Kevin McDonald (footballer, born 1988) explained

Kevin McDonald
Fullname:Kevin David McDonald[1]
Birth Date:4 November 1988
Birth Place:Carnoustie, Scotland
Height:1.92m (06.3feet)[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Bradford City
Clubnumber:26
Years1:2005–2008
Clubs1:Dundee
Caps1:90
Goals1:14
Years2:2008–2011
Clubs2:Burnley
Caps2:51
Goals2:2
Years3:2010
Clubs3:Scunthorpe United (loan)
Caps3:5
Goals3:1
Years4:2011
Clubs4:Notts County (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:2011–2013
Clubs5:Sheffield United
Caps5:77
Goals5:5
Years6:2013–2016
Clubs6:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps6:120
Goals6:8
Years7:2016–2021
Clubs7:Fulham
Caps7:116
Goals7:6
Clubs8:Dundee United
Years8:2022
Caps8:9
Goals8:0
Years9:2023
Clubs9:Exeter City
Caps9:11
Goals9:3
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Bradford City
Caps10:9
Goals10:0
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalteam1:Scotland U19
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2007–2010
Nationalteam2:Scotland U21
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2018
Nationalteam3:Scotland
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:17:50, 5 November 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:01:26, 7 October 2021 (UTC)
Manageryears1:2023
Managerclubs1:Bradford City (caretaker)

Kevin David McDonald (born 4 November 1988) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Bradford City.

He began his career with Dundee before moving to England to sign for Burnley, for whom he played one season in the Premier League. He spent two full seasons with Sheffield United before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2013 where he spent three seasons. McDonald signed for Fulham in 2016 and made his full international debut for Scotland in March 2018. His career was disrupted by illness, which resulted in him needing a kidney transplant. He left Fulham in 2021 and, after recovering from the operation, he signed for Dundee United.

Club career

Dundee

Born in Carnoustie, McDonald was initially signed as a youngster by Dundee and worked his way into the first team for the Scottish Championship side. He had been the subject of a £75,000 bid from Celtic in June 2006 which was rejected by Dundee.[3]

By May 2008, Dundee manager Alex Rae told the media that he would let McDonald leave the club if a suitable offer was received.[4] On the same day it was revealed that Dundee had rejected an offer of £250,000 from English Championship side Burnley.[5]

Burnley

Burnley eventually had a second offer of £500,000 accepted,[6] and McDonald was signed on a three-year deal,[7] scoring his first goal for the club in a 3–0 win over Derby County at the end of November 2008.[8]

In Burnley's 2008–09 League Cup campaign McDonald scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Arsenal at Turf Moor. His second strike against the Gunners was particularly precise, an outside of the right foot strike from the edge of the area.

His career with Burnley suffered after he left the stadium without permission (after being substituted) during a 6–1 defeat against Manchester City in April 2010.[9] Out of the Burnley first team, he signed for Championship rivals Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan in October 2010. This was followed by another loan to League One side Notts County in February 2011, running until the end of the 2010/11 season.[10]

Sheffield United

At the end of the 2010–11 season McDonald was released by Burnley and undertook a trial with League One Sheffield United leading to a one-year contract with the South Yorkshire club.[11] McDonald made his debut for the Blades against Brentford on 13 August 2011.[12] Initially used as a substitute he gradually became the focus of the team's midfield and a regular starter as the season progressed and the team contested for a promotion place. An injury during the play–off semi-final victory against Stevenage meant that McDonald missed the play-off final, which was lost on penalties to Huddersfield. Out of contract, it was initially uncertain whether he would return to the club, but following negotiations he signed a new two-year contract with Sheffield United at the end of July 2012 whilst in Malta on their pre-season tour.[13] [14]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 14 August 2013 McDonald moved to fellow League One club Wolverhampton Wanderers, signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee (reported to be £750,000).[15] [16] After making his Wolves debut as a substitute in a 2–1 win at Bristol City on 17 August 2013,[17] he scored his first goal two weeks later in a 3–1 win at Port Vale on 31 August.[18]

McDonald became a regular starting player in the Wolves' side that set a new League One points record (103) as it won the division. At the conclusion of the campaign, he won both the Fans' as well as the Players' Player of the Season Awards,[19] having been already also named in the PFA's League One Team of the Year.[20]

At Championship level, he remained a regular member of Wolves' team, featuring in every league game as the club missed out on the play-off on goal difference. Over the summer he attracted interest from fellow Championship club Fulham, who reportedly bid for the midfielder after failing to agree a new contract at Wolves. He admitted to being aware of the interest and said "it is obviously a bit unsettling not knowing where you are going to be".[21] He subsequently agreed a new three-year deal at Wolves that was due to run until summer 2018.[22]

Fulham

Despite his new contract agreement with Wolves, McDonald eventually moved to Fulham after the 2015–16 season, signing for the London club on 22 July 2016 for an undisclosed fee in a three-year deal (with the option of an additional year).[23] He scored his first goal for Fulham in a 2–2 draw with Cardiff City on 20 August 2016.[24]

In March 2021, McDonald stated that he will receive a kidney transplant in April 2021 which may end his playing career prematurely. McDonald was unable to play for Fulham during the 2020–21 season due to his illness.[25] He said in July 2021 that he had undergone the operation, having received a kidney from his brother Fraser.[26] In August 2021 McDonald revealed that his kidney disease was IgA nephropathy, a chronic disease characterised by the gradual build-up of an antibody in the kidneys' filtration system that causes a gradual deterioration in kidney performance.[27]

Dundee United and afterwards

After leaving Fulham at the end of the 2020–21 season upon the expiry of his contract, McDonald went six months without a club. During January 2022, he trained with Dundee United, and signed a short-term contract with them on 1 February 2022.[28] Released by United at the end of the season, he went on trial with Derby County, playing for them in a pre-season friendly but missing out on a contract due to injury. He subsequently trained with Fulham's under-21 team and planned to do some coaching.[29]

Exeter City

On 31 January 2023, McDonald signed for League One club Exeter City on a short-term contract until the end of the season having been training with the club for a short period.[30] McDonald scored his first goal for Exeter on 25 February, in a 2–0 win against Cambridge United. It was also his first goal since he received a kidney transplant in 2021,[31] and came eight days after his daughter was born.[32]

Bradford City

On 20 June 2023, McDonald signed for Bradford City on a free transfer on a two-year deal.[33] He became player-caretaker manager on 4 October 2023.[34]

International career

McDonald received his first call up to the senior Scotland team when Gordon Strachan called him up for a match against Germany in August 2014.[35] On 29 September 2015 he was called up again for games against Poland and Gibraltar.[36] McDonald was selected again in March 2018, this time by Alex McLeish, for friendlies with Costa Rica and Hungary.[37] He made his international debut in a 1–0 home defeat against Costa Rica.[38]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee2005–06Scottish First Division26360001[39] 0333
2006–07Scottish First Division302101010332
2007–08Scottish First Division3492131003911
Total901491412010516
Burnley2008–09Championship25120521[40] 0333
2009–10Premier League2612020301
2010–11Championship00001111
Total512408310645
Scunthorpe United (loan)2010–11Championship5151
Notts County (loan)2010–11EFL League One110110
Sheffield United2011–12EFL League One31330004[41] 0383
2012–13EFL League One45130102[42] 0511
2013–14EFL League One111021
Total775602060915
Wolverhampton Wanderers2013–14EFL League One415102[43] 0445
2014–15Championship4601000470
2015–16[44] Championship3331010353
Total12083010201268
Fulham2016–17Championship433300020483
2017–18[45] Championship423100030463
2018–19Premier League1500010160
2019–20[46] Championship160101000180
2020–21[47] Premier League00000000
Total11665020501286
Dundee United2021–22[48] Scottish Premiership9020110
Exeter City2022–23EFL League One113000000113
Career total4903929117416055244

Honours

Burnley

2009[49]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

2013–14[50]

Fulham

2018,[51] 2020[52]

Individual

2013–14 League One[20]

2013–14[53]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Fulham . English Football League . 16 . 17 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Kevin McDonald: Overview . Premier League . 22 August 2019.
  3. News: McDonald prefers Dundee to Celtic. BBC Sport. 8 June 2006.
  4. News: Dundee will 'probably' lose McDonald. The Courier . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080601180947/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/05/29/sportstory11427511t0.asp. 1 June 2008.
  5. News: Burnley's McDonald offer rejected. BBC Sport. 29 May 2008.
  6. News: Burnley step up McDonald pursuit. BBC Sport. 24 June 2008.
  7. News: McDonald completes Burnley switch. BBC Sport. 25 June 2008.
  8. News: Burnley 3–0 Derby. BBC Sport. 29 November 2008.
  9. News: Burnley star Kevin McDonald fined for half-time walkout. BBC Sport. 6 April 2010.
  10. Web site: McDonald heads for Notts County – Clarets Mad. Digital Sports Group LTD. www.clarets-mad.co.uk. 17 November 2018.
  11. News: Scottish midfielder signs. Sheffield United F.C. . 13 August 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231109/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2419086,00.html. 16 September 2012.
  12. News: Sheffield United V Brentford Team Line Ups confirmed. Sheffield United F.C. . 13 August 2011. 13 August 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231059/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2418841,00.html. 16 September 2012. dead.
  13. Web site: Big Mac is back. Sheffield United F.C. . 25 July 2012. 25 July 2012.
  14. News: Alan. Marshall. Former Dundee star Kevin McDonald signs new deal with Sheffield United. The Sunday Mail. 29 July 2012. 29 July 2012.
  15. News: Kevin McDonald: Wolves sign midfielder from Sheffield United. BBC Sport. 14 August 2013.
  16. News: Kevin McDonald signs for Wolves. Express & Star. 14 August 2013.
  17. News: Bristol City 1–2 Wolves. BBC Sport. 17 August 2013.
  18. News: Port Vale 1–3 Wolves. BBC Sport. 31 August 2013.
  19. News: Macca at the double. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. . 8 May 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140508141546/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/kevin-mcdonald-080514-1542752.aspx. 8 May 2014.
  20. News: Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award . BBC Sport . 28 April 2014 . 23 May 2018.
  21. News: Kevin McDonald admits his future may be away from Wolves. Sky Sports. 6 July 2015.
  22. News: Wolves: Kevin McDonald signs new three-year Molineux deal. BBC Sport. 25 September 2013.
  23. News: Kevin McDonald: Fulham sign Wolves midfielder as Fernando Amorebieta leaves. BBC Sport . 22 July 2016. 23 July 2016.
  24. News: Fulham 2–2 Cardiff. BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. 22 August 2016.
  25. Web site: Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald to have kidney transplant . BBC Sport . 2 March 2021 . 2 March 2021.
  26. Web site: Footballer Kevin McDonald hails 'hero' brother after transplant . Peter . Cassidy . STV Sport . 5 July 2021 . 5 July 2021.
  27. Web site: Kevin McDonald: 'I switched straight from "You've had a kidney transplant", to "The baby's due in a few weeks"…' . Peter . Rutzler . The Athletic . 28 August 2021 . 16 September 2021.
  28. Web site: MCDONALD PUTS PEN TO PAPER ON SHORT-TERM DEAL. 1 February 2022. Dundee United Football Club.
  29. News: Curtis . Leigh . McDonald shares Derby transfer interest and what happened next . 28 December 2022 . DerbyshireLive . 5 October 2022.
  30. Web site: ✍️ Kevin McDonald joins Exeter City!. www.exetercityfc.co.uk. 31 January 2023. 31 January 2023.
  31. News: Kevin McDonald: Exeter City midfielder always confident he would return from kidney transplant . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023 . 3 March 2023.
  32. News: Kevin McDonald: Exeter City midfielder hailed for goal days after daughter is born . BBC Sport . 26 February 2023 . 3 March 2023.
  33. Web site: 20 June 2023 . McDONALD ARRIVES AT CITY . 10 July 2023 . www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk .
  34. Web site: BANTAMS PART COMPANY WITH HUGHES. www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk.
  35. News: Gordon Strachan calls up Callum McGregor and Craig Gordon. 29 September 2015. BBC Sport . 25 August 2014.
  36. News: Scotland: Shinnie & Rhodes called up for Euro 2016 qualifiers. 29 September 2015. BBC Sport. 29 September 2015.
  37. Web site: Scott McTominay confirmed in Scotland squad for games against Costa Rica and Hungary . Sky News . 17 March 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  38. News: Scotland 0–1 Costa Rica: Alex McLeish says side won't click overnight . BBC Sport . 23 March 2018 . 4 May 2018.
  39. Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  40. Appearance(s) in Championship play-offs
  41. Two appearances in Football League Trophy, two in EFL League One play-offs
  42. Appearances in League One play-offs
  43. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  44. Web site: Games played by Kevin McDonald in 2015/2016 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 3 June 2016.
  45. Web site: Kevin McDonald Football Stats Fulham Age 29 Soccer Base. www.soccerbase.com. 31 January 2018.
  46. Web site: Kevin McDonald Football Stats Season 2019/2020 Soccer Base . 4 July 2022 . www.soccerbase.com.
  47. Web site: Scotland – K. McDonald – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway . 12 July 2022 . int.soccerway.com.
  48. Web site: Kevin McDonald Football Stats Dundee United Season 2021/2022 Soccer Base . 4 July 2022 . www.soccerbase.com.
  49. News: Burnley 1–0 Sheff Utd . Paul . Fletcher . BBC Sport . 25 May 2009 . 23 December 2018.
  50. Book: John . Anderson . Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2014–2015 . 2014 . Headline Publishing Group . London . 978-1-4722-1251-1 . 386–387.
  51. News: Aston Villa 0–1 Fulham . Phil . Cartwright . BBC Sport . 26 May 2018 . 26 May 2018.
  52. News: Brentford 1–2 Fulham . Rob . Stevens . BBC Sport . 4 August 2020 . 8 August 2020.
  53. Web site: League One Team of the Season 2013/14 . English Football League . 1 August 2018.