Max O'Leary
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Max O'Leary
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|10|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bath, England
| position = Goalkeeper
| currentclub = Bristol City
| clubnumber = 1
| youthyears1 = 2006–2015
| youthclubs1 = Bristol City
| years1 = 2013–
| clubs1 = Bristol City
| caps1 = 152
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = → Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2017
| clubs3 = → Bath City (loan)
| caps3 = 37
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = → Solihull Moors (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2018
| clubs5 = → Solihull Moors (loan)
| caps5 = 17
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2020
| clubs6 = → Shrewsbury Town (loan)
| caps6 = 30
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2025–
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 22:11, 8 May 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 19:55, 10 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Max Edward O'Leary (born 10 October 1996) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for {{English football updater|BristolC}} club Bristol City and the Republic of Ireland National Team.
Early life
Born in Bath, Somerset, O'Leary attended Beechen Cliff School alongside fellow Bristol City academy graduate Zak Vyner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/38012030/front-page-beechen-cliff-school|title=Beechen Cliff School Easter Newsletter 2013|accessdate=April 20, 2023}}
Club career
He began his career with Bristol City and was first included in a matchday squad on 22 October 2013, remaining an unused substitute in a 2–1 home loss to Brentford.{{cite news |title=Bristol City 1–2 Brentford |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24529678 |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 October 2013}}
On 9 January 2016, O'Leary was on the bench in a Bristol City squad with only six substitutes due to squad depletion. He came on at half time in the 2–2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round, replacing the injured Frank Fielding.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35211696 |title=West Bromwich Albion 2–2 Bristol City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 January 2016 |accessdate=9 January 2016 }}
O'Leary joined National League side Kidderminster Harriers on 18 March 2016, on loan until the end of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35832135 |title=Max O'Leary: Bristol City goalkeeper joins Kidderminster Harriers on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 March 2016 |accessdate=6 April 2016 }} He was recalled a month later when Fielding was ruled out with injury for the rest of the season.{{cite news |title=Frank Fielding: Bristol City goalkeeper ruled out for rest of season |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36047794 |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 April 2016}}
On 26 August 2016, O'Leary joined National League South side Bath City on loan until 31 January 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/oleary-joins-bath-on-loan-3274131.aspx |title=O'Leary joins Bath on loan |publisher=Bristol City FC|date=26 August 2016|accessdate=7 March 2017 }} His spell at his hometown club was extended to the end of the season.{{cite news |title=O'Leary Stays & is Joined by Striker |url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/the-national-league/oleary-stays-is-joined-by-striker-52228/ |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=Non-League |date=5 January 2017}}
O'Leary joined National League side Solihull Moors on loan on 24 November 2017, until the following 6 January,{{cite web |url=http://www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk/news/details.php?news_id=12951 |title=O'LEARY AND ATKINSON ARRIVE AT MOORS
|publisher=Solihull Moors F.C.|date=24 November 2017|accessdate=26 November 2017 }} but was recalled on 1 January 2018 due to Fielding being suspended.{{cite web |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/steele-replaces-suspended-fielding/ |title=Steele replaces suspended Fielding |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |date=1 January 2018 |accessdate=2 January 2018 }} O'Leary eventually rejoined Solihull on loan until the end of the season, once Fielding had returned from his suspension.{{cite news |title=Max O'Leary and Kwame Thomas extend Solihull Moors loan deals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42584735 |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 January 2018}}
In July 2018, O'Leary signed a new three-year deal with the option of a fourth at Bristol City.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ed |title=O'Leary extends his stay in BS3 |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/o-leary-extends-his-stay-in-bs3/ |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |date=20 July 2018}} On 17 October, manager Lee Johnson announced O'Leary would make his full league debut in the following weekend fixture away at Brentford.{{cite news |title=O'Leary set for league debut at Brentford |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/o-leary-set-for-league-debut-at-brentford/ |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |date=17 October 2018}} He kept a clean sheet in the 1–0 win at Griffin Park on 20 October.{{cite news |title=Brentford 0–1 Bristol City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45846348 |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2018}}
On 5 July 2019, O'Leary signed for League One side Shrewsbury Town on a one-year loan.{{cite web |url= https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/o-leary-set-for-shrewsbury-loan-switch/ |title= O'LEARY SET FOR SHREWSBURY LOAN SWITCH |publisher=Bristol City F.C. |date=5 July 2019 |accessdate=5 July 2019 }}
In 2023, O' Leary further committed his future at Bristol City by signing a three-year deal.
Also in 2023, Max O' Leary was rewarded with the Number 1 shirt at his boyhood club. Since then Max O' Leary has gone on to further develop becoming one of the clubs most consistent and reliable players known for his calming presence.
International career
On 25 May 2019, O'Leary was called up to the Republic of Ireland national team for the first time to replace the injured Mark Travers, ahead of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Denmark and Gibraltar, qualifying through a Kerry-born grandfather.{{cite news |title=Two goalkeepers link up with Ireland squad |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/two-goalkeepers-link-up-with-ireland-squad |accessdate=5 July 2019 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland |date=25 May 2019}} On 24 March 2022, he was called into the squad for their friendly matches against Belgium and Lithuania following injuries to Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers and again in June because of injuries to Gavin Bazunu and James Talbot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/bristol-city-keeper-max-oleary-called-into-ireland-squad|title=Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary called into Ireland squad | Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}} On 10 June 2025, O'Leary made his international debut, in a friendly away to Luxembourg, 6 years after his first call up.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0610/1517741-debut-for-oleary-in-irish-xv-to-face-luxembourg/|title=Debut for O'Leary in Irish XI to face Luxembourg|date=10 June 2025|via=www.rte.ie}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0610/1517604-ireland-sign-off-season-with-low-key-draw-in-luxembourg/|title= Ireland sign off season with low-key draw in Luxembourg|date=10 June 2025|work=RTE Sport|accessdate=11 June 2025}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played 12 May 2025}}
| 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"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="11"|Bristol City
|2015–16{{Soccerbase season|73285|2015|accessdate=9 January 2016}} |0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17{{Soccerbase season|73285|2016|accessdate=2 January 2018}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18{{Soccerbase season|73285|2017|accessdate=2 January 2018}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19{{Soccerbase season|73285|2018|accessdate=31 March 2019}}
|Championship |15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|73285|2019|accessdate=31 March 2019}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|73285|2020|accessdate=16 September 2020}}
|Championship |3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22{{Soccerbase season|73285|2021|accessdate=20 August 2021}}
|Championship |9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23{{Soccerbase season|73285|2022|accessdate=8 January 2023}}
|Championship |33 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24{{Soccerbase season|73285|2023|accessdate=18 August 2023}}
|Championship |46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 52 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25{{Soccerbase season|73285|2024|accessdate=13 May 2025}}
|Championship |46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in the EFL Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!152 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 174 | 0 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
|5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Bath City (loan)
|2016–17{{cite web | title = M. O'Leary - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway | url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/max-oleary/320152/ | publisher = Soccerway | accessdate = 26 November 2017 }} |37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=FAT|Appearances in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Solihull Moors (loan)
|National League |23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=FAT}} | 0 | 25 | 0 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan)
|30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!247 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 276 | 0 |
{{notelist}}
=International=
{{updated|match played 10 June 2025}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|Republic of Ireland | |||
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 1 | 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Bristol City F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:OLeary, Max}}
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Bath, Somerset
Category:Men's association football goalkeepers
Category:Bristol City F.C. players
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. players
Category:Bath City F.C. players
Category:Solihull Moors F.C. players
Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players
Category:English people of Irish descent
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:People educated at Beechen Cliff School
Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers