Jack Byrne (footballer, born 1996)

Jack Byrne (born 24 April 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. He has 4 caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, all coming in 2019–2020. He plays mainly as a midfielder but also can play as an attacking midfielder and winger.

Jack Byrne
Byrne in 2019
Personal information
Full name Jack Byrne
Date of birth (1996-04-24) 24 April 1996
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Shamrock Rovers
Number 29
Youth career
St Kevin's Boys
2012–2015 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Manchester City 0 (0)
2015–2016 → Cambuur (loan) 27 (4)
2016–2017 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2017–2018 Wigan Athletic 2 (0)
2017–2018 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 22 (4)
2018 Oldham Athletic 18 (1)
2018 Kilmarnock 5 (0)
2019–2020 Shamrock Rovers 49 (17)
2021 APOEL 5 (0)
2022– Shamrock Rovers 51 (6)
International career‡
2011 Republic of Ireland U16 1 (0)
2012–2013 Republic of Ireland U17 6 (4)
2012 Republic of Ireland U18 1 (0)
2013 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
2014–2016 Republic of Ireland U21 10 (0)
2019–2020 Republic of Ireland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:14, 1 August 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:03, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Byrne started playing football for St Kevin's Boys at the age of five and moved to England to join Manchester City at the age of 15.[2] In the 2014–15 season Byrne scored six goals in eight UEFA Youth League games for Manchester City under-19.[2]

In the summer of 2015, Byrne joined Eredivisie side Cambuur on loan.[3] After missing the first six weeks of the season due to an ankle injury picked up in pre-season, Byrne made his professional debut on 19 September in a match against FC Twente.[4]

On 29 June 2016, Byrne joined EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers.[5] He went on to make four league appearances for the club before Blackburn cancelled his season long loan on 6 January 2017.[6]

Wigan Athletic

Later in January 2017, Byrne joined Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half year deal.[7] He made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute in a 3–2 victory over Rotherham on 8 April 2017.

Oldham Athletic

On 15 January 2018, Byrne signed for Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He was suspended by the club for an undisclosed, off the field incident,[8] and subsequently released by Oldham Athletic on 31 August 2018,[9] despite fan protests.[10]

Kilmarnock

Soon after his release from Oldham, it was confirmed that Byrne had signed for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on a one-year-deal.[11]

Shamrock Rovers

On 7 December 2018, Byrne joined League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers.[12][13] His first goal for the club was a spectacular strike in a 3–0 home win over Sligo Rovers on 15 March.[14] After several strong performances Byrne was named Premier Division Player of the Month for March and again for July.[15] He scored once and assisted five times in Rovers' Europa League ties against SK Brann and Apollon Limassol.[15] He helped Shamrock Rovers to the 2019 FAI Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium where they faced holders Dundalk. Rovers won the game 4–2 after a Penalty shoot-out and won the Cup for the first time in 32 years. He was a member of the Rovers squad who won the 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division, the clubs first since 2011, when they went the whole season unbeaten. He ended the season being named in the PFAI Team of the Year as well as being voted as the PFAI Players' Player of the Year. On 2 January 2021, Byrne confirmed his departure from Shamrock Rovers 2 days after his contract had ended.[16]

APOEL

On 4 January 2021, Byrne completed his switch over to Cyprus to sign with APOEL on a two and-a-half year deal, keeping him at the club until May 2023.[17] On 24 September 2021, APOEL announced that Byrne had left the club by mutual consent after just 5 appearances during an injury plagued spell at the club.[18]

Return to Shamrock Rovers

It was announced on 19 November 2021, that Byrne would return to Shamrock Rovers on a contract beginning in January 2022.[19][20]

International career

Byrne has represented the Republic of Ireland up to Senior international level. He made his début for his country's Under-21 team when he was just 18 years old.[21] He has since won 10 caps. He was called up to train with the Irish senior team by manager Martin O'Neill in March 2016,[22] ahead of friendly matches against Switzerland and Slovakia, though Byrne did not feature in either game, instead returning to the Under-21 squad ahead of 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying matches against Italy and Slovenia.

In March 2019, Byrne was called into the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group D matches against Gibraltar on 23 March and Georgia on 26 March.[23]

He was recalled to the national team in August 2019,[24][25] making his international debut on 10 September 2019, coming off the bench and creating an assist in a 3–1 win over Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium.[26]

Byrne became the 500th Senior men’s International footballer to play for Ireland, and the 64th Shamrock Rovers player to play for Ireland while still playing for the club.[27]

He played in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B#Group 4 away game against Wales, becoming the first home-based Irish international to play in a competitive game since 1985.

Byrne tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty in October 2020. His club Shamrock Rovers confirmed this while also announcing that teammate Aaron Greene had tested positive.[28] Byrne's manager Stephen Bradley said he was "probably the worst" affected.[29] Byrne later reported having had breathing difficulties while ill.[30][31]

Personal life

At the age of 11, Byrne lost his father, John.[21]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played on 11 July 2023[32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2015–16 Premier League 0000000[lower-alpha 3]0—00
2016–17 0000000[lower-alpha 3]0—00
Total 000000000000
Cambuur (loan) 2015–16 Eredivisie 27410———284
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2016–17 Championship 400030——70
Wigan Athletic 2016–17 Championship 200000——20
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2016–17 League One 2240000—0[lower-alpha 4]0224
2017–18 1810000—4[lower-alpha 4]3224
Total 4050000—43448
Kilmarnock 2018–19 Scottish Premiership 500000——50
Shamrock Rovers 2019 LOI Premier Division 32840004[lower-alpha 5]10[lower-alpha 6]0409
2020 17940—2[lower-alpha 5]0—239
Total 4917800061006318
APOEL 2020–21 Cypriot First Division 5000———50
2021–22 0000———00
Total 5000———50
Shamrock Rovers 2022 LOI Premier Division 29220—7[lower-alpha 7]01[lower-alpha 8]0392
2023 22400—1[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 8]0244
Total 51620—8020636
Career total 18332110301416321736
  1. Includes the FA Cup, KNVB Cup, Scottish Cup, FAI Cup and Cypriot Cup
  2. Includes the EFL Cup, Scottish League Cup and League of Ireland Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  7. 1 appearance in UEFA Champions League, 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League & 4 appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  8. Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup

International
As of match played 15 November 2020[33]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 201920
202020
Total40

Honours

Club

Shamrock Rovers

Individual

References
  1. "Jack Byrne". Worldfootball. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  2. Fanning, Dion (1 November 2015). "Jack Byrne: I left my Dublin home at 15 so that I could have a better life for my family". Irish Independent. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  3. "Jack Byrne - SC Cambuur". Cambuur.nl. 24 April 1996. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  4. "Loan Watch Jack Byrne and Jason Denayer debut for Cambuur and Galatasaray". Manchester City FC. 21 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. "Rovers sign City starlet". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  6. "Byrne returns to Man City". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  7. "Manchester City midfielder Jack Byrne signs for Wigan Athletic". Wigan Athletic. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  8. Brosnan, Maurice. "Oldham Controversy Continues As Fans Protest Irish Midfielder's Absence". Balls.ie.
  9. "Club Statement: Jack Byrne". Oldham Athletic. 31 August 2018.
  10. "Oldham Athletic fans fume as League Two club terminate Jack Byrne's contract". buzz.ie. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  11. "Kilmarnock sign Jack Byrne from Oldham & Bright Enobakhare from Wolves". BBC Sport. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  12. "Jack Byrne Signs for the Rovers!". Shamrock Rovers. 7 December 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  13. "Jack Byrne". shamrockrovers.ie. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  14. "Jack Byrne wonder-strike the highlight as Shamrock Rovers beat Sligo to extend lead". the42.ie. 15 March 2019.
  15. "Shamrock Rovers Jack Byrne Named Player of the Month". 15 August 2019.
  16. "Byrne departs Shamrock Rovers". BBC Sport.
  17. Malone, Emmet. "Jack Byrne completes move to Mick McCarthy's Apoel Nicosia". The Irish Times.
  18. "Ολοκλήρωση συνεργασίας με Jack Byrne". APOEL FC.
  19. "Ireland international Jack Byrne returns to Shamrock Rovers". The Irish Times.
  20. "Deal done to bring Jack Byrne back to Shamrock Rovers". 18 November 2021 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  21. "HOME FROM HOME | Jack Byrne Documentary". YouTube. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  22. Blake, Ben (21 March 2016). "Man City's Jack Byrne trained with the Ireland senior team for the first time today". The42. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  23. "'It's been a mad couple of days, and I'm still trying to get my head around it'". The 42. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  24. "Republic of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne makes 25-man squad". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  25. "I never really had off-the-field issues. It was more boredom". The 42. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  26. "Fresh faces make the difference as Ireland eventually see off Bulgaria". The 42. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  27. Mulreaney, Gerard (11 September 2019). "A night to remember for Jack Byrne". League of Ireland.
  28. "Shamrock Rovers made to wait to clinch the title as Covid-19 cases force postponements". The42.ie. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020. Jack Byrne tested positive whilst with the Ireland senior team on Sunday and is self-isolating at home.
  29. "'Jack was hit with it badly' - Rovers playmaker affected by Covid-19". RTÉ Sport. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  30. "'I was hit for six' - title winner Jack Byrne on Covid experience". RTÉ Sport. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  31. Clarke, Harry (5 November 2020). "'I was struggling with my breathing....I'm just glad to be out the other side and happy to be alive' - Jack Byrne". Irish Independent. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  32. "Jack Byrne profile". Soccerway. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017. "Jack Byrne profile". Extratime.ie. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  33. "Byrne, Jack". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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