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Caoimhín Kelleher

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Caoimhín Kelleher
Kelleher playing for Liverpool in 2021
Personal information
Full name Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher
Date of birth (1998-11-23) 23 November 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Cork, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Liverpool
Number 62
Youth career
Ringmahon Rangers
2015–2019 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Liverpool 23 (0)
International career‡
2021– Republic of Ireland 20 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:26, 4 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:57, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher (QUEE-veen KELL-ə-hər;[2] born 23 November 1998) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Early life

[edit]

Caoimhín Odhrán Kelleher[3] was born on 23 November 1998[1] in Cork, County Cork,[4] where he attended Presentation Brothers College.[5]

Club career

[edit]

Kelleher joined Liverpool's academy from Ringmahon Rangers in summer 2015. He featured regularly for Liverpool's side during their pre-season programme of 2018 and was part of the squad that travelled to the United States for Liverpool's summer tour.[6]

In August 2018, he signed a new contract with Liverpool.[7] He was an unused substitute for the 2019 UEFA Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur.[8] In winning the Champions League, he became the 12th Irish footballer to do so and the first for over a decade.[9]

Though he was recovering from wrist surgery, Kelleher was on the bench for Liverpool's victory in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea in Istanbul due to the absence of first-choice Alisson.[10][11] He made his competitive debut for the club on 25 September 2019 in an EFL Cup Third Round match, keeping a clean sheet against League One side Milton Keynes Dons, in a 2–0 away win.[12]

On 1 December 2020, he started and kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory against Ajax in the Champions League.[13][14] Five days later, Kelleher was named in the starting line-up for a Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.[15] He kept a clean sheet in the match, a 4–0 win, which was his third consecutive shutout for the club.[16] At 22 years and 13 days, Kelleher became the third-youngest Liverpool goalkeeper to keep a Premier League clean sheet and the youngest to do so on his first league start.[16] After several strong performances, manager Jürgen Klopp confirmed that Kelleher had been promoted to second choice, behind Alisson and ahead of Adrián.[17] It was also reported that Liverpool were seeking to sign Kelleher to a new long-term contract on improved terms.[18]

On 24 June 2021, Kelleher signed a new long-term deal with the club until 2026, saying "For me, it was a positive moment to commit my future to the club for the next few years. It's such a big club and it's an honour to be a part of it, so when I got the chance to sign for a few more years I was obviously delighted."[19]

On 27 February 2022, Kelleher started in the 2022 EFL Cup final and scored the decisive penalty in the 11–10 penalty shoot-out win against Chelsea.[20][21]

On 9 November 2022, Kelleher made his first start of the 2022–23 season and saved three penalties in a 3–2 penalty shoot-out win against Derby County in the third round of the 2022–23 EFL Cup at Anfield. He has now saved a total of six penalties in four shootouts for Liverpool, a club record. Four of his eight appearances in the EFL Cup have gone to penalties with Liverpool winning all of them.[22]

On 1 June 2023, Republic of Ireland national team boss Stephen Kenny said he expected Kelleher to leave Liverpool because he had been given so few opportunities to play. "He has been starved of games this year and that has been a problem for him", Kenny said.[23] On 27 September, Kelleher played in the 3–1 win against Leicester City in the 2023–24 EFL Cup and wore the captain's armband for the last 12 minutes of the game when stand-in captain Curtis Jones was substituted.[24] Kelleher started in the 2024 EFL Cup final at Wembley, in which a Virgil van Dijk header in the 118th minute secured the trophy against Chelsea and Kelleher keeping a clean sheet with several reflex saves throughout the match.[25]

Following an injury to Alisson in October 2024, Kelleher played several matches including a home tie with Real Madrid in the Champions League.[26][27] He saved a penalty in the match from Kylian Mbappé to maintain Liverpool's lead in the 2–0 home win.[27] The penalty save, coupled with another penalty save earlier against Southampton in the Premier League, broke the club's 115-year history for two consecutive penalty saves by a goalkeeper.[28]

International career

[edit]

Kelleher featured for the Republic of Ireland U17s in the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[6] He was capped by his country at under-17 level in 2014, making his debut against Malta. He has also been capped at under-19 and under-21 level.[29]

On 6 November 2018, he was named in the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the first time for the friendly match against Northern Ireland on 15 November and the UEFA Nations League match against Denmark on 19 November 2018.[30]

On 8 June 2021, Kelleher made his senior Ireland debut, coming on as a half-time substitute against Hungary in a 0–0 draw.[31] He was then included in the lineup for a friendly against Qatar in October 2021.[32]

On 14 November 2024, Kelleher saved Joel Pohjanpalo's penalty in the 77th minute in Ireland's Nations League qualifying game against Finland which led them to a third-place playoff spot in the competition.[33][34]

Personal life

[edit]

Kelleher's older brother Fiacre is also a footballer.[35][36] He has three other older brothers who played hurling.[37]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 18 December 2024[38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2019–20[39] Premier League 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2020–21[40] Premier League 2 0 1 0 0 0 2[a] 0 0 0 5 0
2021–22[41] Premier League 2 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 — 8 0
2022–23[42] Premier League 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2023–24[43] Premier League 10 0 2 0 6 0 8[b] 0 — 26 0
2024–25[44] Premier League 8 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 — 13 0
Total 23 0 7 0 17 0 13 0 0 0 60 0
Liverpool U21 2020-21[40] — — — — 1[c] 0 1 0
Career total 23 0 7 0 17 0 13 0 1 0 61 0
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

[edit]
As of match played 17 November 2024[45]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2021 2 0
2022 7 0
2023 2 0
2024 9 0
Total 20 0

Honours

[edit]

Liverpool

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Caoimhín Kelleher: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ Wright, Chris; McNamee, Kathleen (7 December 2020). "Even Liverpool struggle with Caoimhin Kelleher's name -- here's how to get it right". ESPN.com.
  3. ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018". The Football Association. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  4. ^ "C. Kelleher: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  5. ^ Ryan, Larry (11 March 2016). "A whole new ball game as Presentation Brothers aim for the top". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Caomhin Kelleher". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Highly-rated Irish goalkeeper rewarded with new Liverpool contract". The42. TheJournal.ie. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Team news: Confirmed Liverpool line-up for Champions League final". Liverpool F.C. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  9. ^ Brent, Harry (2 June 2019). "Caoimhin Kelleher joins famous group of Irishmen to have won the Champions League after victory with Liverpool". The Irish Post. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  10. ^ Krishnan, Joe (15 August 2019). "Liverpool win the Uefa Super Cup: Adrian the penalty shootout hero vs Chelsea in Istanbul". Evening Standard. London: ESI Media. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  11. ^ Doyle, Ian (15 August 2019). "Liverpool analysis – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain patience required as defensive waters remain muddied in Chelsea victory". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. ^ "MK Dons 0–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 25 September 2019.
  13. ^ Carroll, James (1 December 2020). "Team news: Confirmed Liverpool line-up v Ajax". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Liverpool 1–0 Ajax: Curtis Jones punishes Andre Onana error as Reds make Champions League last 16". Sky Sports. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  15. ^ Carroll, James (6 December 2020). "Team news: Confirmed Liverpool line-up v Wolves". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  16. ^ a b Sanders, Emma (6 December 2020). "Liverpool 4–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. ^ Murphy, Darragh (2 March 2021). "Jurgen Klopp confirms Liverpool goalkeeper pecking order after Adrian clean sheet". Pundit Arena. Pundit Arena HQ. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  18. ^ Whitfield, Jonny (16 February 2021). "Liverpool open contract talks with backup star given big Klopp promise". TeamTalk. Planet Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  19. ^ Carroll, James. "Caoimhin Kelleher signs new long-term Liverpool contract". LiverpoolFC.com. Liverpool Football Club. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Liverpool wins the Carabao Cup". Skysports.com. Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Liverpool win Carabao Cup final after beating Chelsea in penalty shootout". The Guardian. 27 February 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  22. ^ Hunter, Andy (9 November 2022). "Kelleher's shootout saves see Liverpool scrape past Derby in Carabao Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Republic boss expects Kelleher to leave Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  24. ^ "Caoimhin Kelleher dons armband as Liverpool progress in Carabao Cup". RTÉ Sport. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  25. ^ a b McNulty, Phil (25 February 2024). "Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  26. ^ Gent, Oli (10 November 2024). "Caoimhin Kelleher excelling in Alisson's absence for Liverpool, says Steve McManaman - 'He's a superstar'". TNT Sports. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ a b McNulty, Phil (27 November 2024). "Liverpool 2–0 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  28. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Stephen Kenny begins Irish Under-21 reign in style". The Irish Times. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Nigerian-eligible Southampton teenager among four new call-ups in Ireland squad". The42. TheJournal.ie. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Ireland round out season with encouraging draw away to Euros-bound Hungary". The 42. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Ex-England U21 striker Will Keane receives first Ireland call-up for October double-header". The 42. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  33. ^ McCaig, Alvin (14 November 2024). "Rep. of Ireland 1–0 Finland: Ferguson on target as Republic of Ireland edge Finland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  34. ^ O'Connor, Seán (14 November 2024). "Ireland player ratings: Caoimhín Kelleher makes vital penalty save to secure important Nations League win". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Caoimhin Kelleher". Football Association of Ireland.
  36. ^ Nash, Mathew (22 April 2015). "Liverpool complete signing of Celtic top talent Fiacre Kelleher's younger brother Caoimhin". Here Is The City. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Getting to know Fiacre Kelleher". Celtic F.C. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  38. ^ Caoimhín Kelleher at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  39. ^ "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  41. ^ "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  43. ^ "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Games played by Caoimhin Kelleher in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Caoimhín Kelleher: Internationals". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  46. ^ McNulty, Phil (14 May 2022). "Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  47. ^ McNulty, Phil (27 February 2022). "Chelsea 0–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  48. ^ McNulty, Phil (1 June 2019). "Tottenham Hotspur 0–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  49. ^ McNulty, Phil (28 May 2022). "Liverpool 0–1 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  50. ^ Rose, Gary (14 August 2019). "Liverpool 2–2 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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