Aaron Muirhead

Aaron Muirhead
Muirhead with Thistle
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-08-30) 30 August 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Dumfries, Scotland
Position(s) Centre Back
Team information
Current team
 Partick Thistle
Number 5
Youth career
Dalbeattie Star
Ayr United
Queen of the South
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2012 Annan Athletic 92 (9)
2012–2014 Partick Thistle 55 (7)
2015–2019 Falkirk 110 (10)
2019–2022 Ayr United 84 (9)
2022– Partick Thistle 69 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:05, 17 November 2024 (UTC)

Aaron Muirhead (born 30 August 1990)[1] is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle. Muirhead has previously played for Annan Athletic, Partick Thistle and Falkirk, after progressing through Ayr United's youth academy.

Career

Muirhead started his career with Ayr United's youth academy, before signing for Annan Athletic in November 2008, going on to play in 127 matches and scoring 15 goals.[1][2] Muirhead signed for Partick Thistle in May 2012.[1][2]

Muirhead is the nephew of Davie Irons, who also played for the Firhill club.[2]

Partick Thistle

Muirhead signed for the Harry Wraggs during the 2012 close season from the Galabankies. In the 2013 Scottish Challenge Cup Final versus his home town club, Queen of the South, Muirhead missed a penalty in the defeat and was sent off for head butting Queens captain, Chris Higgins.[3] Muirhead received a four match suspension following this incident.[4]

Muirhead scored his first Premiership goal for newly promoted Partick Thistle in a 1–1 home draw with Hearts, scoring an 85th-minute penalty.[5] Muirhead then scored his second goal of the season with another penalty versus Kilmarnock in another 1–1 home draw.[6] Muirhead scored his third goal of the season, again with a penalty to make it 1–1 in a 4–1 defeat away to Dundee United.[7] Muirhead also scored a penalty in the Scottish League Cup win versus Cowdenbeath as the Harry Wraggs won 3-1 after extra time.[8]

Falkirk

After leaving Thistle by mutual consent, Muirhead signed for Falkirk in January 2015 alongside former Thistle team-mate Mark Kerr.[9] Muirhead departed the club on 23 January 2019, with his contract being terminated by mutual consent.[10]

Ayr United

On 24 January 2019, Muirhead signed for Ayr United on a contract until the end of the 2019–20 season.[11]

Partick Thistle (second spell)

Muirhead returned to Thistle during the 2022 close season.[12]

Muirhead scored his first goal on his return to Thistle, scoring the equaliser with a curling shot into the top corner in a league cup group stage game against Kilmarnock.[13]

Muirhead was part of the Thistle squad that made it to the Scottish Premiership play off final, which they eventually lost on penalties to Ross County, meaning Thistle remained in the Scottish Championship. Following this Muirhead signed a one-year extension to his Thistle contract.[14]

Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Muirhead triggered an appearance based contract extension, which added a year to his Thistle deal.[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 May 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Annan Athletic 2008–09[16][17] Scottish Third Division 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
2009–10[18][19][20] 23 0 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 28 0
2010–11[21][19][22][23] 31 2 4 1 1 0 5[b] 2 41 5
2011–12[24][19] 27 7 3 1 1 0 3[a] 1 34 9
Total 92 9 8 2 3 0 11 3 114 14
Partick Thistle 2012–13[25][19] Scottish First Division 30 4 2 0 2 0 5[a] 0 39 4
2013–14[26] Scottish Premiership 20 3 0 0 1 1 — 21 4
2014–15[27] 5 0 0 0 1 0 — 6 0
Total 55 7 2 0 4 1 5 0 66 8
Falkirk 2014–15[27] Scottish Championship 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2015–16[28][19] 31 0 2 0 3 1 6[c] 0 42 1
2016–17[29] 26 4 1 0 2 0 2[d] 0 31 4
2017–18[30] 33 5 3 1 4 1 3[a] 0 43 7
2018–19[31] 17 1 1 0 3 0 2[a] 0 23 1
Total 110 10 9 1 12 2 13 0 144 13
Ayr United 2018–19[31] Scottish Championship 9 0 0 0 0 0 2[e] 0 11 0
Career total 266 26 19 3 19 3 31 3 335 35
  1. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. ^ One appearance and a goal in the Scottish Challenge Cup; four appearances and a goal in the Second Division play-offs
  3. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup; Four appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs
  5. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Premiership play-offs

Honours

Partick Thistle
2012–13

References

  1. ^ a b c "Aaron Muirhead Archived 17 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine", ptfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2012
  2. ^ a b c Wilson, Fraser (2012) "Partick Thistle Signing Aaron Muirhead Following In Uncle's Footsteps With Jags Switch", The Glaswegian, 16 May 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012
  3. ^ Miller, Stevie (7 April 2013). "Queen of the South 1–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Aaron Muirhead hit with extended ban after cup final headbutt". Daily Record. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Partick Thistle 1 Hearts 1". Sky Sports. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Partick Thistle 1 Kilmarnock 1: Jags fail to steal win despite Muirhead penalty". Evening Times. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  7. ^ Crawford, Kenny (23 November 2013). "Dundee United 4–1 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Partick Thistle 3–1 Cowdenbeath". Partick Thistle F.C. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  9. ^ "Falkirk: Mark Kerr and Aaron Muirhead sign for the Bairns". BBC Sport. 3 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  10. ^ "AARON MUIRHEAD DEPARTS". Falkirk F.C. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  11. ^ McConnell, Stewart (24 January 2019). "Aaron Muirhead is snapped up by Ayr United". Ayr Advertiser. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  12. ^ "Aaron Muirhead signs pre-contract agreement with the club". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Kilmarnock v Partick Thistle". Retrieved 6 August 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  14. ^ "Aaron Muirhead signs contract extension until 2024". Partick Thistle FC. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  15. ^ https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/aaron-muirhead-triggers-contract-extension/
  16. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  17. ^ "Annan Athletic 1–1 Stenhousemuir". ESPN. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  19. ^ a b c d e Aaron Muirhead at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Cove Rangers 2–1 Annan Athletic". BBC Sport. 24 October 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  22. ^ "Preston Athletic 0–0 Annan Athletic". ESPN. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Annan Athletic 5–0 Preston Athletic". ESPN. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  24. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  25. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  26. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Aaron Muirhead in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2019.