Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan on 25 September 2020.[14] He scored his first goals for Oldham, and his first professional goals, when he scored twice on 10 November 2020 in an EFL Trophy group game against Bradford City.[15] In July 2021, McCalmont joined Morecambe on loan for the 2021–22 season.[16] On 9 January 2023, McCalmont joined Carlisle United on a loan until the end of the season,[17] and permanently joined Carlisle on 27 June 2023 for an undisclosed fee.[18]

Central Coast Mariners

On 12 July 2024, McCalmont joined A-League Men club Central Coast Mariners, managed by former Leeds Academy coaches Mark Jackson and Danny Schofield, as well as former Carlisle teammate Ryan Edmondson.[19] McCalmont made his debut for the club on 7 August 2024, in a 2024 Australia Cup round of 32 tie against Heidelberg United.[20]

International career

He has represented Northern Ireland at international level up to U21s. He was called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad in 2019 for a summer training camp.[21]

He made his senior debut for Northern Ireland on 5 September 2019 coming on for George Saville as a 60th-minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Luxembourg.

He was recalled to the Northern Irish national team for matches against Malta and Ukraine in June 2021 after impressing with Oldham Athletic with 8 goals and 5 assists in League 2.

McCalmont made his competitive senior international debut on 2 September 2021 coming on for Jordan Thompson as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–4 win against Lithuania in FIFA World Cup European Qualifying.[22]

Style of play

McCalmont plays as a deep lying central midfielder. He plays mainly as a playmaking defensive midfielder, known for his passing and ability on the ball, dictating the play.[21]

Belfast Live said McCalmont has "excellent technique, is tenacious in the tackle and has an eye for a pass".[23]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United2019–20Championship0000200020
2020–21Premier League0000000000
2021–22Premier League0000000000
2022–23Premier League0000000000
Leeds United U212022–232020
Oldham Athletic (loan)2020–21League Two3283000123610
Morecambe (loan)2021–22League One261301010311
Carlisle United (loan)2022–23League Two162000030192
Carlisle United2023–24League One302001030342
Central Coast Mariners2023–24A-League Men00000000
Total10413604010212415

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Northern Ireland201910
202130
Total40

Honours

Leeds United

2019–20[24]

Carlisle United

2023[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Leeds United . English Football League . 36 . 21 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Alfie McCalmont: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 12 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Who is Alfie McCalmont? All you need to know about the Leeds teenager who this summer trained with Northern Ireland. 13 August 2019. 19 April 2020. Belfast Telegraph. Gareth. Hanna.
  4. Web site: Alfie McCalmont puts pen to paper on new contract at Leeds. 22 January 2019. Irish FA. en. 13 August 2019.
  5. News: 'True leader' – Leeds under-23 captain Hugo Diaz impresses the fans once again . The Boot Room . 12 March 2019 . 1 June 2019.
  6. Web site: Carlos Corberan on what the future can hold for Leeds United's PDL champions. 7 May 2019. 15 May 2019. YEP.
  7. Web site: REPORT: YORK CITY 0–5 LEEDS UNITED. 10 July 2019. www.leedsunited.com. en. 13 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Bristol City 1 Leeds 3. 4 August 2019. Leeds United. 4 August 2019.
  9. News: Salford City 0-3 Leeds United: Eddie Nketiah scores on debut - BBC Sport . BBC Sport . 13 August 2019.
  10. Web site: Leeds Vs Stoke. 27 August 2019. 27 August 2019. Sky Sports.
  11. News: Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence . 17 July 2020 . 9 August 2020. BBC Sport.
  12. News: McCalmont pens new Leeds United deal. BBC Sport .
  13. Web site: 25 September 2020 . Leeds United 1-1: Hull City: Hull book third-round place with 9-8 shootout victory over Leeds United despite conceding a stoppage-time equaliser . 25 September 2020 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  14. Web site: 25 September 2020 . Oldham sign Leeds' McCalmont on loan . 25 September 2020 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Bradford City 1-3 Latics . oldhamathletic.co.uk . 11 November 2020.
  16. News: Morecambe sign Leeds' McCalmont on loan. BBC Sport .
  17. News: 9 January 2023 . Carlisle sign Leeds midfielder McCalmont . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-01-09.
  18. Web site: 2023-06-27 . Alfie McCalmont makes Carlisle United move . 2023-06-28 . www.leedsunited.com . en.
  19. Web site: Central Coast Mariners and Carlisle United agree transfer of Alfie McCalmont. ccmariners.com.au. 12 July 2024. 12 July 2024.
  20. Web site: Match Report: Mariners exit Australia Cup. ccmariners.com.au. 8 August 2024.
  21. Web site: Who is Alfie McCalmont? All you need to know about the Leeds teenager training with Northern Ireland. Belfast Telegraph. 29 May 2019.
  22. Web site: Northern Ireland pick up first win in World Cup qualifying - as it happened. BBC. 2 September 2021.
  23. Web site: Who is Alfie McCalmont? Meet the Leeds prospect who trained with Northern Ireland this week . Belfast Live. 29 May 2019.
  24. Web site: Leeds United are champions! . Leeds United F.C. . 18 July 2020 . 9 August 2020.
  25. News: Carlisle United 1–1 Stockport County (5–4 pens) . BBC Sport . 28 May 2023 . 28 May 2023.