Luke Mulholland Explained

Luke Mulholland
Birth Date:7 August 1988
Birth Place:Preston, England
Position:Attacking Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Lancaster City
Youthyears1:2006–2007
College1:Wingate Bulldogs
Collegeyears1:2007–2010
Collegecaps1:73
Collegegoals1:37
Years1:2009–2010
Years2:2011
Years3:2011
Years4:2012–2013
Years5:2014–2020
Years6:2016–2020
Clubs1:Reading United
Clubs2:Wilmington Hammerheads
Clubs3:NSC Minnesota Stars
Clubs4:Tampa Bay Rowdies
Clubs5:Real Salt Lake
Clubs6:Real Monarchs
Caps1:30
Goals1:8
Caps2:23
Goals2:9
Caps3:7
Goals3:2
Caps4:53
Goals4:15
Caps5:123
Goals5:16
Caps6:15
Goals6:1
Totalcaps:251
Totalgoals:51
Club-Update:5 October 2020

Luke Mulholland (born 7 August 1988) is an English former footballer and current scout for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.

Career

College and amateur

Mulholland began his career with English non-league side Lancaster City. He was thrown into the team as a youngster due to the club's financial difficulties but starred during a difficult period for the club. Mulholland played his college career at Wingate University from 2007 to 2010.[1] In 2009 Mulholland was named First Team All-American and SAC Conference Player of the Year.[2] Mulholland was assisted by teammates Jamie McKenna and Stephen Kehoe to develop his skills.

During his college career, Mulholland also played with USL Premier Development League club Reading United during their 2009 and 2010 seasons.[3]

During Luke Mulholland's college career, he also coached the U16 club team of North Carolina based Waxhaw United SC.[4]

Professional

Mulholland signed his first professional contract in April 2011, joining third division USL Pro club Wilmington Hammerheads.[5] He made his professional debut – and scored his first professional goal – on 17 April 2011 in Wilmington's first game of the 2011 season, a 1–0 win over the Rochester Rhinos.[6] Mulholland's standout first season earned him recognition as the USL Pro Rookie of the Year and he was also named to the league's 2011 Best XI squad.[7]

After the close of the 2011 USL Pro season, Mulholland became a late-season addition to the NSC Minnesota Stars of the second division North American Soccer League on 6 September 2011. His form and goals helped the team to win the NASL Championship. Mulholland scored the game winner in the 53rd minute of the first leg the final against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and he was named Finals MVP.[8]

On 24 January 2012, the second division Tampa Bay Rowdies announced the signing of Mulholland.[9] The year was another one of great success for him, being named to the NASL's Best XI in 2012. Mulholland scored the game-winning goal versus the Carolina Railhawks in the NASL Semi-finals, which sent the Rowdies into the NASL Finals against his former club, the Minnesota Stars. The Rowdies went on to win the 2012 championship on penalties, 3–2, with Mulholland converting the first attempt of the shoot-out. In two years at Tampa Bay, Mulholland registered 17 goals and 13 assists in 51 league appearances and became the first player to be named to the NASL's Best XI in back-to-back seasons.[10]

Luke Mulholland last played for first division MLS side, Real Salt Lake. In his first season of MLS he appeared in 31 matches for RSL, starting 24 of them. He scored 6 goals and added 7 assists. He also started both of RSL playoff matches.[11]

On 16 February 2021, Mulholland announced his retirement from professional soccer.[12]

Personal

Mulholland was born and raised in Preston, England. In December 2014, he received a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[13]

Honors

NASL Championships: (2)

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Official Website of Wingate University Athletics. www.wingatebulldogs.com.
  2. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . uslpro.uslsoccer.com . 2014-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313083521/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/514650.html . 13 March 2012 .
  3. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL). uslsoccer.com. 2014-05-02. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121008095903/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2009/22373.html#STATS. 8 October 2012. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: Luke Mulholland's Whirlwind Year – IMS Soccer News. www.insidemnsoccer.com. 23 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20170518060807/http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2011/10/06/luke-mulhollands-whirlwind-year/. 18 May 2017. dead.
  5. Web site: Hammerheads announce addition of three more players | Hammerheads . https://web.archive.org/web/20110408072700/http://hammers.blogs.starnewsonline.com/10586/hammerheads-announce-addition-of-three-more-players/ . 8 April 2011 . dead . 2014-05-02 .
  6. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL). uslpro.uslsoccer.com. 2014-05-02. dead. https://archive.today/20120719004847/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+2175591. 19 July 2012. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . uslpro.uslsoccer.com . 2014-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120527224917/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/558794.html . 27 May 2012 .
  8. Web site: NSC Minnesota Stars Add Two Attacking Players to Help in Playoff Push – OurSports Central – Independent and Minor League Sports News. 6 September 2011. oursportscentral.com. 2014-05-02.
  9. Web site: Rowdies Home | rowdiessoccer.com. rowdiessoccer.com. 2014-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20131101121603/http://rowdiessoccer.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1661. 1 November 2013. dead.
  10. Web site: Real Salt Lake signs midfielder Luke Mulholland | Real Salt Lake . realsaltlake.com . 2014-05-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140124073625/http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/2014/01/real-salt-lake-signs-midfielder-luke-mulholland . 24 January 2014 .
  11. Web site: Luke Mulholland Profile. soccerway.com. Soccerway. 3 May 2020.
  12. Web site: Sigal. Jonathan. February 16, 2021. Luke Mulholland retires, becomes scout for Real Salt Lake. February 16, 2021. MLS Official Website.
  13. Web site: The Commish opens up, RSL shutout of Best XI, Mulholland gets green card.