Nathan Collins Explained

Nathan Collins
Full Name:Nathan Michael Collins[1]
Birth Date:30 April 2001[2]
Birth Place:Leixlip, Ireland
Height:1.93 m
Position:Centre-back, full-back[3]
Currentclub:Brentford
Clubnumber:22
Youthyears1:2006–2016
Youthclubs1:Cherry Orchard
Youthyears2:2016–2019
Youthclubs2:Stoke City
Years1:2019–2021
Clubs1:Stoke City
Caps1:39
Goals1:2
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:Burnley
Caps2:19
Goals2:2
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps3:26
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Brentford
Caps4:32
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2016–2018
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps1:19
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2018
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps4:20
Nationalgoals4:2
Club-Update:23:36, 11 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:48, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Nathan Michael Collins (born 30 April 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or full-back for club Brentford and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Early life

Collins was born in Confey, Leixlip, County Kildare and attended secondary school at Confey College.[4]

Club career

Stoke City

Collins began his career with youth club Cherry Orchard, where his father David and uncle Eamonn both started their careers.[5] He joined English club Stoke City in January 2016 after being scouted by Tony Bowen, assistant manager Mark Bowen's brother.[6] [7] Collins made his first team debut on 9 April 2019 away at Swansea City.[8] [9] His first start came ten days later when he played the full 90 minutes of Stoke's 1–0 loss away to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.[10] Collins signed a five-year contract with Stoke City in July 2019.[11]

Collins started the first few matches of the 2019–20 season and was given the captain's armband by Nathan Jones against Leeds United, becoming Stoke's youngest captain in the process.[12] He was sent off for the first time in his career in an EFL Cup defeat at Crawley Town for a mistimed challenge on Panutche Camará.[13] Collins remained on the fringes of the first team for the rest of the season under the management of Michael O'Neill, making a total of 17 appearances in the 2019–20 season.[14] Collins played 27 times in the 2020–21 season before he suffered a season ending foot injury playing against Norwich City on 13 February 2021.[15]

Burnley

On 24 June 2021, Collins joined the Premier League club Burnley for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year contract with the club.[16] [17] He scored his first two goals for the club in a pair of home game ties during April 2022, against Everton[18] and Southampton.[19] Collins became a key member of Burnley's club in the second half of the 2021–22 season as the team fought against relegation. Burnley was relegated after a 2–1 defeat against Newcastle United on the final day of the season, a game in which Collins gave away a penalty for handball.[20]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 12 July 2022, Collins signed with the Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers on a five-year contract for a fee of £20.5 million, an all-time record transfer fee for an Irish player.[21] [22] Collins made his competitive debut in a 2–1 defeat away to Leeds United on the opening weekend of the 2022–23 Premier League season, playing the full 90 minutes in central defensive pairing with Max Kilman.[23]

Collins received a straight red card for a high challenge on Jack Grealish during the first half of the Wolves' home Premier League game against Manchester City on 17 September 2022, resulting in a three-match suspension.[24] The game ended in a 3–0 loss.

Brentford

On 4 July 2023, Collins signed for Brentford for a club-record £23 million transfer fee.[25] Later that year, on 4 November, he scored his first goal in a 3–2 win over West Ham United.[26]

International career

Collins made his Republic of Ireland U17 debut against Kazakhstan on 17 October 2016 and was later made captain of the team.[27] He made his senior debut on 12 October 2021, coming on as a late substitute in a 4–0 friendly victory against Qatar. On 14 June 2022, Collins scored his first goal for Ireland in a 1–1 draw against Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League.[28]

Personal life

Collins' family includes a number of other footballers, including his grandfather, Michael Collins who captained Transport to the FAI Cup in 1950,[29] his father Dave Collins who played with Liverpool and Oxford United among others. His uncle, Eamonn Collins, played with many sides including Southampton and Portsmouth before going on to manage St Patrick's Athletic and later becoming a football agent, with his clients including Nathan Collins.[5] His older brother Josh Collins previously played for UCD and Waterford in the League of Ireland Premier Division.[30] Nathan's uncle Mick Collins played for St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk before later becoming a scout at Manchester City for 20 years, his son Mikey Collins (Nathan's cousin) is also an ex-footballer who played for Liverpool in his youth career before playing in Sweden, Italy, Cyprus and Holland, as well as representing Ireland up to U21 level.[31]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City U232018–192020
Stoke City2018–19Championship30000030
2019–20Championship1401020170
2020–21Championship2221040272
Total3922060472
Burnley2021–22Premier League1920030222
Wolverhampton Wanderers2022–23Premier League2602030310
Brentford2023–24Premier League3212110352
Career total116561130201376

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland202110
202291
202381
202420
Total202

Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Collins goal

List of international goals scored by Nathan Collins
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 14 June 2022 Stadion Miejski ŁKS, Łódź, Poland 6 1–0 1–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League
2 16 June 2023 Agia Sophia Stadium, Athens, Greece 13 1–1 1–2 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2017/18 Premier League clubs publish retained lists . Premier League . 8 June 2018 . 20 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Nathan Collins: Overview . Premier League . 20 February 2022.
  3. Web site: Nathan Collins: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 4 July 2023.
  4. Web site: Confey College - Congratulations to former Confey College.... www.facebook.com.
  5. News: Collins continues family tradition on big stage . Irish Independent . 9 April 2019.
  6. Web site: The story of Nathan Collins and how he became Stoke City's youngest ever captain . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 14 August 2019.
  7. Web site: Two Irish youngsters selected in list of young Premier League talents to watch . The42.ie . 3 October 2017 . 10 April 2019.
  8. News: Swansea 3–1 Stoke . BBC Sport . 9 April 2019.
  9. News: Who is Nathan Collins? Introducing Stoke City's new teenage first teamer . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 10 April 2019.
  10. News: Middlesbrough 1–0 Stoke . BBC Sport . 23 April 2019.
  11. Web site: Major coup for Stoke City as Nathan Collins pens new long-term contract amid significant interest from big clubs . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 26 July 2019 . 26 July 2019.
  12. Web site: Stoke City starlet insists results won't damage his growth . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 25 August 2019 . 24 July 2020.
  13. Web site: The Stoke City games Nathan Collins will miss after red card at Crawley Town . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 24 September 2019 . 24 July 2020.
  14. Web site: Stoke City teenager tipped for big future amid Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United links . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 8 June 2020 . 24 July 2020.
  15. Web site: Eye-opening injury update from key Stoke City duo Nathan Collins and Tyrese Campbell . The Sentinel . Stoke-on-Trent . 9 March 2021 . 26 May 2021.
  16. Web site: Collins Joins Clarets. Burnley F.C. . 24 June 2021.
  17. Web site: Nathan completes Burnley switch. Stoke City F.C. . 24 June 2021.
  18. Web site: Burnley beat fellow strugglers Everton 3–2 with Maxwel Cornet winner. Magowan. Alistair. BBC Sport. 6 April 2022. 21 April 2022.
  19. Web site: Burnley 2–0 Southampton: Clarets keep Premier League survival hopes alive. Bysouth . Alex. BBC Sport. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022.
  20. News: Burnley 1–2 Newcastle United . BBC Sport . 13 July 2022.
  21. News: Stone . Simon . Nathan Collins: Wolves sign defender from Burnley for £20.5m . BBC Sport . 12 July 2022.
  22. Web site: Nathan Collins to become the most expensive Irish player ever when he completes €24million move to Wolves . 2022-07-12 . Irish Independent. 11 July 2022 .
  23. Web site: Dawkes. Phil. Leeds 2–1 Wolves: Jesse Marsch's side show fight and clearer plan to beat Wolves. BBC Sport . 6 August 2022. 9 August 2022.
  24. Web site: Stone. Simon. Wolves 0–3 Manchester City: Erling Haaland scores again in dominant win. BBC Sport . 17 September 2022.
  25. Web site: 4 July 2023 . Brentford transfer news: Nathan Collins completes £23m club-record transfer to Bees from Wolves . 4 July 2023 . Sky Sports . en.
  26. Web site: Jackson . Bobbie . Brentford 3-2 West Ham United: Nathan Collins scores first goal for Bees in comeback win . BBC Sport . 4 November 2023 .
  27. Web site: 'It's heartbreaking' – Ireland U17 captain on penalty shootout defeat . Sports Joe . 26 July 2019.
  28. Web site: Collins wonder-goal lights up Ireland's thrilling draw with Ukraine. 14 June 2022. The 42. 15 June 2022.
  29. Web site: The making of Nathan Collins: Early years, the family pedigree, and his journey to the Premier League. independent.
  30. Web site: "I'm Very Lucky" – UCD's Josh Collins On How How Almost Quit Football As A Teenager . Off the Ball . 23 April 2019.
  31. Web site: Mikey Collins continued a family dynasty when he signed for Liverpool. What happened next?. David. Sneyd. The42. 25 June 2022 .