John Russell (Irish footballer)

Irish footballer and coach

John Russell

Russell in 2016

Personal information
Full name|  John Russell
Date of birth|  (1985-05-18) 18 May 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth|  Galway, Ireland
Position(s)|  Midfielder
Team information

Current team

|  Sligo Rovers (manager)
Youth career
|  Salthill Devon
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2003–2006|  Galway United|  49|  (4)
2007–2009|  Galway United|  69|  (5)
2010–2011|  Sligo Rovers|  54|  (7)
2012–2013|  St Patrick's Athletic|  47|  (6)
2014–2017|  Sligo Rovers|  64|  (7)
2018|  Westport United|  |
2019–2021|  Sligo Rovers|  12|  (0)
International career
|  Republic of Ireland U19|  |
2011|  League of Ireland XI|  1|  (0)
Managerial career
2019–2022|  Sligo Rovers (assistant manager)
2022–|  Sligo Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:59, 2 June 2022 (UTC)

John Russell (born 18 May 1985) is an Irish former professional footballer and current manager of Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

## Personal life[edit]

John's sister Julie-Ann plays for Galway W.F.C.[1] John is also an FAI Development Officer for Sligo.[2]

## Career[edit]

### Galway United[edit]

Russell started his League of Ireland football career with Galway United where he spent his first seasons as a player but in 2006 he left the club after three seasons at Terryland Park.
Russell re-signed for Galway United for the 2007 season and he spent a further three seasons at the club.

### Sligo Rovers[edit]

For the 2010 season Russell signed for Sligo Rovers. He became an important part of the Sligo's side, becoming one of the most impressive performers of the 2010 campaign. Russell started the 2010 FAI Cup final against Shamrock Rovers. The game finished 0–0 (AET) but Sligo won the final on penalties.[3] In total in his first season at Sligo he made twenty league appearances scoring three times. Russell signed back again for the 2011 season where he made thirty-four appearances scoring four times for The Bit O'Red.[4] Russell started the 2011 FAI Cup final against Shelbourne. The game finished 1–1 (AET) but Sligo won the cup again on penalties for the second year in a row.[5]

Russell left Sligo Rovers shortly after. In 2014, Russell re-signed with Sligo Rovers. In 2019, he returned as a player/coach.

### St Patrick's Athletic[edit]

On 20 January 2012, Russell signed for Dublin side St Patrick's Athletic and was giving the number 18 jersey. Buckley spoke to stpatsfc.com about the signing the Galway native:"John is a very exciting, attacking player who will fit in with the way we will play this season. He has been excellent for Sligo over the past two seasons and we're delighted to get him on board".[6] He hit the post and was later sent off after a questionable decision against Cliftonville in the Setanta Cup[7] Russell started the season off well, scoring away to Dundalk at Oriel Park, scoring the second goal in the 5–1 thumping of rivals Shamrock Rovers and setting up Chris Fagan to make it 4–1 in the same game.[8][9] Russell picked up the RTÉ Man of the Match award for his superb assist of Sean O'Connor's goal and an excellent energetic performance away to his old club Sligo Rovers.[10] Russell missed a penalty in a Europa League game against NK Široki Brijeg from Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Stadion Pecara, but just 2 minutes later he set up Christy Fagan to open the scoring.[11] Fagan returned the favour in the second leg when he set Russell up to open the scoring in a 2–1 after extra-time to earn a tie with German culb Hannover 96.[12]

## International career[edit]

Russell has been capped at u19 level for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team.[13]

## Coaching career[edit]

In March 2018, Russell was appointed as Westport United manager for the 2018 season of the Mayo Super League.[14]

In December 2018, it was announced that Russell would be returning to The Showgrounds and Sligo Rovers in a player-coach capacity. He would be assistant manager to Liam Buckley as well as being a registered player.[15]

On 22 May 2022, it was announced that Liam Buckley would depart the club, with Russell stepping in as interim manager.[16] On 2 June 2022, he was named as manager of the club on a permanent basis.[17]

## Managerial statistics[edit]

Competitive games only – correct as of 3 November 2023.

Managerial record by team and tenure  Team  | From  | To  | Record

|
|
|

G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win %
Sligo Rovers | 22 May 2022  | Present  | 64 | 24 | 11 | 29 | 75 | 84 | −9  | 037.50

## Honours[edit]

Sligo Rovers

* FAI Cup: 2010, 2011
* League of Ireland Cup : 2010
* Setanta Sports Cup: 2014

St Patrick's Athletic

* League of Ireland: 2013

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Russell & McCabe get in on sister act". wnl.fai.ie. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
2. ^ "John Russell appointed FAI Development Officer for Sligo". fai.ie. FAI. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
3. ^ "Sligo Rvrs 0–0 Shamrock Rvrs AET (2–0 penalties)". rte.
4. ^ "John Russell signs for 2011". sligorovers.com.ie. Sligo Rovers. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
5. ^ "Sligo Rovers win FAI Cup after penalty shoot-out". rte.
6. ^ "John Russell Signs". stpatsfc.com. St Patrick's Athletic. 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
7. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic (0) – Cliftonville (1)". stpatsfc.com.
8. ^ "Dundalk 0 – 2 St Patrick's Athletic". extratime.ie. extratime. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
9. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic 5 -1 Shamrock Rovers".
10. ^ "Sligo Rovers (1) – St Patrick's Athletic (1)". stpatsfc.com.
11. ^ "Siroki Brijeg v St. Patrick's Ath – Pecara Stadium – Extratime.ie – League of Ireland Fixtures". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
12. ^ "St. Patrick's Athletic 2-1 NK Siroki Brijeg". ExtraTime.com.
13. ^ "About John Russell". Archived from the original on 13 May 2012.
14. ^ "Former League of Ireland star Russell is new Westport United boss". The Connaught Telegraph. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
15. ^ "Russell appointed assistant manager, signed as player". Sligo Rovers. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
16. ^ "Sligo Rovers part company with Buckley". 22 May 2022 - via rte.ie. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
17. ^ "John Russell appointed Bit O' Red Manager – Sligo Rovers". 2 June 2022.

## External links[edit]

* John Russell at Soccerway

* v
* t
* e

Sligo Rovers F.C. - current squad

* 4 Hutchinson
* 6 Bolger
* 7 Fitzgerald
* 8 Morahan
* 11 Hartmann
* 14 O'Sullivan
* 16 Boylan
* 18 Radosavljevic
* 21 Mahon
* 26 Buckley
* 28 Pijnaker
* 30 Brush
* 31 Walsh
* 34 Barlow
* Manager: Russell

* v
* t
* e

Current League of Ireland managers

Premier Division|

* Devine (Bohemians)
* Higgins (Derry City)
* Doherty (Drogheda United)
* O'Donnell (Dundalk)
* Caulfield (Galway United)
* Bradley (Shamrock Rovers)
* Duff (Shelbourne)
* Russell (Sligo Rovers)
* Daly (St Patrick's Athletic)
* Long (Waterford)

First Division|

* Williams (Athlone Town)
* Ryan (Bray Wanderers)
* Hunt (Cobh Ramblers)
* Clancy (Cork City)
* Murphy (Finn Harps)
* McCarthy (Kerry)
* Henderson (Longford Town)
* Barrett (Treaty United)
* O'Connor (UCD)
* Keddy (Wexford)

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Bolger]: Greg Bolger
*[Fitzgerald]: Will Fitzgerald
*[Morahan]: Niall Morahan
*[O'Sullivan]: Karl O'Sullivan
*[Boylan]: Gary Boylan
*[Buckley]: Garry Buckley
*[Walsh]: Conor Walsh
*[Barlow]: Kailin Barlow
*[Williams]: Emilio Williams
*[Ryan]: Ian Ryan
*[Hunt]: Gary Hunt
*[Murphy]: Darren Murphy
*[McCarthy]: Conor McCarthy
*[Barrett]: Tommy Barrett
*[O'Connor]: William O'Connor