Full name Matthew James Doherty 2009–2010 Bohemians Weight 80 kg Number 2 Height 1.82 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Dublin, Ireland Name Matt Doherty Career start 2010 | |
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Date of birth (1992-01-16) 16 January 1992 (age 23) Current team Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (#2 / Defender) Profiles | ||
Matthew James "Matt" Doherty (born 16 January 1992) is an Irish footballer who plays as a right back for English club Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Republic of Ireland national team. He can also play as a Left back
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Doherty was signed by Wolves in 2010, who played his Irish club Bohemians during pre-season. He gained senior football experience with loan spells at Hibernian and Bury, respectively, before beginning to regularly feature in Wolves' first team. After representing Republic of Ireland U21's, Doherty received his first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad in 2016.
Club career
Doherty was spotted by Wolverhampton Wanderers while playing for Bohemians in a pre-season game against them in July 2010. Despite never having played a first team game for Bohs, he was invited for a trial and soon signed a two-year deal (with the option of a further year) to move to the English club for a reported £75,000 fee.
The defender made his Wolves debut on 8 January 2011 in an FA Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers, before making his Premier League debut on 24 September 2011 at Liverpool.
In January 2012 Doherty was loaned to Scottish Premier League club Hibernian for the latter part of the 2011–12 season. Here, he played in every defensive position, although his preference was right-back. After making his debut in a 1–0 victory against Kilmarnock on 4 February in the Scottish Cup, he went on to make a total of 17 appearances for the club, in which he scored twice. His final game of the loan spell was the 2012 Scottish Cup Final, against Edinburgh derby rivals Hearts, where Hibs lost 1–5. Doherty's post-match comments in interviews and on Twitter were criticised by some Hibernian fans, and Doherty later apologised for the team's performance.
In October 2012, Doherty was again loaned out, joining League One club Bury in a three-month deal. Two days later, Doherty made his debut for Bury, in a 0–1 defeat to Swindon Town, in the first of 22 appearances for the club. He established himself in the first team, playing in the right-back position and earning praise from manager Kevin Blackwell. However financial troubles at Bury meant that their loan players, such as Doherty, were sent back to their parent clubs in January 2013.
With Dean Saunders appointed Wolves manager in January 2013, Doherty was soon promoted to becoming the club's regular right-back and he featured throughout the final months of the 2012–13 season as the team battled unsuccessfully to avoid a second consecutive relegation. Under Saunders' successor, Kenny Jackett, Doherty has retained his place in the Wolves' team and, in September 2013, signed a new contract.
Doherty was the only player to miss their penalty in Wolves' FA Cup third round replay penalty shootout defeat to Fulham on 13 January 2015.
His goal against Fulham at home during the 2015–16 campaign was awarded the club's best goal of the season.
He is signed to Wolves until summer 2018 (with the club holding the option of a further year).
International career
Doherty played for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team. In May 2012, he was put on standby for the under-21s.
Doherty received his first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad on 11 March 2016 for Ireland's friendlies against Switzerland and Slovakia.