| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Gary Clingan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-01-13)13 January 1984 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2003 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2006 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | →Chesterfield (loan) | 15 | (2) |
| 2005–2006 | →Chesterfield (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2006–2008 | Nottingham Forest | 85 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | Norwich City | 40 | (6) |
| 2009–2012 | Coventry City | 98 | (7) |
| 2012–2013 | Doncaster Rovers | 6 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Kilmarnock | 56 | (5) |
| 2016–2017 | Linfield | 11 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | Glenavon | 49 | (17) |
| 2020–2021 | Glenavon | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 383 | (40) | |
| International career | |||
| Northern Ireland U15 | 12 | (0) | |
| Northern Ireland U16 | 2 | (0) | |
| Northern Ireland U19 | 6 | (1) | |
| 2003–2006 | Northern Ireland U21 | 11 | (1) |
| 2004 | Northern Ireland U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2014 | Northern Ireland | 39 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Samuel Gary Clingan (born 13 January 1984) is a Northern Irish former internationalfootballer who played as adefensive midfielder.
Clingan began his career in August 2001 as a youth trainee atWolverhampton Wanderers. He was captain of the Wolves reserves in 2003–04, but never broke into the first team – although twice being an unused substitute during theirPremier League campaign of that year – and was loaned out toChesterfield on two occasions to gain experience. Between October 2004 and January 2006, he played 29 times for the Spireites and scored three goals – quickly becoming a fans' favourite.
In early 2006,Nottingham Forest confirmed their interest in him. The original deal fell through because of the existing loan deal with Chesterfield, but when his loan period ended on 15 January, Forest made a second bid. Clingan joined Forest on 23 January for an undisclosed fee.[2][3] He made his debut in a 2–0 defeat toBarnsley.
Clingan had been a regular in the Forest side in 2006–07 but sustained a broken ankle during a 5–1 victory overHuddersfield Town in early March 2007, sidelining him for the rest of the season.[4] He returned fit for the next campaign and got his first goal for the Reds after 22 months and 59 games, with a 22-yard free-kick in a 2–0 win overCrewe on 24 November 2007.[5] The season ended with Forest gaining automatic promotion to theChampionship.
Clingan was offered a new deal by the club at the end of the season,[6] with managerColin Calderwood stating he hoped Clingan would re-sign.[7] He rejected the offer from Forest amid interest from Championship rivalsQPR,[7][8]Ipswich Town[7] andNorwich City.[7]
On 17 June 2008, he agreed to joinNorwich City when his Forest contract expired.[9] He signed a two-year deal and wasGlenn Roeder's first summer signing.[10] During the2008–09 season, Clingan became the club's establishedpenalty taker, scoring all four spot-kicks he took. His other goals were an impressive free-kick in a 1–1 draw away toBirmingham City and a similar effort in the final day 4–2 defeat toCharlton Athletic which sealed the club's relegation toLeague One. In March, Clingan was soon appointed as Norwich City's vice captain, followingGary Doherty promotion as captain.[11] In the January transfer window, Clingan revealed that Premier League sideFulham tried to sign him.[12]
Following Norwich City's relegation, Clingan requested a transfer and was sold to Coventry City. He proclaimed that he wanted to play in the Premier League and Coventry offered him the best chance of getting there. Unfortunately for him, Coventry didn't make it to the Premier League. Two years later, however, Norwich City did secure promotion to the Premier League and Clingan was mercilessly taunted with cries of "Sammy Clingan, it could have been you." by Norwich City Supporters when the two clubs met on the last day of the championship season.[13] He later admitted regretting leaving Norwich for Coventry[citation needed].
After a protracted transfer saga in the summertransfer window, Clingan signed forCoventry City on 24 July 2009, signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. He was happy to move to a Championship club.[14] He made his debut, on the opening game of the season, in a 2–1 win overIpswich Town. He then scored his first goal, on 19 September 2009, in a 3–2 loss againstPreston. He then scored two goals in two consecutive games againstWatford andLeicester City. Soon after, Clingan suffered a toe injury while in international duty, which left him out for six weeks.[15] Two months later, on 12 December 2009, Clingan made his return from injury, coming on as a substitute 88th, in a 3–2 win overPeterborough United. Later in the season, Clingan would score against Barnsley and Scunthorpe United.
Following the last three games since the opening game of the season, Clingan said his first team place is difficult in the starting line-up, under managerAidy Boothroyd.[16] Eventually, his first team place would win over Boothyord, which earned him a starting line-up. He soon suffered a knee injury which left him out for months and made his return in early January. During the season, Clingan had problem with injuries[citation needed].
In June 2011, due to the departures ofKeiren Westwood,Marlon King andAron Gunnarson, Sammy Clingan was announced as club captain.[17] After scoring his first goal of the season against Doncaster on 29 October 2011,[18] Clingan announced his desire to stay at the club and the contract negotiations has started.[19] Like last season, Clingan had another problem with injuries.[20][21][22]
In May 2012, Clingan rejected a new contract[23] and was released byCoventry City when his contract ran out at the end of the 2011–2012 season.[24]
He was without a club for the first few months of the 2012–13 season before signing a month by month contract forDoncaster Rovers on 26 October 2012. Clingan was linked with recently promoted sideCharlton.[25]
He played his first game, coming on as sub in the 83rd minute when Rovers were two up away againstNotts County.[26] Despite lack of appearance, Clingan says he desire to stay at Doncaster Rovers in November.[27] He made his last appearance for the club – against his former club, Coventry City – on 15 December 2012, where he received a mixed reception from Coventry fans.[28]
On 27 December 2012, it was confirmed that Clingan would not be offered an extension to his contract and would leave the club.[29]
On 29 January 2013, Clingan signed an 18-month contract withSPL sideKilmarnock.[30] Upon joining Kilmarnock, Clingan will be joined by compatriotRory McKeown and managerKenny Shiels.[31]
A few weeks after joining the club, Clingan made his first start, in a 1–1 draw againstInverness Caledonian Thistle on 13 February 2013. A few weeks later, Clingan scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–2 draw againstHibernian.[32] Two months later on 11 May 2013, Clingan scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–2 win overDundee.[33] Clingan made fourteen appearances and scoring two times in his first half of the season.
In the 2013–14 season, Clingan was a suffered a knee injury after a challenge during a friendly match againstCarlisle United and was substituted.[34] As a result, Clingan would be out for six weeks.[35] After being sidelined for six weeks, Clingan made his return to the first team againstCeltic on 28 September 2013, which he scored from a free-kick, which Kilmarnock lost 5–2.[36] Despite the loss, Clingan said he will never forget the first time he played at Celtic Park.[37] Since then, Clingan struggled to regain his first team, as he was on the substitute bench and has his own injury concern much further, as he made eighteen appearances and scoring once in his second season.[38] Despite the injury, Clingan signed a 12 months contract with the club.[39]
In 2014–15 season, Clingan started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win overMotherwell on 22 August 2014.[40] However, Clingan's playing time was soon reduced when he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for five weeks.[41] Clingan made his first team return on 21 January 2015, in a 1–0 loss against Dundee.[42] Three weeks later on 14 February 2015, Clingan scored the last minute goal, in a 3–2 win overDundee United.[43] Clingan continued to suffered two injuries towards the end of the season, as he made 27 appearances and scored two times in all competitions. At the end of the 2014–15 season, Clingan was released by the club.[44]
Having been without a club for the entire 2015–16 season, Clingan made his return to football by signing forNIFL Premiership sideLinfield, linking up with former Northern Ireland colleaguesDavid Healy andRoy Carroll.[45]
Clingan left Linfield at the end of the 2016–17 season, and on 8 August 2017 it was announced that he had signed forGlenavon. His first goal for the club came in a 6–1 win overBallymena United. Clingan's expertise from set pieces and penalties proved invaluable, scoring 12 goals as Glenavon ended the 2017–18 season with European qualification. Much of the following season, however, was disrupted by a long-term injury layoff which limited Clingan to just 10 appearances. Although Glenavon bettered the previous season's points total, a loss toGlentoran in the Europa League Playoff semi-final meant that they did not secure European football. On 23 June 2019, Clingan agreed another one-year deal at Glenavon, to the end of the 2019–20 season.
Clingan's contract with Glenavon expired at the end of the 2019–20 season. However, following full recovery from a calf injury, Clingan re-signed for Glenavon on 18 December 2020, to the end of the 2020–21 season.[46] He subsequently came off the bench in Glenavon's 2–1 away win againstWarrenpoint Town the following day. Following a match against Linfield, Clingan sustained a knee injury which required surgery, effectively ending his playing career. Clingan retired at the end of the2020–21 NIFL Premiership season.
Clingan has representedNorthern Ireland at under-17,under-19 andunder-21 levels. He gained six under-21 caps and captained the side. He made his senior debut at theGiants Stadium inNew York City againstUruguay during Northern Ireland's two-game tour of the US in May 2006.[47]
His first competitive senior cap came in the 3–0 home defeat byIceland on 2 September 2006, in the first match of theEuro 2008 qualifying campaign, and he has remained a fixture in the side since then, missing only two matches in the campaign through injury. His free kick set upDavid Healy's second goal in the 3–2 home victory overSpain on 6 September 2006, and he was named man of the match by the BBC commentary team in the 2–1 home victory overDenmark on 17 November 2007.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2001–02 | Division 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | Division 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2004–05 | League One | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
| Chesterfield (loan) | 2005–06 | League One | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2005–06 | League One | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | League One | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | League One | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 46 | 1 | ||
| Totals | 85 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 96 | 1 | ||
| Norwich City | 2008–09 | Championship | 40 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 43 | 6 | |
| Coventry City | 2009–10 | Championship | 34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 5 | |
| 2010–11 | Championship | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Championship | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 2 | ||
| Totals | 98 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 7 | |||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2012–13 | League One | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Kilmarnock | 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
| 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| Totals | 56 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 60 | 5 | |||
| Linfield | 2016–17 | NIFL Premiership | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Glenavon | 2017–18 | NIFL Premiership | 30 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 32 | 12 | |
| 2018–19 | NIFL Premiership | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | NIFL Premiership | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 2 | ||
| Totals | 49 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 51 | 17 | |||
| Career totals | 381 | 40 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 409 | 40 | ||
