Paul Gallagher

Blackburn Rovers

Gallagher made his debut performance as a substitute in a 2–0 win over the 2001–02 Premier League champions Arsenal on 15 March 2003, as a replacement for Dwight Yorke. He scored his first goal in a 4–0 win over Birmingham City in the 2003–04 season. On 21 February 2004, in an away game against Charlton Athletic, Gallagher assisted goalkeeper Brad Friedel to his only career goal from open play in the 90th minute. Friedel's goal equalised the game at 2–2, but seconds later Charlton scored again through Claus Jensen and went on to win the match 3–2.

Loan moves

He spent almost all of the 2005–06 season on loan to Stoke City. He played most of his 36 games on the left or right wing, scoring 12 goals. Against Southampton on 15 April 2006, he exchanged a one-two on the edge of the area with Adam Rooney before drilling home a thunderous thirty-yard drive into the far top corner of the net. He was recalled by Blackburn in April 2006 with three games remaining in the Premier League season, coming on as a late substitute in the final game of the season, being involved in the creation of the final goal of the game. On transfer deadline day 31 August 2007, Gallagher signed a six-month loan deal with Championship side Preston North End, after being linked with a return to Stoke. He scored once during his spell at Preston, scoring the winner in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday. The following January, he moved from Blackburn back to Stoke City on loan…

On 10 May 2021, it was announced that Gallagher would be retiring from football and would be stepping into the role of first-team coach at Preston, assisting new permanent head coach Frankie McAvoy, a role he had been in since March of that year. Gallagher left Preston in July 2023 and was appointed first-team coach at Stoke City working under Alex Neil. On 10 December 2023, Neil left his position at Stoke, and Gallagher was appointed as caretaker manager. Gallagher oversaw two EFL Championship draws against Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion before he reverted to first-team coach under new manager Steven Schumacher. Gallagher left his role at Stoke in June 2024.

Barrow

On 2 January 2026, Gallagher was appointed head coach of League Two club Barrow on an eighteen-month contract, with the option for a further year. Prior to the appointment, he had been working at the club on an interim basis, supporting caretaker manager Neil McDonald On 11 February 2026, Gallagher was dismissed after losing all five of his matches in charge, with the club sitting three points above the relegation zone at the time of his departure. His five consecutive defeats without a win represented the lowest win percentage of any Barrow manager to take charge of at least five matches in the club's 125-year history.

Gallagher's form for Blackburn Rovers in January 2004 impressed Berti Vogts, then manager of Scotland, who described him as "very quick, strong and with good body movement." He made his international debut on 18 February 2004 as a 67th-minute substitute in a 4–0 defeat against Wales.

Club

International