Shola Shoretire
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Shola Shoretire
| image = Shola Shoretire 2021 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Shoretire with Manchester United in 2021
| full_name = Shola Maxwell Shoretire{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/1869523 |title=2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed |publisher=Premier League |date=20 October 2020 |access-date=21 February 2021 }}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|2|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| height = {{convert|1.70|m|order=flip}}{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/64142/Shola-Shoretire/overview|title=Shola Shoretire Profile, News & Stats|website=premierleague.com|access-date=1 July 2021}}
| position = Attacking midfielder, winger
| currentclub = PAOK
| clubnumber = 47
| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Whitley Bay Boys Club
| youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Newcastle City Juniors
| youthyears3 = |youthclubs3 = Wallsend Boys Club
| youthyears4 = |youthclubs4 = Hebburn & Cramlington Juniors
| youthyears5 = |youthclubs5 = Newcastle United
| youthyears6 = |youthclubs6 = Sunderland
| youthyears7 = 2011–2012 |youthclubs7 = Manchester City
| youthyears8 = 2013–2021 |youthclubs8 = Manchester United
| years1 = 2021–2024 |clubs1 = Manchester United |caps1 = 3 |goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023 |clubs2 = → Bolton Wanderers (loan) |caps2 = 16 |goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2024– |clubs3 = PAOK |caps3 = 16 |goals3 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2019 |nationalteam1 = England U15 |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2019 |nationalteam2 = England U16 |nationalcaps2 = 2 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2021 |nationalteam3 = England U18 |nationalcaps3 = 1 |nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2021 |nationalteam4 = England U19 |nationalcaps4 = 4 |nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 11:32, 11 April 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Shola Maxwell Shoretire (born 2 February 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Super League Greece club PAOK.
Shoretire was a part of Manchester United's youth system from a young age and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in the 2020–21 season. He signed his first professional contract in February 2021, at the age of 17, and made his first-team debut later that month in a Premier League game against Newcastle United. He holds the record as the youngest player to represent Manchester United in European competition.
Shoretire has played youth international football for England at under-15, under-16, under-18, and under-19 levels. He is also eligible to represent Nigeria at international level.
Club career
= Early career =
As a child, Shoretire played with Whitley Bay Boys Club, Newcastle City Juniors, Wallsend Boys Club, Hebburn Town and Cramlington Juniors.{{Cite web|last=Mitten|first=Andy|title=Shola Shoretire: The record-breaking Manchester United 'craftsman' being watched closely by Solskjaer|url=https://theathletic.com/2604033/2021/05/21/shola-shoretire-the-record-breaking-manchester-united-craftsman-being-watched-closely-by-solskjaer/|access-date=21 May 2021|website=The Athletic|date=21 May 2021 }} He was also briefly part of Manchester City's youth setup, but left to join rivals Manchester United at the age of nine.{{Cite web |title=Shola Shoretire signs first professional contract |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/shola-shoretire-signs-first-professional-contract-with-man-utd |website=ManUtd.com |access-date=21 May 2021 }}
= Manchester United =
Shoretire quickly rose through the youth ranks of the Red Devils, frequently playing a year up his own age. In December 2018, he became the youngest ever player to appear in the UEFA Youth League at the age of 14 years and 314 days.{{Cite news|date=2018-12-12|title=Manchester United: Shola Shoretire becomes youngest Uefa Youth League player|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46544354|access-date=21 May 2021}} In 2020, after impressing with the under-18s, Neil Wood, coach of the under-23s, handed him his under-23s debut when he was just 16. He scored a hat-trick in a 6–4 win for the under-23s against Blackburn Rovers in February 2021.
Shoretire signed his first professional contract with Manchester United on 8 February 2021, a week after turning 17. On 21 February 2021, he made his first-team debut for United as an 88th-minute substitute for Marcus Rashford in a 3–1 home league win over Newcastle United.{{cite news |last=Magowan |first=Alistair |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56033730 |title=Manchester United 3-1 Newcastle United: Marcus Rashford plays key role in home win |work=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2021 |access-date=21 February 2021 }} Four days later, he became United's youngest player to make an appearance in a European competition, coming on as a substitute for Mason Greenwood in a 0–0 home draw against Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League at the age of 17 years and 23 days, beating the record set by Norman Whiteside 38 years earlier by 108 days.{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Stone |title=Manchester United 0-0 Real Sociedad (Agg 4-0): Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side advance in Europa League |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56185909 |work=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2021 |access-date=25 February 2021 }} For his performances with the youth teams, Shoretire was named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year for 2020–21.{{Cite web|title=Shoretire wins Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/shola-shoretire-wins-jimmy-murphy-young-player-of-the-year-2021|access-date=21 May 2021|website=ManUtd.com}}
== Loan to Bolton ==
On 19 January 2023, Shoretire officially joined EFL League One club Bolton Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.{{cite news |title=Shoretire seals loan switch|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/shola-shoretire-seals-loan-move-to-bolton-wanderers |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |first=Adam |last=Marshall|date=19 January 2023|access-date=19 January 2023 }}{{cite web |date=19 January 2023 |title=Wanderers Secure Shola Signing |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/wanderers-secure-shola-signing/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |website=BWFC.co.uk |publisher=Bolton Wanderers|first=Pete|last=Oliver}} He was cup-tied as Bolton went on to win the 2022–23 EFL Trophy.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/evatt-football-always-gives-you-opportunities/ |title=Evatt: Football Always Gives You Opportunities |publisher=bwfc.co.uk |date=20 February 2023 |access-date=3 April 2023}} On 8 May 2023, he scored his first league goal in senior football, scoring the first goal in a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers.{{cite web |title=Bristol Rovers 2-3 Bolton Wanderers |url=https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65439609 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=7 May 2023 |date=7 May 2023 }}
On 5 June 2024, United confirmed they were in talks with Shoretire about a new contract.{{Cite web |title=United announce official retained list |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-announce-official-list-of-retained-and-released-players-2024 |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=www.manutd.com}}
= PAOK =
On 30 July 2024, Shoretire signed with the Super League Greece club PAOK on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Manchester United.{{cite web |title=Shola Shoretire joins PAOK |url=https://www.paokfc.gr/en/news/20240730-paiktis-tou-paok-o-shola-shoretire/ |publisher=PAOK |access-date=31 July 2024 |date=30 July 2024 }}
International career
As Shoretire was born in England to a Nigerian father and English mother, he is eligible to represent both nations at international level.{{cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/sport/father-of-man-uniteds-shola-shoretire-wants-son-in-super-eagles/|title=Father of Man United's Shola Shoretire wants son in Super Eagles|website=guardian.ng|date=15 December 2021|access-date=6 September 2022}}
He made one appearance for the England under-15 team, in a friendly against Belgium in February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/s-shoretire-826291|title=S. Shoretire|website=besoccer.com|access-date=6 September 2022}} He made two appearances for the England under-16 team in August 2019, against Denmark and the Republic of Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55508/2019/999945880|title=Ireland U16: Six goals as Ireland draw with England|date=22 August 2019|access-date=11 March 2021|publisher=Football Association of Ireland}} On 29 March 2021, Shoretire made his debut and only appearance for the England under-18 team during a 2–0 away victory over Wales at the Leckwith Stadium in Cardiff.{{cite web|title=TWO SECOND-HALF GOALS SEAL WIN FOR ENGLAND MEN'S UNDER-18S OVER WALES IN CARDIFF|url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/mar/29/wales-mu18s-0-2-england-mu18s-match-report-20210329|publisher=TheFA.com|date=29 March 2021|access-date=29 March 2021}}
On 2 September 2021, Shoretire made his debut for England at under-19 level during a 2–0 victory over Italy at St. George's Park.{{cite web|title=England MU19s 2-0 Italy|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Sep/02/20210209-england-mu19s-2-0-italy-report|access-date=3 September 2021|website=EnglandFootball.com}} He made four appearances for the under-19 team.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 9 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|shola-shoretire/588672|access-date=11 April 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|National cup{{efn|Includes Greek Football Cup}} !colspan=2|League cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Manchester United U21
|2020–21{{soccerbase season|136378|2020|access-date=23 May 2021}} |— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22{{soccerbase season|136378|2021|access-date=22 May 2022}}
|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23
|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|136378|2023|access-date=31 October 2023}}
|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||||
| colspan="2"|Total
!colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 10 | 3 | 10 | 3 | |||||
| rowspan="4"|Manchester United
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UEL|Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22
|Premier League |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=UCL|Appearance in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23
|Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!3||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||colspan=2|—||5||0 | ||||||||||||
| Bolton Wanderers (loan)
|2022–23{{soccerbase season|136378|2022|access-date=7 May 2023}} |16 | 1 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | ||||
| PAOK
|2024–25{{cite web |title=Shola Shoretire Club Matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/shola-shoretire/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=11 April 2025}} |16 | 2 | 3 | 2 | colspan=2|— | 6{{efn|name=UEL}} | 0 | colspan=2|— | 25 | 4 | |||
| colspan=3|Career total
!35 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 56 | 8 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Manchester United
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2020–21{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Stone |title=Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United (11-10 on pens): David de Gea spot kick saved in epic Europa League final shootout |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57224112|work=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=26 May 2021 }}
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/shola-shoretire Profile] at the Manchester United F.C. website
- {{UEFA player}}
{{PAOK FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoretire, Shola}}
Category:Black British sportsmen
Category:English people of Nigerian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Wallsend Boys Club players
Category:Manchester United F.C. players
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Greece