Conor McLaughlin
# Conor McLaughlin

Conor Gerard McLaughlin (born 26 July 1991) is a Northern Irish former footballer who played as a right back.

## Club career

### Preston North End

Born in Belfast, McLaughlin turned professional with Preston North End in January 2010. He made his début for Preston on 12 November 2010, in a 0–2 loss against Hull City. In December 2010, McLaughlin signed a contract extension, keeping him with Preston until 2013. He signed a two-month loan deal with Shrewsbury Town in March 2011.

He was transfer-listed by the club in May 2012.

### Fleetwood Town

McLaughlin joined Fleetwood Town on 20 July 2012. He signed a new three-year contract with the club in June 2014. He scored his first goal – for any club – in the Football League in February 2015.

### Millwall

McLaughlin signed for Millwall in July 2017. He scored his first goal for Millwall in a 2–2 draw with Queens Park Rangers on 12 September 2017.

### Sunderland

After leaving Millwall he moved to Sunderland on a free transfer on 1 July 2019. On 25 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Sunderland at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.

### Return to Fleetwood Town and retirement

He re-signed for Fleetwood Town on a short-term deal in October 2021. On 14 January 2022, McLaughlin left Fleetwood for a second time following the expiration of his short-term deal, leaving the club as their all-time third highest EFL appearance maker.

On 14 April 2022, McLaughlin announced his retirement "due to injury".

## International career

McLaughlin has represented Northern Ireland at youth international level.

He received his first call-up for the senior national team in October 2011, making his senior début later that month, in a 0–3 defeat against Italy on 11 October 2011.

McLaughlin started Northern Ireland's first game of Euro 2016 against Poland.

## Personal life

Conor McLaughlin is the elder brother of Ryan McLaughlin; both have been capped by Northern Ireland.

## Career statistics

### Club

    As of match played 26 December 2021

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :

| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Preston North End | 2009–10 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2010–11 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 2011–12 | League One | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Preston North End | Total | Total | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2011–12 | League Two | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2012–13 | League Two | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2013–14 | League Two | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 47 | 1 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2014–15 | League One | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2015–16 | League One | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 2 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2016–17 | League One | 42 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 4 |
| Fleetwood Town | Total | Total | 172 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 200 | 8 |
| Millwall | 2017–18 | Championship | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 1 |
| Millwall | 2018–19 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Millwall | Total | Total | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Sunderland | 2019–20 | League One | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Sunderland | 2020–21 | League One | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| Sunderland | Total | Total | 40 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| Fleetwood Town | 2021–22 | League One | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 281 | 8 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 331 | 9 |

* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the Football League Trophy
* ↑ Six appearances in the Football League Trophy and three in the League Two play-offs
* ↑ Appearances in the League One play-offs

### International

    As of 5 October 2021

Appearances and goals by national team and year :

| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| - | - | - | - |
| Northern Ireland | 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2015 | 7 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2016 | 9 | 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 2017 | 8 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 43 | 1 |

    As of match played 9 November 2017. Northern Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each McLaughlin goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition :

| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 November 2016 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland | 22 | Azerbaijan | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours

Sunderland

* EFL Trophy: 2020–21

Individual

* EFL Team of the Season: 2016–17
