# Aiden McGeady
**Aiden McGeady** (born 1986) is a Scottish-born retired footballer who played as a winger for Celtic, Spartak Moscow, Everton, Sunderland and several other clubs, and won 93 caps for the [Republic of Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/republic-of-ireland) between 2004 and 2017, scoring 5 goals[1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html). A product of the Celtic academy who debuted as a teenager in 2004, he became known for dribbling and improvisation, including a move so distinctive that it took his name, the "McGeady spin"[2](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/). He retired in October 2024 at the age of 38, more than 20 years after his senior debut[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ireland record | 93 caps (38 wins, 31 draws, 24 losses), 5 goals; first capped at 18 years 59 days on 2 June 2004 against Jamaica[1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html) |
| Ireland ranking | Eighth-most-capped Republic of Ireland international of all time[4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/) |
| Celtic | 231 appearances and 36 goals per BBC Sport (Everton's official profile records 251 appearances and 37 goals); four league titles and three domestic cups according to BBC Sport (Everton's archived profile lists two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups)[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady) |
| Record transfer | Sold to Spartak Moscow in 2010 for £9.5m, then the most expensive export from Scottish football (UEFA reported the fee as €11.6m)[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0211-0f8ebb76bbb0-311fa2ad3339-1000--everton-sign-mcgeady-from-spartak/) |
| Career totals | 612 senior club appearances, 97 goals, 129 assists[7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333) |
| Signature move | The "McGeady spin": playing the ball off one foot then the other while spinning between two defenders[2](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/) |
| Retirement | Announced October 2024 after leaving Ayr United, where he had held a dual player and technical manager role[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [8](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/club-statement-as-aiden-mcgeady-departs-ayr-united-4805448) |
## Early life and youth career
McGeady was born in 1986; Transfermarkt lists his birthplace as Denny, while several Irish outlets describe him simply as Glasgow-born[7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333) • [4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/). He came through the academy ranks at Celtic and was given his first-team debut at 18 in April 2004 under [Martin O'Neill](https://www.edgepedia.org/martin-oneill)[9](https://www.the42.ie/aiden-mcgeady-james-mccarthy-ireland-scotland-1772284-Nov2014/).
**The eligibility decision.** He made the choice that defined his international career at 14. A rule prevented young Celtic players from representing Scotland schoolboys, while Ireland had no such restriction; Packie Bonner, the former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper then working for the Football Association of Ireland, knew McGeady's father and grandparents and invited him to train with the Republic's Under-15s. He qualified for Ireland through his grandparents[10](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61325508) • [9](https://www.the42.ie/aiden-mcgeady-james-mccarthy-ireland-scotland-1772284-Nov2014/). He had represented Scotland Schools as a teenager[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady). The decision was unpopular in his homeland: he was booed at every away ground in Scotland, and in 2007, then 21, said the abuse continued[11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp) • [12](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0825/221937-mcgeadya/).
## Celtic
McGeady scored on his Celtic debut against Hearts in April 2004 as a teenager[13](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-will-never-forget-the-magical-times-representing-ireland-for-13-years-aiden-mcgeady-retires-at-age-of-38/a566379536.html). [BBC Sport](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-sport) records 231 appearances and 36 goals before his 2010 departure, Everton's official profile records 37 goals in 251 appearances, and Transfermarkt lists 234 appearances and 36 goals; these differing totals have not been reconciled[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady) • [7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333). In his six years at Celtic he was named the club's Young Player of the Year three times, won four [Scottish Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/scottish-premier-league) titles, two Scottish League Cups and two Scottish Cups, and was voted the SPFA Players' Player of the Year in 2008 as Scotland's best player by his fellow professionals[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady). Some later accounts count three league titles among seven major trophies won before the sale[13](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-will-never-forget-the-magical-times-representing-ireland-for-13-years-aiden-mcgeady-retires-at-age-of-38/a566379536.html).
His creative output was measurable. In 2009-10 he was joint first in the SPL for goal creation with 14 assists, against 14 for Rangers' Steven Davis, while scoring 7 goals to Davis's 3; in 2007 he had been the league's most prolific creator of chances with 16[2](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/). He played 24 [Old Firm](https://www.edgepedia.org/old-firm) matches against Rangers between 2003 and 2010, with nine wins and 11 losses[14](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/my-first-start-alex-rae-got-his-teeth-knocked-out-aiden-mcgeady-on-why-nothing-tops-the-old-firm-derby/a1298846742.html).
**The Strachan conflict.** McGeady routinely clashed with manager [Gordon Strachan](https://www.edgepedia.org/gordon-strachan)[15](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/15/aiden-mcgeady-i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-retired-too-early). After a dressing-room row, he was fined and banned for "a breach of discipline"[11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp).
## Spartak Moscow
In August 2010 Celtic sold McGeady to Spartak Moscow for £9.5m, which made him the most expensive export from Scottish football at the time; UEFA reported the fee as €11.6m and described it as a record transfer involving a Scottish club[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0211-0f8ebb76bbb0-311fa2ad3339-1000--everton-sign-mcgeady-from-spartak/).
He spent three seasons in Russia without winning a trophy, scoring 11 goals in 67 [Russian Premier League](https://www.edgepedia.org/russian-premier-league) appearances, and was a regular in the Champions League[6](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0211-0f8ebb76bbb0-311fa2ad3339-1000--everton-sign-mcgeady-from-spartak/) • [13](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-will-never-forget-the-magical-times-representing-ireland-for-13-years-aiden-mcgeady-retires-at-age-of-38/a566379536.html). He was signed by Valery Karpin and played under [Unai Emery](https://www.edgepedia.org/unai-emery), whom he later described as "a great guy, and a great manager who was ahead of his time"; the Russian Football Union named him in its list of the country's 33 best players[16](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24728470.celtic-strachan-ireland-no-regrets-aiden-mcgeady/) • [5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady). His exit was abrupt: when it became obvious his future lay at Everton, Spartak "transferred" him to the youth team[17](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13150203.mcgeady-prepares-pen-another-chapter-memoirs/).
## Everton and later club career
Everton signed McGeady in January 2014 on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, [Roberto Martínez](https://www.edgepedia.org/roberto-martinez)'s first signing of that window[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady). Martínez had pursued him for a considerable time, but the move did not deliver: McGeady was never more than a peripheral figure at [Goodison Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/goodison-park), given just 14 Premier League starts in three years[15](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/15/aiden-mcgeady-i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-retired-too-early) • [11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp). He later called the spell "a bit of a disaster if I'm honest" and said his own performances fell short of his capability[16](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24728470.celtic-strachan-ireland-no-regrets-aiden-mcgeady/). Transfermarkt credits him with 43 Everton appearances and 1 goal, including 32 Premier League appearances with 1 goal and 4 assists[7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333).
Loan spells followed at Sheffield Wednesday, where he fell out with manager [Carlos Carvalhal](https://www.edgepedia.org/carlos-carvalhal), and Preston North End[11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp) • [10](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61325508). In 2017 he moved to [Sunderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunderland), where he spent five seasons and made 150 appearances, helping the club win promotion to the Championship; a brief loan at Charlton Athletic came in 2020[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [8](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/club-statement-as-aiden-mcgeady-departs-ayr-united-4805448). He joined former Sunderland manager Lee Johnson at Hibernian in 2022, making 14 appearances[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [8](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/club-statement-as-aiden-mcgeady-departs-ayr-united-4805448).
## Republic of Ireland international career
McGeady made his senior Ireland debut under Brian Kerr a month after his Celtic debut, on 2 June 2004 in a 1-0 win against Jamaica, at 18 years 59 days[13](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-will-never-forget-the-magical-times-representing-ireland-for-13-years-aiden-mcgeady-retires-at-age-of-38/a566379536.html) • [1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html). Over a national team career of 13 years 165 days he won 93 caps, with 38 wins, 31 draws and 24 losses, and scored 5 goals[1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html). He represented Ireland at both Euro 2012 and Euro 2016[18](https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41497730.html). One of his international highlights came in 2014, a stoppage-time winner against Georgia[11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp).
His final appearance was the 5-1 loss to Denmark on 14 November 2017, at 31 years 224 days, as Ireland fell short of the 2018 World Cup at the play-off stage[1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html) • [4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/). He has since spoken of falling out with Ireland managers [Mick McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/mick-mccarthy) and Stephen Kenny and of a lack of respect from the FAI, saying he was forgotten about and that no one from the association contacted him after his international career ended[19](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/its-about-a-lack-of-respect-aiden-mcgeady-on-ireland-career-and-falling-out-with-mick-mccarthy-and-stephen-kenny/a/131856229.html).
## Playing style and reception
McGeady was described as a "box of tricks", perhaps the closest thing Celtic had produced to [Jimmy Johnstone](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimmy-johnstone) since "Jinky" tormented defenders in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His favorite move was an improvised version of the Cruyff turn[20](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/the-big-interview-aiden-mcgeady-7vmgmt6cgf2).
**The McGeady spin.** His lasting on-pitch legacy is the move named after him: when tackled by two opposition players he would play the ball off one foot and then the other, turning the move inside out and spinning round between them[2](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/).
The recurring criticism was end product. Ahead of his 77th cap in June 2015, analysts noted his five international goals against the returns of peers such as [Damien Duff](https://www.edgepedia.org/damien-duff), 8 goals in 100 caps, and Kevin Kilbane, 8 in 110, describing a player who spent much of his time "noodling out on the flanks, offering occasional snazzy touches and jinky runs, never doing damage"[21](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/12/aiden-mcgeady-ireland-scotland). After a 2016 defeat by Belarus, Roy Keane said: "I think he can do a lot better, but maybe that's the story of Aiden's career." Tony Cascarino called him an "enigma" who "short-changed everyone, including himself"[11](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp).
## By the numbers
Across his senior club career Transfermarkt records 612 appearances, 97 goals and 129 assists[7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333). The club-by-club breakdown: Celtic 234 appearances and 36 goals, Sunderland 150 and 36, Spartak Moscow 93 and 13, Everton 43 and 1[7](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333). His international record stands at 93 caps and 5 goals[1](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html). His transfer fees included the £9.5m (reported as €11.6m) move to Spartak in 2010[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [6](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0211-0f8ebb76bbb0-311fa2ad3339-1000--everton-sign-mcgeady-from-spartak/). His honors comprised four Scottish league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups at Celtic[5](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady), and he is Ireland's eighth-most-capped international[4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/).
## Post-playing career and legacy
McGeady joined Ayr United in July 2023 in a dual player and technical manager role, which he said let him work across coaching and recruitment and was "absolutely brilliant, because not many players get to be a player/technical manager". He played 16 times for Ayr in 2023-24 with two goals in the Championship, last appeared in April 2024, and left by mutual agreement on 1 October 2024, following Scott Brown's appointment as manager[8](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/club-statement-as-aiden-mcgeady-departs-ayr-united-4805448) • [16](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24728470.celtic-strachan-ireland-no-regrets-aiden-mcgeady/) • [3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo) • [4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/). He announced his retirement that month at 38[3](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo). He had prepared for the transition early: while at Everton he declined the chance to return to Celtic, and as of 2022 he was studying for a master's in sporting directorship and held a B coaching license; he has said he would not want to be a manager but would like to coach[10](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61325508) • [16](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24728470.celtic-strachan-ireland-no-regrets-aiden-mcgeady/).
His legacy carries a double edge. His decision to represent Ireland had the effect of removing his name from conversation about the finest products of Celtic's youth system in Scotland, his homeland[15](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/15/aiden-mcgeady-i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-retired-too-early). Within Ireland, his 93 caps place him among the country's most decorated internationals, and the move that bears his name became a term used across football[4](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/) • [2](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/).
## References
1. [Aiden John McGeady – International Appearances, RSSSF](https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mcgeady-intl.html)
2. [McGeady, Aiden – The Celtic Wiki](https://www.thecelticwiki.com/players/all-time-a-to-z-of-celtic-players/m/mcgeady-aiden/)
3. [Aiden McGeady: Ex-Celtic & Ireland winger retires from football, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cly5jp2qvjwo)
4. [McGeady calls time on career at 38, RTÉ](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1017/1476013-mcgeady-calls-time-on-career-at-38/)
5. [Aiden McGeady – Everton FC official player profile (archived)](https://web.archive.org/web/20140111205647/http:/www.evertonfc.com/player-profile/aiden-mcgeady)
6. [Everton sign McGeady from Spartak, UEFA](https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0211-0f8ebb76bbb0-311fa2ad3339-1000--everton-sign-mcgeady-from-spartak/)
7. [Aiden McGeady performance data, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.com/aiden-mcgeady/leistungsdaten/spieler/21333)
8. [Club statement as Aiden McGeady departs Ayr United, Sunderland Echo](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/club-statement-as-aiden-mcgeady-departs-ayr-united-4805448)
9. [How Scottish-born McGeady and McCarthy ended up playing for Ireland, The42](https://www.the42.ie/aiden-mcgeady-james-mccarthy-ireland-scotland-1772284-Nov2014/)
10. [Aiden McGeady: Sunderland winger on being booed around Scotland, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61325508)
11. [Aiden McGeady: One of Scotland's greatest exports or a 'luxury player' who wasted his potential?, The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/aiden-mcgeady-one-of-scotlands-greatest-exports-or-a-luxury-player-who-wasted-his-potential-26x8wjsfp)
12. [McGeady: Abused since Irish switch, RTÉ (2007)](https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0825/221937-mcgeadya/)
13. ['I will never forget the magical times representing Ireland for 13 years' – Aiden McGeady retires at 38, Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/i-will-never-forget-the-magical-times-representing-ireland-for-13-years-aiden-mcgeady-retires-at-age-of-38/a566379536.html)
14. [Aiden McGeady on why nothing tops the Old Firm derby, Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/my-first-start-alex-rae-got-his-teeth-knocked-out-aiden-mcgeady-on-why-nothing-tops-the-old-firm-derby/a1298846742.html)
15. [Aiden McGeady: 'I know a lot of people who retired too early', The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/15/aiden-mcgeady-i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-retired-too-early)
16. [Celtic, Ireland, Strachan & McGeady: no regrets, Herald Scotland](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/24728470.celtic-strachan-ireland-no-regrets-aiden-mcgeady/)
17. [McGeady prepares to pen another chapter of his memoirs, Herald Scotland](https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13150203.mcgeady-prepares-pen-another-chapter-memoirs/)
18. ['I will never forget the magical times representing Ireland' – Aiden McGeady retires, Irish Examiner](https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41497730.html)
19. ['It's about a lack of respect' – Aiden McGeady on Ireland career and falling out with Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny, Irish Independent](https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/its-about-a-lack-of-respect-aiden-mcgeady-on-ireland-career-and-falling-out-with-mick-mccarthy-and-stephen-kenny/a/131856229.html)
20. [The Big Interview: Aiden McGeady, The Times](https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/the-big-interview-aiden-mcgeady-7vmgmt6cgf2)
21. [Enigma of Aiden McGeady to tease Ireland fans once more against Scotland, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/12/aiden-mcgeady-ireland-scotland)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of the British Isles (modern era) › Republic of Ireland footballers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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