Michael James Devlin (born 3 October 1993) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ayr United. He has previously played for Hamilton Academical, Stenhousemuir, Aberdeen, Fleetwood Town, Hibernian and Livingston. He was selected for Scotland three times in 2019.

Mikey Devlin
Devlin lining up for Scotland in 2019
Personal information
Full name Michael James Devlin[1]
Date of birth (1993-10-03) 3 October 1993 (age 31)[2]
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Ayr United
Number 5
Youth career
Heart of Midlothian
2007–2009 Aberdeen
2009–2010 Celtic
2010–2011 Hamilton Academical
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2018 Hamilton Academical 125 (4)
2011Stenhousemuir (loan) 10 (3)
2012Stenhousemuir (loan) 13 (0)
2018–2022 Aberdeen 37 (1)
2022–2023 Fleetwood Town 2 (0)
2023 Hibernian 1 (0)
2023–2024 Livingston 29 (0)
2024– Ayr United 0 (0)
International career
2019 Scotland 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:47, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:46, 16 November 2019 (UTC)

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Motherwell,[3] Devlin grew up in a street near to fellow footballer Mark Reynolds and attended the same school, where the older pupil was held up as an example to follow.[4] As a teenager Devlin spent time in the youth systems of Heart of Midlothian, Aberdeen and Celtic,[4] making the squad for a Glasgow Cup final with the latter in May 2010.[5]

Hamilton Academical

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He was picked up by Hamilton Academical, with assurances that hard work would result in a swift path to first team football.[4] He made his senior debut for Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League on 15 January 2011, aged 16,[6] in a 0–4 defeat away at Rangers;[7] the performance of Devlin and other young players in that match, including Lee Kilday who also made his debut, was praised by manager Billy Reid.[8]

He signed on loan for Stenhousemuir on 16 March 2011,[9] and re-joined the Warriors on an emergency loan in February 2012,[10] at the same time signing a two-year contract extension with Hamilton.[11]

He scored his first goal for the Accies in the Scottish Cup in December 2012.[12] In February 2014, he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2014–15 season.[13]

In August 2016 he was appointed the club's new captain.[14] In May 2017, he was involved in an altercation with a fan following a 1–0 home Lanarkshire derby defeat to relegation rivals Motherwell.[15] In the last regular game of the 2016–17 season, Devlin suffered a serious knee injury, meaning he missed the club's two relegation play-off matches.[16]

Aberdeen

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Devlin moved to Aberdeen in January 2018 for an undisclosed fee, despite having not yet fully recovered from the knee injury suffered in May 2017.[17][6] He eventually made his competitive debut for Aberdeen on 26 July 2018, in the first leg of a Europa League tie against Burnley at Pittodrie Stadium.[18][19]

In August 2020 he was one of eight Aberdeen players who received a suspended three-match ban from the Scottish FA after they breached coronavirus-related restrictions by visiting a bar earlier in the month.[20] He missed most of the 2020–21 season due to hamstring and ankle ligament injuries,[21] and agreed new short-term contracts during 2021–22 with it being anticipated that he would eventually return to full fitness,[22] but by April 2022 he had yet to be named in a matchday squad, and it was initially announced that he would leave Aberdeen at the end of the season[23] but soon clarified that this would be immediate.[24][25]

Fleetwood Town

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Devlin trained with English club Fleetwood Town, managed by his former Aberdeen teammate Scott Brown, in June 2022.[26] He signed a short term contract with Fleetwood in August 2022.[27] He departed the club in January following the expiration of his short-term deal.[28]

Hibernian

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After leaving Fleetwood before the end of the January transfer window, Devlin trained with Hibernian.[29] He signed a short-term contract with the club on 13 February 2023.[30]

Livingston

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Devlin left Hibs at the end of the 2022–23 season and signed for Livingston.[31][32] He was appointed club captain.[33]

Ayr United

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After leaving Livingston at the end of the 2023–24 season, he signed for Ayr United in July 2024.[34][35]

International career

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Devlin was included in the Scotland squad for the first time in October 2018.[36] He was recalled in May 2019, one of five uncapped players to feature.[37] He made his international debut on 10 October 2019 in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Russia, playing the whole match as Scotland lost 0–4.[38]

Career statistics

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As of 19 May 2024[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hamilton Academical 2010–11[7] Scottish Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2011–12[39] Scottish First Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2012–13[40] Scottish First Division 22 1 2 1 2 0 1[a] 0 27 2
2013–14[41] Scottish Championship 27 1 1 0 3 0 1[a] 0 32 1
2014–15[42] Scottish Premiership 28 0 0 0 4 0 32 0
2015–16[43] Scottish Premiership 16 0 1 0 0 0 17 0
2016–17[44] Scottish Premiership 28 2 4 0 4 0 0 0 36 2
2017–18[45] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 125 4 8 1 13 0 2 0 148 5
Stenhousemuir (loan) 2010–11[7] Scottish Second Division 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 3
2011–12[39] Scottish Second Division 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Total 23 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 3
Aberdeen 2017–18[45] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018–19[18] Scottish Premiership 22 1 3 0 3 0 2[b] 0 30 1
2019–20[46] Scottish Premiership 14 0 3 0 1 0 1[b] 0 19 0
2020–21[47] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2021–22[48] Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 37 1 6 0 5 0 3 0 51 1
Fleetwood Town 2022–23[49] EFL League One 2 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 4 0
Hibernian 2022–23[49] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Livingston 2023–24[50] Scottish Premiership 29 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 35 0
Career total 217 8 15 1 23 0 7 0 262 9
  1. ^ a b Appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

References

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  1. ^ A Record of Post-war Scottish League Players 1946/47 to 2017/18. 7. John Litster and Scottish Football Historian magazine. 2018.
  2. ^ "Squad Numbers 2010–11". Hamilton Academical F.C. official website. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Mikey Devlin at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c "Matchday interview: Michael Devlin". Aberdeen F.C. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Gers Retain Glasgow Cup". Rangers Youths. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Club Statement- Michael Devlin". Hamilton Academical FC. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Billy Reid praises young Hamilton team". BBC Sport. 15 January 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Stenhousemuir add Devlin". Scottish Football League. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Devlin Goes on Loan". Hamilton Academical F.C.
  11. ^ "Two Agree New Deals". Hamilton Academical F.C. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014.
  12. ^ McGilvray, Andrew (20 December 2012). "Devlin thrilled with wonder goal". Hamilton Advertiser.
  13. ^ "Devlin Extends Contract". Hamilton Academical F.C. 25 February 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Michael Devlin: 'I'm ready for captaincy at Hamilton Accies'". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  15. ^ Lamont, Alasdair (15 May 2017). "Hamilton Accies: Manager Martin Canning calls for unity in relegation battle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  16. ^ Barnes, John (23 May 2017). "Hamilton Accies' Mikey Devlin to miss both legs against Dundee United through injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Michael Devlin: Aberdeen sign defender and reject third McKenna bid". BBC Sport. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  19. ^ English, Tom (26 July 2018). "Aberdeen 1–1 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  20. ^ "Celtic's Boli Bolingoli gets three-game ban; 'Aberdeen eight' receive three-match suspended ban". BBC. 28 August 2020.
  21. ^ Burns, Scott (11 December 2020). "Mikey Devlin suffers more Aberdeen injury misery as luckless defender sidelined until March". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  22. ^ "New Aberdeen contract for defender Mikey Devlin, confirms boss Stephen Glass". Press and Journal. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Michael Devlin to leave Aberdeen this summer". Press and Journal. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  24. ^ "Michael Devlin to depart the Dons". Aberdeen FC. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  25. ^ "Aberdeen exit explained as star opens up on injury nightmare that has ended Pittodrie stint". Daily Record. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  26. ^ Paton, Ewan (27 June 2022). "Mikey Devlin handed 'transfer chance' by Scott Brown at Fleetwood Town". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Fleetwood sign Scotland international Devlin". BBC Sport. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Devlin leaves the club after the expiration of this contract". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  29. ^ Brown, Anthony (2 February 2023). "Lee Johnson hands Michael Devlin chance to earn contract at Hibernian". The Irish News. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  30. ^ McPartlin, Patrick (13 February 2023). "Hibs confirm signing of Mikey Devlin as defender signs short-term deal". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  31. ^ "Mikey Devlin joins the Lions". Livingston FC. 30 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Hibernian: Aiden McGeady released after injury-hit season along with Mikey Devlin & Kevin Dabrowski". BBC Sport. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  33. ^ Evans, Anthony (26 July 2023). "Ex-Aberdeen defender Mikey Devlin named as new Livingston captain". Aberdeen Live.
  34. ^ "Mikey Devlin Joins Ayr United". Ayr United FC.
  35. ^ Wilson, Stuart (18 July 2024). "Mikey Devlin: Ayr United ambition made Scott Brown reunion an easy call". Daily Record.
  36. ^ Lewis, Jane (13 October 2018). "Scotland: Charlie Mulgrew, John Souttar, Kieran Tierney and Robert Snodgrass withdraw from squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Scotland squad: Steve Clarke selects five uncapped players". BBC Sport. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  38. ^ "Russia v Scotland game report". ESPN. 10 October 2019.
  39. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  41. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  42. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  43. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  44. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  45. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  46. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  47. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  48. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  50. ^ "Games played by Mikey Devlin in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  NODES
INTERN 5
Note 1