Alfie McCalmont

Alfie John McCalmont (born 25 March 2000) is a professional footballer who plays for Oldham Athletic, on loan from Premier League club Leeds United and the Northern Ireland national side as a defensive midfielder.

Alfie McCalmont
Personal information
Full name Alfie John McCalmont[1]
Date of birth (2000-03-25) 25 March 2000[2]
Place of birth Thirsk, England
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Central midfielder, Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Oldham Athletic
(on loan from Leeds United)
Number 25
Youth career
0000–2019 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Leeds United 0 (0)
2020– → Oldham Athletic (loan) 12 (3)
National team
2016 Northern Ireland U17 2 (0)
2017–2018 Northern Ireland U19 5 (1)
2019– Northern Ireland U21 10 (1)
2019– Northern Ireland 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:39, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

Career

Born in Thirsk, he attended Thirsk School and Sixth Form College and came through the youth academy at Leeds United.[3] He signed a professional contract extension on 22 January 2019 keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.[4] During the 2018/19 season, he featured regularly for Carlos Corberán's Leeds United under 23s side[5] that won the PDL Northern League 2018/19 league title; they then became the national Professional Development League Champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.[6]

McCalmont started the first pre-season friendly of the 2019/20 season against York City in a 5–0 win on 10 July[7] and was named in the 1st team travelling squad on 4 August in Leeds' opening day 3–1 EFL Championship victory against Bristol City; he was left out of the final 18, but was allocated the 38 shirt for the season.[8]

He was given his first team debut by head coach Marcelo Bielsa on 13 August in the EFL Cup against Salford City, coming on as a substitute for Jack Clarke in the 70th minute.[9]

He made his first Leeds start on 27 August 2019 in Leeds' EFL Cup match against Stoke City, with Leeds losing on 4–5 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.[10]

After the English professional football season was paused in March 2020 due to Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football, the season was resumed during June, where McCalmont was part of the squad who earned promotion with Leeds to the Premier League and also become the EFL Championship Champions for the 2019-20 season in July after the successful resumption of the season. Despite not playing a League game he qualified for a league Medal due to being named in enough matchday squads .[11]

In August 2020 McCalmont signed a new four year contract with Leeds United.[12] He was named on the bench by Marcelo Bielsa on 16 September 2020 as a unused substitute for Premier League Leeds in a 1-1 draw against Hull City in the EFL Cup.[13]

Oldham Athletic loan

He joined Oldham Athletic on a season-long loan on 25 September 2020.[14] He scored his first goals for Oldham, and his first professional goals, when he scored twice on 10 November 2020 in an EFL Trophy group game against Bradford City.[15]

International career

He has represented Northern Ireland at international level up to U21s. He was called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad in 2019 for a summer training camp.[16]

He made his senior debut for Northern Ireland on 5 September 2019 coming on for George Saville as a 60th minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Luxembourg.[17]

Style of play

McCalmont plays as a deep lying central midfielder. He plays mainly as a playmaking defensive midfielder, known for his passing and ability on the ball, dictating the play.[16]

Belfast Live said McCalmont has "excellent technique, is tenacious in the tackle and has an eye for a pass".[18]

Career statistics
As of match played 24 October 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2019–20[19] Championship 0000200020
2020–21[20] Championship 0000000000
Total 0000200020
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2020–21[20] League Two 5000000050
Total 5000200070

Honours

Leeds United

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 36. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  2. "Alfie McCalmont: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. Hanna, Gareth (13 August 2019). "Who is Alfie McCalmont? All you need to know about the Leeds teenager who this summer trained with Northern Ireland". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  4. "Alfie McCalmont puts pen to paper on new contract at Leeds". Irish FA. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  5. "'True leader' – Leeds under-23 captain Hugo Diaz impresses the fans once again". The Boot Room. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. "Carlos Corberan on what the future can hold for Leeds United's PDL champions". YEP. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  7. "REPORT: YORK CITY 0–5 LEEDS UNITED". www.leedsunited.com. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  8. "Bristol City 1 Leeds 3". Leeds United. 4 August 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  9. "Salford City 0 Leeds United 3". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  10. "Leeds Vs Stoke". Sky Sports. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  11. "Championship: Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year absence". BBC Sport. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. McCalmont contract extension
  13. "Leeds 1 Hull City 1". BBC Sport. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  14. "Oldham sign Leeds' McCalmont on loan". BBC Sport. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  15. "Bradford City 1-3 Latics". oldhamathletic.co.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  16. "Who is Alfie McCalmont? All you need to know about the Leeds teenager training with Northern Ireland". Belfast Telegraph. 29 May 2019.
  17. "Leeds United product Alfie McCalmont makes senior international debut in Northern Ireland victory". YEP. 5 September 2019.
  18. "Who is Alfie McCalmont? Meet the Leeds prospect who trained with Northern Ireland this week". Belfast Live. 29 May 2019.
  19. "Games played by Alfie McCalmont in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  20. "Games played by Alfie McCalmont in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  21. "Leeds United are champions!". Leeds United F.C. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
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