The former Ireland international will take on his new duties at Barnsley with immediate effect. By Liam Grimley.
December 20, 2024, 7:39pm GMT
Conor Hourihane, a former Aston Villa and Ireland midfielder, has retired from professional football and will join Barnsley as a coach.
The central midfielder from Bandon, Cork, appeared in 619 games and scored 96 goals over his 15-year career.
He played 36 times for Ireland, making his debut against Iceland in a friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. He scored Ireland’s only goal in a European qualifier against Georgia, winning 1-0.
In a social media message, Hourihane expressed gratitude to all of his teammates, coaches, management, and fans who have supported him on this trip.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have realized my ambition. I take immense pride in knowing that I gave it my all.”Hard work, commitment, and the will to better every day propelled me from League Two to the Premier League.
“That will be no different in my next journey.”
Hourihane, who returned to Barnsley as a player-coach this season, will now be the Colliers’ assistant head coach under Darrell Clarke.
Hourihane made his professional debut for Plymouth Argyle against Shrewsbury Town in 2011, having joined from Ipswich Town, where he was managed by Roy Keane.
The Sunderland academy player subsequently moved to Barnsley, where he was named club captain in 2015 and went on to win the Football League trophy and the League One play-off final the following year. Hourihane joined Aston Villa in 2017 and helped them win promotion to the Premier League. In 2019, he scored his first Premier League goal, bringing his total to four levels of professional football.
After his contract expired in 2022, Derby County was the next stop for the central midfielder, who had made 98 appearances and scored 13 goals.
He eventually returned to Barnsley, which had a special place in Hourihane’s heart.
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