Sean Maguire (footballer)

{{short description|Republic of Ireland international footballer (born 1994)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sean Maguire

| image = Sean Maguire 2019.jpg

| caption = Maguire in 2019

| full_name = Sean Patrick Maguire{{ENFA}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|1|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Sean Maguire |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/sean-maguire-241787/|publisher=11v11 |access-date=12 January 2016}}

| birth_place = Luton, England

| height = {{convert|1.75|m|order=flip}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Cork City

| clubnumber = 24

| years1 = 2011–2012

| clubs1 = Waterford United

| caps1 = 32

| goals1 = 14

| years2 = 2013–2015

| clubs2 = West Ham United

| caps2 = 0

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2014

| clubs3 = → Sligo Rovers (loan)

| caps3 = 18

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2014–2015

| clubs4 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)

| caps4 = 33

| goals4 = 7

| years5 = 2015

| clubs5 = Dundalk

| caps5 = 6

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2016–2017

| clubs6 = Cork City

| caps6 = 51

| goals6 = 38

| years7 = 2017–2023

| clubs7 = Preston North End

| caps7 = 159

| goals7 = 22

| years8 = 2023

| clubs8 = Coventry City

| caps8 = 7

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2023–2024

| clubs9 = Carlisle United

| caps9 = 32

| goals9 = 2

| years10 = 2024–

| clubs10 = Cork City

| caps10 = 11

| goals10 = 8

| nationalyears1 = 2012

| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2015–2016

| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U21

| nationalcaps2 = 12

| nationalgoals2 = 3

| nationalyears3 = 2017–2020

| nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps3 = 11

| nationalgoals3 = 1

| club-update = 15:17, 27 March 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update = 00:24, 19 February 2025 (UTC)

}}

Sean Patrick Maguire (born 1 May 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker, for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City. He represented the Republic of Ireland national team 11 times from 2017 to 2020.

Club career

=Waterford United=

Maguire started his career at Waterford United, making his debut in July 2011 against Mervue United.{{cite web|url=http://www.waterford-united.ie/mervue-mar-2013-parting-sorrow/|title=Mervue Mar 2013: Parting Sorrow — Waterford United|access-date=22 September 2014}} During his career at Waterford he scored 14 goals in 32 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=68785|title=Sean Maguire — Football Stats — West Ham — Age 20 – Soccer Base|access-date=20 September 2014}} Waterford's chairman, John O'Sullivan said of Maguire, "I'm a great fan of Lionel Messi at Barcelona. When I look at Seanie, he really reminds me of him." Maguire finished as top scorer in the 2012 League of Ireland First Division.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/186563.html|title=West Ham snap up Irish youngster Sean Maguire from Waterford — Football News — ESPN.co.uk|work=ESPN.co.uk|access-date=21 September 2014}}

=West Ham United=

In January 2013 Maguire signed for West Ham United on a two-and-a-half-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20899354|title=BBC Sport — West Ham sign Irish striker Sean Maguire from Waterford|author=Frank Keogh|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=20 September 2014|date=3 January 2013}} In January 2014 he was an unused substitute in West Ham's 5–0 FA Cup defeat by Nottingham Forest.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25539803|title=BBC Sport — Nottingham Forest 5–0 West Ham United|author=Mandeep Sanghera|work=BBC Sport|access-date=21 September 2014}} He was released by West Ham at the end of the 2014–15 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/May/28-May/Hammers-confirm-Retain-List | title=Hammers confirm retained list | publisher=www.whufc.com | access-date=28 May 2015}}

==Sligo Rovers loan==

In February 2014 Maguire signed on loan for Sligo Rovers. Maguire made his debut for Sligo on 24 February in a 4–1 away win in the Setanta Cup against Crusaders.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/02/24/europe/setanta-cup/crusaders-fc/sligo-rovers-fc/1607736/|title=Crusaders vs. Sligo Rovers – 24 February 2014 – Soccerway|access-date=22 September 2014}} His only goal for the club came on 27 July in a 2–0 home win against Limerick{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/07/27/ireland-republic/premier-league/sligo-rovers-fc/limerick-37/1626095/|title=Sligo Rovers vs. Limerick – 27 July 2014 – Soccerway|access-date=22 September 2014}} The loan period which lasted until August 2014 and included two Europa League qualifying games against Rosenborg.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/sean-maguire/194916/|title=Republic of Ireland — S. Maguire — Profile with news, career statistics and history — Soccerway|access-date=21 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2014/0222/506019-sligo-sign-west-ham-youngster-maguire/|title=Sligo sign West Ham youngster Maguire|date=22 February 2014|work=RTÉ Sport|access-date=21 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sligorovers.com/news/14/feb/maguire-joins-loan-west-ham|title=Maguire joins on loan from West Ham|access-date=20 September 2014}}

==Accrington Stanley loan==

In September 2014, Maguire joined Accrington Stanley on loan,{{cite web|url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/09/sean-maguire-joins-loan/|title=Sean Maguire Joins on Loan|work=Accrington Stanley FC|access-date=20 September 2014}} making his football league debut against Northampton Town on 20 September, scoring his first goal and Accrington's fifth in a 5–4 victory.{{cite web|url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2014/09/three-changes-stanley/|title=Three changes for Stanley|work=Accrington Stanley FC|access-date=20 September 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29187237|title=BBC Sport — Northampton Town 4–5 Accrington Stanley|work=BBC Sport|access-date=21 September 2014}} In December 2014, Maguire returned to West Ham at the end of the loan. He had scored four goals in 13 games.{{cite news | url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11684013._/ | title=Hitman Sean Maguire keen on Accrington Stanley return | work=Lancashire Telegraph | date=23 December 2014 | access-date=23 December 2014}} On 24 December, although his return to West Ham had been announced, Accrington extended his loan until 18 January 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/11687836.Striker_Sean_Maguire_extends_Accrington_Stanley_loan_stay/ | title=Striker Sean Maguire extends Accrington Stanley loan stay | work=www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk | date=24 December 2014 | access-date=24 December 2014}}

=Cork City=

After half a season at Dundalk, where he won a Leinster Senior Cup medal but did not make the matchday squad for the FAI Cup Final, Maguire signed for Cork City on 9 December 2015.{{cite news | url=http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2015/12/09/sean-maguire-signs-for-city/ | title=Sean Maguire signs for City | work=www.corkcityfc.ie | date=9 December 2015 | access-date=9 December 2015}} On 27 February Maguire scored in his first competitive game for City, in the 2016 President's Cup final against former club Dundalk.{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/sean-maguire-makes-his-point-as-cork-city-send-early-title-warning-1.2552427 | title=Sean Maguire makes his point as Cork City send early title warning | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=28 February 2016 | access-date=23 March 2016}} A week later, Maguire scored twice in a 2–0 win over Bohemians on his league debut for Cork.{{cite news | url=http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3909/airtricity-premier-division/2016/03/06/21014682/sean-maguire-delighted-with-cork-city-debut-double | title=The former Dundalk striker was the difference between the two teams as he helped the Leesiders get off to a winning start at home | work=www.goal.com | access-date=23 March 2016}} He finished the season as the league's top scorer with 18 goals,{{cite web|url=http://extratime.ie/topscorers/2024/100/league-of-ireland-premier|title=Extratime.ie — Top Scorers – 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division|website=extratime.ie|access-date=10 September 2017}} and he also scored the late winner as Cork beat Dundalk 1–0 in the FAI Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/1106/829549-cork-city-v-dundalk/|title=Late, late Maguire strike seals Cork cup win|date=7 November 2016|work=RTE Sport|access-date=8 November 2016}} On 3 June 2017, it was reported that Maguire had agreed a transfer to Preston North End by the end of July 2017.{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0603/880054-sean-maguire-agrees-deal-to-move-to-preston/ | publisher = RTÉ | title =Sean Maguire agrees deal to move to Preston | date = 3 June 2017 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40144232|title=Sean Maguire: Preston North End sign Cork City striker for undisclosed fee|date=3 June 2017|access-date=10 September 2017|website=BBC Sport}}

On 6 July 2017, Maguire scored a hat-trick against Levadia Tallinn in the second leg of their first qualifying round of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League at Turners Cross to become Cork City's leading goalscorer in European competition.{{cite web|url= http://www.the42.ie/cork-city-v-levadia-tallinn-second-leg-report-3483146-Jul2017/|title= Hat-trick hero Maguire breaks club record as Cork City advance in Europe|date=6 July 2003|work=The 42|access-date=7 July 2017}}

=Preston North End=

On 3 June 2017, Cork and Preston agreed a deal for Maguire to join Preston at the end of July.{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0603/880054-sean-maguire-agrees-deal-to-move-to-preston/|title=Sean Maguire agrees deal to move to Preston|website=RTÉ.ie |date=3 June 2017|access-date=7 October 2017}} He signed a three-year deal with the club, with Cork City describing the fee as "an appropriate but undisclosed compensation package."{{cite web|url=http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2017/06/03/sean-maguire-to-join-preston-north-end/|title=Sean Maguire To Join Preston North End – Cork City Football Club|website=www.corkcityfc.ie|date=3 June 2017|access-date=7 October 2017}} Maguire made his competitive debut for Preston on the opening day of the Championship season, playing 74 minutes before being substituted, against Sheffield Wednesday.{{cite web|url=https://www.pnefc.net/news/2017/august/preston-north-end-1-sheffield-wednesday-0/|title=Preston North End Preston North End 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0|access-date=10 September 2017}} His first competitive goal for Preston came against Barnsley on 9 September.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/sean-maguire-nets-first-ever-championship-goal-for-preston-36116190.html|title=Sean Maguire nets first ever Championship goal for Preston — Independent.ie|access-date=7 October 2017}} Maguire returned from a hamstring injury in March to score two goals off the bench as Preston beat Bolton Wanderers 3–1 on 3 March.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/alex-neil-hails-sean-maguire-after-two-goal-comeback-1.3414408|title=Alex Neil hails Sean Maguire after two-goal comeback|newspaper=The Irish Times }} He continued his comeback from injury with another goal from the bench against Bristol City as he netted the winner in a 2–1 win at Deepdale Stadium.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/super-sub-sean-maguire-fires-preston-to-vital-win-over-bristol-city-467958.html|title=Super sub Sean Maguire fires Preston to vital win over Bristol City|date=7 March 2018}}

=Coventry City=

On 26 January 2023, with his North End contract set to expire at the end of the season, Maguire left Deepdale to sign for fellow Championship club Coventry City on a permanent deal until the end of the season.{{Cite web |title=TRANSFER: Sean Maguire joins Coventry City! |url=https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/transfer-sean-maguire-joins-coventry-city/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |website=www.ccfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}}

=Carlisle United=

On 29 July 2023, Maguire signed a one-year contract with EFL League One club Carlisle United.{{Cite news |title=Carlisle sign Irish striker Maguire |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66349009 |access-date=29 July 2023}} He was released when his contract expired.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3gv764y2yvo |title=Huntington one of eight released by Carlisle |work=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2024 |access-date=20 July 2024}}

=Return to Cork City=

On 6 August 2024, when the club were competing in the 2024 League of Ireland First Division, Maguire returned to Cork City on a multi-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0806/1463682-former-ireland-international-maguire-returns-to-cork/|title=Former Ireland international Maguire returns to Cork|date=6 August 2024|via=www.rte.ie}} On 6 September 2024, he was part of the side that defeated UCD 1–0 at the UCD Bowl to win promotion by winning the 2024 League of Ireland First Division.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41472409.html|title=Building for the future starts now for Cork City after first division title success|date=September 14, 2024|website=echo live}}

International career

Despite being born in Luton, making him eligible to play either for England or the Republic of Ireland, Maguire opted to play for Ireland, having grown up in Kilkenny, where his parents returned when he was a couple of months old.{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/oct/03/sean-maguire-interview-republic-of-ireland-preston-championship|title=Sean Maguire:'If you take that second touch, defenders are going to go through you' |website=TheGuardian.com |date=3 October 2017|access-date=3 October 2017}}

=Youth=

On 25 March 2015, Maguire was called up for Ireland's under-21 team for a match against Andorra under-21 team in Wexford on 26 March 2015.{{cite web | url=http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2015/03/call-for-maguire/ | title=Call-up for Maguire | publisher=Accringtonstanley.co.uk | access-date=25 March 2015}} Ireland won the game, 1–0 with Maguire making his debut as a substitute.{{cite journal | url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2015/0326/690062-ireland-under-21s-edge-out-andorra/ | title=Ireland Under-21s edge out Andorra | journal=RTÉ News | publisher=www.rte.ie | access-date=27 March 2015| date=26 March 2015 }}

=Senior=

Maguire was named in Ireland's preliminary 39-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia in August 2017, however he was cut from the final squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/former-cork-city-striker-sean-maguire-named-in-ireland-squad-for-world-cup-double-header-36030039.html|title=Former Cork City striker Sean Maguire named in Ireland squad for World Cup double header — Independent.ie|access-date=7 October 2017}} He was again named in Ireland's preliminary squad for the final two qualifiers against Moldova and Wales, this time making the final squad.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/sean-maguire-and-scott-hogan-in-irelands-final-world-cup-qualifier-squad-808166.html|title=Sean Maguire and Scott Hogan in Ireland's final World Cup qualifier squad|date=2 October 2017|access-date=7 October 2017}} Maguire made his debut for Ireland against Moldova in October 2017, coming on for Shane Long towards the end of the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.the42.ie/ireland-moldova-world-cup-2018-qualifier-2-3634050-Oct2017/|title=Murphy on the double and Maguire handed debut as Ireland tee up massive night in Cardiff|first=Ben|last=Blake|access-date=7 October 2017}}

Maguire scored his first goal for Ireland on 14 November 2019, in a 3–1 win against New Zealand.{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/ireland-new-zealand-3-4892293-Nov2019/|title = Bright prospects and lesser lights impress as Ireland see off New Zealand in Aviva friendly|date=14 November 2019|work=The 42|access-date=15 November 2019}}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played on 3 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/sean-maguire/194916/|title=S. Maguire |website=Soccerway|access-date=20 July 2024}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup !colspan="2"\|League cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="3"\|Waterford \|2011 \|LOI First Division \|8	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
2012 \|LOI First Division \|24	13	1	0	1	1	4{{efn\|Appearances in 2012 League of Ireland play-offs}}	0	30	14
colspan="2"\|Total !32	14	2	0	1	1	4	0	39	15
rowspan="4"\|West Ham United \|2012–13 \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2013–14 \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2014–15 \|Premier League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sligo Rovers (loan) \|2014 \|LOI Premier Division \|18	1	1	0	1	0	2{{efn\|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}	0	22	1
Accrington Stanley (loan) \|2014–15 \|League Two \|33	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	33	7
Dundalk \|2015 \|LOI Premier Division \|6	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	8	1
rowspan="3"\|Cork City \|2016 \|LOI Premier Division \|30	18	4	7	2	0	7{{efn\|Six appearances in UEFA Europa League; one appearance in President of Ireland's Cup}}	4	43	29
2017 \|LOI Premier Division \|21	20	0	0	1	0	5{{efn\|Four appearances in the UEFA Europa League; one appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup}}	4	27	24
colspan="2"\|Total !51	38	4	7	3	0	12	8	70	53
rowspan="7"\|Preston North End \|2017–18 \|Championship \|24	10	0	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	25	10
2018–19 \|Championship \|26	3	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	27	3
2019–20 \|Championship \|44	5	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	44	5
2020–21 \|Championship \|29	3	1	0	3	1	colspan="2"\|–	33	4
2021–22 \|Championship \|26	1	1	0	4	1	colspan="2"\|–	31	2
2022–23 \|Championship \|10	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	10	0
colspan="2"\|Total !159	22	3	0	8	2	colspan="2"\|–	170	24
Coventry City \|2022–23 \|Championship \|7	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	0	0	7	0
Carlisle United \|2023–24 \|League One \|32	2	1	0	1	0	1{{efn\|Appearance in EFL Trophy}}	0	35	2
rowspan="3"\|Cork City \|2024 \|LOI First Division \|8	7	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	9	7
2025 \|LOI Premier Division \|3	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|–	1{{efn\|Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup\|name=statsMSC}}	0	4	1
colspan="2"\|Total !11	8	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	1	0	13	8
colspan="3"\|Career total !349	93	14	8	14	3	20	8	397	111

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player\|69081\|name=Seán Maguire \|access-date=15 March 2023}}
rowspan="4"\|Republic of Ireland \|2017	1	0
2018	3	0
2019	4	1
2020	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total	11	1

:Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first

class="wikitable"

! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition

14 November 2019

Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

align=center | 2–1

align=center | 3–1

Friendly

Honours

Sligo Rovers

Setanta Cup: 2014

Dundalk

Cork City

Individual

PFAI Young Player of the Year: 2016{{cite journal|title=Dundalk star Horgan named top performer by PFAI|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/1029/827879-pfai/|journal=RTÉ News|publisher=rte.ie|access-date=30 October 2016|date=29 October 2016}}
PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year: 2016{{cite journal|title=Dundalk and Cork dominate PFAI team of the year|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2016/1018/825058-dundalk-and-cork-dominate-pfai-team-of-the-year/|journal=RTÉ News|publisher=rte.ie|access-date=18 October 2016|date=18 October 2016}}
League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month: March 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0412/867112-sean-maguire-named-march-player-of-month/|title=Cork City's Sean Maguire named March Player of Month|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=12 April 2017|access-date=19 June 2017}}