Connor Ronan

Connor Patrick Ronan (born 6 March 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids. Born in Rochdale, England, he represents the Republic of Ireland national team.

Connor Ronan
Personal information
Full name Connor Patrick Ronan[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998
Place of birth Rochdale, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.71 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Colorado Rapids
Number 20
Youth career
0000–2009 Copperpot J.F.C.
2009–2014 Rochdale
2014–2016 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2023 Wolverhampton Wanderers 8 (0)
2018 → Portsmouth (loan) 16 (0)
2018 → Walsall (loan) 11 (0)
2019 → DAC Dunajská Streda (loan) 28 (1)
2020 → Blackpool (loan) 10 (1)
2020–2021 → Grasshoppers (loan) 30 (1)
2021–2022 → St Mirren (loan) 27 (7)
2023– Colorado Rapids 34 (1)
International career
2015 England U17 2 (0)
2015 Republic of Ireland U17 5 (1)
2015–2017 Republic of Ireland U19 8 (1)
2017–2020 Republic of Ireland U21 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:52, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Ronan started his career with Copperpot JFC[3] and attended St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale with whom he reached the final of the English National Schools Cup as a Year 7 in 2009 with a team that also included Axel Tuanzebe, Kisimba Kisimba and Johny Diba, who all went on to become professional.[4] He then joined Rochdale, his boyhood club in which he stayed until he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers at the age of 16.[5] Ronan made three appearances for the team's development squad in the 2016–17 EFL Trophy, scoring a goal in their 4–0 win over EFL League Two team Accrington Stanley.[6] With Paul Lambert as manager, Ronan was part of the first-team squad for the first time on 26 November 2016,[7] as an unused substitute in the 2–0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Ronan made his debut on 17 December 2016, replacing Hélder Costa for the final nine minutes of the team's 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest.[8][9]

On 31 August 2018, Ronan joined League One club Walsall on loan until January 2019 along with team-mate Connor Johnson.[10] Ronan returned to Wolves at the conclusion of his loan spell, making 15 appearances in all competitions for Walsall.[11][12]

He signed for League One club Blackpool on a six-month loan deal on 17 January 2020.[13] His playing time was however restricted to ten games after the League One clubs voted to curtail the season owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In August 2020, he signed a new contract – lasting until 2024 – with Wolves before again being sent out on loan, this time joining Swiss side Grasshoppers for the 2020–21 season.[14][15] His would make his first appearance coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 3–0 victory against FC Wil. Ronan's first goal for the Swiss club came in a 3–0 home win against Neuchâtel Xamax, when he scored the second goal in the 91st minute.

In May 2020, Ronan returned to his parent club for treatment, after breaking his metatarsal bone, ruling him out for up to four to five months.[16]

On 31 August 2021, Ronan sealed a season long loan to Scottish Premiership side St Mirren.[17] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw at home to Dundee United in September.[18] He made a habit of scoring sensational long range goals throughout his spell at St. Mirren, including a 30-yard strike in the Scottish Cup quarter-final.[19]

On 23 January 2023, Ronan signed a four-year deal with the Colorado Rapids in Denver. It will see him play through to the 2026 Major League Soccer season, with an additional club option for 2027.[20]

International career

Ronan has played at under 17, under 19 and under 21 level for the Republic of Ireland. Ronan was selected for the 2019 Toulon Tournament where he played in every match.

He was called up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania on 26 and 29 March 2022 respectively.[21]

Career statistics
As of match played 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2016–17[22] EFL Championship 4020003[lower-alpha 1]191
2017–18[23] 300040—70
2018–19[11] Premier League 000000—00
2022–23[24] Premier League 100010—20
Total 80205031181
Portsmouth (loan) 2017–18[23] EFL League One 16000001[lower-alpha 2]0170
Walsall (loan) 2018–19[11] EFL League One 11000004[lower-alpha 2]0150
FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda (loan) 2018–19 Slovak Super Liga 14100——141
2019–20 14020—4[lower-alpha 3]1191
Total 28120—41342
Blackpool (loan) 2019–20 EFL League One 101———101
Grasshoppers (loan) 2020–21 Swiss Challenge League 30120——321
St Mirren (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 26731——298
Colorado Rapids 2023 Major League Soccer 34120—2[lower-alpha 4]0381
Career total 163111105014219214
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy with Wolverhampton Wanderers U23s
  2. Appearance in the EFL Trophy
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in Leagues Cup

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. "Connor Ronan". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  3. "Copperpot JFC". Rochdale Online.
  4. Luckhurst, Samuel (11 November 2015). "Manchester United youngster Axel Tuanzebe 'born for greatness'". Manchester Evening News.
  5. "Five Things We Have Learned About Connor Ronan". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. "Youngsters Make Progress In Cup". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. "Wolves 0 Sheffield Wednesday 2 - As it happened". Express & Star. MNA Media. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  8. "Nottingham Forest 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  9. "Nottingham Forest 0 Wolves 2 - Report and pictures". Express & Star. MNA Media. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016. Lambert did too. He sent on youngster Connor Ronan for his professional debut in place of Costa
  10. "Connor Johnson and Connor Ronan: Wolves duo join Walsall on loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  11. "Games played by Connor Ronan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  12. "Ronan Returns to Wolves". Walsall FC. 2 January 2019.
  13. "Connor Ronan: Blackpool sign Wolves midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  14. "Ronan agrees new contract". Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. 16 September 2020.
  15. "GC Holt Dadashov und Ronan" (in German). Grasshopper Club Zurich. 23 August 2020.
  16. "Connor Ronan to return to Wolves for treatment after breaking metatarsal". Express & Star. MNA Media. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. "Jim Goodwin aiming to bring one more in ahead of transfer deadline". St Mirren FC.
  18. "St Mirren still winless after stalemate". BBC Sport. 11 September 2021.
  19. "'Oh my goodness... that is outstanding' - St Mirren's Ronan scores 30-yard wonder goal". BBC Sport. 13 March 2022.
  20. "Colorado Rapids sign Connor Ronan from EPL's Wolverhampton Wanderers". MLSsoccer. 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  21. "Kenny names 25-man squad for Belgium & Lithuania". Football Association of Ireland. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  22. "Games played by Connor Ronan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  23. "Games played by Connor Ronan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  24. "Games played by Connor Ronan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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