Sean McDermott (footballer)

Sean McDermott (born 30 May 1993) is a professisonal footballer playing as a goalkeeper, for Molde. Born in Norway, he has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level. He has previously played for Start and Dinamo București, among others.

Sean McDermott
Personal information
Full nameSean McDermott
Date of birth (1993-05-30) 30 May 1993 (age 31)
Place of birthKristiansand,[1] Norway
Position(s)Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Molde
Number34
Youth career
Våg
2009–2012Arsenal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012Leeds United (loan)0(0)
2012–2015Sandnes Ulf31(0)
2015–2016Start0(0)
2016Ull/Kisa11(0)
2017–2018Kristiansund57(0)
2019Dinamo București3(0)
2019–2023Kristiansund104(0)
2024–Molde1(0)
International career
2010Republic of Ireland U171(0)
2011–2012Republic of Ireland U192(0)
2013–2014Republic of Ireland U216(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 February 2019

Personal life

McDermott was born to a Norwegian mother and a Donegal-born father in Kristiansand where he also grew up.[2] He lived in Donegal for six months when he was 9 and played in goal for his local Gaelic football club.

Career

Arsenal

McDermott joined Arsenal's youth team in July 2009 after a successful ten-day trial with the club as a 15-year-old in May 2008. McDermott signed for Arsenal from Kristiansand minnows IK Våg in November 2008, but didn't officially complete his move to the club until after he turned 16 at the end of May 2009.

McDermott has declared his international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland. He signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2010.[1]

McDermott joined Leeds United on a one-month loan.[3]

McDermott was released by Arsenal in the summer of 2012,[4] before he signed with Norwegian club Sandnes Ulf on 15 August 2012.[2] He made his debut in Tippeligaen in the match against Rosenborg on 19 October 2012, instead of the first-choice goalkeeper Aslak Falch.[5] When Sandnes Ulf faced Rosenborg again, in the following season, McDermott was accused of fouling the Rosenborg-player Nicki Bille Nielsen in the penalty box, but the referee awarded a free-kick to McDermott. Bille Nielsen's taking off his shirt in frustration earned him a second yellow card in the game. The match ended with a 1–0 victory for Sandnes Ulf.[6] Sandnes Ulf were relegated in 2014, but in the summer transfer window of 2015, McDermott returned to the first tier as he joined IK Start.[7]

Kristiansund

Prior to the 2017-season he joined newly promoted Kristiansund.[8]

Molde

On 30 May 2024, McDermott signed for Molde on a contract until the end of the Eliteserien season.[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 2 June 2024[10]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sandnes Ulf2012Tippeligaen6000--60
201325000--250
20140000--00
2015OBOS-ligaen0000--00
Total31000----310
Start2015Tippeligaen0000--00
20160020--20
Total0020----20
Ullensaker/Kisa2016OBOS-ligaen11000--110
Total11000----110
Kristiansund2017Eliteserien28020--300
201829030--322
Total57050----620
Dinamo București2018–19Liga I3000--30
Total3000----30
Kristiansund2019Eliteserien28000--280
202012000--120
202130020--320
202223020--250
2023OBOS-ligaen11000-1[a]0120
Total104040--101090
Molde2024Eliteserien1000--10
Total1000----10
Career total2070110--102190

References