Martin Donnelly (footballer, born 1988)

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Martin Donnelly
Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-08-28) 28 August 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Linfield
Number	11
Youth career
	Sheffield United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2008	Sheffield United	0	(0)
2008	→ Rochdale (loan)	0	(0)
2008–2011	Crusaders	98	(14)
2011–2017	Cliftonville	219	(23)
2017–2021	Larne	45	(27)
2021-2022	Linfield	0	(0)
International career^‡
2004–2005	Northern Ireland U17	5	(1)
2005–2007	Northern Ireland U19	6	(2)
2007–2008	Northern Ireland U20	3	(0)
2007–2009	Northern Ireland U21	5	(0)
2009	Northern Ireland U23	3	(1)
2009	Northern Ireland	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 December 2017 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 October 2010

Martin Donnelly (born 28 August 1988) is a retired Northern Irish footballer born in Belfast who played as a winger.^[1]

After previously playing for Sheffield United and Rochdale, without appearing in the Football League, Donnelly signed for Crusaders in the summer of 2008, and won the Irish Cup in 2009.^[2] Along with team-mate Colin Coates, he was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for the match against Italy on 6 June 2009. Donnelly entered the game as an 82nd-minute substitute to win his first full cap,^[3]^[4] to add to the three under-21 caps he had won previously.

During his time with the Crues, he made a total of 126 appearances, scoring 22 goals. After turning down the club's offer of a new contract midway through the 2010–11 season, Donnelly joined North Belfast rivals Cliftonville on a two-year contract, of whom he is a lifelong fan.^[5]

Donnelly joined Larne in the 2018 transfer window^[6] and quickly established himself as a firm fans favourite. He scored 24 goals as the club romped to the 2018/19 Championship title. On 16 August 2021 it was announced that Donnelly had signed for Linfield, as part of a player exchange deal which saw Navid Nasseri move to Larne.^[7]