Darragh Lenihan

Blackburn Rovers

Born in Dunboyne, Ireland, Lenihan started playing football when he joined his local team Dunboyne A.F.C. at four years old. At the age of 10, Lenihan joined his older brothers at Belvedere. While progressing through Belvedere's youth team, he was scouted by Middlesbrough and Derby County, who offered him a contract. However, Lenihan rejected the move, stating that it wasn't a right move for him at the time. When he was sixteen years old, Lenihan signed for Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2011. On 20 April 2012, Lenihan played the first leg in the final of the FA Youth Cup, as the academy loss 4–0 against Chelsea Youth. However, his first two years at the club were "blighted by a series of serious injuries". While progressing at the academy, both coach Eric Kinder and Colin Hendry persuaded him to switch from playing in the central midfield position to centre–back position, a position he plays today. A year later on 1 July 2013, Lenihan signed a one-year contract with the club. In the second–half of the 2013–14 season, he appeared twice as an unused substitute in Blackburn Rovers' first team. On 1 July 2014, Lenihan signed a one-year contract extension with the club for the second time.

Loan to Burton Albion

On 21 October 2014, Lenihan signed for Burton Albion on a month's loan deal. He made his league debut on 25 October 2014, coming off the bench against Stevenage, as the Brewers loss 1–0. On 24 November 2014, Lenihan's loan spell with…

Youth career

In September 2010, Lenihan was called up to the Republic of Ireland U17 for the first time. He made his under-17 side debut, starting a match, in a 3–1 win against Malta U17 on 25 September 2010. Lenihan played in the central-midfield position, in a follow–up match, in a 2–0 win against Albania U17. Lenihan went on to make five appearances for the Republic of Ireland U17. In September 2012, Lenihan was called up by Republic of Ireland U19 in September 2012. He made his only under-19 appearance for Republic of Ireland, in a 1–1 draw against Latvia U19 on 8 September 2012. Lenihan was called up by Republic of Ireland U21 for the first time in May 2014. He captained the under-21 side on his debut and led the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Qatar U23. He later captained Republic of Ireland U21 five more times in 2015. Lenihan then captained two more times for the under-21 side in early–2016. He went on to make fifteen appearances for Republic of Ireland U21.

Senior career

His return from injury at Blackburn Rovers earned Lenihan a call-up to the Republic of Ireland for the first time in March 2018. However, he appeared as an unused substitute, in a 1–0 loss against Turkey on 23 March 2018. On 2 June 2018, Lenihan made his debut for the Ireland senior team in a 2–1 win over the USA in Dublin, he was credited with the assist for Ireland's opening goal scored by Graham Burke after a Lenihan volley which was on target. Lenihan became the first person…

As of match played 9 December 2023

International

As of match played 16 June 2022

During his early career at Blackburn Rovers, Lenihan shared houses with his former teammate, John O'Sullivan. Growing up, he was a Manchester United supporter and idolised Roy Keane. Lenihan said he watches documentaries, Formula 1 and the big boxing fights in his spare time. During his time at Blackburn Rovers, he partake in charity work and local communities. In June 2023, Lenihan earned class honours in sports science at Manchester Metropolitan University. Lenihan is married to his wife, Shauna, and together they have two children.