Paul Keegan (born 30 December 1972) is an Irish professional footballer. Keegan was the first Irishman to play in Major League Soccer in the United States.
Keegan joined St Patrick's Athletic from schoolboy football team Crumlin United, where he broke the scoring record for the club with 33 goals in 29 games in 2001. In 1992, after his first year with Pat's and Brian Kerr's successful side, Keegan accepted the offer of a soccer scholarship by Boston College where he learned his trade under the tutelage of renowned coach Ed Kelly. Keegan represented his country in the World University Games in Buffalo, USA in 1992. After a successful college career, which seen him win Big East Rookie of the Year, Big East Player of the Year and All American honours twice, Keegan was drafted by the New England Revolution as their number one pick in the first ever MLS college draft in 1996 by Frank Stapelton. Keegan stayed with the 'Revs' for 5 successful seasons until 2000. In his last season with the Revs, Keegan was honored with Bostons prestigious 'Sportsman of the Year Award' for outstanding service to the community. In 2000 Keegan played four times for the Boston Bulldogs in the US A-League to help recover from an ACL knee injury.
Keegan got his first taste of League of Ireland football when he was loaned to St Patrick's Athletic in 1999 because of the long off season in the MLS. Playing mostly off the substitutes bench, Keegan helped Pats secure their second successive league championship. At the end of his loan spell he returned to New England. The following year he returned home to Ireland and joined Bray Wanderers[1] and his performances there earned a move to title chasing Bohemians in 2002. Bohemians won the league in Keegan's first season as he developed a great relationship with league leading scorer, Glen Crowe. He won the goal of the year award for his famous over head kick versus Bray Wanderers. In 2004, Keegan joined Longford Town and ended the season by scoring the winning goal in the FAI Cup final.[2] Keegan joined his childhood team, St Patrick's Athletic for the second time as manager John McDonnell looked for experienced strikers to add to his young team.
After a year back with St Patrick's and an outstanding year in partnership with Trevor Molloy which seen them score 35 goals between them, he moved to Motherwell in January 2007 for an undisclosed fee and to be with his family.[3]
He moved to Scotland's Partick Thistle in August 2007, he joined Dumbarton in the Scottish Football League Third Division. Keegan helped the Sons to win the Third Division championship in May 2009. In his last year of professional football, Keegan signed for Airdrie United on 22 July 2009.[4]
paul, keegan, footballer, born, 1972, paul, keegan, born, december, 1972, irish, professional, footballer, keegan, first, irishman, play, major, league, soccer, united, states, paul, keeganpersonal, informationfull, namepaul, keegandate, birth, 1972, december,. Paul Keegan born 30 December 1972 is an Irish professional footballer Keegan was the first Irishman to play in Major League Soccer in the United States Paul KeeganPersonal informationFull namePaul KeeganDate of birth 1972 12 30 30 December 1972 age 51 Place of birthDublin IrelandPosition s Midfielder strikerCollege careerYearsTeamApps Gls 1992 1996Boston College Eagles85 33 Senior career YearsTeamApps Gls 1991 1992St Patrick s Athletic30 10 1996 2000New England Revolution90 20 1997 Worcester Wildfire loan 7 4 2000 Boston Bulldogs loan 4 2 2000 Connecticut Wolves loan 2 1 2000 2002Bray Wanderers37 21 2002 2004Bohemians65 18 2004 2006Longford Town53 19 2006St Patrick s Athletic54 19 2007Motherwell10 0 2007 2008Partick Thistle21 2 2008 2009Dumbarton21 3 2009 2010Airdrie United29 1 2010 2011Beith Juniors Club domestic league appearances and goalsKeegan joined St Patrick s Athletic from schoolboy football team Crumlin United where he broke the scoring record for the club with 33 goals in 29 games in 2001 In 1992 after his first year with Pat s and Brian Kerr s successful side Keegan accepted the offer of a soccer scholarship by Boston College where he learned his trade under the tutelage of renowned coach Ed Kelly Keegan represented his country in the World University Games in Buffalo USA in 1992 After a successful college career which seen him win Big East Rookie of the Year Big East Player of the Year and All American honours twice Keegan was drafted by the New England Revolution as their number one pick in the first ever MLS college draft in 1996 by Frank Stapelton Keegan stayed with the Revs for 5 successful seasons until 2000 In his last season with the Revs Keegan was honored with Bostons prestigious Sportsman of the Year Award for outstanding service to the community In 2000 Keegan played four times for the Boston Bulldogs in the US A League to help recover from an ACL knee injury Keegan got his first taste of League of Ireland football when he was loaned to St Patrick s Athletic in 1999 because of the long off season in the MLS Playing mostly off the substitutes bench Keegan helped Pats secure their second successive league championship At the end of his loan spell he returned to New England The following year he returned home to Ireland and joined Bray Wanderers 1 and his performances there earned a move to title chasing Bohemians in 2002 Bohemians won the league in Keegan s first season as he developed a great relationship with league leading scorer Glen Crowe He won the goal of the year award for his famous over head kick versus Bray Wanderers In 2004 Keegan joined Longford Town and ended the season by scoring the winning goal in the FAI Cup final 2 Keegan joined his childhood team St Patrick s Athletic for the second time as manager John McDonnell looked for experienced strikers to add to his young team After a year back with St Patrick s and an outstanding year in partnership with Trevor Molloy which seen them score 35 goals between them he moved to Motherwell in January 2007 for an undisclosed fee and to be with his family 3 He moved to Scotland s Partick Thistle in August 2007 he joined Dumbarton in the Scottish Football League Third Division Keegan helped the Sons to win the Third Division championship in May 2009 In his last year of professional football Keegan signed for Airdrie United on 22 July 2009 4 Honours editBray Wanderers League of Ireland Division 1 2001Bohemians League of Ireland 2003Longford Town FAI Cup 2004 League of Ireland Cup 2004Dumbarton Scottish Third Division 2009References edit Kickin Irish Soccer news Paul Keegan Bray RTE Sport Longford in dramatic FAI Cup win RTE ie Archived from the original on 5 June 2011 Retrieved 19 April 2010 Well snap up Eircom League trio BBC Sport website 1 January 2007 Two New Signings Archived from the original on 10 August 2009 Retrieved 22 July 2009 External links editPaul Keegan stpatsfc com New England Revolution place Keegan on waiver Keegan chosen 6th overall in 1996 college Draft Paul Keegan s WTFC net player profile permanent dead link Paul Keegan at Soccerbase nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Keegan footballer born 1972 amp oldid 1164255924, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
