Sean Murray
Murray training with Watford in April 2014
Personal information
Full name Sean Michael Murray[1]
Date of birth (1993-10-11) 11 October 1993[2]
Place of birth Abbots Langley, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Cork City (on loan from Glentoran)
Youth career
0000–2002 Evergreen
2002–2010 Watford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2016 Watford 75 (11)
2015 → Wigan Athletic (loan) 7 (0)
2016–2017 Swindon Town 18 (1)
2017–2018 Colchester United 53 (3)
2018–2019 Vejle BK 11 (0)
2019–2021 Dundalk 59 (10)
2022– Glentoran 36 (1)
2024– → Cork City (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2010 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 12 (1)
2012–2014 Republic of Ireland U21 9 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:13, 9 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:39, 1 February 2017 (UTC)

Sean Michael Murray (born 11 October 1993) is a professional association footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Cork City, on loan from NIFL Premiership club Glentoran.

He progressed through the academy at Watford from the age of nine, and broke into the first-team in April 2011. He went on to make 85 first-team appearances for the club before being loaned to Wigan Athletic early in the 2015–16 season. He left Watford at the end of the season to join Swindon Town and then joined Colchester United in January 2017. He left Colchester in summer 2018 and joined Danish Superliga side Vejle Boldklub. In February 2019 he left Vejle Boldklub to sign for Irish side Dundalk.

Murray has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.[3]

Club career

Watford

Born in Abbots Langley, Hertfordshire,[4] Murray joined Watford's youth system in 2002, aged nine.[5] Beginning in 2007, he studied at Harefield Academy as part of the initial intake where Watford's youth players are developed. Despite interest from Manchester City, Murray signed his first professional contract with Watford in July 2010, although due to Football Association regulations, it did not take effect until his 17th-birthday.[6] He made his debut for the Hornets as a substitute in a Championship game against Queens Park Rangers at Vicarage Road on 30 April 2011, a 2–0 defeat for Watford.[7]

Sean Murray playing for Watford in April 2012

On the fringes of the first-team under new manager Sean Dyche, Murray had made just one late substitute appearance in the first half of the 2011–12 season before he was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up for Watford's FA Cup third round tie with Tottenham Hotspur on 27 January 2012. He came close to scoring in the game, hitting the post in the second-half before being substituted as his side fell to a 1–0 defeat.[8] Murray retained his place in the team, and scored his first professional goal three weeks later, with a deflected free kick in a 3–2 victory for Watford against Leicester City.[9] Murray continued to play regularly for the rest of the season; his good form, scoring four goals in seven games, led to him winning the Football League Young Player of the Month award for March.[5] He won Watford's Young Player of the Season award at the End of Season Awards Dinner for his great form since his introduction to the first team,[10] after scoring sevens goals in 19 appearances.[2]

In August 2012, Murray signed a five-year deal with Watford,[11] but following the Pozzo family takeover of Watford and an influx of new players, Murray was restricted to playing 16 games and scoring one goal during the 2012–13 season.[10]

He marked his return to the first-team on 6 August 2013 with two goals in Watford's 3–1 League Cup victory against Bristol Rovers,[12] and he went on to make 39 appearances and score a total of six goals across the campaign.[2]

Murray was restricted to making just nine first-team appearances during the 2014–15 season,[2] making what was to be his last appearance for the club against Chelsea in a 3–0 FA Cup third round defeat on 4 January 2015.[13]

Wigan Athletic loan

On 5 August 2015, Murray moved to League One side Wigan Athletic in an initial one-month loan deal,[14] later extended until January 2016.[15] He made his debut as a substitute during Wigan's 2–0 defeat at Coventry City on 8 August.[16]

Murray scored his first and only goal for Wigan against Blackpool in a 4–0 victory in the Football League Trophy on 10 November,[17] before his loan was terminated on 16 December.[18] He had made eight appearances for Wigan.[2]

Swindon Town

League One club Swindon Town signed Murray on a free transfer on 31 August 2016 on a one-year deal, with the option of a further year.[19] He made his club debut on 3 September as a substitute in Swindon's 2–2 League One draw at Peterborough United.[20]

Murray scored his first and Swindon's only goal in their 3–1 home defeat by Northampton Town on 27 September.[21] After 23 games for Town,[2] Murray had his contract terminated by the club on 31 January 2017, having fallen out of favour under new director of football Tim Sherwood.[22]

Colchester United

Immediately following his release from Swindon Town, Murray signed a one-and-a-half year contract with League Two club Colchester United on 31 January 2017.[23] Murray made his debut as a replacement for Craig Slater in the 65th minute of Colchester's 1–1 draw at Blackpool on 4 February. He was sent off for the first time in his career for a bad challenge on Blackpool's Jim McAlister in the fifth minute of injury time.[24] He ended the season with 16 League Two appearances to his name.[25]

Murray scored his first Colchester goal on 30 September 2017 in their 1–0 win at Yeovil Town.[26] He required an operation on his knee in October 2017 which would rule him out of action for up to six weeks.[27] He completed the season with 40 appearances and three goals.[28]

On 29 June 2018, Colchester manager John McGreal announced that Murray had left the club after failing to agree a new deal.[29]

Vejle Boldklub

On 26 July 2018, Danish Superliga side Vejle Boldklub announced the signing of Murray on a three-year contract.[30] On 5 February 2019 Vejle announced, that they had mutually terminated the contract of the player.[31]

Dundalk

On the same day as Murray left Vejle Boldklub, he signed a long-term contract with Dundalk.[32] In his first season at the club, he scored three goals in 25 league appearances to help win the Premier Division title and League Cup. In the 2020 Europa league third Qualifying round, He scored Dundalk's equalizing goal against Sheriff Tiraspol and eventually won the penalty shootout. He scored the opening goal against KÍ in the 2020 Europa league play-offs helping Dundalk qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage and scored again in the opening game against Molde FK.[33]

Glentoran

Murray made the switch to NIFL Premiership side Glentoran as a free agent when the transfer window opened in January 2022.[34]

Cork City loan

On 9 January 2024, Murray signed for League of Ireland First Division side Cork City on loan until the end of July.[35]

International career

Although born in England, Murray qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his Irish grandparents.[3] Murray twice represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17 level in UEFA competitions, making his debut against Finland on 21 March 2010 in a 1–0 win.[36]

Murray made his debut at under-19 level on 24 May 2011 in the Ireland's 1–0 win against Poland.[37] He scored his first goal for the side in a 3–0 win against Italy on 29 May 2011,[38] and went on to make twelve appearances for the side in UEFA competitions.[36]

Murray scored on his under-21 debut on 10 September 2012 in a 4–2 away win against Italy.[39] In total, he earned nine caps for the under-21 side.[3]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 November 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Watford 2010–11[40] EFL Championship 2[lower-alpha 1]00000——20
2011–12[41] 1861000——196
2012–13[42] 1510010—00161
2013–14[43] 3432132——396
2014–15[44] 601020——90
2015–16[45] Premier League 000000——00
Total 75114162—008514
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2015–16[45] EFL League One 700000—1[lower-alpha 2]181
Swindon Town 2016–17[25] EFL League One 1812000—3[lower-alpha 3]0231
Colchester United 2016–17[25] EFL League Two 160–—––160
2017–18[28] 3730010—2[lower-alpha 3]0403
Total 5330010—20563
Vejle Boldklub 2018–19[46] Danish Superliga 11010–—00120
Dundalk 2019[47] League of Ireland Premier Division 25340105[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 5]0363
2020[47] 8121—8[lower-alpha 6]3—185
2021[47] 26652—3[lower-alpha 7]00[lower-alpha 5]0348
Total 591012310163108816
Career total 22325184821637127235
  1. ↑ Soccerbase does not list the Championship tie against Queens Park Rangers on 30 April 2011 in which Murray made his debut[7]
  2. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. ↑ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. 1 2 Appearance(s) in President of Ireland's Cup
  6. ↑ One appearance in UEFA Champions League; seven appearances, three goals in UEFA Europa League
  7. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Individual

Dundalk

References

  1. ↑ "Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sean Murray at Soccerbase
  3. 1 2 3 "Sean Murray". FAI. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 548. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  5. 1 2 3 Osborne, Chris (16 April 2012). "Watford's Sean Murray wins Football League young player award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. ↑ Matthews, Anthony (28 July 2010). "Watford fend off Manchester City bid to keep highly-rated youngster". Watford Observer. Watford. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  7. 1 2 Fletcher, Paul (30 April 2011). "Watford 0–2 QPR". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  8. ↑ Rostance, Tom (27 January 2012). "Watford 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  9. ↑ "Watford 3–2 Leicester City". BBC Sport. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 Walker, Sean (3 March 2016). "Sean Murray: A Young Prospect Who's Career Was Ruined By The Pozzo Family". From the Stands. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "Watford midfielder Sean Murray signs five-year deal". BBC Sport. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Bristol Rovers 1–3 Watford". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Chelsea 3–0 Watford". BBC Sport. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Wigan Athletic: Kevin McNaughton & Watford's Sean Murray join". BBC Sport. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  15. ↑ "Sean Murray extends loan from Watford". Wigan Athletic FC. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "Coventry City 2–0 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  17. ↑ "Wigan Athletic 4–0 Blackpool". Sky Sports. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  18. ↑ Affleck, Kevin (16 December 2015). "Sean Murray back at Watford after Wigan loan deal cut short". WD Sport. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  19. ↑ "Sean Murray: Swindon Town sign Watford midfielder on free transfer". BBC Sport. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  20. ↑ "Peterborough United 2–2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 3 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  21. ↑ "Swindon Town 1–3 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  22. ↑ Edwards, Matthew (31 January 2017). "Sean Murray has contract at Swindon Town terminated as he joins League Two Colchester United". Swindon Advertiser. Swindon. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  23. ↑ Marston, Carl (31 January 2017). "Midfielder Sean Murray makes switch from Robins to the U's". Green'Un. Ipswich. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  24. ↑ "Blackpool 1–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  25. 1 2 3 "Games played by Sean Murray in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  26. ↑ "Yeovil Town 0–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "Colchester United: Sean Murray faces lay-off following knee operation". BBC Sport. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Sean Murray in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  29. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (29 June 2018). "Colchester United have not given up hope of keeping Kane Vincent-Young". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Vejle vil bringe Murray op på tidligere niveau" (in Danish). Bold.dk. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  31. ↑ Sean Murray forlader Vejle Boldklub, vejle-boldklub.dk, 5 February 2019
  32. ↑ SEAN MURRAY SIGNS LONG TERM DEAL WITH DUNDALK, leagueofireland.ie, 5 February 2019
  33. ↑ SEAN MURRAY Europaleague playoff, irishmirror.ie, 27 SEP 2020
  34. ↑ https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/sean-murray-makes-switch-from-dundalk-to-glentoran/41168515.html
  35. ↑ https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41305324.html
  36. 1 2 "Sean Murray". UEFA. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  37. ↑ "Republic of Ireland U19 vs. Poland U19 1–0". Soccerway. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  38. ↑ "Republic of Ireland U19 vs. Italy U19 3–0". Soccerway. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  39. ↑ "Italy U21 vs. Republic of Ireland U21 2–4". Soccerway. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Sean Murray in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Sean Murray in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Sean Murray in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Sean Murray in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Sean Murray in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  45. 1 2 "Games played by Sean Murray in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  46. ↑ "S. Murray". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  47. 1 2 3 "S. Murray". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  48. ↑ Sportsfile
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