James McCarthy (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = James McCarthy


fullname = James McCarthy
nickname =
height =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1990|11|12
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Hamilton Academical
clubnumber = 4
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2006–
clubs = Hamilton Academical
caps(goals) = 66 (8)
nationalyears = 2007
2007
2007
2008–
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland U17
Republic of Ireland U18
Republic of Ireland U19
Republic of Ireland U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 (1)
02 (2)
02 (0)
01 (0)
pcupdate = 10 October 2008
ntupdate = 19 March 2008

James McCarthy (born 12 November 1990, Glasgow. McCarthy is currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Hamilton Academical. He predominantly plays as an attacking midfielder.

Career

Domestic

McCarthy made his debut against Queen of the South as a substitute on 30 September 2006, becoming the youngest player to play for Hamilton Academical in the 21st century. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young players in Europe. His full debut came against Airdrie United on 11 November 2006; a day before his 16th birthday. On 6 January 2007, at 16 years and 55 days old, James became the youngest player ever to score in Hamilton Academical's history. He scored in a Scottish Cup defeat against Livingston

On 17 May 2008, after a season which saw his club promoted to the Scottish Premier League, McCarthy signed a new three-year contract with the club. [ cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hamilton_academical/7406451.stm | title = McCarthy extends stay with Accies | accessdate = 2008-05-17 ]

International

McCarthy was born in Scotland and had chosen to play for the Republic of Ireland due to his Irish heritage. However recently there has been speculation that he might instead choose to play for Scotland, and George Burley has indicated that he would be willing to offer McCarthy a full cap in the near future. McCarthy has however re-affirmed his commitment to Ireland [cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/mccarthy-pledges-allegiance-to-irish-cause-despite-advances-from-scotland-1492508.html|title=McCarthy pledges allegiance to Irish cause despite advances from Scotland|date=2008-10-08|publisher=Irish Independent] . His grandfather came from County Donegal.

McCarthy made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland Under-17s in January 2007 against Italy [cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1627&Itemid=9|title=Hamilton Republic of Ireland's U17 team impress in victory over Italy in Dublin|date=2007-01-23|publisher=FAI] . He scored his first goal against Greece when winning his third cap in March of the same year [cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1854&Itemid=9|title=Sean McCaffrey pays tribute to Ireland’s U17 squad in Germany|date=2007-03-23|publisher=FAI] .

He was quickly promoted to the Under-18s and played his first game at that level versus Germany in November 2007 [cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2627&Itemid=9|title=Germany prove too powerful for Ireland U18s|date=2007-11-13|publisher=FAI] . He scored twice in the return game that same month [cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2637&Itemid=9|title=James McCarthy scores twice as Ireland U18s defeat Germany|date=2007-11-15|publisher=FAI] .

McCarthy played one game for the Under-19s in September 2007 against Portugal [cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2370&Itemid=9|title=Ireland U19 lose first match of double-header to Portugal|date=2007-09-04|publisher=FAI] and has since been selected for a number of these squads in 2008 [cite news|url=http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=520&Itemid=2|title=Ireland International Call Ups for Accies|date=2008-03-19|publisher=Hamilton Accies FC] .

Honours

Hamilton Academical
*Scottish Football League First Division: 2007-08

See also

* Hamilton Academical F.C.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=44290|name=James McCarthy