Callum O'Dowda

O'Dowda is a product of the Oxford United youth academy, which he joined when he was nine.{{cite news|title=Callum O'Dowda lands award|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/5057190.Callum_lands_award/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=11 March 2010|accessdate=24 April 2015}} His performances for the academy in the 2012–13 season led him being awarded a Young Player of the Year award,{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/00200413-player-of-the-year-782795.aspx|title=Mr Wright|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=20 April 2013|accessdate=24 April 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424222106/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/00200413-player-of-the-year-782795.aspx|archivedate=24 April 2015|url-status=live}} after which he was offered his first professional contract with the club, keeping him for two years with a further one-year option.{{cite news|title=Oxford United sign academy trio|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22247833|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 April 2013|accessdate=24 April 2015}}{{cite news|title=U's give young trio a chance|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/18939/8772456/us-give-young-trio-a-chance|publisher=Sky Sports|date=12 June 2013|accessdate=24 April 2015}}

After making an impression in a pre-season friendly,{{cite news|title=O'Dowda delivers as Oxford United are held|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/10579004.O_Dowda_delivers_as_Oxford_United_are_held/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=29 July 2013|accessdate=24 April 2015}} O'Dowda made his professional debut on 6 August 2013 in a League Cup first-round tie against Charlton Athletic.{{cite web|title=Charlton 4–0 Oxford Utd|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23499437|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 August 2013|accessdate=6 August 2013}} His league debut came as a substitute versus Southend United in a League Two fixture on 6 October 2013.{{cite web|title=Oxford United 0–2 Southend United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24349582|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 October 2013|accessdate=6 October 2013}} In his first season at Oxford United, O'Dowda made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The 2014–15 season proved to be a breakthrough for O'Dowda, with his first-team opportunities increased by new manager Michael Appleton.{{cite news|title=Oxford United: Callum O'Dowda hails 'incredible' breakthrough|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29363014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 September 2014|accessdate=24 April 2015}} He scored his first league goal for Oxford United against Exeter City on 13 September 2014,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29090267 |title=Exeter City 1–1 Oxford United |date=13 September 2014 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=13 September 2014}} a goal that was nominated for Goal of the Season.{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-goal-of-the-season-2403840.aspx|title=Goal of the Season|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=15 April 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424224358/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-goal-of-the-season-2403840.aspx|archivedate=24 April 2015|url-status=live}} Between 17 January 2015 and 31 January 2015, he scored two goals in three games, against Southend United{{cite news|title=Oxford United 2–3 Southend United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30758139|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 January 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}} and Stevenage respectively.{{cite news|title=Stevenage 0–2 Oxford United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30963275|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 January 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}} O'Dowda signed a three-year contract with the club in February.{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-2293547.aspx|title=Callum O'Dowda Signs New Deal With Oxford United|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=25 February 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424224333/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-2293547.aspx|archivedate=24 April 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Jeremy Balmy: Oxford United sign French striker on short-term deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31313775|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 February 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}} A few weeks later, he scored his fourth goal, in a 1–0 win over Bury on 7 March 2015.{{cite news|title=Bury 0 – 1 Oxford United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31670340|publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 March 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}} O'Dowda finished the 2014–15 season having made 39 league appearances and scoring four times.

O'Dowda made a promising start to the 2015–16 season, scoring twice in his first five league appearances, against Notts County{{cite news|title=Oxford United 3 – 1 Notts County|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33857848|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 August 2015|accessdate=15 July 2016}} and Yeovil Town.{{cite news|title=Oxford United 2 – 0 Yeovil Town|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34025221|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 August 2015|accessdate=15 July 2016}} He began to attract interest from other clubs, though no bid was received.{{cite news|title=No moves for Callum O'Dowda, says Oxford United chief executive|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/13637167.No_moves_for_Callum_O_Dowda__says_Oxford_United_chief_executive/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=1 September 2015|accessdate=15 July 2016}} O'Dowda scored two more goals at the end of 2015, against Accrington Stanley in the league{{cite news|title=Accrington 1–3 Oxford: Sercombe brace sinks Stanley|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/accrington-vs-oxford-utd/340756|publisher=Sky Sports|date=3 October 2015|accessdate=15 July 2016}} and Yeovil Town in the Football League Trophy.{{cite news|title=Oxford 3–2 Yeovil: United reach Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/oxford-utd-vs-yeovil/352275|publisher=Sky Sports|date=8 December 2015|accessdate=15 July 2016}} He scored three more goals in the second half of the season, the first against Notts County{{cite news|title=Notts County 2 – 4 Oxford United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35179700|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 January 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016}} and then twice against Barnet.{{cite news|title=Two-goal Callum O'Dowda: Oxford United fans made win at Barnet feel like a home game|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14372442.Two_goal_Callum_O_Dowda__Oxford_United_fans_made_win_at_Barnet_feel_like_a_home_game/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=26 March 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016}} On 3 April 2016 he scored Oxford's first goal in the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium, though Oxford ultimately lost 3–2 to Barnsley.{{cite news|last1=Cartwright|first1=Phil|title=Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906363|accessdate=3 April 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 April 2016}} Nine days later, he scored his seventh league goal of the season, in a 5–1 win over Crawley Town.{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/crawley-town-oxford-united-3050238.aspx|title=REPORT Crawley Town 1 Oxford United 5|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=9 April 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409202150/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/crawley-town-oxford-united-3050238.aspx|archivedate=9 April 2016 |url-status=live}} O'Dowda scored the final goal in a 3–0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers on 7 May 2016 that secured Oxford United's promotion to League One.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36176455 |title=Oxford Utd 3 Wycombe Wanderers 0 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2016 |accessdate=15 May 2016}} Despite international commitments and injuries,{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-hartlepool-3072681.aspx|title=MacDonald and O'Dowda Return to Training|publisher=Oxford United|date=21 April 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715220650/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-hartlepool-3072681.aspx|archivedate=15 July 2016|url-status=live}} O'Dowda finished the season with 38 league appearances (20 as a substitute) and 8 league goals.

File:Callum ODowda BCFC.jpg in 2019.]]

On 14 July 2016, O'Dowda signed for Football League Championship side Bristol City for an undisclosed fee of around £1.25 million, potentially rising to £1.6 million depending on incentives. He signed on a three-year contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36799303 |title=Callum O'Dowda: Bristol City sign Oxford United and Republic of Ireland winger |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 July 2016 |accessdate=14 July 2016 }} Upon signing for Bristol City, O'Dowda said that had been a difficult decision to leave his hometown club.{{cite news|title=Callum O'Dowda: 'It was a hard decision to leave Oxford United'|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14620495.Callum_O_Dowda___It_was_a_hard_decision_to_leave_Oxford_United_/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=14 July 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016}} O'Dowda scored his first goal for Bristol City against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup 4th Round on 24 October 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41647095 |title=Bristol City 4–1 Crystal Palace |date=24 October 2017 |first=Neil |last=Johnston |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=28 March 2018}} 11 days later, O'Dowda scored the opener, his first league goal for Bristol City, in a 2–1 victory against Cardiff City.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41785605 |title=Bristol City 2–1 Cardiff City |date=4 November 2017 |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=28 March 2018}}

Amidst rumoured interest in the player from Leeds United, on 17 January 2019, Bristol activated a clause in O'Dowda's contract to extend it until the end of the 2019/20 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/bristol-city-activate-callum-o-dowda-clause-amid-leeds-united-interest-1-9543731 |title=Bristol City activate Callum O'Dowda clause amid Leeds United interest|date=17 January 2019 |publisher=YEP |accessdate=19 January 2019}}

In September 2019 he signed a new three-year contract with Bristol City.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49683833|title=Callum O'Dowda: Bristol City midfielder signs new three-year contract with Robins|work=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2019}} O'Dowda was released from the club in May 2022 after his contract expired after spending six years at the club.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61466675|title=Callum O'Dowda: Bristol City release winger after six years at club|work=BBC Sport |date=16 May 2022}}

On 8 June 2022, it was announced O'Dowda would join Championship club Cardiff City on a three-year deal on 1 July.{{cite news |url=https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/done-deal-callum-odowda-joins-cardiff-city|title=Done Deal | Callum O'Dowda joins Cardiff City | Cardiff }}

In March 2015, O'Dowda was called up by Republic of Ireland U21 after becoming eligible for the national team through his late grandfather, Brendan O'Dowda,{{cite news|title=O'Dowda proud of U21 call-up|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9752838/odowda-proud-of-u21-call-up|publisher=Sky Sports|date=10 March 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015}} a famous Irish tenor who was born in Dundalk and sang the Sean Connery song " Pretty Irish Girl" in the Walt Disney film "Darby O' Gill and the Little People". O'Dowda told the club's website "I am very proud and very excited to have the call up. It is a privilege to be included. I was approached a few weeks ago to see if I would be interested because of my family's Irish background. I jumped at the chance and can't wait to be involved."{{cite web|url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-ireland-2326356.aspx|title=Callum Called Up for Republic|publisher=Oxford United F.C.|date=10 March 2015|accessdate=24 April 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424224329/http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-callum-odowda-ireland-2326356.aspx|archivedate=24 April 2015|url-status=live}}

O'Dowda made his Ireland U21 debut on 26 March 2015, playing 90 minutes, in a 1–0 win over Andorra U21.{{cite news|title=Republic of Ireland U21 1–0 Andorra U21: Connolly strike spares blushes|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2015/03/27/10198332/republic-of-ireland-u21-1-0-andorra-u21-connolly-strike |first=Dan |last=Dalton |publisher=Goal.com|date=26 March 2015 |accessdate=14 May 2016}} He scored his first goal for the U21s in a qualifying match for the 2017 U21 European Championships on 28 March 2016, the only Irish goal in a 3–1 defeat to Slovenia.{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14389238.VIDEO__Callum_O_Dowda_s_goal_for_Ireland_Under_21s/ |title=VIDEO: Callum O'Dowda's goal for Ireland Under 21s |newspaper=Oxford Mail |date=29 March 2016 |accessdate=14 May 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2016/03/28/21779762/slovenia-u21-3-1-republic-of-ireland-u21-boys-in-green-edge |title=Slovenia U21 3–1 Republic of Ireland U21: Boys in Green edge closer to Euro exit |publisher=Goal.com |first=Ronan |last=Murphy|date=28 March 2016 |accessdate=14 May 2016}}

On 12 May 2016, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36274890 |title=Callum O'Dowda: Oxford United midfielder handed Republic of Ireland call-up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=12 May 2016}} He made his début for Ireland on 31 May, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Belarus.{{cite web |url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-belarus-international-friendly-turners-cross-2797701-May2016/ |title=Belarus spoil Ireland's Euro 2016 send-off in Cork |publisher=The42.ie |date=31 May 2016 |accessdate=31 May 2016}} However, on 31 May 2016, O'Dowda was among few players to be cut from the UEFA Euro 2016 squads.{{cite news|title=Oxford United's Callum O'Dowda: It's been a dream season for club and country|url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/14531984.Oxford_United_s_Callum_O_Dowda__It_s_been_a_dream_season_for_club_and_country/|publisher=Oxford Mail|date=2 June 2016|accessdate=15 July 2016}}

On 9 October 2016, he made his competitive debut in a World Cup qualifier in Moldova, coming on as a second-half substitute for Shane Long.{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Emmet|title=James McClean's double wipes away Moldova challenge|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/james-mcclean-s-double-wipes-away-moldova-challenge-1.2823103|newspaper=The Irish Times|publisher=Irish Times Trust|date=9 October 2016|accessdate=9 October 2016}}

O'Dowda scored his first international goal in a 3–2 friendly win against Latvia on 22 March 2023.{{Cite news |title=Ferguson scores first goal as Republic beat Latvia |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65029434 |access-date=2023-04-25}}

His sister Jade O'Dowda is a track and field athlete who competed in the heptathlon for England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games{{cite web | url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/11132217.athletics-siblings-team-helping-hand-ex-international-heptathlete/ | title=ATHLETICS: Siblings team up with helping hand from ex-international heptathlete | date=8 April 2014 }}{{Cite web | url=https://teamengland.org/team-england-athletes/jade-odowda | title=Jade O'Dowda | access-date=23 May 2024}} and for Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://talksport.com/olympics/2003496/katarina-johnson-thompson-olympics-heptathlon/|title=Katarina Johnson-Thompson denied Olympic gold medal in excruciatingly tight heptathlon – but seals medal pride|publisher=Talksport|accessdate=9 August 2024}} His father is former Thames Valley Police Assistant Chief Constable Brendan O'Dowda, and his grandfather was the notable Irish Tenor who was also named Brendan O'Dowda.

{{updated|match played 3 May 2025}}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|match played 17 November 2024}}

:Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first.{{NFT player |id=64521 |name=O'Dowda, Callum |accessdate=4 November 2017}}

Oxford United

• Football League Trophy runner-up: 2015–16{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35906363 |title=Johnstone's Paint Trophy final: Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United |last=Cartwright |first=Phil |website=BBC Sport |date=3 April 2016 |access-date=13 March 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{Cardiff City F.C. squad}}

{{FAI Under 21 International Player of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:ODowda, Callum}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Kidlington

Category:Footballers from Oxfordshire

Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers

Category:English men's footballers

Category:English people of Irish descent

Category:Oxford United F.C. players

Category:Bristol City F.C. players

Category:Cardiff City F.C. players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Men's association football wingers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers

Category:21st-century English sportsmen

Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen