Ronan Arjun Maher (born 30 December 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Walsall. Born in England, he represents the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ronan Arjun Maher[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 December 2004[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Walsall | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2015 | West Bromwich Albion | ||
| 2015–2022 | Walsall | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | Walsall | 13 | (0) |
| 2023– | → Rushall Olympic (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Republic of Ireland U19 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:00, 2 March 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 24 September 2022 (UTC) | |||
Club career edit
Maher played futsal at an early age, and played football at West Bromwich Albion for four years before being released at under-11 level.[3] He then joined Walsall at the age of eleven and was the under-18 team's top-scorer during the 2021–22 campaign.[4] He made his first-team debut on the opening day of the 2022–23 season on 30 July 2022, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Hartlepool United at the Bescot Stadium.[5] He signed a three-year professional contract the following month.[6]
He scored his first professional goal for Walsall on 8 August 2023 in a 3–4 EFL Cup first round defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.[7]
On 25 August 2023, Maher signed for National League North side Rushall Olympic on a youth loan until 6 January 2024.[8] Maher made his debut for The Pics on the following day in a 1–1 draw with Banbury United.[9]
International career edit
Maher made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in a 6–0 win over Gibraltar on 21 September 2022.[10] He started in the following game, a 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match with Wales, which ended in a 2–0 victory for the Irish.[11] Walsall manager Michael Flynn said that he was "very proud of Ronan".[12]
Career statistics edit
- As of match played 5 March 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Walsall | 2022–23[13] | EFL League Two | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023–24[14] | EFL League Two | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| Walsall total | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| Rushall Olympic | 2023–24 | National League North | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 2 | 21 | 3 |
| Career total | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 42 | 4 | ||
- ^ a b Includes appearance/s in the EFL Trophy
- ^ Includes appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and Walsall Senior Cup
Personal life edit
Born in England, Maher is of Irish and Indian descent.[15]
References edit
- ^ "Club List of Registered Players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Ronan Maher at Soccerway
- ^ "Ronan Maher speaks to Saddlers Shout". www.saddlers.co.uk. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Edwards, Joe (19 August 2022). "Walsall hand Ronan Maher first professional contract". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Walsall 4-0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Ronan Maher signs first professional contract". www.saddlers.co.uk. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Ronan Maher joins Rushall Olympic on loan". www.saddlers.co.uk. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "FIRST-TEAM 1-1 BANBURY UNITED". www.rofc.co.uk. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Watch as Walsall's Ronan Maher Starts for Ireland Under-19s". www.bescotbanter.net. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Maher enjoys fruitful week on international duty". www.saddlers.co.uk. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Edwards, Joe (29 September 2022). "Michael Flynn proud of Walsall youngster Ronan Maher's international call-up". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "British South Asians in football: Who makes it into the 2022/23 Team of the Season?". Sky Sports. 14 June 2023.