1. Roy Simon O'Donovan was born on 10 August 1985 and is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for National Premier Leagues Northern NSW side Newcastle Olympic FC.
34 Facts About Roy O'Donovan
1. 2.
Roy O'Donovan has been capped by Ireland at Under-19, Under-21 and B level.
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Roy O'Donovan moved back to Republic of Ireland and joined his hometown club Cork City in early 2005.
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Roy O'Donovan played mainly as a wide-right attacking midfielder after joining Cork, but was moved up front as a striker, becoming the top goalscorer in the League of Ireland.
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Roy O'Donovan scored in a UEFA Cup win in July 2005 versus Ekranas of Lithuania, City were eventually eliminated by Slavia Prague.
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Roy O'Donovan scored a total of 31 league goals in 74 league appearances for the club was top scorer in the 2007 Setanta Cup, as well as competing in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in 2006 scoring 2 goals in European competitions in his time at CCFC.
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On 16 September 2009, Roy O'Donovan joined Southend United on a one-month emergency loan deal.
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Roy O'Donovan made a further two league appearances plus one in the Football League Trophy before returning to Sunderland once the loan was completed.
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Roy O'Donovan went on to make 15 appearances scoring 9 goals before returning to parent club Sunderland at the end of the season.
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Roy O'Donovan officially transferred to Coventry on 1 July 2010, five years after leaving them as an academy player.
11.
Roy O'Donovan scored his first goal for the Sky Blues against Bury FC in August 2011.
12.
Roy O'Donovan suffered a fractured metatarsal in an nPower championship game against Barnsley in November 2011 which meant a significant period recovering on the sidelines.
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Roy O'Donovan signed on loan for Hibernian FC on his return to fitness on 31 January 2012 for the remainder of the season.
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Roy O'Donovan signed for Northampton Town on a free transfer in January 2013.
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Roy O'Donovan was signed by Aidy Boothroyd, who had previously signed O'Donovan for Coventry.
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In January 2014 following the dismissal of manager Aidy Boothroyd, O'Donovan flew to Dubai for talks with Brunei DPMM FC at the invitation of the Crown Prince of Brunei.
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Roy O'Donovan finished the season with 26 goals in total and as a firm fans favourite.
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Roy O'Donovan was to spend only two months in Indonesia due to the newly formed Indonesian Super League being scrapped by FIFA regarding ongoing issues with the football association of Indonesia.
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Roy O'Donovan made his competitive debut for the club in an FFA Cup match against Wellington Phoenix on 12 August 2015.
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Roy O'Donovan missed a penalty late in the same match.
21.
On 31 December 2015, Roy O'Donovan was involved in an incident in a match versus the Wellington Phoenix, where he deliberately head-butted Phoenix defender Manny Muscat in retaliation for an off the ball elbow he received from the defender, Roy O'Donovan was sanctioned during the match for the act as the referee awarded the player a yellow card.
22.
Roy O'Donovan finished his first season in Australia as the club's golden boot winner as well as the winner of the Hyundai A League 'Goal of the Season'.
23.
On 19 April 2017, Roy O'Donovan signed a two-year contract with another A-League team, the Newcastle Jets.
24.
Roy O'Donovan reportedly turned down offers from Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar, Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners.
25.
On 24 June 2019, Roy O'Donovan signed a two-year deal with Brisbane Roar after choosing not to re-sign with Newcastle Jets.
26.
Roy O'Donovan scored his first goal for the club in his debut on 13 October 2019, snatching a late draw against Perth Glory in the season opener.
27.
On 2 February 2020, Roy O'Donovan signed an 18-month contract with the Jets.
28.
In 2020, Roy O'Donovan became an Australian citizen and counts as a local player under A-League regulations.
29.
On 21 October 2021, Roy O'Donovan signed with Sydney Olympic for 2022 National Premier Leagues NSW Seasons.
30.
Roy O'Donovan was named in the NPL NSW Men's Team of the Year with teammate Darcy Burgess who was named as a substitute.
31.
On 18 November 2022, Roy O'Donovan renewed his contract and was additionally appointed as assistant coach with head coach Labinot Haliti prior to the 2023 season.
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Roy O'Donovan has played for the Republic of Ireland Under-19, Under-21 and B teams.
33.
Roy O'Donovan made his debut for the Under-21 team in August 2005 against Northern Ireland.
34.
In May 2007, Roy O'Donovan expressed his surprise and disappointment at not being part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the end of season international matches against Ecuador and Bolivia, a squad in which his Cork City teammate Joe Gamble was included.