Sam Curtis Explained

Sam Curtis
Full Name:Sam Curtis[1]
Birth Date:1 December 2005
Birth Place:Navan, Ireland
Height:1.85 m
Position:Right-back, centre-back
Currentclub:Peterborough United (on loan from Sheffield United)
Clubnumber:2
Youthclubs1:Parkvilla
Youthyears2:–2019
Youthclubs2:St Kevin's Boys
Youthyears3:2019–2021
Youthclubs3:Shamrock Rovers
Youthyears4:2021–2022
Youthclubs4:St Patrick's Athletic
Years1:2020
Clubs1:Shamrock Rovers II
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2024
Clubs2:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps2:53
Goals2:3
Years3:2024–
Clubs3:Sheffield United
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2024–
Clubs4:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2019–2020
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U15
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2021–2022
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2021–2022
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U18
Nationalcaps3:5
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2022–2023
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps4:7
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2023–
Nationalteam5:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps5:10
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:21:55, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:16:54, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Sam Curtis (born 1 December 2005) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for EFL League One club Peterborough United on loan from EFL Championship club Sheffield United. He began his senior career with League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. He is the League of Ireland's youngest ever player.[2]

Club career

Youth career

A native of Navan, County Meath, Curtis began playing with his local side Parkvilla, before moving to top Dublin youth side, St Kevin's Boys before moving to the academy of League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. In June 2019, he captained the Dublin District Schoolboys League representative team to winning the prestigious Kennedy Cup.[3] While at Rovers, he made his debut in senior football for the club's reserve team Shamrock Rovers II in Ireland's second tier, the League of Ireland First Division.[4] His debut came on 17 October 2020 in a 3–1 win over Athlone Town at age 14, making him the youngest player in League of Ireland history.[5] He spent time on trial at AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2021.[6]

St Patrick's Athletic

2021 season

On 25 July 2021, it was announced that Curtis, as well as his brother Ben, had signed for St Patrick's Athletic, where they would initially play with the club's under 19 side.[7] Curtis made his senior debut for the club came on 13 August 2021, replacing the injured Lee Desmond in injury time of a 2–1 win over Waterford at Richmond Park, making him the club's youngest ever player at 15 years and 255 days old (this record has since been taken by Mason Melia in 2023).[8] [9] He made his UEFA Youth League debut on 29 September 2021 in a 2–1 loss to Serbian side Crvena Zvezda.[10]

2022 season

Both Sam and brother Ben Curtis signed their first professional contracts on 20 January 2022.[11] [12] [13] Curtis' first start for the club came on 6 May 2022 in a 4–0 win away to Drogheda United at United Park.[14] His form in May 2022 saw him voted as the club's Player of the Month by supporters.[15] His first appearances in European competition came in the summer of 2022 when he came off the bench in a 1–1 draw with NŠ Mura of Slovenia[16] and in a 1–0 away win against Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa Conference League.[17] He won the clubs' Player of the Month award for the second time in the season, for September 2022.[18] He made a total of 20 appearances in all competitions during his first full season at the club.[4] His form in his breakthrough season at the club led to reported interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

2023 season

Curtis started the 2023 season off well, making the Right wingback position his own following the departure of Barry Cotter in the offseason. He started the first 6 games of the season in the position, leading up to the March international break which earned him his first callup to the Republic of Ireland U21 side with Pats assistant manager Jon Daly tipping him for a bright future in the game.[25] He earned the club's Player of the Month award for his performances in March 2023.[26] On 19 May 2023, Curtis scored the first goal of his senior career, heading home a Jake Mulraney corner in a 1–0 Dublin derby win away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.[27] He was voted as the club's Player of the Month for the second time in the season for May 2023.[28] On 30 June 2023, Curtis scored a header from a Jake Mulraney corner to give his side a 3-goal lead in an eventual 7–0 win over UCD at Richmond Park.[29] On 4 August 2023, he scored his 3rd goal of the season, volleying home his sides second goal in a 2–0 win away to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds, in what was his 50th appearance for the club in all competitions.[30] On 28 October 2023, he was named as the club's Young Player of the Year for 2023.[31] On 12 November 2023, Curtis was part of the starting XI in the 2023 FAI Cup Final, in a 3–1 win over Bohemians in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium.[32] On 15 November 2023, it was announced that Curtis had been included in the PFAI Team of the Year and was one of the 3 nominees for the PFAI Young Player of the Year award, alongside James Clarke and Jack Moylan.[33] On 2 December 2023, he was named PFAI Young Player of the Year for 2023, becoming the youngest ever player to win the award.[34] [35]

Sheffield United

On 25 January 2024, Curtis signed for Premier League club Sheffield United for an undisclosed international training compensation fee, on a contract until 2027.[36] [37] [38] He was named in the squad for the first time on 25 February 2024, but remained an unused substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.[39] On 11 May 2024, he made his debut for the club, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute of a 1–0 loss away to Everton in the Premier League.[40]

Peterborough United loan

On 2 August 2024, Curtis joined EFL League One side Peterborough United on a season long loan deal.[41] He made his debut for the club on 10 August 2024, in a 2–0 loss at home to Huddersfield Town on the opening day of the season.[42]

International career

Curtis featured for the Republic of Ireland U15 side in 2019, captaining the side at age 13.[43] He was a prominent player for the Republic of Ireland U17s during their qualification campaign over 2021–2022, scoring 2 goals in 6 appearances.[44] [45] [46] [47] Curtis captained the Republic of Ireland U18 side over 2021–2022.[48] His first call up to the Republic of Ireland U19 team came in September 2022.[9] Curtis received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 side came in March 2023, for a friendly against Iceland U21, despite still being just 17 years old.[49] [50] He played the full 90 minutes in the game as his side came from behind to win 2–1 after playing an hour with 10 men.[51] On 20 June 2023, he was named as Republic of Ireland U18 Player of the Year for 2022 at the FAI International Football Awards.[52]

Career statistics

[4]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shamrock Rovers II2020LOI First Division2020
St Patrick's Athletic2021LOI Premier Division100010
2022180002000200
2023343302000393
Total533304000603
Sheffield United2023–24Premier League100010
2024–25EFL Championship0000
Total10000010
Peterborough United (loan)2024–25EFL League One1000100020
Career total57330104000653

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Latest updated Premier League squad lists for 2023/24 . Premier League . 8 February 2024 . 9 February 2024.
  2. Web site: ‘I’ve seen kids go at 16 and come back a year later’ – Sam Curtis ready for final goodbye after LOI journey. 12 November 2023. www.independent.ie.
  3. Web site: Local boys help keep DDSL top. 20 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Republic of Ireland - S. Curtis - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. ie.soccerway.com.
  5. Web site: Fourteen-year-old Sam Curtis makes senior debut for Shamrock Rovers. Garry. Doyle. 17 October 2020. The42.
  6. Web site: French club Rennes make offer for St Pat's star. John. Fallon. 26 June 2021. Irish Examiner.
  7. Web site: St Pats sign Sam Curtis from Shamrock Rovers. John. Fallon. 25 July 2021. Irish Examiner.
  8. Web site: Saints keep pace with Hoops following Waterford victory. Daire. Walsh. 14 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Curtis Called Up To Ireland U19 Squad. www.stpatsfc.com.
  10. Web site: St Pat's rally from two goals down but fall just short in Uefa Youth League first leg. Dave. Donnelly. 29 September 2021. The42.
  11. Web site: Curtis brothers sign professional contracts with Saints. Seán. O'Connor. extratime.com.
  12. Web site: Curtis brothers sign pro deals with St Patrick's Athletic. Meath Chronicle.
  13. Web site: Curtis brothers commit to St. Pat's with pro deals. LMFM.
  14. Web site: St Pat's wonderkid Sam Curtis tipped for a bright career. Paul. O'Hehir. 11 May 2022. Irish Mirror.
  15. Web site: Log in or sign up to view. www.facebook.com.
  16. Web site: Forrester fires St Pat's to first-leg draw with Mura. Johnny. Ward. 21 July 2022. www.rte.ie.
  17. Web site: Late goal sees St Pat's earn famous win in Bulgaria. Paul. Fennessy. 4 August 2022. The42.
  18. Web site: x.com. X (formerly Twitter).
  19. Web site: Manchester City tracking St Pat's teenage star Curtis. Johnny. Ward. 10 October 2022. www.rte.ie.
  20. Web site: City scouts dispatched to watch Saints' wonderkid Curtis. John. Fallon. 13 October 2022. Irish Examiner.
  21. Web site: Chelsea to rival Manchester City in hunt for St Pat's wonderkid Sam Curtis. John. Fallon. 2 November 2022. Irish Examiner.
  22. Web site: Man City Interested In Signing St. Pat's Teenage Sensation Sam Curtis. Colman. Stanley. Balls.ie.
  23. Web site: Man City 'line up offer' for teenage sensation Curtis. Matthew. Hobkinson. 15 October 2022. Manchester Evening News.
  24. Web site: Man City racing to sign Sam Curtis after trial with giants - sources. 14 October 2022. Football Insider.
  25. Web site: St Pat’s 17-year-old sensation Sam Curtis tipped for bright future. independent.
  26. Web site: x.com. X (formerly Twitter).
  27. Web site: Teenage star Sam Curtis lifts Jon Daly’s Saints to Tolka Park triumph. 19 May 2023. Independent.ie.
  28. Web site: x.com. X (formerly Twitter).
  29. Web site: 15-year-old Mason Melia becomes youngest Saints scorer in rout of UCD. June 30, 2023. Independent.ie.
  30. Web site: Saints punish Sligo mistakes to close gap at the top. David. Goulden. 4 August 2023. www.rte.ie.
  31. Web site: 2023 Awards Night Winners. www.stpatsfc.com.
  32. Web site: FAI Cup final recap: Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's. James. Fenton. 12 November 2023. www.rte.ie.
  33. Web site: PFAI Team of Year includes one Shamrock Rovers player. 15 November 2023. www.rte.ie.
  34. Web site: Clean sweep for St Pat’s at PFAI awards as Chris Forrester and Sam Curtis claim Player and Young Player of the Year gongs. 2 December 2023. Independent.ie.
  35. Web site: Curtis Named PFAI Young Player Of The Year. www.stpatsfc.com.
  36. Web site: Sam Curtis Joins Sheffield United. www.stpatsfc.com.
  37. Web site: Exciting youngster joins Blades. Sheffield United. FC. 25 January 2024. Sheffield United FC.
  38. Web site: Sheff Utd sign Republic U21 defender Curtis. www.bbc.co.uk.
  39. Web site: Meath teen Sam Curtis on the bench as struggling Sheffield United lose at Wolves. Press. Association. 25 February 2024. The 42.
  40. Web site: Teenager Sam Curtis makes Premier League debut for Sheffield United. 11 May 2024. Irish Independent.
  41. Web site: Sheffield United’s Irish teen Sam Curtis is going out on a season-long loan to League One’s Peterborough. 2 August 2024. Irish Independent.
  42. Web site: A disappointing start to the League One season for Peterborough United as Huddersfield Town ease to victory.
  43. Web site: 2019 Review: Ireland U15 | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  44. Web site: MU17 | Review of 2022 | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  45. Web site: Sam Curtis in Republic of Ireland u-17 panel. Meath Chronicle.
  46. Web site: Sam and Ben Curtis add to international experience. Meath Chronicle.
  47. Web site: Ireland's U17 Euro hopes end despite fight-back. 29 March 2022. www.rte.ie.
  48. Web site: Curtis looking to lead Irish to more success. Meath Chronicle.
  49. Web site: PREVIEW | Ireland U21 v Iceland U21 | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.
  50. Web site: Saints Named In U21 Squad. www.stpatsfc.com.
  51. Web site: Cannon and Kenny strike as 10-man Ireland overcome Iceland. Dylan. O'Connell. 26 March 2023. The42.
  52. Web site: Winners unveiled at the 33rd FAI International Awards | Football Association of Ireland. www.fai.ie.