Connolly: Paul

2010-2013 (Leeds Player Details) (Player Details)

Right Back

Born: Liverpool: 29-09-1983

Debut: Derby County (h): 07-08-2010

6’0” 11st 10lb (2009)

Liverpool-born Connolly came through the youth ranks at Plymouth Argyle, signing for them professionally on 1st August 2000 and making his League debut in the final game of the 2000-01 English football season at home to Rochdale on 5th May 2001. He had a short loan period with Bideford from 2nd February to 31st May 2002, but only played once. He became a first team regular from 2003 onwards, helping the Pilgrims gain promotion to the Football League One at the end of the 2003-04 season. He scored his first and only goal for the Pilgrims against Norwich City on 10th November 2007. His contract expired at the end of the 2007-08 season, and on 15th May 2008 he moved to Derby County on a free transfer. Paul Jewell described Connolly as "6 ft 1in, athletic and hungry", after signing him on a three year contract, despite interest from several other CCCL clubs. While at Home Park he had played one hundred and sixty-two League games, of which six were as a substitute, and also started nine F.A. Cup, five League Cup and one in the Football League Trophy. Connolly made his Derby County debut as a substitute in an opening day home defeat to Doncaster Rovers, on 9th August 2008. He temporarily lost his place in the starting line-up to Tyrone Mears, but his rival's move to Marseille, on loan, ensured Connolly became the club's first choice right back. He was later appointed team captain by Manager Paul Jewell and finished the season with forty-nine League and Cup appearances, during the 2008-09 campaign. He also scored a goal with a last minute headed equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Burnley on 4th April 2009. He made his two hundredth career League appearance three weeks later. Robbie Savage was appointed Derby Captain for the new season by Nigel Clough, who had replaced Paul Jewell when he had resigned in December 2008. This allowed Connolly to concentrate on his own game. Although Connolly started the 2009–10 season as first choice right back he eventually fell down the pecking order as Clough decided to bring in his own players, in the shape of EPL right-backs Fredrik Stoor and Nicky Hunt. On 15th May 2010, he was allowed to joined Sheffield United on a month long emergency loan as defensive cover, after the United Captain Chris Morgan had been suspended, and made his Blades debut the same evening in a 3-0 victory over Blackpool. He returned to Pride Park having made seven starts in the League. After returning to Derby, Connolly made the bench for the penultimate game of the season against Bristol City, coming on in the second half to make his first appearance in three months. After the season finished, Connolly was linked with moves to Leeds United and Sheffield United. While at Pride Park he had scored once in sixty-one League games, of which five were from the bench, and had made four starts in the F.A. Cup and seven in the League Cup. On 2nd June 2010, he agreed a three year contract with Leeds United and, after a medical, he signed for the Whites on a free transfer on 10th June 2010. Connolly was first choice right-back at Elland Road, for most of the 2010-11 season unless injury prevented it. He was out for a period before Christmas, but won back his place after recovering from injury. He still held the number two shirt for the start of the 2011-12 season but after being replaced by promising young defender Tom Lees on the hour mark in against Bradford City in the Carling Cup game on 9th August 2011, he found that he could not get his place back, as the youngster excelled in his new role. Leigh Bromby was dropped for the home fixture with Portsmouth on 1st October 2011 and Tom Lees moved to Central Defence to replace him, with Connolly being reinstated at Right Back. It was the start of a sixteen game run, including one as a substitute that Connolly enjoyed in the Right Back spot. Alex Bruce was preferred for the home game against Burnley on 2nd January 2012 and then youngster Zac Thompson and loanee Adam Smith were preferred until the arrival of Neil Warnock meant he was given a chance to prove himself. After coming on from the bench in the home game with Southampton after twenty-four minutes as a replacement for the injured Leigh Bromby, he kept his place, playing eight, being used as a substitute in three and being omitted from two of the remaining thirteen games for the rest of the season. He was sent off at home to Watford on 31st March 2012, after receiving two yellow cards, which meant a one match suspension which saw him miss the the away fixture with Reading. At the end of the season Neil Warnock placed him on the open to transfer list, as he still had one year left to run on his three-year contract. On the outer at Elland Road, he was loaned to League One team, Portsmouth, for a month on 17th August 2012 and while there started four League games ans another in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. He returned to Elland Road but was not in contention for the first team. On 15th January 2013 he was loaned to Preston North End for the rest of the season and made fourteen starts and one game from the bench in the League. His contract at Leeds ran out on 30th June 2013 and it was thought there was interest from MLS side New York Bulls