Tony McMahon

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Tony McMahon bigraphy, stories - English footballer

Tony McMahon : biography

24 March 1986 –

Anthony "Tony" McMahon (born 24 March 1986) is an English footballer who plays as a right back for Sheffield United. Born in in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, McMahon started his playing career with Middlesbrough, with whom he spent eight seasons before his move to Sheffield United in 2012. Having had loan spells with Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday, McMahon was capped at international youth level, playing in the 2003 Under-17 and 2005 Under-19 European Football Championships.

International career

McMahon has been capped for England from the U17 to the U20 levels. He was first choice right back for the U19’s alongside Wheater, Taylor and James Morrison at the 2005 European Championships, where they lost to France in the final.

Career statistics

Club League Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Middlesbrough Premier League 2004–05 13 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 19 0
2005–06 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2006–07 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2007–08 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Blackpool (loan) Championship 2007–08 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Middlesbrough Premier League 2008–09 13 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) Championship 2008–09 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
Middlesbrough Championship 2009–10 21 0 1 0 1 0 23 0
2010–11 34 2 1 0 0 0 35 2
2011–12 34 1 2 0 3 0 39 1
Middlesbrough total 119 3 8 0 6 0 4 0 137 3
Sheffield United League One 2012–13 36 2 3 1 1 0 0 0 40 3
Career total 172 6 11 1 7 0 4 0 194 6

Honours

Middlesbrough
  • FA Youth Cup: 2003–04

Club career

Middlesbrough

After signing professional terms upon turning seventeen, McMahon captained the youth team to the 2003–04 FA Youth Cup title, along with fellow academy graduates Andrew Taylor, David Wheater and Adam Johnson. At age eighteen, he made his Premier League debut against Manchester United on 3 October 2004, playing alongside former manager Gareth Southgate and went on to make 13 appearances. Eighteen days later, he made his European debut in the UEFA Cup group stage match away win at Aigaleo. His good showing earned plaudits from the likes of Alan Hansen. However, his progress was hampered by a series of injuries, including a serious knee injury and a broken leg sustained between March 2005 and late 2006.

McMahon spent part of the 2007–08 season on loan to Blackpool. He returned to the Middlesbrough first team in May 2008 as a substitute in the 8–1 victory over Manchester City. McMahon then signed a one-year contract extension in the summer of 2008 only to move to Sheffield Wednesday on a month’s loan in August.

McMahon was selected in the Championship Team of the Week following his performance against Watford on 13 September 2008. This was followed by agreement to extend the loan deal at Sheffield Wednesday until 15 November. McMahon scored his first career goal during his time at Sheffield Wednesday, against Norwich City on 29 November; his last appearance for the team.

In December, McMahon was recalled by Middlesbrough and made his first appearance of the season in the 1–1 draw at home to Arsenal, playing regularly for the remainder of the season. At the end of April, he signed a new three-year deal.

McMahon started the 2009–10 season as first choice at the expense of Justin Hoyte, but lost his place as ‘Boro struggled to adapt to life in the Championhip. He regained his place under new manager Gordon Strachan after a spell on the bench and scored his first goal for the club after a long range free kick in a 2–0 win over Scunthorpe United. McMahon received a red card on Middlesbrough’s 1–0 win against Leeds United after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Jonny Howson.

Sheffield United

Having been released by Middlesbrough, McMahon signed a two–year deal with Sheffield United at the end of July 2012. He made his debut in United’s first game of the season; a loss on penalties to Burton Albion in the League Cup. Playing regularly in defence as the Blades chased promotion, his first goals for United came in December 2012, when he scored two 30 yard free kicks to help secure a 2–0 win over Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium, taking United to the top of the League One table. McMahon’s first season at United ended in play-off failure as United lost 2-1 to Yeovil Town in the play-offs semi-finals. McMahon however missed out on the end of the season and the play-offs with an Achilles injury, he was told that he didn’t require surgery after seeing a specialist in London but it caused him to miss out on most of pre-season.