Mark O'Hara

Scottish footballer

Mark O'Hara
Personal information
Full name Mark Ryan O'Hara[1]
Date of birth (1995-12-12) 12 December 1995 (age 28)
Place of birth Barrhead, Scotland[2]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 St Mirren
Number 6
Youth career
Barrhead Boys Club
Kilmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Kilmarnock 78 (0)
2016–2018 Dundee 60 (9)
2018–2020 Peterborough United 22 (4)
2019 → Lincoln City (loan) 17 (1)
2019–2020 → Motherwell (loan) 17 (1)
2020–2022 Motherwell 46 (6)
2022– St Mirren 39 (11)
International career
2013 Scotland U19 9 (0)
2015–2016 Scotland U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2023

Mark Ryan O'Hara (born 12 December 1995)[3] is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for St Mirren as a midfielder. He has previously played for Kilmarnock, Dundee, Peterborough United, Lincoln City and Motherwell.

Club career

Kilmarnock

A member of Kilmarnock's under-20 squad O'Hara made his first team debut on 28 August 2012, coming on as a 13th-minute substitute in a Scottish League Cup match against Stenhousemuir, replacing the injured Jeroen Tesselaar in a 2–1 defeat.[4] Aged just 16 on his debut, O'Hara became the fifth youngest person to play competitively for Kilmarnock and only the second youngest in that competition.[5] On 27 October 2012, he made his first start and league debut[6] in a 2–0 win over Celtic at Celtic Park, Kilmarnock's first win at the venue since 1955.[7]

Dundee

O'Hara signed for Dundee in June 2016.[8] Upon signing for Dundee, he was moved into an attacking midfield position by manager Paul Hartley, who said he didn't know why O'Hara had previously been playing as a defender.[9] On 13 August 2016, he scored his first career goal, in Dundee's 2–1 defeat against Rangers.[10][9] He then scored again in the following match, getting the equaliser in a 1–1 draw against Hamilton Academical.[11]

On the 19th of February 2017, he scored the opening goal as Dundee won 2–1 against Rangers, the first time since 1992 that Dundee had beaten them at home in the league.[12] Following Paul Hartley's departure from Dundee, O'Hara scored in new manager Neil McCann's first match in charge, a 3–2 win against Motherwell.

O'Hara scored an equalising goal in a 1–1 draw in the Dundee derby against Dundee United in the Scottish league cup group stage. He scored again against Rangers, getting both goals in a 2–1 home win on 24 November 2017, this was O'Hara's fourth goal against Rangers in his third home game against them.[13]

Peterborough United

O'Hara moved to Peterborough United in May 2018 under freedom of contract, with Dundee receiving a compensation fee.[14]

He started his career at London Road in goalscoring form, netting three goals in his first two games in League One against Bristol Rovers and Rochdale.[15] Fourteen starts and eight sub appearances followed in the first half of the 2018–19 season, but the end of manager Steve Evans' tenure at the club coincided with a loan move to League Two side Lincoln City.[16]

His aggressive and tenacious midfield style saw him make an instant impact with the Imps, making 17 appearances as Danny Cowley's side won the league title by six points over Bury and MK Dons.[17]

He was transfer-listed by Peterborough United at the end of the 2018–19 season.[18]

On 2 September 2019, O'Hara joined Motherwell on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[19]

Motherwell

On 24 June 2020, Motherwell announced the signing of O'Hara on a permanent deal from Peterborough United for a nominal fee, signing a two-year contract.[20]

St Mirren

In May 2022 following the expiry of his Motherwell contract, O'Hara signed for fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren on a two-year deal, having previously signed a pre-contract agreement with the Buddies in March.[21][22]

International career

O'Hara represented Scotland at the under-19 and under-21 levels.[23]

Career statistics

As of 27 May 2023[24]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kilmarnock 2012–13[25] Scottish Premier League 17 0 2 0 1 0 — 20 0
2013–14[26] Scottish Premiership 14 0 1 0 1 0 — 16 0
2014–15[27] 18 0 0 0 0 0 — 18 0
2015–16[28] 29 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 34 0
Total 78 0 4 0 4 0 2 0 88 0
Dundee 2016–17[29] Scottish Premiership 28 5 1 0 3 0 — 32 5
2017–18[30] 32 4 3 1 4 1 — 39 6
Total 60 9 4 1 7 1 0 0 71 11
Peterborough United 2018–19[31] EFL League One 22 4 0 0 1 0 2 0 25 4
2019–20[32] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 22 4 0 0 1 0 2[b] 0 25 4
Lincoln City (loan) 2018–19[31] EFL League Two 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1
Motherwell (loan) 2019–20[32] Scottish Premiership 17 1 3 1 0 0 — 20 2
Motherwell 2020–21[33] 27 5 2 0 1 0 3[c] 0 33 5
2021–22[34] 19 1 1 0 1 0 — 21 1
Total 46 6 3 0 2 0 3 0 54 6
St Mirren 2022–23[35] Scottish Premiership 35 10 2 1 4 1 — 41 12
Career total 275 31 16 3 18 2 7 0 316 36
  1. ^ Appearances in the Premiership play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League

Honours

Lincoln City

References

  1. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. ^ "Mark O'Hara Kilmarnock Profile". kilmarnockfc.co.uk. Kilmarnock FC. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Mark O'Hara". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Killie give up the League Cup with a whimper as Stenny triumph at Rugby Park". dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Kilmarnock FC: Killie Under-20s lose to Hearts at Rugby Park". kilmarnockstandard.co.uk. Kilmarnock Standard. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  6. ^ "Kilmarnock: Kenny Shiels pays tribute to Liam Kelly". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  7. ^ "Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 2". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  8. ^ "Mark O'Hara: Dundee sign defender from Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Dundee kid Mark O'Hara starting to show his true potential after change of position, says Paul Hartley". Daily Record. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Dundee 1–2 Rangers". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. ^ Davie, Scott (19 August 2016). "Dundee 1–1 Hamilton Academical". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Dundee 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. 19 February 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  13. ^ English, Tom (24 November 2017). "Dundee 2–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  14. ^ "O'Hara leaves the club". Dundee FC. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Peterborough United 4-1 Rochdale". Peterborough United FC. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Mark O'Hara: Lincoln City sign Peterborough United midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Imps win League Two title after goalless draw". The Lincolnite. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Peterborough United: Aaron Chapman among five transfer-listed as four released". BBC Sport. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  19. ^ Mullen, Scott (2 September 2019). "Motherwell: Mark O'Hara signs season loan deal at Fir Park". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  20. ^ "MARK O'HARA SIGNS FOR MOTHERWELL". motherwellfc.co.uk/. Motherwell F.C. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  21. ^ Burns, Scott (21 March 2022). "Mark O'Hara agrees St Mirren contract to seal Stephen Robinson reunion". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  22. ^ "Mark O'Hara becomes first summer signing". www.stmirren.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  23. ^ Mark O'Hara at the Scottish Football Association
  24. ^ Mark O'Hara at Soccerway. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  26. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  27. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  34. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Games played by Mark O'Hara in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  36. ^ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
    "Lincoln: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
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