Aaron Molloy

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Aaron Molloy

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|01|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Charleston Battery

| clubnumber = 6

| youthyears1 = 2014–2015

| youthclubs1 = Bohemians

| collegeyears1 = 2016

| college1 = Keiser Seahawks

| collegecaps1 = 15

| collegegoals1 = 4

| collegeyears2 = 2017–2019

| college2 = Penn State Nittany Lions

| collegecaps2 = 50

| collegegoals2 = 14

| years1 = 2016

| clubs1 = Drogheda United

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2016–2018

| clubs2 = Reading United

| caps2 = 26

| goals2 = 12

| years3 = 2020

| clubs3 = Portland Timbers 2

| caps3 = 15

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2021

| clubs4 = Forward Madison

| caps4 = 27

| goals4 = 4

| years5 = 2022–2023

| clubs5 = Memphis 901

| caps5 = 66

| goals5 = 10

| years6 = 2024–

| clubs6 = Charleston Battery

| caps6 = 27

| goals6 = 2

| club-update = 16:58, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

}}

Aaron Molloy (born 11 January 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship.

Youth and college

Molloy played for the Bohemians academy for the 2014–15 season, as well as a short season in 2015 where he served as captain. He received the Bohemians U19 player of the year award for the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11119141/aaron_molloy/|title=Aaron Molloy at Extratime.ie|website=Extratime.ie|publisher=Extratime|access-date=27 May 2020}}

=College=

After a season with Drogheda United in Ireland, Molloy decided to move to the United States to play college soccer. He played and started in 15 matches as a freshman at Keiser University, recording his first appearance against Texas Wesleyan on 9 September 2016 and scoring his first goal at St. Thomas on 19 October. Molloy earned Sun Conference Freshman of the Year and second-team All-Conference honors.{{cite web |title=Aaron Molloy – 2016 – #22 Men's Soccer |url=https://kuseahawks.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/aaron-molloy/1242 |website=Keiser University Athletics |publisher=Keiser University |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en}}

In his first season at Penn State, Molloy appeared in 16 matches. He made his Nittany Lions debut against Hofstra on 25 August 2017 and scored his first goal at UC Irvine on 1 September. In his junior season, Molloy was a team captain and appeared in 15 matches. He earned Big Ten preseason honors, All-Big Ten second team and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region third-team. In his senior season, Molloy was again a team captain and appeared in 19 matches.{{cite web |title=2019 Men's Soccer Cumulative Statistics |url=https://gopsusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/stats |website=Penn State University Athletics |publisher=Penn State University |language=en}}

Club career

The first senior appearance for Molloy was for Irish club Drogheda United, where in 2016 he played in 13 matches and scored two goals. After the season, Molloy paused his professional career and went to the United States to play college soccer for Keiser University and Penn State University. Molloy began playing with the Philadelphia Union's Premier Development League affiliate Reading United AC in 2016, appearing with the club for three seasons. He was named the PDL Young Player of the Year in 2017.{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Jim|url=https://onwardstate.com/2018/10/04/the-irish-messi-aaron-molloys-trans-atlantic-odyssey/|title=The 'Irish Messi': Aaron Molloy's Trans-Atlantic Odyssey|website=OnwardState.com|publisher=Onward State|access-date=20 July 2020|date=4 October 2018}}

Molloy was invited to the 2020 MLS Combine, and was subsequently drafted by Portland Timbers with the 16th pick of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Molloy signed with Portland Timbers 2 in the USL Championship, the club that serves as a reserve squad for the Portland Timbers.{{cite web |title=Timbers select midfielder Aaron Molloy in first round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft |url=https://www.timbers.com/news/timbers-select-midfielder-aaron-molloy-first-round-2020-mls-superdraft |website=Portland Timbers |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=27 May 2020}} Molloy made his Timbers debut on 18 July 2020, starting in a 3–0 loss to Tacoma Defiance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/tacomadefiance-portlandtimbers2-2092793|title=Tacoma Defiance vs. Portland Timbers 2 - July 18, 2020|website=USLChampionship.com}}

On February 17, 2021, Molloy signed with USL League One club Forward Madison FC.{{cite web|title=Forward Madison makes high-profile addition in midfielder Aaron Molloy |url=https://www.forwardmadisonfc.com/news_article/show/1146868 |website=Forward Madison FC|publisher=Forward Madison FC |access-date=17 February 2020}}

On January 11, 2022, Molloy moved to USL Championship side Memphis 901.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1202642|title=Memphis Acquires League One All-League Selection Aaron Molloy|date=11 January 2022}} He left Memphis following the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.memphis901fc.com/news/2023/11/20/memphis-901-fc-announces-initial-roster-moves-following-2023-season/|title=Memphis 901 FC Announces Initial Roster Moves Following 2023 Season}}

Molloy signed a multi-year contract with the Charleston Battery in December 2023.{{cite web |title=Aaron Molloy signs with Charleston Battery on multi-year deal |url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news/2023/12/04/aaron-molloy-signs-with-charleston-battery-on-multi-year-deal/ |website=CharlestonBattery.com |publisher=Charleston Battery |access-date=5 December 2023}}

Career statistics

{{updated|4 November 2024|{{Soccerway|aaron-molloy/417821|accessdate=27 May 2024}}}}

rowspan=2 \| Club ! rowspan=2 \| Season ! colspan=3 \| League ! colspan=2 \| National Cup{{efn\|All appearances in the U.S. Open Cup}} ! colspan=2 \| League Cup ! colspan=2 \| Other{{efn\|All appearances in league playoffs}} ! colspan=2 \| Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Drogheda United \| 2016 \| League of Ireland Premier Division \| 13	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	2
rowspan=4 \| Reading United \| 2016{{cite web\|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/aaron-molloy\|title=Aaron Molloy – PDL profile\|website=USLLeagueTwo.com\|publisher=Premier Development League\|access-date=27 May 2020}} \| rowspan=3 \| PDL \| 2	1	0	0	colspan=2 \| —	1	1`	3	2
2017{{cite web\|url=https://www.readingunitedac.com/roster_players/24425433?mirror_id=5096138&subseason=482928#\|title=Aaron Molloy – Reading United profile\|website=ReadingUnitedAC.com\|publisher=Reading United AC\|access-date=27 May 2020}} \| 11	7	2	0	colspan=2 \| —	1	1	14	8
2018 \| 13	4	2	0	colspan=2 \| —	4	1	19	5
colspan=2 \| Total ! 26	12	4	0	0	0	6	3	36	15
Portland Timbers 2 \| 2020 \| USL Championship \| 15	1	colspan=2 \| —	colspan=2 \| —	0	0	15	1
Forward Madison \| 2021 \| USL League One \| 27	4	colspan=2 \| —	colspan=2 \| —	colspan=2 \| —	27	4
rowspan=3 \| Memphis 901 \| 2022 \| rowspan=2 \| USL Championship \| 33	8	1	0	colspan=2 \| —	2	0	36	8
2023 \| 33	2	3	0	colspan=2 \| —	1	0	37	2
colspan=2 \| Total ! 66	10	4	0	0	0	3	0	73	10
Charleston Battery \| 2024 \| USL Championship \| 27	2	2	0	colspan=2 \| —	1	0	30	2
colspan=3\|Career total ! 174	31	10	0	0	0	10	2	194	34

Personal life

Molloy is the son of Trevor Molloy, a fellow Irish footballer who played for teams in Ireland. Molloy studied for a Bachelor of Science degree in recreation, park, and tourism management from the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State.{{cite web|last=Finn|first=Sam|url=https://www.ssusa.co.uk/single-post/2020/05/24/Blog-2-Aaron-Molloy-Just-take-the-step|title=Blog #2 Aaron Molloy "Just take the step.."|website=SSUSA.co.uk|date=24 May 2020|publisher=Scholarship Sports USA|access-date=27 May 2020}}{{cite web |title=Aaron Molloy - Men's Soccer |url=https://gopsusports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/aaron-molloy/9607 |website=Go PSU Sports |publisher=Penn State University Athletics |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en}}

Awards

PDL Young Player of the Year{{cite web |last1=Ralph |first1=Matthew |title=Reading United standout Aaron Molloy ready for bigger stage at Penn State |url=https://www.brotherlygame.com/2017/8/25/16199750/reading-united-standout-aaron-molloy-ready-for-bigger-stage-at-penn-state |website=Brotherly Game |publisher=SBNation |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en |date=25 August 2017}}
Big Ten Midfielder of the Year
All-Big Ten first team
All-Big Ten second team
TopDrawerSoccer 2019 Best XI First Team{{cite web |title=2019 Men's Division I Postseason Awards {{!}} College Soccer |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/2019-mens-division-i-postseason-awards_aid47473 |website=TopDrawerSoccer.com |access-date=27 May 2020 |language=en}}
United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team{{MLS player|aaron-molloy}}
United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team.
United Soccer Coaches All-North Region third-team member
Sun Conference Freshman of the Year
All-Sun Conference second team
2x USL Championship All-League First Team: 2022,{{cite web |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |title=USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams |date=2022-11-01 |website=www.uslchampionship.com |publisher=USL |location=Tampa, FL|access-date=2022-11-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101175351/https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1245790 |archive-date=2022-11-01|df=mdy-all}} 2023{{cite web | url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1290545 | title=USL Championship Announces 2023 All-League Teams | date=7 November 2023 }}