1. Early Life and Background
Conor Gerard McLaughlin was born on 26 July 1991, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He grew up with a strong connection to football, influenced by his family, including his younger brother, Ryan McLaughlin, who also became a professional footballer and represented Northern Ireland internationally.
1.1. Birth and Upbringing
Born in Belfast, McLaughlin's early life was centered around football, leading him to pursue a professional career in the sport. His development as a right-back began in his youth, setting the foundation for his future club and international appearances.
2. Club Career
Conor McLaughlin's club career spanned several English clubs, where he established himself as a reliable right-back. His journey included spells at Preston North End, Fleetwood Town, Millwall, and Sunderland, culminating in a second stint at Fleetwood before his retirement.
2.1. Preston North End
McLaughlin turned professional with Preston North End in January 2010. He made his debut for the club on 12 November 2010, in a 0-2 loss against Hull City. In December 2010, he signed a contract extension that kept him with Preston until 2013. However, he was transfer-listed by the club in May 2012. During his time at Preston, he also had a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town.
2.2. Shrewsbury Town (loan)
In March 2011, McLaughlin signed a two-month loan deal with Shrewsbury Town. He made four appearances for the club during this brief period, gaining valuable first-team experience.
2.3. Fleetwood Town
McLaughlin joined Fleetwood Town on 20 July 2012. His tenure at Fleetwood was significant, as he signed a new three-year contract in June 2014. He scored his first professional goal in the Football League in February 2015. He became a key player for Fleetwood, making a substantial number of appearances during his initial five-year spell.
2.4. Millwall
In July 2017, McLaughlin signed for Millwall. He scored his first goal for Millwall in a 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers on 12 September 2017. He spent two seasons with the club, contributing to their Championship campaigns.
2.5. Sunderland
After leaving Millwall, McLaughlin moved to Sunderland on a free transfer on 1 July 2019. He played for Sunderland for two seasons, making 50 appearances across all competitions. On 25 May 2021, it was announced that he would leave Sunderland at the end of the season following the expiry of his contract.
2.6. Return to Fleetwood Town and Retirement
McLaughlin re-signed for Fleetwood Town on a short-term deal in October 2021, marking his second spell with the club. On 14 January 2022, he departed Fleetwood for a second time after his short-term deal expired. At the time of his departure, he was the club's all-time third-highest appearance maker in the EFL. On 14 April 2022, McLaughlin announced his retirement from professional football, citing injury as the reason.
3. International Career
Conor McLaughlin proudly represented Northern Ireland at both youth and senior international levels, showcasing his talent on the international stage, including a major tournament appearance.
3.1. Youth Career
McLaughlin represented Northern Ireland at various youth international levels, including the U-16, U-17, U-19, and U-21 teams. He made 9 appearances for the U-16 team, 9 for the U-17 team, 14 appearances and scored 1 goal for the U-19 team, and 7 appearances for the U-21 team.
3.2. Senior Career
McLaughlin received his first call-up for the senior national team in October 2011. He made his senior debut later that month, on 11 October 2011, in a 0-3 defeat against Italy.
A significant moment in his international career was his participation in UEFA Euro 2016. He started Northern Ireland's first game of the tournament against Poland. McLaughlin scored his first international goal on 11 November 2016, in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Azerbaijan at Windsor Park in Belfast. He scored the third goal in a 3-0 lead, with Northern Ireland ultimately winning the match 4-0. He earned 43 caps for his country, scoring one goal.
4. Career Statistics
This section provides a detailed statistical breakdown of Conor McLaughlin's performance throughout his club and international career.
4.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Preston North End | 2009-10 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010-11 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | League One | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2011-12 | League Two | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| Fleetwood Town | 2012-13 | League Two | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | League Two | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 47 | 1 | |
| 2014-15 | League One | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| 2015-16 | League One | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 2016-17 | League One | 42 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 4 | |
| Total | 172 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 200 | 8 | ||
| Millwall | 2017-18 | Championship | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 26 | 1 | |
| 2018-19 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 11 | 0 | ||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
| Sunderland | 2019-20 | League One | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | League One | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| Fleetwood Town | 2021-22 | League One | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | 281 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 331 | 9 | ||
4.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 43 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 November 2016 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 22 | Azerbaijan | 3-0 | 4-0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
5. Honours
Conor McLaughlin's career included both team successes and individual recognition for his performances.
5.1. Club Honours
- EFL Trophy: 2020-21 (with Sunderland)
5.2. Individual Honours
- EFL Team of the Season: 2016-17
6. Personal Life
Conor McLaughlin is the elder brother of Ryan McLaughlin, who is also a professional footballer and has been capped by Northern Ireland. Their shared passion for football led both brothers to represent their country on the international stage.