Anthony Breslin Explained

Anthony Breslin
Full Name:Anthony Breslin
Birth Date:1997 2, df=y
Birth Place:Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Position:Left back
Currentclub:St Patrick's Athletic
Clubnumber:3
Youthyears1:–2013
Youthclubs1:St Kevin's Boys
Youthyears2:2013–2016
Youthclubs2:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Years1:2016–2018
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2016
Clubs2:Tamworth (loan)
Caps2:12
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Longford Town
Caps3:26
Goals3:1
Years4:2020–2021
Clubs4:Bohemians
Caps4:37
Goals4:1
Years5:2022–
Clubs5:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps5:89
Goals5:3
Nationalyears1:2012
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–2013
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U16
Nationalcaps2:4
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2013–2014
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps3:8
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2015
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2015
Nationalteam5:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:23:28, 4 August 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:01:14, 23 November 2023 (UTC)

Anthony "Anto" Breslin (born 13 February 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. His previous clubs are Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tamworth, Longford Town and Bohemians.

Career

Youth career

A native of Blanchardstown, Dublin, Breslin came through top Dublin academy St Kevin's Boys, before signing for the academy of Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2013.[1]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 4 October 2016, Breslin made his first appearance in senior football when he featured in the EFL Trophy side that beat Crewe Alexandra 3–2 away from home.[2] He went on to make a total of 4 appearances in his sides 2016–17 EFL Trophy campaign.[3] On 20 May 2018, it was announced that Breslin had been released by the club following the end of his contract.[4] [5]

Tamworth loan

In August 2016, Breslin signed for National League North side Tamworth on a short-term loan deal until the end of September. He featured 12 times for the club during his loan spell.[3]

Longford Town

After spending time on trial at Shamrock Rovers,[6] Breslin signed for League of Ireland First Division side Longford Town in December 2018, ahead of the 2019 campaign.[7] He made his debut for the club in the first game of the season, in a 0–0 draw away to Limerick on 22 February 2019.[8] He scored his first goal of his senior career on 2 August 2019 in a 5–1 win away to Midlands rivals Athlone Town.[9] He made 27 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring once.[3] After an impressive season with the club, he was linked with a move to League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians.[10] He was voted into the PFAI First Division Team of the Year by his fellow players at the end of the season.[11]

Bohemians

In November 2019, it was confirmed that Breslin had made the step up to the League of Ireland Premier Division by signing for Bohemians.[12] [13] His first goal for Bohs came on 22 August 2020 when he opened the scoring in a 2–0 win over St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park.[14] On 27 August 2020, he made his first appearance in European football, playing the full 120 minutes as his side were beaten on penalties in their UEFA Europa League tie after a 1–1 draw away to Fehérvár of Hungary.[15] During July and August 2021, he featured in 5 of the 6 games in the club's UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, playing at home to Stjarnan of Iceland, and home & away against both F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg and PAOK of Greece.[3] He remained an unused substitute in the 2021 FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium as his side were defeated by rivals St Patrick's Athletic, amidst reports that Breslin would be leaving the club.[16] Breslin confirmed his departure from the club in December 2021.[6]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 18 December 2021, Breslin signed for St Patrick's Athletic on a 3-year contract, becoming new manager Tim Clancy's first signing for the club.[17] He made his debut for the club on 11 February 2022, in the 2022 President of Ireland's Cup against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, playing the full 90 minutes as his side lost 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[18] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 September 2022, in a 2–1 win over Finn Harps at Richmond Park.[19] [20] On 6 November 2022, he scored in a 4–0 win at home to rivals Shelbourne in the final game of the season.[21] On 12 November 2023, Breslin played there full 90 minutes in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, in a 3–1 win for his side over his former club Bohemians in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium.[22] On 4 March 2024, he scored his first goal since November 2022 with a first half equaliser away to Waterford at the RSC.[23] On 17 May 2024, Breslin made his 100th appearance in all competitions for the club in a 1–0 defeat to Derry City, in what was new manager Stephen Kenny's first game in charge of the club.[24]

International career

Breslin has represented the Republic of Ireland at under 15, under 16, under 17, under 18 and under 19 level.[25] [1]

Career statistics

[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers2016–17EFL Championship0000004040
2017–180000000000
Total00004040
Tamworth (loan)2016–17National League North120120
Longford Town2019LOI First Division261100000271
Bohemians2020LOI Premier Division1510010161
20212202050290
Total3712060451
St Patrick's Athletic2022LOI Premier Division322104010382
2023360502000430
2024211104020281
Total89370100301093
Career total164510000160701975

Honours

Club

St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anto Breslin. www.stpatsfc.com.
  2. Web site: Crewe 2-3 Wolves. www.crewealex.net.
  3. Web site: Republic of Ireland - A. Breslin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.
  4. Web site: 2017/18 Retained List Published | Club | News. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
  5. Web site: Wolves confirm plans to release 13 fringe players. Matt. Maher. May 20, 2018. www.expressandstar.com.
  6. Web site: Anto Breslin confirms Bohs departure as he's set to move cross-city to Pats. December 18, 2021. Dublin Live.
  7. News: New signings: Town Sign Lee Steacy and Anto Breslin . 22 January 2019 . Longford Town F.C. . 1 December 2018.
  8. Web site: League Report: Limerick 0-0 Longford Town. extratime.com.
  9. Web site: Drogheda and Longford close the gap on Shels with big away wins. The42. Team. August 2, 2019. The 42.
  10. Web site: Bohs to sign Longford left full but Under-21 international Leahy is on Dundalk's radar. November 10, 2019. Independent.ie.
  11. Web site: PFAI First Division Team of the Year released with five Longford and two Shelbourne representatives. Andrew. Dempsey. extratime.com.
  12. Web site: Anto Breslin ready to make impact with Bohs - whether Leahy leaves or not. November 27, 2019. Irish Mirror.
  13. Web site: Bohemians unveil signings of Breslin, Lunney, Twardek and McGuinness as preparations ramp up for 2020. Andrew. Dempsey. extratime.com.
  14. Web site: League Preview: Bohemians -v- St. Patrick's Athletic. extratime.com.
  15. Web site: Bohemians suffer pain of penalty shootout defeat in Hungary. The Irish Times.
  16. Web site: ‘Devastated’ Croly insists Bohs can use pain of final defeat as fuel for rebuilding. November 29, 2021. Independent.ie.
  17. Web site: Breslin Joins The Super Saints. www.stpatsfc.com.
  18. Web site: Memorable return for Jack Byrne as Shamrock Rovers beat Pat's on penalties. Paul. Fennessy. The42.
  19. Web site: Anto Breslin keeps St Pat's on European trail with win over Finn Harps. September 2, 2022. Independent.ie.
  20. Web site: Breslin keeps St Pat's on Euro trail. Paul. Buttner. September 2, 2022. Irish Examiner.
  21. Web site: Saint Ian Bermingham says farewell as Damien Duff’s Shelbourne are put to the sword. November 7, 2022. Independent.ie.
  22. Web site: FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's. James. Fenton. 12 November 2023. www.rte.ie.
  23. Web site: High-flying Waterford stun St Pat's. Adrian. Flanagan. March 4, 2024. The 42.
  24. Web site: New St Pat's era under Kenny begins with Derry defeat. May 17, 2024. www.rte.ie.
  25. Web site: Next Generation: Anthony Breslin | Academy | News. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
  26. Web site: Republic of Ireland - A. Breslin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. ie.soccerway.com.