Conor Masterson
{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Conor Masterson
| image = ConorMasterson.jpg
| caption = Masterson in 2023
| full_name = Conor Ciaran Masterson{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/general-news/efl-squad-numbering-06.09.2019.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers|publisher=English Football League |access-date=15 October 2019}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|8|df=y}}
| birth_place = Celbridge, Ireland
| height =
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Gillingham
| clubnumber = 4
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014
| youthclubs1 = Lucan United
| youthyears2 = 2014–2018
| youthclubs2 = Liverpool
| years1 = 2018–2019
| clubs1 = Liverpool
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019–2023
| clubs2 = Queens Park Rangers
| caps2 = 17
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = → Swindon Town (loan)
| caps3 = 5
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2021–2022
| clubs4 = → Cambridge United (loan)
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2022
| clubs5 = → Gillingham (loan)
| caps5 = 18
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2023
| clubs6 = → Gillingham (loan)
| caps6 = 20
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2023–
| clubs7 = Gillingham
| caps7 = 58
| goals7 = 7
| nationalyears1 = 2014–2015
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U17
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2017
| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2019–2020
| nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps3 = 13
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| club-update = 07:20, 2 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Conor Ciaran Masterson (born 8 September 1998) is an Irish footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{English football updater|Gillingh}} club Gillingham.
Club career
=Early career=
Originally from Celbridge, County Kildare, in Ireland,{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/champions-league/liverpool-bench-role-for-irelands-conor-masterson-next-step-in-steady-rise-36776081.html | publisher = Irish Independent | title = Liverpool bench role for Ireland's Conor Masterson next step in steady rise | quote = [Though he played] at Lucan where his father, Ciarán, was a coach [..] Masterson [..] actually grew up across the Kildare border in Celbridge | date = 5 April 2018 |accessdate = 1 May 2018 }} Masterson played for Lucan United before joining Liverpool on his 16th birthday for a reported fee of €1m after being spotted playing for a Dublin & District Schoolboys League select team in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.balls.ie/football/who-is-conor-masterson-386344|author=Ste McGovern|title=Who Is Conor Masterson? The Irish Starlet Who Could Make His Champions League Debut Tonight|website=Balls.ie|accessdate=2018-04-05}}{{Cite web |last=Donaghy |first=Gerard |date=5 September 2017 |title=All you need to know about Conor Masterson, the Irish youngster in Liverpool's Champions League squad |url=https://www.irishpost.com/sport/need-know-conor-masterson-irish-youngster-liverpools-champions-league-squad-133298 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=The Irish Post}}
He made his U18s debut in 2014–15. Masterson went on to captain the under-18s and was an unused sub for Liverpool in their FA Cup tie at Exeter City in January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-youngster-conor-masterson-could-14488842|title=Liverpool youngster Conor Masterson could be named on the bench against Man City|website=Liverpool Echo|date=3 April 2018|accessdate=2018-04-05}} He moved to the U23s squad ahead of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/academy/player/conor-masterson|website=liverpoolfc.com|title=Liverpool FC|accessdate=2018-04-05}}
He was named on the bench for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League 3–0 quarter final victory against Manchester City on 4 April 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/43325214|title=Champions League: Liverpool v Manchester City & Barcelona v Roma - Live - BBC Sport|website=bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2018-04-05}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/watch-jurgen-klopp-reveals-the-ultraconfident-reaction-of-irelands-conor-masterson-to-his-champions-league-bench-role-36777268.html|title=Watch: Jurgen Klopp reveals the ultra-confident reaction of Ireland's Conor Masterson to his Champions League bench role|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=2018-04-07}} He was named in Liverpool's Premier League squad for the match against Everton on 7 April 2018 and was included on the substitutes' bench.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/melissareddy_/status/982566034917003264?s=21|title=#LFC starting XI v #EFC: Karius, Clyne, Lovren, Van Dijk, Klavan, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Mane, Ings, Solanke \ Subs: Mignolet, Masterson, Moreno, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Ox, Firmino \ Clyne's first start of the season. First squad involvement for Curtis Jones, 17|first=Melissa|last=Reddy|date=April 7, 2018}}
Masterson was released by Liverpool at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/353300-liverpool-confirm-premier-league-retained-list |title=Liverpool confirm Premier League retained list |publisher=Liverpool FC |date=7 June 2019 |accessdate=8 June 2019|first=Chris|last=Shaw}}
=Queens Park Rangers=
On 3 July 2019, Masterson signed a two-year deal with Queens Park Rangers.{{cite web|url = https://www.qpr.co.uk/news/club-news/conor-masterson-signs-for-qpr/ | publisher = QPR | title = Conor Masterson signs for QPR | date = 3 July 2019 |accessdate = 3 July 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48855877|title=Conor Masterson: QPR sign defender after Liverpool exit|date=July 3, 2019|website=BBC Sport}} On 5 January 2020, he made his debut for the club in an FA Cup third round 5–1 defeat of Swansea City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50970222|title=Queens Park Rangers 5–1 Swansea City|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 January 2020|accessdate=19 January 2021}} On 18 July 2020, Masterson scored his first senior goal when he opened the scoring in an eventual 4–3 victory over Millwall.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53371802|title=Queens Park Rangers 4–3 Millwall|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 July 2020|accessdate=19 January 2021}}
On 19 January 2021, Masterson joined League One side Swindon Town on loan until the end of the 2020-21 season{{cite web|url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/conor-masterson-signs-on-loan-from-qpr/|title=CONOR MASTERSON SIGNS ON LOAN FROM QPR|website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk|date=19 January 2021}} On 21 August 2021, Masterson joined another League One side, Cambridge United, on loan until January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58292088|title=Cambridge United sign QPR centre-back on loan until January|website=BBC Sport|date=21 August 2021}} Masterson was named in the starting line-up on the same day as the U's faced Burton Albion. On 4 January 2022, Masterson returned to QPR.{{cite web|url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cambridge-united-defender-conor-masterson-22637183|title=Cambridge United defender Conor Masterson returns to QPR after loan spell ends|website=Cambridge News|date=4 January 2022}} On 28 January 2022, Masterson joined a third League One club, Gillingham, on loan until 30 April 2022.{{Cite web |date=28 January 2022 |title=Gills sign Conor Masterson on loan |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2022/january/gills-sign-masterson-on-loan/ |accessdate=28 January 2022 |website=Gillingham FC |publisher=}} He again joined Gillingham on loan in January 2023.{{cite web |date=26 January 2023 |title=Conor Masterson returns on loan |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2023/january/conor-masterson-returns-on-loan/ |accessdate=23 January 2023 |website=Gillingham FC |publisher=}}
=Gillingham=
After Queens Park Rangers opted not to renew his contract at the end of the 2022–23 season, Masterson signed a permanent contract with Gillingham to take effect on 1 July.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2023/may/conor-masterson-signs-for-gills/|title=Conor Masterson signs permanent Gills deal|website=Gillingham FC|date=May 11, 2023|accessdate=May 11, 2023}} He was named as the Kent side's Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season.{{Cite web |date=13 April 2024 |title=Conor Masterson voted Player of the Year |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2024/april/player-of-the-year-2024/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Gillingham FC |language=en-gb}}
International career
On 6 March 2014, Masterson made his debut for Republic of Ireland Under-17s in a 2–1 friendly win over Austria at Dalymount Park.{{Cite web |last=Barrow |first=Pete |date=2014-03-06 |title=Huddersfield Town academy player Danny Kane impresses in international win |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-academy-player-danny-6775777 |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Yorkshire Live |language=en}} At the 25th Annual FAI International Football Awards Masterson was named as the Under-16 International Player of the Year for 2014.{{Cite news |date=22 March 2015 |title=John O'Shea named Ireland player of the year |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/0322/689001-john-oshea-named-ireland-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=24 March 2024 |work=RTÉ}}
Masterson graduated to the Under-19 side on 10 October 2015 as an unused substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw against Ukraine, before making his debut in a 1–2 loss against the same side two days later.
He was first called up to the Under-21 side in March 2019 ahead of a European Championships qualifier against Luxembourg, going on to play the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory.{{Cite news |date=13 March 2019 |title=Parrott and Masterson named in Ireland U-21 squad |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/0313/1036170-parrott-and-masterson-earn-ireland-u21-call-ups/ |access-date=24 March 2024 |work=RTÉ}}{{Cite web |last= |date=24 March 2019 |title=History: Republic of Ireland-Luxembourg {{!}} Under-21 2021 |url=https://www.uefa.com/under21/match/2026497--republic-of-ireland-vs-luxembourg/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 February 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/conor-masterson/335221/|title = Republic of Ireland - C. Masterson - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=2|Liverpool
|rowspan=2|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018–19
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| rowspan=4|Queens Park Rangers
|2019–20{{Cite web|title=Conor Masterson {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Queen's Park Rangers {{!}} Season 2019/2020 {{!}} Soccer Base|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=89682&season_id=152|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.soccerbase.com}} |12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21{{Cite web|title=Conor Masterson {{!}} Football Stats {{!}} Queen's Park Rangers {{!}} Season 2020/2021 {{!}} Soccer Base|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=89682&season_id=153|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.soccerbase.com}}
|Championship |4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 21 | 1 | ||
| Swindon Town (loan) | League One | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| Cambridge United (loan) | League One
|16 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 1 |
| Gillingham (loan)
|League One |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Gillingham (loan)
|20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| Gillingham
|League Two |27 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 5 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!103 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 119 | 9 |
Honours
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/teams/first-team/defender/conor-masterson/ Conor Masterson] at Gillingham F.C. website
- {{Premier League player|13508}}
- [http://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/250068949 Football Association Ireland profile]
- {{UEFA player}}
{{Gillingham F.C. squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{FAI Under 16 International Player of the Year}}
{{Gillingham F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masterson, Conor}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Association footballers from Dublin (city)
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Liverpool F.C. players
Category:Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
Category:Swindon Town F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Gillingham F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate men's association footballers