Matthew Connolly

Arsenal

Born in Barnet, London, Connolly started his career as a youth at Arsenal, eventually making the reserve side. In September 2006 he was made captain of Arsenal's reserves. He made his first-team debut for Arsenal on 24 October 2006, starting a League Cup third round match against West Bromwich Albion. On 23 November 2006, Arsenal announced that Connolly was going on loan to AFC Bournemouth until 2 January 2007. In total, he played seven games for Bournemouth (five in League One and two in the FA Cup), and scored his first goal at senior level in a 2–0 win over Nottingham Forest, on 5 December 2006. He returned to Arsenal as scheduled at the start of January 2007, and came on as a substitute for Armand Traoré against Liverpool in the League Cup Quarter-finals on 9 January. On 9 July 2007, Arsenal announced that Connolly would be spending the whole of the 2007–08 season on loan to Colchester United, although he was eventually recalled midway through the loan on 2 January 2008.

Queens Park Rangers

The same day, his transfer to Queens Park Rangers was announced, after a lack of first-team opportunities were offered by Arsenal. His debut came on 5 January, in a 1–0 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup. He scored his first goal for QPR against Blackpool on 16 January 2010. In the meantime, in November, he received his first call-up to the England U-21 squad, where he joined Arsenal teammate Theo Walcott. His second goal came on 6 March against West Bromwich…

Connolly made three appearances for the England under-19 side in 2006, playing in the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite qualification matches.

Connolly attended Nicholas Breakspear School in St Albans.

Queens Park Rangers

Football League Championship: 2010–11 Reading

Football League Championship: 2011–12 Cardiff City

Football League Championship: 2012–13 Watford

Football League Championship runner-up: 2014–15 Individual

Cardiff City Player of the Year: 2015–16