Cameron Mark Thomas Brannagan (born 9 May 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League One club Oxford United.

Cameron Brannagan
Brannagan with Liverpool in 2016
Personal information
Full name Cameron Mark Thomas Brannagan[1]
Date of birth (1996-05-09) 9 May 1996 (age 27)[2]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Oxford United
Number 8
Youth career
2001–2014 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 Liverpool 3 (0)
2017Fleetwood Town (loan) 13 (0)
2018– Oxford United 239 (42)
International career
2014 England U18 2 (0)
2015 England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:27, 8 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:59, 4 February 2017 (UTC)

An academy graduate of Liverpool, Brannagan made his senior debut in 2015 but managed just nine appearances for the club. He joined Fleetwood Town on loan in 2017 before signing for Oxford United on a permanent deal the following year.

Club career edit

Liverpool edit

Born in Manchester, Brannagan was raised in Salford. Despite growing up supporting Manchester United, as did his family,[4][5] he joined Liverpool as a child, having previously been at Manchester City and Manchester United's academies.[6]

Despite a rough start for the under-18 side because of injury, at the start of the 2012–13 season[6] he became a regular for the under-21s and scored three goals in the U21 Premier League campaign in 2013–14. During this period Brannagan was reportedly extensively scouted by Barcelona.[4][5] His impressive performances for the under-21s caught the eye of first-team manager Brendan Rodgers, who named Brannagan among the substitutes for Liverpool's FA Cup third-round tie against Oldham Athletic on 5 January 2014. He was handed number 50, but did not get onto the pitch as the Reds won 2–0.[7]

Over the next two seasons, Brannagan continued to feature for Liverpool's reserves in the under-21 Premier League.[8] In the UEFA Youth League, he scored twice in five appearances against Real Madrid.[9] In the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League against Benfica, Brannagan captained the reserve side for the first time, as they lost 2–1.[10] He then appeared as an unused substitute in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League against Beşiktaş, as Liverpool lost in a penalty shootout on 26 February 2015.[11] Towards the end of the 2014–15 season, Brannagan appeared four more times as an unused substitute for the first team.[12]

In the 2015–16 season, Brannagan featured in the reserve side for the most of the season.[13] While still playing for the reserve side, on 17 September 2015, he made his senior Reds debut in their opening UEFA Europa League group stage fixture against Bordeaux, replacing fellow youngster Jordan Rossiter after 76 minutes.[14][15] On 26 October, Brannagan signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2018.[16][17] The following day new Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp described Brannagan as a real talent who has "everything you need" from a midfield player.[18] On 28 October 2015, Brannagan made his first start for Liverpool in a 1–0 win over Bournemouth in the fourth round of the League Cup.[19] At the beginning of 2016, Brannagan featured in two further FA Cup ties, against Exeter City and West Ham United.[20] Towards the end of the 2015–16 season, Brannagan made his Premier League debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 loss against Swansea City on 1 May 2016.[21] Two weeks later, on 15 May 2016, he made his first Premier League start, in the last game of the season, a 1–1 draw against West Bromwich Albion.[22] By the end of the 2015–16 season, Brannagan had made a total of nine first-team appearances in all competitions.[23]

Ahead of the 2016–17 Premier League season, Brannagan's number changed from number 32 to 25. Although he took part in the club's pre-season tour, he made no appearances in Liverpool's first team throughout the season.[24] While fighting for first-team opportunities, he continued to play for the reserve side before his departure in January,[25][26] scoring twice in a 6–2 win over Tottenham Hotspur Reserves.

In May 2016, it was reported that Brannagan was in a contract negotiations with Liverpool over a new deal.[27] However, the contract negotiations resulted in a disagreement between the parties over his pathway to the first team over the summer of 2017 and he was dropped from the club's pre-season tour as a result.[28] Brannagan spent the first half of the season in the reserve team, despite suffering a broken hand.[29] In the last two remaining matches for the club's reserves, Brannagan scored two goals in two matches, against Sunderland U23 and Swansea City U23.[30]

Loan to Fleetwood Town edit

On 5 July 2016, Liverpool rejected an offer in excess of £1,000,000 for Brannagan from newly promoted Championship side Wigan Athletic.[31] After this, Brannagan expected to leave Liverpool on loan to gain first-team experience, as Wigan Athletic, having had their transfer bid rejected, tried to sign him on loan instead, but it fell through.[32] On 27 January 2017, after injuries starved Brannagan of first-team action at Liverpool, he was loaned out to League One side Fleetwood Town for the remainder of the season.[33]

Brannagan made his Fleetwood Town debut, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic on 4 February 2017.[34] He was praised after his debut for his "creativity and quality" by manager Uwe Rösler.[35] Manager Rösler placed him "in a number 10 role up front with Devante Cole", though he appeared on the substitute bench.[36] He played a role in a 1–0 win over Walsall on 14 March 2017 when he set up Cian Bolger to score the only goal of the game.[37] Brannagan also appeared once in the play-offs, in a 0–0 draw against Bradford City, a game that saw Fleetwood Town eliminated on aggregate after defeat in the first leg.[38]

At the end of the 2016–17 season, having made 14 appearances in all competitions, he returned to his parent club.[39]

Oxford United edit

Brannagan signed for League One side Oxford United on a 312-year deal for an undisclosed fee on 11 January 2018,[40] the move ending his 16-year association with Liverpool.[41] However, his Oxford United career suffered an early setback when he injured his ankle.[42] He made his debut in a 2–1 league defeat away at AFC Wimbledon on 10 March 2018.[43] The following season, on 29 September 2018 and against the same opponents, Brannagan scored his first goal for Oxford, though the result was another 2–1 victory for Wimbledon.[44] He won the Players' Player of the Year Award for the 2018–19 season.[45]

On 29 January 2022, Brannagan scored a first career hat-trick in a 7–2 away defeat of Gillingham, scoring all four of his goals from the penalty spot,[46][47] becoming the first player in the league's 138-year history to score four penalties in a match. At the end of the 2021–22 season he won both the supporters' and players' Player of the Year awards.[48]

On the morning of 28 July 2022, it was reported that Blackpool had triggered Brannagan's release clause and that he was travelling up to the North-West to sign for the Championship club.[49] Despite seemingly being set to sign, Brannagan signed a new three-year contract with Oxford that evening.[50]

International career edit

Brannagan has represented England at under-18 level.[51] He earned two caps for the U18s in March 2014, both against Croatia.[52]

A year later in August 2015, Brannagan was called up to the England U20 squad.[53] He earned two caps for the U20s in September 2014, both against Czech Republic U20.[54]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 30 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2015–16[55] Premier League 3 0 3 0 1 0 2[a] 0 9 0
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2016–17[56] League One 13 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 14 0
Oxford United 2017–18[57] League One 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
2018–19[58] League One 41 3 3 1 3 0 6[c] 2 53 6
2019–20[59] League One 30 5 1 0 3 1 5[d] 1 39 7
2020–21[60] League One 31 1 0 0 2 1 7[e] 0 40 2
2021–22[61] League One 41 14 1 0 1 0 1[f] 0 44 14
2022–23[62] League One 44 9 3 1 2 1 2[f] 1 51 12
2023–24[63] League One 22 7 2 0 1 0 0 0 25 7
Oxford United total 221 39 10 2 12 3 21 4 264 48
Career total 237 39 13 2 13 3 24 4 287 48
  1. ^ Appearances in the Europa League
  2. ^ Appearance in the League One play-offs
  3. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  4. ^ Two appearances and one goal in the Football League Trophy and three appearances in the League One play-offs
  5. ^ Five appearances in the Football League Trophy and two appearances in the League One play-offs
  6. ^ a b One appearance in the Football League Trophy

Honours edit

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Oxford United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 51. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile Cameron Brannagan". Barclays Premier League. 2016. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Cameron Brannagan". 11v11. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b Burrows, Ben (4 April 2015). "Who is Cameron Brannagan? All you need to know about the Liverpool starlet". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b Herbert, Ian (23 May 2014). "Liverpool transfer news: Barcelona eye deal for Reds youngster Cameron Brannagan". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Kop Kids: Cameron Brannagan aims to break into under-18 side". Liverpool Echo. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Liverpool 2–0 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  8. ^ "New kids on the Kop: Liverpool FC's next crop of Academy stars". Liverpool Echo. 13 August 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Real Madrid Under 19s 4 Liverpool Under 19s 1: late goal rush condemns young Reds to defeat". Liverpool Echo. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Benfica 2 Liverpool 1: Champions League dream over for Under 19s after narrow loss in Portugal". Liverpool Echo. 24 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  11. ^ "BESIKTAS 1–0 LIVERPOOL: Mario Balotelli has changed – a bit – and four other things we learned at the Ataturk". Liverpool Echo. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Hull 1–0 Liverpool FC: Reds fans at breaking point over ticket prices and four other things learned in KC horror show". Liverpool Echo. 28 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Three young Liverpool FC stars to look out for in tonight's televised mini-Derby". Liverpool Echo. 19 August 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Tonight's confirmed #LFC starting line-up and subs in full on our matchday graphic". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Bordeaux 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  16. ^ Kelly, Andy (26 October 2015). "Liverpool FC seal new long-term deal for highly-rated midfielder". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Cameron Brannagan pens new deal". Liverpool F.C. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Jurgen Klopp: Cameron Brannagan has 'everything you need' in a midfield player". Liverpool Echo. 27 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Liverpool 1–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 28 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Exeter 2–2 Liverpool the verdict: spirited late FA Cup rally by young Reds spares Klopp's blushes – but reward is just another game". Liverpool Echo. 9 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Liverpool FC 3–0 Exeter City full time report: Allen, Ojo and Teixeira secure round four place". Liverpool Echo. 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Liverpool 0 – 0 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 30 January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Swansea City 3 – 1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  22. ^ "West Bromwich Albion 1 – 1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Liverpool FC's Cameron Brannagan says Fleetwood is MASSIVE for him". Liverpool Echo. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Liverpool youngster Cameron Brannagan ready to take his chance on US tour". Liverpool Echo. 17 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Cameron Brannagan: Now is the time I need to impress the boss". Liverpool F.C. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Liverpool starlet Brannagan confident he can make a big impression under Klopp". Liverpool Echo. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Liverpool Under-23s hit Tottenham for six as team offers clues for Klopp cup squad". Liverpool Echo. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  26. ^ "Liverpool's Cameron Brannagan set for January loan move". Liverpool Echo. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Cameron Brannagan set for new Liverpool deal". Liverpool Echo. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Cameron Brannagan contract dispute with Liverpool has Championship clubs plotting cut-price move". The Independent. 16 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Liverpool youngster Cameron Brannagan suffers training injury blow". Liverpool Echo. 17 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Liverpool midfielder Cameron Brannagan poised to completed move to Oxford United". Liverpool Echo. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  30. ^ "Sunderland U23 1–4 Liverpool U23 report: Joel Asoro on target but Black Cats swept away on Red tide". Chronicle Live. 10 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Liverpool under-23s end the year with sorry loss to 10-man Swansea City". Liverpool Echo. 16 December 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  31. ^ Pearce, James (5 July 2016). "Brannagan staying put as Liverpool FC rebuff approach from Wigan". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  32. ^ "Brannagan – Liverpool midfielder believes Championship loan can help make him an Anfield regular". Liverpool Echo. 26 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Cameron Brannagan's loan move to Wigan falls through". Liverpool Echo. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  33. ^ "Move for Liverpool midfielder on hold as Brannagan suffers crushing injury blow". Liverpool Echo. 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    Carroll, James (27 January 2017). "Cameron Brannagan joins Fleetwood Town on loan". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Charlton Athletic 1 – 1 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 4 February 2017. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  35. ^ "Uwe's new boy passes first test". Blackpool Gazette. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  36. ^ "Rosler: Fleetwood must never stand still". Blackpool Gazette. 23 February 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "Fleetwood boss happy to finish fourth and battle the Bantams". Blackpool Gazette. 1 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  37. ^ "Rosler: Show me you deserve to start". Blackpool Gazette. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  38. ^ "Fleetwood Town 0 – 0 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  39. ^ "RETAINED LIST: Fleetwood release Woolford and McManus". Blackpool Gazette. 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  40. ^ "Oxford United sign Cameron Brannagan". Oxford United F.C. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Cameron Brannagan's 16-year spell at Liverpool is over after sealing move". Liverpool Echo. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  42. ^ "Oxford United's top-scorer Wes Thomas expected to make swift return to fitness". Oxford Mail. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018."John Mousinho: Oxford United selection up for grabs at Charlton Athletic". Oxford Mail. 2 February 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  43. ^ "AFC Wimbledon 2 Oxford United 1". Oxford United F.C. 10 March 2018. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  44. ^ "REPORT AFC Wimbledon 2 Oxford United 1". Oxford United F.C. 29 September 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  45. ^ "Josh Ruffels Wins Supporters Player of the Year". Oxford United F.C. 27 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  46. ^ "Gillingham 2–7 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  47. ^ "'Absolutely mental': Oxford's Cameron Brannagan scores four penalties". The Guardian. 29 January 2022. Archived from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  48. ^ a b "Cameron Brannagan Wins Fan and Players Votes". Oxford United F.C. 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  49. ^ Scrafton, Matt (28 July 2022). "Blackpool 'set to sign' long-term target Cameron Brannagan from Oxford United". The Gazette. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  50. ^ "Cameron Brannagan Stays With The U's". Oxford United F.C. 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  51. ^ "ENGLAND U18S SQUAD NAMED FOR JANUARY TRAINING CAMP AT SGP". The FA Official Website. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "ENGLAND U18S SQUAD NAMED FOR CROATIAN ENCOUNTER". The FA Official Website. 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  52. ^ "ENGLAND UNDER-18S RATTLED BY CROATIA COMEBACK". The FA Official Website. 3 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "DÉJÀ-VU FOR ENGLAND U18S AS THEY SLIP TO CROATIA DEFEAT". The FA Official Website. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  53. ^ "ENGLAND U20S SQUAD SELECTED AHEAD OF CZECH TEST". The FA Official Website. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  54. ^ "ENGLAND U20S KICK-OFF WITH 5–0 WIN AT ST. GEORGE'S PARK". The FA Official Website. 5 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
    "ENGLAND U20S FALL TO NARROW DEFEAT IN SHREWSBURY". The FA Official Website. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  55. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  56. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  57. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  58. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  59. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  60. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  61. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  62. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  63. ^ "Games played by Cameron Brannagan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  64. ^ "Jordan Henderson among five Liverpool players in PFA team of the year". Yahoo! Sport. 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  65. ^ "Mohamed Salah and Sam Kerr win PFA player of year awards". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.

External links edit