Liam Kinsella

Liam Mark Kinsella (born 23 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Walsall. Kinsella was born in England and has represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 level and U21 level.

Liam Kinsella
Personal information
Full name Liam Mark Kinsella[1]
Date of birth (1996-02-23) 23 February 1996
Place of birth Colchester, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Walsall
Number 8
Youth career
2004–2014 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014– Walsall 116 (1)
National team‡
2015 Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
2017–2018 Republic of Ireland U21 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:18, 6 December 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10:49, 28 December 2016 (UTC)

His father is former Republic of Ireland international footballer Mark Kinsella. His younger sister is Commonwealth Games gymnastics medallist, Alice Kinsella.

Club career

Kinsella signed for Walsall as an eight-year-old and worked his way through various youth levels before signing his first professional contract in March 2014.[2][3] He made his senior debut against Bradford City on 16 August 2014 and was named man of the match in a 0–0 draw.[4]

He scored his first senior goal in a 2–0 win over Burton Albion in October 2015 to help Walsall leapfrog the Brewers to the top of the League One table.[5] Kinsella described the goal as "one of the best moments of my career so far".[2]

He was offered a new contract by Walsall at the end of the 2018–19 season.[6] In January 2021 he signed a new two-year contract.[7]

International career

Kinsella made his Republic of Ireland U19s debut on 25 February 2015 in a friendly match against Azerbaijan Under 19s. He was named in the starting eleven for the match at Shamrock Rovers' Tallaght Stadium.[8] His second appearance came just two days later in a 2–0 win against the same opposition at the same venue.[9]

He earned his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland U21s in September 2016[10] and made his debut 12 months later against Azerbaijan U21s.[11]

Career statistics
As of match played 5 December 2020
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 2014–15[12] League One 4000100050
2015–16[13] League One 7110001[lower-alpha 1]091
2016–17[14] League One 8000103[lower-alpha 1]0120
2017–18[15] League One 19010103[lower-alpha 1]0240
2018–19[16] League One 31041202[lower-alpha 1]0391
2019–20[17] League Two 31030105[lower-alpha 1]1401
2020–21[18] League Two 16010101[lower-alpha 1]0190
Career total 1161101701511483
  1. Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy/EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 20th May 2017" (PDF). The Football League. p. 67. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  2. "The son of one of Ireland's '02 World Cup heroes is aiming to follow in his father's footsteps". the42.ie. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  3. "Walsall sign up Mark Kinsella's teenage son Liam on first deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  4. "Dean Smith: Liam Kinsella will only get better". Express & Star. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  5. "Walsall 2-0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  6. "Walsall: New Saddlers boss releases 11 players following relegation to League Two". BBC Sport. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  7. "Liam Kinsella pens new deal". Walsall FC. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. "Kinsella Makes Ireland Under 19s Debut". Bescot Banter. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  9. "Ireland U19s beat Azerbaijan in second fixture". fai.ie. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  10. "King names squad for final U21 qualifier". rte.ie. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  11. "Irish U-21 prospect Liam Kinsella wants to follow in footsteps of 2002 World Cup Dad". irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  12. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  13. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  14. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  15. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  16. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  17. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  18. "Games played by Liam Kinsella in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
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