 Brady with Preston North End in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Brady[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1992-01-14)14 January 1992 (age 33)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Left winger,left-back,left wing-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Preston North End | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2008 | St. Kevin's Boys | ||
| 2008–2010 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | →Hull City (loan) | 39 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | →Hull City (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Hull City | 63 | (6) |
| 2015–2017 | Norwich City | 59 | (7) |
| 2017–2021 | Burnley | 81 | (4) |
| 2021–2022 | AFC Bournemouth | 6 | (0) |
| 2022– | Preston North End | 95 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Republic of Ireland U15 | 5 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2008 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 8 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 13 | (2) |
| 2010–2012 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 11 | (7) |
| 2012– | Republic of Ireland | 72 | (10) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:18, 3 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 21:52, 10 June 2025 (UTC) | |||
Robert Brady (born 14 January 1992) is an Irish professionalfootballer who plays as aleft winger,left-back orleft wing-back forEFL Championship clubPreston North End and theRepublic of Ireland national team.
Brady began his career in theManchester United academy. However, after featuring just once for United's first team, he joinedHull City initially on loan and then permanently in 2013. He made 124 appearances for theTigers, helping them reach the2014 FA Cup final. In July 2015, he joined Norwich City for £7 million where he suffered relegation to theChampionship with the club in 2016. He returned to the Premier League where he became Burnley's record signing in January 2017 when he completed a transfer for a fee reported to be around £13 million.
Brady has represented Ireland at all youth levels. After becoming their highest under-21 scorer of all time with seven goals, Brady made his senior international debut againstOman in 2012, scoring and setting up two more goals in a 4–1 victory. He has earned over 60 caps for his country and represented them atEuro 2016, scoring two goals during the tournament.
Born inBaldoyle, Dublin, Brady attendedPobalscoil Neasáin and was part of their under-16 All-Ireland Championship winning team. He was spotted byManchester United scouts while playing forSt. Kevin's Boys, and joined the club's academy shortly after his 16th birthday in January 2008.[3] He made his first appearance for Manchester United in an under-18s match againstLiverpool on 19 January 2008.[4] His reserve team debut came just two months later, in a 3–1 win overNewcastle United.[5]
In July 2008, Brady signed on as an academy scholar, and cemented his place in the under-18s throughout the following two seasons, as well as playing for the reserves. In the 2010–11 season, Brady graduated to the reserve team on a permanent basis.[6] He was named as an unused substitute for the first team'sLeague Cup Fourth Round win at home toWolverhampton Wanderers on 26 October 2010.[7] He made his only appearance for Manchester United on 26 September 2012, coming on as an 86th-minute substitute forAlexander Büttner in a 2–1 victory over Newcastle United in the third round of the League Cup.[8][9]
On 19 July 2011, Manchester Unitedloaned Brady to Championship clubHull City until 31 December.[10] He made his debut in the first match of the season on 5 August 2011 at theKC Stadium in a 1–0 defeat toBlackpool.[11] Three weeks later, he scored his first competitive goal for theTigers in a 1–0 win againstReading at the KC Stadium.[12] The loan was extended until the end of the2011–12 season on 5 January 2012.[13] On 21 January, Brady scored in a 1–0 win against Reading at theMadejski Stadium.[14]
On 5 November 2012, Manchester United loaned Brady to Hull until 2 January 2013.[15] He came off the bench the following day against Wolverhampton Wanderers as a replacement forLiam Rosenior.[16] Brady scored his first goal since returning to Hull on 8 December 2012 againstWatford; he scored with a 25-yardfree kick that went in off the crossbar, making it 2–0 to Hull.[17]
On 8 January 2013, Brady was signed by Hull on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee.[18]
Brady scored a first-halfpenalty in Hull's opening homePremier League match on 24 August 2013, giving them a 1–0 win againstNorwich City.[19] He went on to score two more goals in the Premier League the following month. He then underwent two separate groin operations which made him miss most of the rest of the season.[20]
Brady scored three goals during the2014–15 campaign including two goals in the second leg of theEuropa League play-off round tie againstBelgian Pro League sideK.S.C. Lokeren on 28 August. Hull won 2–1 on the night but lost the tie on theaway goals rule.[21] There was to be more disappointment for Brady as Hull were relegated after finishing the season in 18th position, three points behindAston Villa.[22]
On 29 July 2015, Brady joined newly promoted side Norwich City on a three-year deal, for a reported fee of £7 million.[23][24] He netted his first league goal in a Norwich City shirt on 26 September 2015, opening the scoring in a 2–2 draw againstWest Ham United at theBoleyn Ground.[25] On 1 March 2016, Brady lost two teeth in a clash of heads with teammateGary O'Neil in a Premier League match againstChelsea.[26] Norwich ended the season in 19th place which meant back-to-back relegations for Brady.[27]
Brady opened his2016–17 goalscoring account on 1 October 2016 with a stunning 25-yard strike in the 2–1 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.[28] He doubled his goal tally for the season on 5 November, opening the scoring in a 3–2 home defeat toLeeds United.[29] On 31 December, Brady wassent off in the 0–0 draw atBrentford in a controversial decision with managerAlex Neil saying: "Robbie clearly isn't going in to injure the lad and both of them are sliding at impact, but we're not getting the rub of the green right now and that's just another example."[30] Norwich appealed the red card shown to Brady but it was rejected, meaning the Irishman would miss the next three matches.[31] He returned to the side for a 1–0 defeat bySouthampton in theFA Cup on 18 January 2017[32] and scored a penalty in the following league match, a 3–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[33] On 28 January, he made his final appearance for Norwich in a 2–0 win overBirmingham City, registering an assist for aTimm Klose goal just before half-time.[34]
On 31 January 2017, the final day of the Januarytransfer window in England, Brady completed a move to Premier League clubBurnley in a club record deal reportedly worth £13 million, meaning he would link up with his longtime friendJeff Hendrick and international teammateStephen Ward. He signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the option of another year.[35] Four days later, he made his Burnley debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 away defeat to Watford.[36] Eight days after that, on 12 February, he scored his first Burnley goal, a 20-yard free kick, on his full debut for the club in a 1–1 home draw against league leaders Chelsea.[37] In the following match on 25 February, Brady provided an assist forMichael Keane's equalising goal in the 1–1 draw away to Hull City, his former club.[38]
On 27 May 2021, it was announced that Brady would leave Burnley at the end of his contract.[39]
On 18 October 2021, Brady signed forChampionship clubAFC Bournemouth.[40]
On 4 July 2022, after a successful trial, Brady signed forPreston North End on a one-year deal.[41] On 5 June 2023, Brady signed a new two-year contract to take him to the end of the 2024-25 season.[42]
On 28 May 2025, the club announced the player had signed a new one-year deal.[43]
In September 2010, Brady made his under-21 debut in theCornaredo Stadium inLugano.[6] On 9 August 2011, Brady scored two goals in a 2–1 win forRepublic of Ireland U21s in afriendly match againstAustria U21s.[44] He also scored in the2013 European Championship qualifiers againstHungary andLiechtenstein.[45][46]
On 26 February 2012, Brady was named2011 Under-21 International Player of the Year for his terrific performances throughout the year.[47] In September 2012, he became the record goalscorer at Irish under-21 level with his seventh goal for his country.[6]
On 8 September 2012, Brady received his first senior international call-up for a friendly againstOman.[48] He scored and set up two more goals in a 4–1 victory over theArab opponents.[49] On 18 November 2014, he scored his firstbrace for Ireland against theUnited States.[50][51] On 29 March 2015, Brady started at left-back in Ireland'sEuro 2016 qualifier againstPoland at theAviva Stadium in a match that finished 1–1.[52] On 13 November 2015, Brady scored in the 82nd minute of the crucialEuro 2016 play-off first leg match againstBosnia and Herzegovina to earn a 1–1 draw.[53] Three days later, he assisted one ofJonathan Walters' two goals to earn Ireland a 2–0 victory and qualification toUEFA Euro 2016.[54]
On 22 June 2016, Brady scored a crucial header againstItaly in the 85th minute of Ireland's last Euro 2016 group stage match resulting in a 1–0 victory, which enabled Ireland to progress to the knockout stage of the competition as one of the best-performing third-placed teams.[55] He also scored a penalty in Ireland's 2–1 defeat to the host nation,France, asThe Boys in Green exited the tournament in the Round of 16 stage.[56]
On 28 March 2017, Brady captained Ireland for the first time in a 1–0 defeat friendly international defeat againstIceland at theAviva Stadium.[57]
Brady is in a relationship with choreographer Kerrie Harris, who runs a dance school in Dublin.[58] The couple have three children; their eldest daughter Halle, an actress, was born in 2014, followed by a son in 2019 and a younger daughter in 2024.[59] Brady's younger brother, Gareth, has played internationally for Ireland atunder-17 level.[60] His other brother, Liam, also appeared for Ireland at under-18 level.[61]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2010–11[62] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011–12[63] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13[64] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Hull City | 2011–12[63] | Championship | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 41 | 3 | |
| 2012–13[64] | Championship | 32 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 4 | |||
| 2013–14[65] | Premier League | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 18 | 4 | ||
| 2014–15[66] | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3[a] | 2 | 32 | 3 | |
| Total | 114 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 124 | 14 | ||
| Norwich City | 2015–16[67] | Premier League | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 3 | |
| 2016–17[68] | Championship | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 4 | ||
| Total | 59 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 7 | ||
| Burnley | 2016–17[68] | Premier League | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18[69] | Premier League | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19[70] | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[71] | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21[72] | Premier League | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| Total | 81 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 6 | ||
| AFC Bournemouth | 2021–22[73] | Championship | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Preston North End | 2022–23[74] | Championship | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| 2023–24[75] | Championship | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| 2024–25[76] | Championship | 29 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| Total | 95 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 355 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 381 | 29 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2012 | 4 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 3 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 72 | 10 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 September 2012 | Craven Cottage, London, England | 1 |  Oman | 2–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 18 November 2014 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 11 |  United States | 2–1 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 4–1 | ||||||
| 4 | 13 November 2015 | Bilino Polje Stadium,Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 19 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying |
| 5 | 22 June 2016 | Stade Pierre-Mauroy,Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France | 26 |  Italy | 1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2016 |
| 6 | 26 June 2016 | Parc Olympique Lyonnais,Lyon, France | 27 |  France | 1–0 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2016 |
| 7 | 31 August 2016 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 28 | Oman | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 10 June 2019 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 45 |  Gibraltar | 2–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 9 | 27 September 2022 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 59 |  Armenia | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2022–23 UEFA Nations League B |
| 10 | 10 October 2024 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium,Helsinki, Finland | 67 |  Finland | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League B |
Individual
