Liam Patrick Kelly (born 23 January 1996) is a Scottish professional footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell. Kelly has previously played for Rangers, East Fife, Livingston and Queens Park Rangers. He has also represented Scotland in youth internationals.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Liam Patrick Kelly[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1996-01-23) 23 January 1996 (age 26) | ||
Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Motherwell | ||
Number | 1 | ||
Youth career | |||
2006–2015 | Rangers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2018 | Rangers | 0 | (0) |
2016 | → East Fife (loan) | 16 | (0) |
2016–2017 | → Livingston (loan) | 34 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Livingston | 36 | (0) |
2019–2021 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 | (0) |
2021 | → Motherwell (loan) | 18 | (0) |
2021– | Motherwell | 38 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2011–2012 | Scotland U16[3] | 3 | (0) |
2012 | Scotland U17[3] | 5 | (0) |
2012–2015 | Scotland U19[3] | 11 | (0) |
2016 | Scotland U21[3] | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 March 2019 |
Kelly joined Rangers aged ten years-old and played in the club's youth sides, notably scoring the final penalty during Rangers under-17s Glasgow Cup win in 2012.[4][5]
After training with the first-team for the majority of the 2014–15 season and featuring on the bench, Kelly signed a contract extension on 25 February 2015, until the summer of 2018.[6]
On 8 January 2016, Kelly joined East Fife in Scottish League Two on a six-month loan.[7] During his time at Bayview Stadium, Kelly played in 16 league matches and was part of the side which won the League Two title.[8] Upon returning to Rangers, Kelly travelled to the US with the Rangers first-team for a pre-season training camp.[9] However, on 15 July 2016, he was loaned out to the then Scottish League One team Livingston until January 2017.[10] He made his debut for Livi the next day in a League Cup match against St Mirren.[11]
Kelly moved to Livingston, where he had previously been on loan, for an undisclosed fee in June 2018.[12] He played regularly for Livingston in the 2018–19 season, but then invoked a release clause in his contract.[13]
On 14 June 2019, Kelly signed for Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.[14] He made his debut on 13 August 2019, in an EFL Cup match against Bristol City saving two penalties in a 5–4 penalty shootout win.
On 6 January 2021, Kelly moved on loan to Motherwell for the remainder of the season.[15]
On 5 July 2021, Kelly returned to Motherwell on a permanent transfer from Queens Park Rangers, signing a three-year contract.[16]
Kelly has represented Scotland at various age levels, up to an including the under-21 team.[3]
Kelly received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in March 2019 for games against Kazakhstan and San Marino.[17]
Kenny Miller, who played alongside Kelly at Rangers and was also his player-manager at Livi, said of him in 2018: "He's excellent with the ball at his feet. He's a proper modern-day goalkeeper".[18]
He is the brother of defender Sean Kelly.[19]
Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Rangers | 2015–16 | Scottish Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
East Fife (loan) | 2015–16 | Scottish League Two | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
Livingston (loan) | 2016–17 | Scottish League One | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
Livingston | 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 42 | 0 | |
Queens Park Rangers | 2019–20 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 22 | 0 | |
2020–21 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
Motherwell (loan) | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 18 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
Motherwell | 2021–22 | Scottish Premiership | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |
Career total | 145 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 0 |
Motherwell F.C. – current squad | |
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