Real name	Aiden McGeady
Height	5.10
Weight	11.04
Date of birth	04-04-1986
Place of birth	Glasgow
Position	Forward
Nationality	Ireland

Signed on	20-04-2004
Squad number	46

KDS Honours

• 12-Aug-06 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 2 v 0 St Mirren SPL
• 20-Aug-06 MOTM 06-07 ICT 1 V 1 Celtic SPL
• 26-Aug-06 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 2 v 1 Hibs SPL
• 31-Aug-06 Aug-06 Player of the Month
• 23-Sep-06 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 2 v 0 Rangers SPL
• 30-Sep-06 Sep-06 Player of the Month
• 01-Oct-06 MOTM 06-07 Falkirk 0 v 1 Celtic SPL
• 26-Nov-06 MOTM 06-07 Hibs 2 v 2 Celtic SPL
• 02-Dec-06 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 1 v 0 Aberdeen SPL
• 10-Dec-06 MOTM 06-07 Dunfermline 1 v 2 Celtic SPL
• 11-Mar-07 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 0 v 1 Rangers SPL
• 31-Mar-07 MOTM 06-07 Dundee Utd 1 v 1 Celtic SPL
• 31-Mar-07 Mar-07 Player of the Month
• 07-Apr-07 MOTM 06-07 Celtic 1 v 0 Motherwell SPL

• New Season

• 15-Sep-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 5 v 0 ICT SPL
• 31-Oct-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 0 v 2 Hearts CIS
• 06-Nov-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 1 v 0 Benfica CL
• 30-Nov-07 Nov-07 Player of the Month
• 11-Dec-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 4 v 0 Falkirk SPL
• 22-Dec-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 1 v 1 Hibs SPL
• 29-Dec-07 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 3 v 0 Gretna SPL
• 31-Dec-07 Dec-07 Player of the Month
• 10-Feb-08 MOTM 07-08 Aberdeen 1 v 5 Celtic SPL
• 29-Feb-08 Feb-08 Player of the Month
• 05-Apr-08 MOTM 07-08 Celtic 0 v 1 Motherwell SPL
• 30-Jun-08 KDS Player of the Year 2007-08

• New Season

Nationality: Scottish but plays for Rep of Ireland through Irish Grandparent

Signed on 20-04-2004

International Caps 3
International Goals 0

McGeady signed a 4 1/2 year deal in Feb 2007 [BBC]

Scored his first hat-trick in mid-week SPL game v Falkirk [Link]

Won Young Player of the Season in 2008 [BBC]


Review
Aiden McGeady burst onto the Celtic scene and was practically lauded from the word go. There was no denying his precocious talent and for many he was the best young talent for many a year. Young and eager he was that special talent which Celtic fans had all yearned for. Things though hadn’t all worked out to plan. Undoubtedly skilful with twists and turns down the right wing, his end ball could be very poor. A good run and beating a few defenders and a poor cross or a lost ball at the next tackle meant it could all be in vain, and during the 2006-07 season after a fair start the support was surprising split down the middle over the guy more so than any other over recent seasons. One extreme saying he was a one trick pony whilst the other side that he was a fine talent and people should have patience with him.

The arrival of Shaun Maloney into the first team as a regular pushed McGeady behind in the pecking order, and after a fine season Maloney had cemented himself in the starting line-up. In many ways this was good for Aiden in two ways. Firstly it took the attention/pressure of him with another young player taking the limelight instead, and secondly as it gave him a kick in order to show him that he had a lot still to learn and do.

National side
His most difficult decision to date has been his decision to play for Ireland instead of Scotland. Pilloried by the Scottish press for this decision, they seem to ignore the fact that it was the Irish association would were willing to assist him when he was a teenager whilst the Scottish association didn’t at all. McGeady also said he promised his Grandfather that he would play for Ireland, and so there should have been no issue over this. Sadly this is Scotland, and he has been a big target for the boo boys from other clubs to get to him during matches.

2007-08
The 2007-08 season was a big turnaround. McGeady cemented his place in the team with many fine performances and goals, although work has still to be done. The support also was fully united in praise for his performances in what was an otherwise difficult season for the club with a roller coaster set of results. Additionally, Shaun Maloney’s move to Aston Villa was a warning to McGeady that leaving Celtic for the EPL (which he has admitted does attract him later in his career) is not all as great as it seems. Gordon Strachan (manager) has praised McGeady for the work he has put in over the season for conditioning himself better for the long season. Gone are the neddy days.

To seal off a great season personally for McGeady, he was awarded the Player of the Season for 2008!!! A GIRIUY to all his critics.

However, his temper has got the better of him and referees sadly find him an easy target to book for silly tantrums which would be passed off if they were from other players.


Pictures

• Aiden McGeady Pics
• Wallpaper (by Cartuja of KStreet forum)

Song

• Aiden McGeady song

Articles

• An Irish overview (2006) (Times)

Quotes
Lionel Messi [Barcelona] yesterday paid his own accolade, saying: "I really like the way McGeady plays football. He is a natural talent who can create a brilliant piece of play in the blink of an eye." This came in the wake of Catalan sportspaper El Mundo Deportivo publishing a glowing tribute, which lauded the Republic of Ireland international as "a blond version of Messi and Diego Maradona", adding that a lack of media exposure is all that currently prevents him from achieving the same fame and renown enjoyed by Messi and his Argentinian predecessor.
(Source: Fifa, Feb 08)