Alex McCarthy

For the baseball player, see Alex McCarthy (baseball).
Alex McCarthy

McCarthy playing for Crystal Palace in 2016
Personal information
Full name Alex Simon McCarthy[1]
Date of birth (1989-12-03) 3 December 1989[1]
Place of birth Guildford, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Southampton
Number 13
Youth career
Wimbledon
0000–2006 Wycombe Wanderers
2006–2007 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2014 Reading 70 (0)
2007 → Woking (loan) 1 (0)
2008 → Cambridge United (loan) 1 (0)
2008 → Team Bath (loan) 2 (0)
2009 → Aldershot Town (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2010 → Yeovil Town (loan) 44 (0)
2010 → Brentford (loan) 3 (0)
2011–2012 → Leeds United (loan) 6 (0)
2012 → Ipswich Town (loan) 10 (0)
2014–2015 Queens Park Rangers 3 (0)
2015–2016 Crystal Palace 7 (0)
2016– Southampton 0 (0)
National team
2010–2011 England U21 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:28, 6 March 2016 (UTC).


Alex Simon McCarthy (born 3 December 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Southampton.

A product of Reading's Academy, McCarthy spent time out on loan in the Conference Premier before signing professional terms with the club in 2008. He made his Football League debut in 2009 whilst on loan to Aldershot Town and spent the following season at Yeovil Town before making his Reading debut in 2011. He has since spent time on loan at Leeds United and Ipswich Town. McCarthy left for Queens Park Rangers in 2014.

At international level McCarthy has represented England and made his debut for the under-21 team in 2010, appearing three times in total. In May 2013 he was called up to the senior squad for friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil although he did not make an appearance.

Club career

Early career

Born in Guildford, Surrey,[1] McCarthy began his career as a schoolboy at Wimbledon and Wycombe Wanderers before joining Reading on a scholarship at 16. He was a regular in the Academy team for two years and was part of a group that included several future first-team players including Jem Karacan, Alex Pearce and Gylfi Sigurðsson.[2] His first experience of senior football came in August 2007 on loan at Woking where he made one appearance cover for the injured Nick Gindre.[3] On 26 March 2008, he joined fellow Conference Premier team Cambridge United on work experience,[4] making his debut two days later in a 3–0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.[5] He made no further appearances and returned to Reading before signing his first professional contract in July 2008.[6] McCarthy moved on loan again on 24 October 2008, joining Conference South team Team Bath as injury cover.[7] He made his debut the next day in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round against Salisbury City[8] and also played in the first round defeat to Forest Green Rovers,[9] making four appearances in total.[6] Another short loan spell followed with McCarthy joining League Two club Aldershot Town for one month on 2 February 2009.[10] He made his Football League debut 12 days later in a 3–2 defeat to Exeter City[11] and played three further matches before returning to Reading at the beginning of March.[12][13]

At the start of the 2009–10 season McCarthy joined League One club Yeovil on an initial six-month loan[14] and made his debut on 8 August in a 2–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers.[15] A month later he received the first sending-off of his career after fouling Stockport County's Nicholas Bignall, who was also on loan from Reading.[16] McCarthy's loan spell was renewed in January 2010 and again in February, before being extended for the rest of the season on 24 March.[17] Over the course of his spell he played 44 league matches and kept all 12 of Yeovil's clean sheets.[2] Following his successful loan, McCarthy was given a new three-year contract at Reading, keeping him with the club until 2013.[18][19] He again departed on loan in August 2010, joining Brentford, though he remained there for just one month before being replaced by fellow Reading loanee Ben Hamer.[20]

Reading and various loan spells

After returning from loan at Brentford in September 2010, McCarthy spent the next five months on the bench as cover for Adam Federici.[21] He eventually made his Reading debut on 19 February 2011, coming on as a substitute for the injured Federici in the 84th minute against Watford and helping to secure a 1–1 draw.[22] With Federici out for six weeks with knee ligament damage, McCarthy had a run in the team and made his full debut three days later in a 2–1 win over Millwall.[23][24] In his next outing he saved a penalty against Crystal Palace as Reading twice came from behind to draw the match 3–3.[25] He also played an important role in the 1–0 FA Cup fifth round win over Everton, producing a late save to deny Leon Osman in a performance described as "tremendous" by former England manager Kevin Keegan.[26] Despite another strong display in the next round against Manchester City at Eastlands, Reading lost the match 1–0 to a Micah Richards header.[27] He continued in goal until 30 April when he was displaced by a fit again Federici for the 0–0 draw at Coventry City[28] and remained an unused substitute during Reading's play-off campaign.[29]

With Federici remaining the first choice Reading goalkeeper for the 2011–12 season, McCarthy was loaned to Leeds United for a month on 4 November to gain Championship experience.[30] An injury to Andy Lonergan and the indifferent form of Paul Rachubka saw him go straight into the team for the match against Leicester City.[31] He kept a clean sheet on debut as the match ended in a 1–0 win.[32] Further clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Millwall followed and were enough to keep him in the team ahead of the returning Lonergan.[33][34] In the last match of his initial spell he saved an injury time penalty against Watford, allowing Leeds to rescue a point with a last minute equaliser.[35] Following the match, he revealed that he was keen on extending his loan at Leeds, with Reading agreeing to renew it for a second month two days later.[36][37] Ineligible to face his parent club on 17 December, he was replaced by Lonergan and made no further appearances,[38] returning to Reading on 3 January 2012.[39] He signed a new three-year contract with Reading on 9 January before joining Ipswich Town on loan until the end of the season.[40][41] On his return to Elland Road with Ipswich he was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area with 20 minutes remaining. Ipswich, one goal up at the time, went on to lose the match 3–1.[42] After 10 appearances, all coming in the league, he returned to Reading at the end of the season.[43]

2012–13 season

McCarthy playing for Reading in 2013

Again starting the season as second choice goalkeeper, several mistakes and an injury meant McCarthy replaced Adam Federici for the 3–1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 16 September 2012.[44][45] After debuting in the Premier League, he achieved the feat of playing in the six top levels of English football at the age of 22. He retained his place in the team for the next few matches and put in an impressive performance against Swansea City on 6 October leading to suggestions of a senior England call up in the future.[46] His good form continued with a man of the match performance in Reading's next match against Queens Park Rangers, firstly tipping Esteban Granero's free-kick onto the crossbar before saving from Adel Taarabt at close range.[47] The match ended badly though as he injured himself colliding with the goal post after diving to stop a Taarabt shot.[48] Despite initial hopes the injury was not too serious, he was forced to undergo shoulder surgery in early December potentially ruling him out for remainder of the season.[49] He recovered quicker than expected though and returned to the team on 13 April 2013, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw with Liverpool.[50] After making ten saves during the match, he was widely praised with his performance described as "fantastic" by Nigel Adkins and "absolutely staggering" by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.[51][52] He remained in goal for the rest of the season, making 14 appearances in total.[53]

Queens Park Rangers

On 29 August 2014, McCarthy joined newly promoted Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League for an undisclosed fee.[54] McCarthy made his Rangers debut at home against Liverpool in a blockbuster narrow 3–2 defeat.[55]

Crystal Palace

On 23 July 2015, McCarthy joined Premier League club Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £3.5 million, on a four-year contract.[56] McCarthy made his Palace debut on 8 August 2015 in a 3–1 win away to Norwich City.[57]

Southampton

On 1 August 2016, he joined Southampton on a three-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.[58]

International career

McCarthy trained with the England under-19s before joining the under-21 set-up for the first time in September 2009.[59][60] He received several further call-ups to the under-21s in 2009–10 and eventually made his debut as a second-half substitute against Uzbekistan in August 2010.[61][62][63][64] In March 2011 he was named in a 31-man squad to face Denmark and Iceland as preparation for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[65] He played a full 90 minutes in the first match and 45 in the second as England won 4–0 and lost 2–1 respectively.[66][67] He travelled with the squad to championships in Denmark but did not play any matches, finishing with three caps at under-21 level.[68][69]

In April 2012, McCarthy was named in the 80-man longlist of potential players for the Great Britain football team at the 2012 Summer Olympics,[70] and in June, he made it down to the shortlist of 35 players provisionally selected for the tournament,[70] although he did not make the final 18.[71]

In May 2013 he was called up to the England senior team for the friendlies against Republic of Ireland and Brazil,[72] becoming the first Reading youth team graduate to gain a full England call-up since the Academy era began in 1998,[73] although he did not make an appearance. On 1 September 2016, he was called up to the senior squad again by Sam Allardyce to replace the injured Fraser Forster for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.[74]

Career statistics

As of match played 21 September 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading 2007–08[75] Premier League 000000—00
2008–09[13] Championship 00—00—00
2010–11[29] Championship 130200000150
2011–12[43] Championship 000010—10
2012–13[53] Premier League 1300010—140
2013–14[76] Championship 4400000—440
2014–15[77] Championship 00—10—10
Total 700203000750
Woking (loan) 2007–08[78] Conference Premier 10———10
Cambridge United (loan) 2007–08[79] Conference Premier 10———10
Team Bath (loan) 2008–09[80] Conference South 2020——40
Aldershot Town (loan) 2008–09[13] League Two 40———40
Yeovil Town (loan) 2009–10[81] League One 440—10—450
Brentford (loan) 2010–11[29] League One 30———30
Leeds United (loan) 2011–12[43] Championship 60———60
Ipswich Town (loan) 2011–12[43] Championship 100———100
Queens Park Rangers 2014–15[77] Premier League 3010——40
Crystal Palace 2015–16[82] Premier League 700000—70
Southampton 2016–17[83] Premier League 0000100010
Southampton U23 2016–17[83] ———1[lower-alpha 1]010
Career total 15105050101620
  1. ↑ Appearance in EFL Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. 1 2 "Academy magic: Alex's story". Reading F.C. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Salisbury City 2–1 Woking". Woking F.C. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Reading Keeper Signs". Cambridge United F.C. 26 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  5. ↑ "Cambridge 0–3 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Alex McCarthy profile". Aldershot Town F.C. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Alex McCarthy comes in to solve Ged Roddy's Bath City keeper crisis". The Post. Bristol. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "'We need a twelfth man' says Team Bath boss Ged Roddy". The Post. Bristol. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Team Bath dumped out of the FA Cup". The Post. Bristol. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Aldershot secure double signing". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  11. ↑ "Exeter 3–2 Aldershot". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  12. ↑ Oliver, Charlie (6 March 2009). "Shots set for battle with Bantams". Aldershot News & Mail. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Yeovil take Royals keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 24 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Yeovil Town 2–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Yeovil Town 2–2 Stockport County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Reading keeper Alex McCarthy agrees Yeovil extension". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Alex McCarthy agrees new Reading contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "McCarthy pens Royals deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "Brentford re-sign Reading goalkeeper Ben Hamer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "2010–11 results". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Report: Royals held by Hornets". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. ↑ Smith, Anthony (25 February 2011). "Impressive McCarthy aiming to keep jersey". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "McCarthy: "I thrive on the pressure"". Reading F.C. 23 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011.
  25. ↑ "Report: Royals fight for 3–3 draw". Reading F.C. 26 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-02.
  26. ↑ "Keegan hails "tremendous" McCarthy". Reading F.C. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "Manchester City 1–0 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  28. ↑ "Boss tells Reading FC stars to party after securing play-offs". Reading Post. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  29. 1 2 3 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  30. ↑ "Leeds United agree loan deal for keeper Alex McCarthy". BBC Sport. 4 November 2011.
  31. ↑ "McCarthy Starts, O'Dea set to miss out". Leeds United A.F.C. 4 November 2011.
  32. ↑ "Clayton stunner secures points". Leeds United A.F.C. 6 November 2011.
  33. ↑ "United romp to emotional success". Leeds United A.F.C. 29 November 2011.
  34. ↑ "Leeds United 2–0 Millwall". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 December 2011.
  35. ↑ "Snoddy spot-kick snatches point". Leeds United A.F.C. 10 December 2011.
  36. ↑ Hay, Phil (12 December 2011). "Leeds United: I'd like to stay on – McCarthy". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  37. ↑ "Leeds United: McCarthy loan extended". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 December 2011.
  38. ↑ "Lonners steeling himself for fight". Leeds United A.F.C. 19 December 2011.
  39. ↑ "Keogh and McCarthy head away from Elland Road". Leeds United A.F.C. 3 January 2012.
  40. ↑ "McCarthy signs new Reading FC deal and joins Ipswich Town on loan". Reading Post. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Ipswich seal keeper deal". Sky Sports. 8 January 2012.
  42. ↑ "Leeds United 3–1 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  43. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  44. ↑ "Reading boss Brian McDermott says keeper Adam Federici dropped for poor form". Daily Express. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  45. ↑ "Reading 1–3 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  46. ↑ Clutton, Graham (7 October 2012). "Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy shows he has England potential as Swansea are denied victory". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  47. ↑ "Impressive Alex McCarthy widely praised". Goalkeeper Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-03-17. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  48. ↑ "McCarthy in doubt for Norwich City clash". Reading Post. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  49. ↑ "McCarthy op a success". Reading F.C. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  50. ↑ "Scintillating stalemate". Reading F.C. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  51. ↑ "Boss on 'world-class' Alex". Reading F.C. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  52. ↑ "Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hails 'staggering' Alex McCarthy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  53. 1 2 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  54. ↑ "Transfer news: QPR sign goalkeeper Alex McCarthy from Reading". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  55. ↑ "QPR 2–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 19 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  56. ↑ "Alex McCarthy: Goalkeeper moves from QPR to Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  57. ↑ "Report: Norwich City 1-3 Crystal Palace". cpfc.co.uk. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  58. ↑ "Alex McCarthy: Southampton sign Crystal Palace goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  59. ↑ "Alex McCarthy profile". Yeovil Town F.C. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  60. ↑ "McCarthy backs up U21 draw". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  61. ↑ "McCarthy gets England under-21s call-up for Macedonia clash". Ciderspace. 4 October 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  62. ↑ "McCarthy gets England call-up for Wembley fixture". Ciderspace. 4 November 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  63. ↑ "McCarthy gets England call-up for Greece visit". Ciderspace. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  64. ↑ "England U21 2–0 Uzbekistan U21". BBC Sport. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  65. ↑ "Pearce picks big squad". The Football Association. 15 March 2011.
  66. ↑ "Joy for McCarthy on U21s debut". Reading F.C. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  67. ↑ King, Dominic (29 March 2011). "Stuart Pearce lets rip after defeat proves a point". Daily Mail. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  68. ↑ "Pearce names squad for Euro 2011". The Football Association. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  69. ↑ "Alex McCarthy profile". The Football Association. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  70. 1 2 "McCarthy makes latest Olympic cut". Reading F.C. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  71. ↑ "Alex McCarthy missed out of GB Olympic squad". Reading Post. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  72. ↑ "Roy calls on McCarthy". The Football Association. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  73. ↑ "McCarthy in England squad". Reading FC. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  74. ↑ "England keeper Fraser Forster replaced by Southampton team-mate Alex McCarthy". BBC. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  75. ↑ "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  76. ↑ "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  77. 1 2 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  78. ↑ Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2008). Non-League Club Directory 2009. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-1-869833-59-6.
  79. ↑ Williams; Williams (eds.). Non-League Club Directory 2009. pp. 48–49.
  80. ↑ "Super-sub Benison sinks Salisbury". Bath Chronicle. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
    "Team Bath 0–2 Maidenhead United". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
    "TeamBath out of FA Cup". Bath Chronicle. 9 November 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
    "TeamBath suffer second home defeat of campaign". SportFocus. 15 November 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  81. ↑ "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  82. ↑ "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  83. 1 2 "Games played by Alex McCarthy in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  84. ↑ "McCarthy named Young Player of the Month". The Football League. 22 April 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2011.

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