Niall Keown

Niall Martin Keown (born 5 April 1995) is a professional football coach and former player, who works as a youth coach at Oxford United. Keown played as a defender, beginning his career with Reading before joining Partick Thistle in 2017, initially on loan. Born in England, he has represented the Republic of Ireland under-21 team. He is the son of former Arsenal and England international Martin Keown.

Niall Keown

Personal information
Full name	Niall Martin Keown[1]
Date of birth	(1995-04-05) 5 April 1995 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth	Oxford, England
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
2011–2013	Reading
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2013–2017	Reading	2	(0)
2017	→ Partick Thistle (loan)	14	(0)
2017–2019	Partick Thistle	44	(2)
2019	→ St Johnstone (loan)	0	(0)
Total		60	(2)
International career‡
2016	Republic of Ireland U21	2	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 07:53, 29 January 2019 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17:46, 19 April 2016 (UTC)

Club career

Reading

Keown joined the Reading Academy in 2011.^[3]

He made his debut, for Reading in their 2–1 Championship victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 10 March 2015, coming on as a 92nd-minute substitute for Danny Williams.^[4]

Keown signed a new three-year contract with Reading on 14 July 2015.^[5]

Partick Thistle

In January 2017, Keown went on trial with Partick Thistle, featuring for them in their friendly against Lokeren,^[6] before signing on loan with Partick Thistle for the remainder of the season on 24 January 2017.^[7]

On 1 July 2017, Keown moved to Partick Thistle permanently on a two-year contract from Reading for an undisclosed fee.^[8][9][10] Following Partick Thistle's relegation at the end of the 2017–18 season, Keown was put up for sale by Thistle.^[11]

With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2018–19 season, Keown was loaned to St Johnstone in January 2019.^[12]

International career

In March 2015, Keown was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad being eligible through his grandmother, having previously been a back up for the England U18s.^[13] He is also eligible to play for Northern Ireland as his grandfather was from County Fermanagh. He has indicated he wishes to switch international allegiance and represent Northern Ireland.^[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 10 February 2019^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Reading	2014–15[16]	Championship	2	0	0	0	0	0	–		2	0
	2015–16[17]		0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	2016–17[18]		0	0	0	0	0	0	–		0	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Partick Thistle (loan)	2016–17[18]	Scottish Premiership	14	0	2	0	0	0	–		16	0
Partick Thistle	2017–18[19]	Scottish Premiership	30	2	1	0	2	0	–		33	2
	2018–19[20]	Scottish Championship	14	0	0	0	1	0	1[a]	0	16	0
	Total		58	2	3	0	3	0	1	0	65	2
St Johnstone (loan)	2018–19[20]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	1	0	–		–		1	0
Career total			60	2	4	0	3	0	1	0	68	2

1. One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Reading U21

• U21 Premier League Cup: 2013–14^[21]

Personal life

Niall is the son of former England international Martin Keown. Through his paternal grandmother, he is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland,^[13] and he is also eligible to play for Northern Ireland because his paternal grandfather was born in County Fermanagh.^[22]