Cathal Heffernan
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2005)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Cathal Heffernan
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname = Cathal Séan Heffernan Andrews {{cite news | url=https://www.acmilan.com/it/squadre/primavera/giocatori/cathal-sean-andrews/biografia | title=Biografia | work=AC Milan}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|4|27|df=y}}
|birth_place = Cork, Ireland
|height =
|position = Centre-back
|currentclub = Newcastle United
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 = Ringmahon Rangers
|youthyears2 = 2019–2021
|youthclubs2 = Cork City
|years1 = 2021–2022
|clubs1 = Cork City
|caps1 = 1
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2022
|clubs2 = → AC Milan (loan)
|caps2 = 0
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2022–2023
|clubs3 = AC Milan
|caps3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2023–
|clubs4 = Newcastle United
|caps4 = 0
|goals4 = 0
|nationalyears1 = 2019–2020
|nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U15
|nationalcaps1 = 4
|nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2021–2022
|nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U17
|nationalcaps2 = 6
|nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2021–
|nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U19
|nationalcaps3 = 4
|nationalgoals3 = 0
|club-update = 13:07, 14 September 2023 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 22:33, 14 October 2023 (UTC)
}}
Cathal Séan Heffernan Andrews (born 27 April 2005) is an Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Newcastle United.
Early and personal life
Heffernan was born in Cork.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/marian-on-cathal-heffernan-interview-5679324-Feb2022/|title='For us, it was never about him making it as a soccer player'|first=Paul|last=Fennessy|website=The42}} His father Rob and mother Marian are both Olympians, in race walking and 400m relay respectively.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60214528|title=Heffernan, 16, confirms AC Milan move|work=BBC Sport }}
Club career
Heffernan began his career with Ringmahon Rangers, signing for Cork City in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40315640.html|title=Cork City sign Ireland U16 international Cathal Heffernan, son of world champion Rob, to pro deal|first=Martin|last=Claffey|date=16 June 2021|website=Irish Examiner}} He made his senior debut for Cork City in the 2021 season. In March 2021 he trained with Italian clubs Juventus, AC Milan, Roma and Atalanta,{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/15-year-old-son-of-olympians-rob-and-marian-heffernan-set-to-train-with-juventus-and-ac-milan-40171877.html|title=15-year-old son of Olympians Rob and Marian Heffernan set to train with Juventus and AC Milan|website=independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0309/1202815-cathal-heffernan-to-train-with-four-serie-a-giants/|title=Cathal Heffernan to train with four Serie A giants|date=9 March 2021|via=www.rte.ie}} and turned professional with Cork in June 2021.
He moved on loan to AC Milan in January 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11863/12530320/cathal-heffernan-cork-city-teenager-and-republic-of-ireland-u17-captain-heads-to-ac-milan-in-dream-move|title=Cathal Heffernan: Cork City teenager and Republic of Ireland U17 captain heads to AC Milan in dream move|website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/sport/irelands-u17-captain-cathal-heffernan-seals-loan-move-to-italian-giants-ac-milan-228946|title=Ireland's U17 captain Cathal Heffernan seals loan move to Italian giants AC Milan|first=Conor|last=O'Donoghue|website=The Irish Post}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzz.ie/sport/soccer/cathal-heffernan-transfer-ac-milan-26093497|title=The inside story of Cathal Heffernan's transfer to AC Milan|first=Mark|last=McCadden|date=31 January 2022|website=Buzz.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/sport/soccer/cork-city-kid-cathal-heffernan-22926699|title=Cork City kid Cathal Heffernan to join Italian giants AC Milan|first=Mark|last=McCadden|date=31 January 2022|website=Cork Beo}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/cathal-heffernan-opens-up-dream-26103457|title=Cathal Heffernan opens up on dream AC Milan move as he thanks Stephen Ireland|first=Mark|last=McCadden|date=1 February 2022|website=Irish Mirror}} He made his debut for Milan's under-18 team a few days later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/sport/soccer/corks-cathal-heffernan-celebrates-first-23004933|title=Cork's Cathal Heffernan celebrates first win with teammates after Milan signing|first1=Sara|last1=Rountree|first2=Shane|last2=Donovan|date=6 February 2022|website=Cork Beo}} In May 2022 he made his debut for the under-19 team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40873016.html|title=Cathal Heffernan takes another step on path to Milan first-team|first=John|last=Fallon|date=15 May 2022|website=Irish Examiner}}
His transfer to Milan was made permanent in June 2022.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61870875 | title=Irish teenager Heffernan joins AC Milan | work=BBC Sport }}{{cite web | url=https://www.corkbeo.ie/sport/soccer/cork-native-cathal-heffernan-completes-24277112 | title=Cork native Cathal Heffernan completes permanent transfer to AC Milan | date=20 June 2022 }} He joined English club Newcastle United in August 2023.{{cite news | url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/irish-defender-cathal-heffernan-joins-newcastle-united-1515744.html | title=Irish defender Cathal Heffernan joins Newcastle United | date=16 August 2023 }}
International career
Heffernan has played for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.{{WorldFootball.net|cathal-heffernan}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heffernan, Cathal}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Cork City F.C. players
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers
Category:Irish expatriates in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Association footballers from Cork (city)
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen
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