Sean Connelly

Sean Patrick Connelly (born 26 June 1970) is an English former professional footballer, currently working as the lead physio at the Football Association of Wales.

This article is about the footballer. For the judge, see Sean Connelly (judge).

Sean Connelly
Personal information
Full name Sean Patrick Connelly[1]
Date of birth (1970-06-26) 26 June 1970
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1992 Hallam ? (?)
1992–2001 Stockport County 302 (6)
2001 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 6 (0)
2001–2002 Wolverhampton Wanderers 8 (0)
2002–2004 Tranmere Rovers 70 (0)
2004–2005 Rushden & Diamonds 42 (0)
Total 428 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Connelly qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 1993 and began his football career at his local side Hallam before Stockport County manager Danny Bergara offered him a professional contract at the club, one that he accepted on finishing his degree in physiotherapy. He helped Stockport to the semi finals of the 1996-97 League Cup, beating Premier League teams Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Southampton en route. In the semi finals they faced another Premier League team in Middlesbrough. Boro won the first leg 2–0 at Edgeley Park. In the second leg at the Riverside, Connelly gave Stockport an early lead. However they were unable to score again and lost 2–1 in aggregate.[2] His impressive form even generated rumours of a possible move to Liverpool, although this failed to materialise.

The defender played under four different managers during his nine-year stay at Stockport – Bergara, Dave Jones, Gary Megson and Andy Kilner. He eventually left in 2001 after former manager Jones persuaded him to join him at Wolves. In 2002, he was inducted into the Stockport County hall of fame.[3]

He signed permanently for Wolves after an initial loan spell in Spring 2001. However, he struggled to hold down a regular first team place during the following season at Molineux and was allowed to join Tranmere Rovers in October 2002.

He quickly established himself at Tranmere and was a regular for two years before manager Brian Little decided against offering him a new contract, whereupon he moved to Rushden & Diamonds, where he finished his playing career.[4]

After leaving Rushden & Diamonds he linked up with Dave Jones again, this time as physio at Cardiff City,[5] turning down offers to continue playing in order to take the job. In 2014 he left Cardiff City to become Head of Performance at Servette FC, Geneva, Switzerland. This was short lived and he quickly returned to the English Premiership as Lead Physiotherapist for Crystal Palace FC. In 2017 he left Palace to take up a full time roll with the Football Association of Wales.

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 92. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. "Stockport heroes go so close". thefreelibrary.com. 12 March 1997. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  3. "Hall of fame" Archived 14 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Stockportcountyfc.com Retrieved on 1 December 2013
  4. "Sean Connelly". Stockportcountyfc.com. 27 June 2008. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  5. "First Team Management" Cardiffcityfc.co.uk Retrieved on 1 December 2013
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