 McNulty playing forRochdale in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jimmy McNulty[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-02-13)13 February 1985 (age 40)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Runcorn, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Defender[4] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rochdale (player manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Liverpool | ||
| 2002–2003 | Everton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2004 | Wrexham | 0 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Bangor City (loan) | ||
| 2004–2006 | Caernarfon Town | ||
| 2006–2008 | Macclesfield Town | 34 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Stockport County | 39 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 13 | (1) |
| 2010 | →Scunthorpe United (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | →Scunthorpe United (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Barnsley | 56 | (2) |
| 2013–2014 | →Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Bury | 46 | (0) |
| 2015–2023 | Rochdale | 197 | (2) |
| 2024– | Rochdale | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 406 | (7) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2001–2002 | Scotland U17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Scotland U19 | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022 | Rochdale (caretaker) | ||
| 2023– | Rochdale | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:42, 12 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 June 2020 (UTC) | |||
Jimmy McNulty (born 13 February 1985) is aplayer manager who plays as acentre back for, and is manager of,National League clubRochdale.
Born inRuncorn, Cheshire,[5] McNulty had trials at bothLiverpool andEverton as a schoolboy before choosing to join the latter's academy set-up. McNulty then signed forWrexham after being released. After several years at Wrexham, he became their reserve team captain. However, he made only one senior appearance for the team as a substitute forSteve Roberts againstStockport County in theFootball League Trophy on 5 November 2003; Wrexham lost the game in a 5–4 defeat. In February and March 2004, after leaving Wrexham, McNulty spent five matches atBangor City in theLeague of Wales.[citation needed] He joined another League of Wales side,Caernarfon Town, in summer 2004. He made 63 appearances for the club over two seasons, scoring twice, whilst also reaching the position of captain.[citation needed]
In July 2006 McNulty signed forLeague Two clubMacclesfield Town. On 21 November his first goal for the club sealed a 1–0 win in aFA Cup 1st Round replay againstWalsall at theBescot Stadium.[6] On 29 November it was announced that McNulty had broken his leg and would be out of action for several months. Upon his return to the side he scored his first league goal in a 2–2 draw withBarnet.[7]
On 2 January 2008 McNulty signed an eighteen-month contract with fellow League Two sideStockport County, after rejecting a new contract at Macclesfield.[8] McNulty scored his first Stockport goal atLeyton Orient on 13 September[9] and went on to captain Stockport on several occasions. He played as a central defender for Stockport as they won promotion with a 3–2 play-off victory overRochdale atWembley.[10]
During the January 2009 transfer window, McNulty attracted attention as Stockport looked to bring in money to solve financial difficulties. Stockport accepted an undisclosed offer fromBrighton & Hove Albion, allowing McNulty to open contract negotiations with the club, however he refused the opportunity on 22 January, explaining that he did not wish to move to Brighton.[11] On 31 January he was pulled out of the matchday squad for Stockport's game against Hereford after being given permission to talk to an unnamed team.[12]
On 2 February, it was revealed that McNulty had a change of heart and agreed to join Brighton & Hove Albion, signing a3+1⁄2-year contract.[13]
After scoring on his debut against Peterborough,[14] McNulty ruptured akidney during Brighton's 4–0 home defeat toCrewe Alexandra on 28 February 2009, and the injury ruled him out of action for the foreseeable future.[15][16] On 23 March, it was announced that McNulty had an operation to remove his right kidney[17] and that he would be ruled out of action for approximately six months.[18] McNulty made his first appearance for Brighton since suffering the horrendous injury in a 2–0 pre-season friendly victory atScunthorpe United, coming on as a second-half substitute.[19] McNulty made his competitive comeback for Brighton during the 1–0 defeat atLeyton Orient in theFootball League Trophy competition on 6 October 2009. After making another 10 competitive appearances since his horrific injury, the last being in the 3–2 defeat toAston Villa in theFA Cup during January 2010, McNulty was allowed to joinChampionship sideScunthorpe United on an initial one-month loan to furthermore help his comeback to professional football by managerGus Poyet. During his short spell atGlanford Park, McNulty made 3 appearances before returning to Brighton at the conclusion of theChampionship season.
During July 2010, he re-signed for Scunthorpe on a further six months' loan deal,[20] however after suffering an ankle injury requiring surgery, McNulty returned to Brighton on 5 December 2010.[21]
On 24 June 2011, McNulty signed forChampionship sideBarnsley on a two-year contract. He was voted Players player of the year in his first season at Barnsley. The following season Barnsley manager Keith Hill announced McNulty as the new team captain.
On 3 October 2013 McNulty moved on a loan deal to Tranmere Rovers
On 17 January 2014, McNulty had his contract atBarnsley cancelled by mutual consent.[22] Hours after announcing he leftBarnsley, McNulty signed an 18-month deal forBury where he will be re-united with bossDavid Flitcroft.[23]
On 2 June 2015, McNulty signed forRochdale on a two-year contract and reunited with his old bossKeith Hill.[24]
On 26 June 2021, McNulty signed a one-year contract extension.[25]
In August 2022, McNulty was appointed caretaker manager, following the sacking ofRobbie Stockdale.[26] He had another spell as Rochdale's interim manager following the sacking of Stockdale's successorJim Bentley in March 2023,[27] winning his first two games in charge, away atAFC Wimbledon on 1 April,[28] and at home againstWalsall on 7 April 2023.[29] Following the club's relegation, McNulty was appointed manager on a two-year contract on 12 May 2023.[30]
Following a strong start to the2025–26 season, McNulty was named National League Manager of the Month for August 2025 having led his side to five victories from their first six matches.[31]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wrexham | 2003–04[32] | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2006–07[33] | League Two | 15 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| 2007–08[34] | League Two | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| Total | 34 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 2 | ||
| Stockport County | 2007–08[34] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2008–09[35] | League One | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| Total | 39 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2008–09[35] | League One | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 2009–10[36] | League One | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2010–11[37] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2009–10[36] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2010–11[37] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Barnsley | 2011–12[38] | Championship | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 2 |
| 2012–13[39] | Championship | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2013–14[40] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 56 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | ||
| Tranmere Rovers (loan) | 2013–14[40] | League One | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Bury | 2013–14[40] | League Two | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2014–15[41] | League Two | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1[a] | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| Total | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 1 | ||
| Rochdale | 2015–16[42] | League One | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 52 | 0 |
| 2016–17[43] | League One | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2017–18[44] | League One | 40 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| 2018–19[45] | League One | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 2 | 29 | 3 | |
| 2019–20[46] | League One | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[47] | League One | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 2021–22[48] | League Two | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2022–23[49] | League Two | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 197 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 237 | 4 | ||
| Career total | 406 | 7 | 29 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 25 | 2 | 476 | 11 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Rochdale | 19 August 2022 | 29 August 2022 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 000.0 |
| 27 March 2023 | present | 137 | 62 | 32 | 43 | 045.3 | |
| Total | 140 | 62 | 33 | 45 | 044.3 | ||
Stockport County
Individual
