Rodney McAree

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rodney McAree

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Rodney Joseph McAree{{Hugman|12165|access-date=6 February 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|8|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Dungannon, Northern Ireland

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=7}}{{Cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1995–96 |year=1995 |publisher=Headline |isbn=0-7472-7823-7 |editor-last=Rollin |editor-first=Jack |location=London |pages=472 |oclc=60284604}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1991–1994

| youthclubs1 = Liverpool

| years1 = 1994–1995

| clubs1 = Bristol City

| caps1 = 6

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1995–1998

| clubs2 = Fulham

| caps2 = 28

| goals2 = 3

| years3 = 1998

| clubs3 = → Woking (loan)

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 = 1998

| clubs4 = Stevenage Borough

| caps4 = 3

| goals4 = 0

| years5 =

| clubs5 = Chesham United

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 =

| clubs6 = Crawley Town

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 =

| clubs7 = Worthing

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 = 2000–2002

| clubs8 = Glenavon

| caps8 = 33

| goals8 = 3

| years9 = 2002–2009

| clubs9 = Dungannon Swifts

| caps9 = 185

| goals9 = 36

| totalcaps = 252

| totalgoals = 42

| manageryears1 = 2011–2018

| managerclubs1 = Dungannon Swifts

| manageryears2 = 2018–2019

| managerclubs2 = Coleraine

| manageryears3 = 2023

| managerclubs3 = Glentoran

| managerclubs4 = Dungannon Swifts

| manageryears4 = 2023–

}}

Rodney Joseph McAree (born 19 August 1974) is a Northern Irish former footballer and current manager of NIFL Premiership side Dungannon Swifts.

Playing career

McAree began his playing career as a trainee with Liverpool. He then spent a season with Bristol City, before joining Fulham, then in the Football League Third Division. McAree spent four largely uneventful seasons with Fulham, but scored a vital winning goal in the final minute against Carlisle United, which eventually led to Fulham's promotion.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzwDQMy_VAw | title=Carlisle 1–2 Fulham – 05/04/1997 | author=Louis Mac | via=YouTube | date=5 April 2007 | access-date=12 September 2020}} Despite only playing a handful of games, McAree became a cult hero, and his name is still occasionally sung by Fulham fans.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleansheetsallround.co.uk/8519/goals-nobody-remembers-%e2%80%93-rodney-mcaree-vs-carlisle-united-1997|title=Goals nobody remembers – Rodney McAree vs Carlisle United (1997)|date=19 July 2011}} He had a loan spell at Woking in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=4952|title=Rod McAree|website=Soccerbase}} He left Fulham and signed for Stevenage Borough in September 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boroguide.co.uk/players/410/|title=Rodney McAree – Midfield – Player Profile|website=BoroGuide}} He went on to have spells with Chesham United, Crawley Town and Worthing.{{Cite web|url=https://hammyend.com/index.php/2017/07/who-put-the-ball-in-the-carlisle-net-exclusive-interview-with-rodney-mcaree/|title=Who put the ball in the Carlisle net? Exclusive interview with Rodney McAree|website=HammyEnd.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6788610.smith-deserves-credit/|title=Smith deserves credit|website=The Argus|date=10 November 2000 }}

In 2000, McAree returned to Northern Ireland, signing for Glenavon making 33 league appearances and scoring 3 goals. In 2002, he joined his hometown club, Dungannon Swifts, who were then managed by his father Joe, who later became chairman. McAree was a vital player for the Swifts, although occasionally suffered from injury problems. He captained Dungannon to promotion to the Irish Premier League in 2003, where they have remained since. He also won the Ulster Cup and Mid-Ulster Cup with the side. In 2007, he led Dungannon out in the Irish Cup final against Linfield, scoring an equaliser in the 40th minute. However, the Swifts became the first ever side to lose an Irish Cup Final on penalties when after a 2–2 scoreline, Linfield were victorious 3–2 in the shootout. McAree converted his penalty in the shootout.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6628733.stm | work=BBC News | title=Linfield win cup after shoot-out | date=5 May 2007}} McAree retired from playing after a 2–1 defeat to Coleraine on 24 October 2009, but remained at the club in his capacity as first-team coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/RETIRING+RODNEY;+Dungannon+S+v+Larne.-a0210888898|title=RETIRING RODNEY; Dungannon S v Larne. – Free Online Library|website=thefreelibrary.com}}

Coaching career

McAree combined playing with Dungannon Swifts with coaching the first team. In December 2011 McAree was appointed as Dungannon's new manager following the departure of Dixie Robinson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16163332|title=Rodney McAree appointed as Dungannon Swifts manager|work=BBC Sport|date=15 December 2011}} However he stepped down a couple of months later after it was revealed he did not possess the necessary coaching badges.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16990053|title=Rodney McAree steps down as Dungannon Swifts manager|work=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2012}} He was replaced by Darren Murphy, and became his assistant manager. Upon receiving his coaching qualifications, McAree was appointed as joint manager alongside Murphy, before stepping down from the role in October 2012, citing 'personal reasons'.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20054769|title=Darren Murphy takes over as manager of Dungannon Swifts|work=BBC Sport|date=25 October 2012}} In July 2013 he returned to the club as first team coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/sports/35095/rodney-returns-to-swifts-dugout/ |title=Rodney returns to Swifts dugout |archive-date=12 Aug 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812105733/http://www.tyronecourier.uk.com/articles/sports/35095/rodney-returns-to-swifts-dugout/}} And in October 2015 he was appointed Head Coach of Dungannon Swifts, following the resignation of Darren Murphy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34646119|title=Rodney McAree installed as head coach of Dungannon Swifts|date=27 Oct 2015|website=BBC Sport}}

During the 2016-17 Season; with the help of 25 goal forward Andrew Mitchell, McAree guided the Swifts to 7th in the Danske Bank Premiership, which earned them a place in the UEFA Europa League play-offs, losing to Ballymena United. The team also reached the Semi Final of the Irish Cup, losing to eventual winners Linfield.{{fact|date=September 2020}}McAree managed Dungannon Swifts to their first senior trophy, defeating Ballymena United in the 2018 League Cup Final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43085569|title=League Cup final: Dungannon Swifts 3-1 Ballymena Utd|date=17 Feb 2018|website=BBC Sport}}

In September 2018, McAree departed the Swifts to become Coleraine manager, succeeding Oran Kearney.{{cite web|url=https://colerainefc.com/rodney-mcaree-appointed-manager/|title=Rodney McAree Appointed Manager|date=14 September 2018 }} After failing to qualify for the Europa League, McAree left the club by mutual consent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48235925|title=Rodney McAree: Coleraine boss leaves club by mutual consent|date=10 May 2019|website=BBC Sport}}

In January 2021, McAree was appointed as a first team coach at Warrenpoint Town,{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/warrenpoint-town-appoint-rodney-mcaree-19717971|title=Warrenpoint Town appoint Rodney McAree as new first team coach|date=28 Jan 2021|website=BelfastLive}} before joining Mick McDermott's coaching staff at Glentoran five months later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/welcome-rodney-mcaree|title=Welcome Rodney McAree|date=10 Jun 2021|website=Glentoran F.C.}} On 17 January 2023, McAree was appointed as manager of Glentoran on an 18-month contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glentoran.com/news/rodney-mcaree-appointed-manager|title=Rodney McAree Appointed Manager|date=17 Jan 2023|website=Glentoran F.C.}}

Personal life

His father Joe, who also managed Dungannon Swifts, was awarded an MBE, in the 2014 New Year Honours List, for services to sport and to the community.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/25549719|title=Dungannon Swifts' Joe McAree awarded MBE in Honours List|date=30 Dec 2013|website=BBC Sport}}