Chris McCann

Chris McCann

McCann playing for Burnley in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Christopher John McCann[1]
Date of birth	21 July 1987[1]
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Wigan Athletic
Number	7
Youth career
0000–2004	Home Farm
2004–2005	Burnley
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2005–2013	Burnley	238	(27)
2013–	Wigan Athletic	66	(5)
National team
2006	Republic of Ireland U19	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:54, 10 January 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Christopher John "Chris" McCann (born 21 July 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League One club Wigan Athletic. A graduate of the youth system at Home Farm, McCann joined Burnley as a teenager, making his first team debut in 2005. He went on to make over 200 appearances for the club before joining Wigan Athletic on a free transfer in 2013. He has also won one cap for the Republic of Ireland U19 team.

Club career

Burnley

McCann was born in Dublin, County Dublin.^[2] Brought over to Lancashire from the Irish club Home Farm, McCann progressed through the youth system at Burnley, and made his senior debut in the 2005–06 season, coming onto the pitch as an early substitute in the 4–0 win against Coventry City on 13 August 2005.

McCann scored his first senior goal on 27 September 2005, in the 3–0 win against Ipswich Town.

He started the 2006–07 season in the first-team squad, but reverted to the substitutes' bench after a few games as he sought to confirm his potential at Championship level. However, injuries saw him pressed into action as an emergency left-back and he took these opportunities – re-establishing himself in the first-team line-up. In 2008–09, McCann was linked with a possible move to a Premier League club. McCann began his debut Barclays Premier League season well, but an unfortunate knee injury and subsequent surgery to his cruciate following the game against Sunderland at Turf Moor in September sidelined the midfielder until December 2009 at the earliest. In his second match back from injury, he picked up a second injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.^[3][4]

Following Burnley's relegation from the Premier League McCann returned to the team and played in Burnley's first three pre-season friendlies against Bury, Oldham Athletic and the first game of Burnley's tour of Singapore in which McCann was taken off with a knee injury. McCann played no further part in Burnley's pre-season and in the week before the Clarets season opener against Nottingham Forest, news broke that the midfielder was a doubt for this game and would be sent to see a specialist.^[5] McCann returned to Championship action while being named captain of Burnley FC by manager Eddie Howe.

Wigan Athletic

On 26 June 2013, McCann agreed to join Wigan Athletic following the expiry of his contract with Burnley at the end of the month. He was reunited with former Burnley manager Owen Coyle.^[6]

International career

McCann has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level.^[7] He was first called up to the Republic of Ireland U21s for the matches against Montenegro and Bulgaria on 16 and 20 November 2007 for the 2009 European U21 Championship qualifiers.^[8] On the wake of his call-up Ireland U21 manager, Don Givens, stated that "Chris has been involved with Ireland at other age levels but this is his first call-up to the Under-21 panel. He is a good player and deserves a chance at this level".^[9] He was selected in the squad for the 1–0 defeat to Montenegro in Podgorica.^[10] However he had to withdraw due to an injury. This was unexpected news as he has played the week before against Preston North End after he had missed three games with a groin injury.^[11] McCann was again named on the bench for the second match against Bulgaria but opted out of the squad two hours prior to kick-off claiming it was a waste of his time being there. Don Givens criticised McCann saying, "I can never understand anybody that doesn't want to pull on the green shirt". He also added that this event could hinder McCann's future international career, "Will I pick him again? Would you?".^[12] Ireland went onto win the match in Athlone regardless of McCann's actions through a 90th minute winner from the Watford midfielder John-Joe O'Toole.^[13] However, Givens later apologised for his criticism, "I take it back, its nice to see Chris developing into a player of true class“.^[14] Despite smoothing things over with Givens he was never called up to the under-21s again. Since that event McCann has stated his desire to play for the full national side and hoped that his form for his club side could push him into Giovanni Trappatoni's squad.^[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 December 2015.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Burnley	2005–06[16]	Championship	23	2	1	0	3	0	—		—		27	2
	2006–07[17]	Championship	38	5	1	0	1	0	—		—		40	5
	2007–08[18]	Championship	35	5	1	0	1	0	—		—		37	5
	2008–09[19]	Championship	44	6	4	0	7	2	—		3[lower-alpha 1]	0	58	8
	2009–10[20]	Premier League	7	0	1	0	0	0	—		—		8	0
	2010–11[21]	Championship	4	1	0	0	0	0	—		—		4	1
	2011–12[22]	Championship	46	4	1	0	4	1	—		—		51	5
	2012–13[23]	Championship	41	4	0	0	2	1	—		—		43	5
	Total		238	27	9	0	18	4	—		3	0	268	31
Wigan Athletic	2013–14[24]	Championship	27	2	5	1	1	0	5[lower-alpha 2]	0	1[lower-alpha 3]	0	39	3
	2014–15[25]	Championship	17	2	1	0	0	0	—		—		18	2
	2015–16[26]	League One	20	1	1	0	0	0	—		1[lower-alpha 4]	0	22	1
	Total		64	5	7	1	1	0	5	0	2	0	79	6
Career total			302	32	16	1	19	4	5	0	5	0	347	37

1. Appearances in Championship play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearance in FA Community Shield
4. Appearance in Football League Trophy

Honours

Burnley

• Football League Championship play-offs: 2008–09^[19]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
2. "C. McCann". Socceway. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
3. Kayley, Jason (25 September 2008). "Burnley boss tips McCann to reach the top". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
4. Fitzmaurice, Aidan (3 November 2008). "Coyle lashes out at McCann's exclusion". Dublin: Herald. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
5. "Laws cautious over McCann return". BBC News. 4 August 2010.
6. "Burnley midfielder Chris McCann to join Wigan on a free transfer". BBC Sport. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
7. "International recognition". Burnley: Burnley Football Club. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
8. "Three newcomers included in Ireland's U21 squad for UEFA Championship matches". FAI. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
9. "McCann Heads International Call-Ups". Burnley Football Club. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
10. "Montengro U21 1–0 Rep of Ireland U21". Sky Sports. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
11. "McCann No Go Montenegro". Vital Football. 24 March 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
12. Scholes, Tony (21 November 2007). "McCann Sent Home". ClaretsMad. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
13. "Rep of Ire U21 1–0 Bulgaria U21". BBC Sport. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
14. "McCann good enough for the Premiership". One Team in Ireland. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
15. "CHRIS McCann hopes that his form with Championship side Burnley can help him catch Giovanni Trapattoni's eye and earn him promotion to the senior Ireland squad,". Dublin: Dublin Evening Herald. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
16. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
17. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
18. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
19. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
20. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
21. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
22. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
23. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
24. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
25. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
26. "Games played by Chris McCann in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2015.

External links

• Chris McCann profile at Wigan Athletic F.C.
• Chris McCann career statistics at Soccerbase