Sheehan: Alan Michael Anthony (Alan)

2008-2010 (Player Details)

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Born: Athlone, Republic of Ireland: 14-09-1986

Debut v Tranmere Rovers (h): 02-02-2008

5’11” 11st 2lb (2008)

Sheehan joined Leicester City in July 2003 after being spotted by a scout playing for Belvedere FC. He became a regular in both the Academy Under-Nineteens and the Reserves, playing at left-back. He spent two months on loan at Mansfield Town from September 2006 to get regular first-team experience and he made nine League starts and one appearance from the bench and one Cup appearance. A free-kick specialist, Sheehan made his breakthrough into the first team when Craig Levein named him in the starting line-up for City's final game of the 2004/05 season against Plymouth Argyle. The Eighteen-year-old picked up the Academy Player of the Season at the club's 2005 awards ceremony. Sheehan signed a new two-year contract with the club that would keep him at the Walkers Stadium until the end of the 2007-08 season. He scored his first ever competitive goal for Leicester in a 4-1 win against Watford with a deflected Twenty-five-yard shot, and his second in a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest with a classy free-kick. Following Leicester's 2-0 victory over Bristol City on 24th November 2007, Sheehan was named in the Championship Team of the Week two days later, alongside Stephen Clemence and Richard Stearman. On 31st January 2008 he joined Leeds United on loan for the rest of the season, making his debut in a 2-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers on 2nd February 2008 when he replaced Ben Parker at left back. However, after just four games in the role, Leeds boss Gary McAllister saw the need to provide extra competition in the position by signing Aston Villa's Stephen O'Halloran also on loan. Despite O'Halloran suffering a serious injury in the warm up to his debut at Swindon Town, Sheehan still lost his Leeds place, this time to Frazer Richardson. Sheehan looked set to leave Leicester City after revealing that he had rejected an offer of a new contract prior to signing for Leeds. He scored his first goal for the Yorkshire club in their 1-0 win at Doncaster on 1st April 2008, with a trademark free-kick from twenty-five yards. A red card at Yeovil for a two-footed tackle meant he was suspended for the play-off finals. On 1st July 2008 he signed a three year contract, at a fee fixed by tribunal, to make his move to Leeds permanent. He had made Twenty-five starts and four further matches from the bench and scored twice in all games for the Foxes. While at Leeds on loan he had made ten starts and scored once. Sheehan endured a tough start to the 2008/2009 season. After scoring a long range goal against Crewe Alexandra, he was sent off for another two-footed tackle in a game against Swindon Town. This cost him his place in the team due to suspension and was replaced by Aidan White. He had a further setback after he was injured and forced watch from the sidelines for weeks. To make it worse his injury was aggravated in an attempted come back against Rotherham United. On 23rd March 2009 he joined Crewe Alexandra on loan for the rest of the 2008/2009 season, making his debut a day later in the game at Milton Keynes Dons. He returned to Leeds after making three starts in the League. In the pre-season friendly against Blackburn Rovers he made two high profile errors, giving away a penalty and coming close to giving away a second penalty because of ill-judged tackles. Ben Parker was preferred to him when the season started and even when he was injured in the first game, Andrew Hughes was preferred as his deputy. On 1st September 2009 Sheehan joined Oldham Athletic on a one month's loan. He made his debut for Oldham against Hartlepool United on 4th September 2009. He scored his first Oldham goal against MK Dons on 29th September 2009. He remained at Oldham until 2nd November 2009 and scored once in eight League games and one in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. He was next loaned to Swindon Town and scored once in twenty-two League starts and two more in each of the F.A. Cup and the play-offs in which Swindon went down to Millwall in the final. He had not played a game for Leeds in the 2009-10 season and it came as no surprise when he was put on the transfer list on 14th May 2010. Sheehan made appearances for his country at Under-Nineteen level and was also called up by the Irish FA to attend a training camp before making his international debut for the Under-Twenty-ones against Israel in June 2005. He now has now scored once and has five caps to his credit at Under-Twenty-one level. On 31st August 2010 his contract was cancelled by mutual consent, leaving hom free to sign for Swindon Town on a one year contract, after scoring twice in twenty-three starts and one substitute appearance, while at Elland Road.