Donald Love Explained

Donald Love
Full Name:Donald Alistair Love[1]
Birth Date:2 December 1994
Birth Place:Rochdale, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)[2]
Position:Defender
Clubnumber:2
Youthclubs1:Northwich Town
Youthyears2:2002–2013
Youthclubs2:Manchester United
Years1:2013–2016
Clubs1:Manchester United
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Wigan Athletic (loan)
Caps2:7
Goals2:0
Years3:2016–2019
Clubs3:Sunderland
Caps3:27
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2021
Clubs4:Shrewsbury Town
Caps4:42
Goals4:0
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:Salford City
Caps5:25
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2024
Clubs6:Morecambe
Caps6:52
Goals6:2
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Accrington Stanley
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2010–2011
Nationalteam1:Scotland U17
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013
Nationalteam2:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2015–2016
Nationalteam3:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:13:56, 24 July 2024 (UTC)

Donald Alistair Love (born 2 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Accrington Stanley. He began his professional career with Manchester United, but made just two senior appearances, and after a loan spell with Wigan Athletic in 2015, he was sold to Sunderland at the end of the 2015–16 season. Three years into a four-year contract, he was released by the club and joined Shrewsbury Town.

Born in England, Love represents Scotland at international level, having played for the under-17, under-19 and under-21 national teams.

Club career

Manchester United and Wigan Athletic (loan)

Love was born in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.[3] He played junior football for Northwich Town and was personally scouted by Alex Ferguson. After rising through the ranks of the Manchester United academy, he first signed a professional contract with Manchester United in 2013.[4]

On 2 October 2015, he was loaned to Wigan Athletic for two months.[4] Love made his professional debut the following day, appearing as a 70th-minute substitute for Will Grigg in a goalless League One draw with Walsall at the DW Stadium.[5] Love totalled eight appearances for the Latics.

After returning from his loan spell, Love made his Manchester United debut in a 2–1 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 13 February 2016, coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured Matteo Darmian. Five days later, he made his first start in an injury-stricken United team, a 2–1 loss away to Midtjylland in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32, and was booked for a challenge on Martin Pušić that caused the Austrian to be substituted.[6]

Sunderland

On 11 August 2016, Love joined Premier League club Sunderland on a four-year deal. He joined with his Manchester United teammate Paddy McNair, for a combined fee of £5.5 million.[7] He made his debut two days later, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 loss at Manchester City,[8] and scored his first goal for Sunderland in an EFL Cup tie against Carlisle United on 22 August 2017.[9]

In August 2018, Love sustained an injury to his ankle which, after attempting to continue playing for another three matches, kept him out of first-team action for the remainder of the 2018–19 season.[10] After three years, a year before the end of his contract, Love was released by Sunderland in July 2019.[11]

Shrewsbury Town

Following his release from Sunderland, on 12 July 2019, Love signed for fellow League One side Shrewsbury Town on a two-year deal.[12] He made his debut on 3 August, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 home win over Portsmouth.[13] On 13 November, after coming on in the 67th minute for Louis Thompson in a 3–1 win over Macclesfield Town in the EFL Trophy group stage, he was sent off.[14]

On 26 January 2020, in the fourth round of the FA Cup at home to Liverpool, Love drove Neco Williams' cross into his own net in the first minute of the second half to give Liverpool a 2–0 lead, though Shrewsbury drew the match 2–2 to earn a replay.[15] On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Shrewsbury at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[16]

Salford City

On 31 August 2021, he signed a one-year contract with League Two side Salford City, with manager Gary Bowyer signing him to provide competition in various positions.[17]

Morecambe

On 17 June 2022, Love agreed to join League One club Morecambe on a two-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with Salford City.[18]

Accrington Stanley

On 23 July 2024, Love agreed to join League Two club Accrington Stanley on a two-year deal. [19]

International career

Love was born in Rochdale, England but qualifies for the Scotland national team through his Stranraer-born grandmother.[20] He has represented Scotland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.[4] [21]

Career statistics

[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United2015–16Premier League1000001020
Wigan Athletic (loan)2015–16League One7010000080
Sunderland2016–17Premier League1202020160
2017–18Championship1101021141
2018–19League One4000000040
Total270304100341
Sunderland U21s/U23s2016–17 EFL Trophy2[23] 121
2017–18 EFL Trophy3131
Total5252
Shrewsbury Town2019–20League One280700030380
2020–21League One140001030180
Total420701060560
Salford City2021–22League Two250200020290
Total250200000292
Morecambe2022–23League One362002030412
2023-24League Two160101010190
Total522103040602
Accrington Stanley2024-25League Two0000000000
Career total1542140811821947

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists . 17 December 2015 . Premier League . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928111647/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html . 28 September 2015.
  2. Web site: Donald Love Premier League Profile. Premier League. 12 August 2016.
  3. Web site: Donald Love loaned to Wigan Athletic. Adam. Marshall. Manchester United. 2 October 2015. 5 October 2015.
  4. Web site: Manchester United youngster Donald Love joins Wigan Athletic on loan. Sky Sports. 2 October 2015. 5 October 2015.
  5. News: Wigan Athletic 0–0 Walsall. 18 February 2016. BBC Sport. 3 October 2015.
  6. Web site: Midtjylland 2–1 Manchester United. BBC Sport. 18 February 2016. 12 August 2016.
  7. Web site: Sunderland sign Man Utd duo. Sunderland AFC. safc.com. 11 August 2016. 11 August 2016.
  8. News: Osborne . Chris . Manchester City 2–1 Sunderland . 27 July 2019 . BBC Sport . 13 August 2016.
  9. News: Carlisle United 1–2 Sunderland . BBC Sport . 22 August 2017 . 29 August 2017.
  10. News: Forgotten man Donald Love opens up on his Sunderland injury hell and comeback . Sunderland Echo . 13 April 2019 .
  11. News: Paul . Fraser . Donald Love set to depart Sunderland with 12 months remaining on deal . The Northern Echo . Newsquest Media Group . 11 July 2019 . 11 July 2019 .
  12. Web site: Former Manchester United defender Donald Love signs for Shrewsbury Town . Shropshire Star . 12 July 2019 . 12 July 2019.
  13. News: Cox . Lewis . Shrewsbury Town 1 Portsmouth 0 - Report and pictures . 30 January 2020 . Shropshire Star . 3 August 2019.
  14. News: Hillback . Ryan . Match Report: Shrewsbury Town 3 – 1 Macclesfield Town. Shropshire Live . 14 November 2019 . 14 November 2019.
  15. News: Shrewsbury Town 2–2 Liverpool . 30 January 2020 . BBC Sport . 26 January 2020.
  16. Web site: Released and retained list. www.shrewsburytown.com.
  17. Web site: Donald Love: Salford City sign ex-Shrewsbury defender . BBC Sport . 31 August 2021 . 2 September 2021.
  18. Web site: All You Need Is Love!. www.morecambefc.com. 17 June 2022. 17 June 2022.
  19. Web site: https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2024/july/23/signing-donalds-a-red/. accringtonstanley.co.uk. 23 July 2024. 23 July 2024.
  20. News: Manchester United kid Donald Love tipped for Scotland call-up . 9 October 2020 . The Scotsman . 15 February 2016.
  21. Web site: Donald Love. Scottish Football Association. 5 October 2015.
  22. Web site: Donald Love. Soccerbase. 23 August 2017.
  23. Appearances in the EFL Trophy