 Sheridan withCSKA Sofia in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cillian Sheridan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-02-23)23 February 1989 (age 36)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bailieborough, Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Brechin City | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bailieboro Celtic | |||
| Belvedere | |||
| 2006 | Celtic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Celtic | 14 | (4) |
| 2009 | →Motherwell (loan) | 13 | (2) |
| 2009–2010 | →Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2010 | →St Johnstone (loan) | 16 | (6) |
| 2010–2012 | CSKA Sofia | 19 | (4) |
| 2011–2012 | →St Johnstone (loan) | 28 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | Kilmarnock | 26 | (9) |
| 2013–2015 | APOEL | 46 | (8) |
| 2015–2017 | Omonia | 54 | (23) |
| 2017–2018 | Jagiellonia Białystok | 52 | (17) |
| 2019 | Wellington Phoenix | 17 | (1) |
| 2019–2020 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 19 | (4) |
| 2020–2021 | Wisła Płock | 30 | (2) |
| 2021–2023 | Dundee | 19 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 9 | (0) |
| 2024 | Queen’s Park | 12 | (4) |
| 2024– | Brechin City | 11 | (6) |
| International career | |||
| 2009–2010 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 10 | (2) |
| 2010 | Republic of Ireland | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 March 2025 | |||
Cillian Sheridan (born 23 February 1989) is an Irish professionalfootballer who plays as aforward forHighland League clubBrechin City.
Sheridan began his career withCeltic in 2006, but a lack of first team opportunities saw him being loaned to other Scottish clubs. In 2010, he switched clubs and countries joiningCSKA Sofia of Bulgaria, from where he was loaned to Scottish sideSt Johnstone in 2011. After playing forKilmarnock between 2012 and 2013, he signed for defending Cypriot championsAPOEL. In both his seasons with the club, he won thedouble. Subsequently, he moved to rivalsOmonia.
After stints in Poland, New Zealand and Israel, Sheridan returned to Scotland withDundee for two injury-plagued seasons. In 2023 he signed a short term deal withInverness Caledonian Thistle until early 2024, and spent the remainder of the season withQueen's Park where he enjoyed a return to form.
He earned three internationalcaps for theRepublic of Ireland in 2010.
Born inBailieborough, County Cavan,[1] Sheridan grew up playingGaelic football forBailieborough Shamrocks.[3] He began playing the association code with Bailieboro Celtic before travelling toDublin to play forBelvedere, where he received call-ups for Irish youth squads.[4] During his time at Belvedere, Sheridan chose to focus on his football career, having turned down an offer to joinAustralian rules clubBrisbane Lions.[5][6] He had trials with several clubs before being offered a contract byScottish Premier League clubCeltic, which he accepted.[5]
After joining Celtic in the summer of 2006, Sheridan was promoted to the reserve team and then the first team squad during his first season at the club, a "spectacular rise" according to coachJoe McBride.[7]
He made his first team debut for Celtic in theScottish Cup quarter-finals againstInverness Caledonian Thistle on 25 February 2007, as a 73rd-minute substitute forMark Wilson in a 2–1 away victory.[8] He signed a new three-year contract with the club two days later.[9] On 20 May 2007, the final game of the season, he made his league debut againstHibernian, playing the final two minutes of a 2–1 defeat atEaster Road in place ofCraig Beattie.[10] Sheridan made his European debut on 21 October 2008, coming on as a substitute forScott McDonald in Celtic'sChampions League game againstManchester United atOld Trafford.[11] He also started in the return game atCeltic Park on 5 November 2008, a 1–1 draw.[12] Just four days after his European debut, Sheridan made his first league start against Hibernian, scoring the second goal of a 4–2 win.[13]
On 2 February 2009 Sheridan signed forMotherwell on loan until the end of the season, to replaceChris Porter, who had signed forDerby County the previous day.[14] He made his debut five days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw withSt Mirren in theScottish Cup.[15] He made his first start and league debut a week later onValentine's Day in Motherwell's 1–0 win overHamilton, playing the entire 90 minutes as his strike partnerDavid Clarkson scored the only goal of the game.[16] Sheridan scored his first league goal for The Well a fortnight later, the winner in a 2–1 victory at Inverness.[17][18] His only other goal for Motherwell came near the end of the season in a 3–0 win over Hamilton.[17]
On 13 August 2009, Sheridan joinedPlymouth Argyle on a six-month loan deal.[19] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw againstQueens Park Rangers.[20][21] He played 14 times for theChampionship team but failed to find the net.[22]
Sheridan completed his loan spell at Plymouth and returned to Celtic on 14 January 2010. Later the same day he was again loaned out, this time toSt Johnstone for the rest of the season.[23] On his debut, on 17 February, he scored two goals in a 5–1 win againstHibernian.[24] On 30 March he scored the opening goal for St Johnstone in a 4–1 win overRangers.[25]
Sheridan signed a three-year contract withBulgarian clubCSKA Sofia on 13 August 2010.[26] Sheridan made his debut in the 2–2 draw againstLeague of Wales sideThe New Saints; CSKA won 5–2 on aggregate.[27] He scored his first goal for the club in their 3–1 away win againstSliven.[28] On 25 September, Sheridan scored twice in a 2–0 win againstMontana.[29] Changes of management, however, made it difficult for Sheridan to settle in Bulgaria.[30]
On 7 June 2011, Sheridan appeared in a reserve match for American sideSeattle Sounders FC.[31] Sheridan started the game and scored in the 7th minute of a 2–0 victory overVancouver Whitecaps FC.[32] Following his spell with Seattle, Sheridan went on trial with their major rivalsPortland Timbers, appearing for their reserve team.[33][34] On 8 July, Sheridan joined SPL clubHibernian on trial,[30] but instead decided to return to St Johnstone on a loan deal until January 2012.[35] He made his second St Johnstone debut on 23 July againstAberdeen,[36] and scored his first two goals of his second stint with the club againstHearts on 25 September.[37] Sheridan scored four goals in 15 appearances before he was prevented from playing by a hamstring injury.[38] In January 2012 St Johnstone and CSKA Sofia agreed to extend the loan deal until the end of the season.[39]
After being released by CSKA Sofia, due to the club's financial problems, Sheridan signed a two-year contract withScottish Premier League sideKilmarnock on 6 September 2012.[40][41] Sheridan made his debut in a 2–1 loss againstHibernian on 15 September 2012.[42] Seven days later on 22 September 2012, he scored his first goal when he opened the scoring in a 3–1 win overSt Mirren.[43] The following week, he scored a hat trick atTynecastle in 3–1 victory overHearts. After the match, teammateManuel Pascali compared Sheridan comparison to former Kilmarnock strikerConor Sammon[44] On 17 October 2012, Sheridan scored against his former club Celtic in a 2–0 win at Parkhead.[45] Sheridan continued his goalscoring form into the second half of the season, but then suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out for several weeks.[46] During Sheridan's injury absence Kilmarnock signedKris Boyd, and even after recovering from injury, Sheridan struggled to regain his first team place.[47]
On 20 June 2013, Sheridan signed a one-year contract, with the option of a further season withAPOEL fromCyprus.[48][49] He made his official debut on 17 August 2013 againstApollon Limassol in theCypriot Super Cup final, in a match which APOEL won 1–0 and lifted the trophy.[50][51] He scored his first official goal for APOEL on 7 December 2013, in his team's 2–0 away win againstEthnikos Achna for theCypriot First Division.[52] On 8 January 2014, he scored the only goal inAPOEL's 1–0 home victory againstAEL Limassol forthat season'sCypriot Cup.[53] On 5 February 2014, he gave his team the three important points after scoring the winning goal againstAnorthosis in APOEL's 2–1 away win.[54] On 29 March 2014, he scored the second goal of the match againstApollon Limassol, in APOEL's 3–0 home win for theCypriot First Division play-offs.[55] On 21 May 2014, Sheridan scored APOEL's second goal in theCypriot Cup final againstErmis Aradippou and helped his team to lift the trophy after a 2–0 win.[56][57] On 31 May 2014, Sheridan gave APOEL their 23rdCypriot First Division title after scoring the only goal in the title decider match againstAEL Limassol.[58][59]
On 30 July 2014, Sheridan scored the equalizer againstHJK Helsinki atSonera Stadium, in APOEL's 2–2 first leg draw for thethird qualifying round of theUEFA Champions League.[60] One week later, he scored again in the return leg against HJK Helsinki, opening the scoring in APOEL's 2–0 home victory and advancement to theplay-off round of the2014–15 UEFA Champions League.[61] On 26 August 2014, he scored the fourth goal in APOEL's 4–0 triumph overAalborg BK for theUEFA Champions Leagueplay-off round, helping his team to reach thegroup stage of theUEFA Champions League.[62] Sheridan appeared in everygroup stage match in APOEL's2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign.[63] On 25 May 2015, one day after winning his second consecutivedouble with APOEL, the team announced that Sheridan was leaving the club as his contract would not be renewed.[64]
On 10 June 2015, Sheridan signed a contract with rival Cypriot clubOmonia.[65] He made his debut on 9 July in the second leg of the Europa League first round qualifying tie againstDinamo Batumi, helping his side to a 2–1 aggregate win.[66] His first goal for his new club came on 23 July in the second leg of the next round qualifying tie againstJagiellonia Białystok, the only goal in a 1–0 win which saw his side qualify for the third qualifying round.[67] He then scored two penalties on 6 August in a 2–2 draw withBrøndby in the Europa League third qualifying round second leg, but his team were eliminated on away goals.[68]
Sheridan played his first league match for Omonia on 22 August 2016 at home againstNea Salamis. He levelled the match at 1–1 after 20 minutes, then helped his side come back from 3–1 down to win 5–3, scoring Omonia's fifth goal from the penalty spot in injury time.[69] Sheridan went on to enjoy the most prolific season of his career to date, scoring a total of 15 goals in the league to add to the three he scored early in the season in the Europa League qualifying rounds.[70]
On 28 February 2017, Sheridan signed a two-and-a-half-year contract, withJagiellonia from Poland.[71][72]
In January 2019, Sheridan signed withWellington Phoenix who play in the AustralianA-League until the end of the2018–19 A-League season.[73]
On 5 July 2019, Sheridan signed for theIsraeli Premier League clubIroni Kiryat Shmona.[74]
On 2 February 2020, Sheridan signed forEkstraklasa clubWisła Płock.
On 19 July 2021, after a trial period with the club, Sheridan made his return to Scottish football by signing a two-year deal withScottish Premiership sideDundee.[75] He made his debut in aScottish League Cup win overForfar Athletic.[76] On 30 October in an away win againstSt Mirren, Sheridan suffered a rupturedAchilles tendon, which kept him out of action for the remainder of the season.[77][78]
After playing his first competitive minutes in nearly a full year in anSPFL Reserve League match againstKilmarnock the previous week,[79] Sheridan made his first team return for Dundee in aScottish Challenge Cup victory away to Welsh championsThe New Saints, in which Sheridan was credited with the opening goal, his first for theDark Blues.[80] On 8 February 2023, Sheridan would suffer yet more injury heartbreak, as his other Achilles tendon ruptured during a Challenge Cup game againstRaith Rovers.[81] Sheridan would win theScottish Championship title with Dundee at the end of the season.[82] On 31 May 2023, Dundee announced Sheridan had not been offered a new contract, but would continue to receive support from the club for his injury recovery.[83]
On 26 October 2023, Sheridan signed forScottish Championship clubInverness Caledonian Thistle on a short-term contract until January 2024.[84][85] Sheridan made his debut off the bench two days later in a league win overAirdrieonians.[86] On 14 January 2024, Inverness announced that Sheridan had departed the club following the end of his contract.[87]
On 22 February 2024, after having trained with the club for a couple of weeks, Sheridan joined Scottish Championship clubQueen's Park on a deal until the end of the season.[88] Sheridan made his debut for theSpiders two days later as a substitute away toDundee United.[89] Sheridan scored his first goal for the club in the following game, a 6–0 victory overArbroath.[90] Sheridan enjoyed a small career renaissance with theSpiders through a link-up with fellow IrishmanRuari Paton that was a big factor in the club confirming their Championship status at the end of the season.[91] In May 2024, Queen's Park confirmed that Sheridan would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract.[92]
On 5 December 2024, Sheridan joinedHighland League clubBrechin City on a permanent deal.[93][94] He made his debut for theHedgemen the following evening in a defeat toBanks o' Dee in theHighland League Cup.[95] On 8 February 2025, Sheridan scored his first goal for Brechin in a league draw at home toBanks o' Dee.[96]
Sheridan has been capped for theRepublic of Ireland national under-17 football team, scoring in the 2005Nordic Under-17 Football Championship win over England.[97]
He also line up for theRepublic of Ireland under-21, making his debut for the team, in a friendly match, againstGermany U21.[98] He appeared in the2011 UEFA U–21 qualifiers.[99] He scored his first goal in the seventh minute of a match againstEstonia U21, on the virtue of which, the match ended in a draw.[100] He went on to play a total of 10 times for the side, finding the net twice.[101]
On 25 May 2010, Sheridan won his firstcap for theRepublic of Ireland in a 2–1 friendly win againstParaguay at theRDS Arena, as a 62nd-minute substitute forRobbie Keane.[102] Three days later, he featured as a 72nd-minute substitute forKevin Doyle as the Irish defeatedAlgeria 3–0 at the same ground.[103] His final of three caps was his only start, playing 56 minutes of a 1–0 defeat toArgentina at theAviva Stadium on 11 August before being withdrawn forAndy Keogh.[104]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Celtic | 2006–07[105] | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007–08[106] | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008–09[107] | Scottish Premier League | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | |
| Total | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | ||
| Motherwell (loan) | 2008–09[107] | Scottish Premier League | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
| Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 2009–10[22] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| St Johnstone (loan) | 2009–10[22] | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 6 | ||
| CSKA Sofia | 2010–11[108] | A PFG | 16 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 7[d] | 1 | — | 26 | 7 | ||
| 2012–13[108] | A PFG | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 19 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 8 | 1 | — | 30 | 7 | ||||
| St Johnstone (loan) | 2011–12[109] | Scottish Premier League | 28 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 5 | ||
| Kilmarnock | 2012–13[110] | Scottish Premier League | 26 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 10 | ||
| APOEL | 2013–14[108] | Cypriot First Division | 26 | 5 | 7 | 4 | — | 5[d] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 39 | 9 | |
| 2014–15[108] | Cypriot First Division | 20 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 10[c] | 3 | 1[e] | 0 | 36 | 7 | ||
| Total | 46 | 8 | 12 | 5 | — | 15 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 16 | |||
| Omonia Nicosia | 2015–16[108] | Cypriot First Division | 31 | 15 | 6 | 1 | — | 5[d] | 3 | 0[e] | 0 | 42 | 19 | |
| 2016–17[108] | Cypriot First Division | 23 | 8 | 3 | 1 | — | 4[d] | 1 | 0[e] | 0 | 30 | 10 | ||
| Total | 54 | 23 | 9 | 2 | — | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 29 | |||
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 2016–17[108][111] | Ekstraklasa | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | ||||
| 2017–18[108][111] | Ekstraklasa | 28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 1 | — | 33 | 7 | |||
| 2018–19[108][111] | Ekstraklasa | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 4[d] | 1 | — | 15 | 5 | |||
| Total | 52 | 17 | 2 | 1 | — | 8 | 2 | — | 62 | 20 | ||||
| Wellington Phoenix | 2018–19 | A-League | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | ||
| Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 2019–20 | Israeli Premier League | 19 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 9 | ||
| Wisła Płock | 2019–20 | Ekstraklasa | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Ekstraklasa | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 3 | |||||
| Dundee | 2021–22[112] | Scottish Premiership | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[113] | Scottish Championship | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4[f] | 1 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 1 | ||
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Queen's Park | 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 12 | 4 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |||
| Brechin City | 2024–25 | Highland League | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[g] | 0 | 13 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 398 | 94 | 40 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 43 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 500 | 123 | ||
Republic of Ireland U17
CSKA Sofia
APOEL
Dundee
Individual
