Josh Mulligan
{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Josh Mulligan
| youthclubs1 = Dundee
| years2 = 2020
| caps2 = 8
| clubs2 = → Cove Rangers (loan)
| club-update = 15:29, 13 April 2025 (UTC)
| goals1 = 5
| caps1 = 91
| clubs1 = Dundee
| years1 = 2019–
| youthyears1 =
| image = Josh Mulligan.png
| clubnumber = 8
| currentclub = Dundee
| position = Midfielder, Defender
| height =
| birth_place = Dundee, Scotland
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|11|12|df=y}}
| fullname =
| caption = Mulligan during a Dundee warm-up in 2024
| image_size =
| goals2 = 0
| clubs3 = → Peterhead (loan)
| years3 = 2020–2021
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| clubs4 = → Peterhead (loan)
| years4 = 2021–2022
| caps4 = 19
| goals4 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2022–2024
| nationalteam1 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps1 = 16
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalteam-update = 22:45, 17 October 2024 (UTC)
}}
Josh Mulligan (born 12 November 2002) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as either a midfielder or defender for {{Scottish football updater|Dundee}} club Dundee.{{soccerbase|120208|accessdate=19 August 2019}}
Playing career
=Club=
Mulligan made his first team debut with Dundee in the final game of the 2018–19 season against St Mirren, in which he came on as a substitute.{{cite web|last=McDougall|first=Mark|date=18 May 2019|title=What Dundee debutants were doing one hour after facing St Mirren|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-dundee-debutants-were-doing-16166374|accessdate=15 September 2019|publisher=Daily Record}}{{cite web|last=McLauchlin|first=Brian|date=18 May 2019|title=Dundee 2–3 St Mirren|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48236247|accessdate=15 September 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}} Mulligan would feature in the Scottish League Cup the following season.
In January 2020, Mulligan went on loan with Scottish League Two league leaders Cove Rangers until the end of the season.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2 January 2020|title=Dundee midfielder Mulligan signs on at Cove Rangers for rest of the campaign|url=https://www.coverangersfc.com/news/dundee-midfielder-mulligan-signs-on-at-cove-rangers-for-rest-of-the-campaign/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712011627/https://www.coverangersfc.com/news/dundee-midfielder-mulligan-signs-on-at-cove-rangers-for-rest-of-the-campaign/|archive-date=12 July 2020|access-date=10 July 2020|website=Cove Rangers FC|url-status=dead}} Despite the early curtailment of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cove were declared League Two champions after a resolution to finish the season from the SPFL was passed.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=15 April 2020|title=SPFL Resolution Approved By Clubs In All Four Divisions|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/spfl-resolution-approved-by-clubs-in-all-four-di|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=10 July 2020|website=SPFL.co.uk}}
In October 2020, Mulligan signed a new contract with Dundee keeping him at the club until 2023, and immediately joined Scottish League One side Peterhead on a season-long loan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=5 October 2020|title=Josh signs new deals and moves on loan|url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/josh-signs-new-deal-and-moves-on-loan/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Dundee FC}} Mulligan suffered an ankle injury early on in his club debut against Dundee United, and in November would undergo surgery that would keep him out until the following season.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 October 2020|title=Dundee United 0 Peterhead 1|url=https://www.peterheadfc.org/2020/10/10/dundee-united-0-peterhead-1/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 November 2020|website=peterheadfc.org}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=19 November 2020|title=Josh Mulligan not available until 2021|url=https://www.peterheadfc.org/2020/11/19/josh-mulligan-not-available-until-2021/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=21 November 2020|website=peterheadfc.org}}
In June 2021, Mulligan would once again join Peterhead on a season-long loan.{{Cite web|date=17 June 2021|title=Lyall and Josh join Peterhead on loan|url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/lyall-and-josh-join-peterhead-on-loan/|access-date=17 June 2021|website=dundeefc.co.uk}} Despite this, Mulligan would represent Dundee B against Peterhead in the Scottish Challenge Cup.{{Cite web|last=Cran|first=George|title=Dundee B 1-2 Peterhead: Blue Toon come from behind to knock Dee youngsters out of Challenge Cup|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/2449165/dundee-b-1-2-peterhead-blue-toon-come-from-behind-to-knock-dee-youngsters-out-of-challenge-cup/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=The Courier|language=en-GB}} He would score his first senior goal with the Blue Toon in a 5–0 win against Dumbarton.{{Cite news|title=Peterhead v Dumbarton|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58688243|access-date=2021-10-03}} During his successful 2nd stint with the club, Peterhead teammate and media personality Simon Ferry compared his work-rate to that of Gareth Bale, and described him as "powerful, strong and direct", and as a "Rolls-Royce" footballer.{{Citation|title=HEARTS SNATCH DRAMATIC DRAW AT IBROX & SKY HAVE NO SPFL GAMES ON TV🤯{{!}} Keeping The Ball On The Ground|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDQNzkGyfGE|language=en|access-date=2021-12-06}}{{Cite web|last=Cran|first=George|title=Dundee kid Josh Mulligan responds to 'Rolls-Royce' praise AND Gareth Bale comparison from Peterhead star Si Ferry|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/2737284/rolls-royce-gareth-bale-dundeefc-josh-mulligan-praise-peterhead-si-ferry/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=The Courier|language=en-GB}}
After a successful first half to the season, Mulligan was recalled early by Dundee in January 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-17|title=Players return from loan|url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/players-return-from-loan/|access-date=2022-01-17|website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website|language=en-US}} He would make his first start for the team in February, in an away victory over Heart of Midlothian.{{Cite news|title=Dundee fight back to move off bottom|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60225005|access-date=2022-02-09}} Mulligan would score his first goal for Dundee against his former club Peterhead in the Scottish Cup.{{Cite news|title=Dundee see off impressive Peterhead|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60283722|access-date=2022-02-14}} His first league goal would come in a 3–1 victory over Hibernian.{{Cite web |last=Cran |first=George |title=Dundee 3-1 Hibs: Charlie Adam screamer caps first victory in 13 as Dee keep slim survival hopes alive |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/3281021/dundee-3-1-hibs-charlie-adam-screamer-caps-first-victory-in-13-as-dee-keep-slim-survival-hopes-alive/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
Mulligan would score the winner for Dundee's first league win of the 2022–23 season in an away win over Raith Rovers.{{Cite news |title=Raith Rovers v Dundee |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62358465 |access-date=2022-08-06}} He followed that up a week later with a fine strike to seal a 4–2 victory over Arbroath.{{Cite news |title=Dundee end Arbroath run in six-goal thriller |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62431314 |access-date=2022-08-13}} After injuries to teammates, Mulligan would perform well at right-back in the latter half of the season for the Dark Blues and was a key contributor in Dundee winning the Scottish Championship at season's end.{{Cite news |title=Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65420805 |access-date=2023-05-05}}
On 3 June 2023, Dundee announced that Mulligan had signed a new two-year contract, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2025.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-03 |title=Mulligan commits to the Dee |url=https://dundeefc.co.uk/news/mulligan-commits-to-the-dee/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=Dundee Football Club - Official Website |language=en-US}} In October, it was announced Mulligan needed surgery on a hernia which would keep him out for several weeks.{{Cite web |last=Cran |first=George |date=2023-10-27 |title=Dundee receive good and bad injury news ahead of Livingston clash as one star set for 'three or four weeks' out |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/4794608/dundee-fc-team-news-good-bad-injury-reports-livingston/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}} Mulligan would return in December and would come in and out of the team until being injured again with a hamstring tear in March 2024 which would keep him out for a month or so.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Neil |date=2024-03-16 |title=Tony Docherty reveals Josh Mulligan injury timeline and Owen Beck fitness hope for Dundee v Rangers clash |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/4923139/tony-docherty-reveals-josh-mulligan-injury-timeline-and-owen-beck-fitness-chances-for-dundee-v-rangers-clash/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
=International=
Mulligan was selected for the Scotland under-21 squad in May 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61507036 |title=Rangers' Alex Lowry one of five new call-ups by Scotland Under-21s |website=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2022 |access-date=19 May 2022}} He would make his international debut as a substitute in a goalless draw against Belgium in Group I of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.{{Cite news |title=Scotland U21s hold leaders Belgium to 0-0 draw |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61698438 |access-date=2022-06-05}} Five days later, he would make his first international start away to Denmark, and played the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw.{{Cite news |title=Denmark U21 v Scotland U21 |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61765064 |access-date=2022-06-10}} In September 2022, Mulligan would score his first international goal in an away friendly against Northern Ireland.{{Cite web |last=Lorimer |first=Scott |title=Dundee teen Josh Mulligan stars in Scotland under-21 win - but injury concern hangs over St Johnstone's Adam Montgomery |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/sport/football/dundee-fc/3720523/dundee-st-johnstone-josh-mulligan-adam-montgomery-star-scotland-under-21/ |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Courier |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
{{Updated|13 April 2025}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
Cove Rangers
- Scottish League Two: 2019–20{{Cite web |last=Law |first=Danny |date=2020-04-15 |title=Cove Rangers declared League 2 champions after Dundee vote in favour of SPFL resolution |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/2148715/cove-rangers-declared-league-2-champions-after-dundee-vote-in-favour-of-spfl-resolution/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Press and Journal |language=en-GB}}
Dundee
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Dundee F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mulligan, Josh}}
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:Footballers from Dundee
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Peterhead F.C. players
Category:Cove Rangers F.C. players
Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers