Charlie Mulgrew

Charles Patrick Mulgrew (born 6 March 1986) is a Scottish former professional footballer who currently plays as a centre-back for Doncaster City.

Mulgrew began his career at Celtic, during which time he spent time on loan at Dundee United.

He then played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southend United on loan and Aberdeen.

Having progressed through Celtic's youth system alongside Aiden McGeady, Mulgrew turned professional in July 2002.

Originally playing at centre back, he was soon encouraged to switch to left back due to the shortage of players in that position at the club.

He won the Scottish Youth Cup with the club in 2004–05, beating St Mirren 2–0 at Hampden Park.

In order for him to gain competitive experience, in January 2006 Mulgrew was loaned out to fellow SPL side Dundee United for the remainder of the 2005–06 season.

A successful spell at Tannadice saw him feature regularly, scoring twice (both free kicks) in 14 appearances and being named SPL Young Player of the Month for February.

He then returned to Celtic hoping to force his way into first team contention, but was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers shortly thereafter without ever appearing for the Celtic first team.

Mulgrew joined Wolves in part exchange for left back Lee Naylor on 23 August 2006.

He made his debut for the club on 10 September in a 1–0 win at Leeds United.

However, injury kept him out of most of the campaign and he was unable to force his way back into first team contention afterwards.

Mulgrew was loaned out to English League One side Southend United at the end of the January transfer window for the remainder of the 2007–08 season, which saw the club lose in the play-offs to Doncaster Rovers.

He scored his only goal for the club against Carlisle United.

Mulgrew was due to join Swindon Town in July 2008 for a fee of approximately £150,000, but pulled out of the move.

He eventually left for Aberdeen on 15 July 2008, where he signed a two-year deal, moving for an undisclosed fee.

Mulgrew scored the only goal against Motherwell at Fir Park on 16 August 2008 with a left-footed free kick, in his second competitive match for Aberdeen.

He scored two goals, a volley and a free kick, against Celtic in a 3–2 defeat on 27 September 2008.

On 16 May 2009, during the penultimate league match of the 2008–09 season at Ibrox Stadium against Rangers, Mulgrew and Rangers' Kyle Lafferty were at the centre of controversy.

As Mulgrew made a clearance from his own half, Lafferty made a sliding tackle on him.

Both players squared up to each other and Lafferty fell to the ground clutching his face as though he had been headbutted.

Referee Stuart Dougal sent Mulgrew off for violent conduct, but television pictures clearly showed that Mulgrew had not made clear contact with Lafferty.

Lafferty was seen to wink to a teammate after Mulgrew had left the field.

Mulgrew later had his red card rescinded and Lafferty was given a two-month suspension.

In October 2009, Mulgrew was offered a new contract by Aberdeen, but he rejected the deal and left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season.

In 83 games for the Dons, Mulgrew scored ten goals, including a string of free kicks.

He returned for a second spell with Celtic in 2010, spending six years at the club.

On 1 July 2010, Mulgrew returned to Celtic on a three-year deal, becoming new manager Neil Lennon's first signing.

On 2 January 2011, having played only a handful of games, he played against Rangers in a 2–0 win at Ibrox on the left wing.

On 29 January, he deputised for Daniel Majstorović at centre back against former team Aberdeen in a 4–1 League Cup semi-final win at Hampden Park.

He scored his first goal for Celtic in that game, nodding home Kris Commons' corner from close range.

Mulgrew became a regular in the centre of defence alongside Majstorović.

In the Scottish Cup semi-final on 17 April, he scored his second goal for Celtic from a long-range free kick; like his first goal, it was at Hampden Park and against Aberdeen.

On 21 May 2011, Mulgrew kept up the trend of scoring at Hampden by netting in the final against Motherwell.

He scored the final goal of Celtic's 3–0 win with a free kick into the top corner, and helped earn him his first medal in football.

Mulgrew made 44 international appearances for Scotland between 2012 and 2019.

Mulgrew grew up in Kirkintilloch and attended Holy Family Trinity Primary School and St Ninian's High School in the East Dunbartonshire town.

In August 2016, Mulgrew left Celtic to join Blackburn Rovers.

He played on loan for Wigan Athletic during the 2019–20 season, returning to Blackburn in January 2020, then spending the following season on loan at Fleetwood Town.

He signed for Dundee United for a second time in June 2021 before retiring in September 2023.