# Aaron Doran

Aaron Brian Doran Cogan (born 13 May 1991), known as Aaron Doran, is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger who plays and coaches for Highland League side Strathspey Thistle. He previously played at Blackburn Rovers, from where he spent time on loan with Milton Keynes Dons and Leyton Orient before joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2011 where he would remain there until his departure in 2024. He has also represented the Republic of Ireland U21 team.

## Career
### Blackburn Rovers

Doran signed his first professional contract with Blackburn Rovers in May 2008. He was involved in 2008–09 pre-season matches against Macclesfield Town and NAC Breda, and was given the squad number 39 by manager Paul Ince. He made his first-team debut as a substitute for Aaron Mokoena against Liverpool on 11 April 2009.
In October 2009 he was signed by League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a month's loan deal, On his debut for MK Dons he scored his first professional goal against Southend United in a Football League Trophy tie. In February 2010, he signed for Leyton Orient on-loan for a month. Doran made his debut for Orient in a 2–0 loss against Gillingham. Having played two games, he emphasized that he was keen to stay at the club for another month. In a 2–0 win over Walsall on 13 March 2010, Doran set up a goal for Sean Thornton. On 29 March 2010, it was announced that Doran would return to Blackburn Rovers at the end of his loan. His final appearance for Orient came during a 2–0 loss against Huddersfield Town.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce stated in October 2010 that he felt Doran had "gone backwards" since emerging as a "tremendous prospect", though Allardyce also suggested, in the same interview, that the player still had time to develop. However, he chose not to select Doran for first-team squad involvement. After Allardyce was removed from his position by Rovers' new owners, Venkys, Steve Kean listed Doran as a substitute in his first game as Blackburn's new manager.

### Inverness Caledonian Thistle

On 25 January 2011, Doran signed for Inverness Caledonian Thistle on-loan for the final six months of the 2010–11 SPL season. Inverness manager, Terry Butcher, likened him to former Watford footballer Nigel Callaghan, suggesting that Doran was part of a wider re-emergence of technically gifted footballers at the top level of British football.
He made his debut the day after signing his loan deal, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute for Stuart Duff in a 2–0 defeat at home to Aberdeen. On his first club start, Doran helped Inverness beat Morton 5–1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup, making two 'assists'. His general performance was described as "impressive" in BBC Scotland's match report. Doran scored his first goal for Inverness in a 3–3 draw against St Mirren. His second goal came during a 1–1 draw against Hearts on 16 April 2011, followed up scoring in the next game – a 3–0 win over St Johnstone on 25 April 2011.
On 13 July 2011, it was announced that Doran had agreed a deal to join Inverness Caledonian Thistle permanently. He played his first match as a signed player, coming on as a substitute, in the opening game of the 2011–12 season against Hibernian. Playing a game against Kilmarnock, Doran suffered a dislocated shoulder, ruling him out for three months. On 28 December 2011, he was again injured, playing his first match back since his shoulder injury. He didn't play again until mid-April 2012, when he made his return in a 2–0 loss against Aberdeen. He did however, remain free from any further problems with his shoulder.
The following season, 2012–13, Doran set up a goal for Nick Ross in the opening game of the season in a 2–2 draw against St Mirren. Two months later, on 5 October 2012, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 win over Ross County, and in the next game, he contributed 'assists' for Billy McKay and Gary Warren during a 4–1 win over Dundee. Doran was highly praised by manager Terry Butcher after the 3–0 victory over Rangers on Halloween 2012, in the 2012–13 League Cup quarter-finals. "If you give Aaron Doran space he'll utilise it, he'll expose teams and expose space, he's a good passer and a good supplier. He doesn't score a lot but what he does do is create a lot." After a good November, which included wins against Kilmarnock, Celtic and Aberdeen, Doran, along with Butcher and McKay, won the SPL Monthly awards. In mid-December, Doran announced he wanted to stay at the club and that he hoped Butcher would offer him a new contract. In April, Butcher announced that Doran was close to signing a new contract, along with his colleague, David Raven. At the end of the season, the speculation finally ended when Doran signed a new three-year contract with the club.
The 2013–14 season started off very well for Doran when he scored and 'assisted' in the opening game of the season – a 3–0 win over St Mirren. He scored another in a 2–2 draw against Celtic a few weeks later. Doran continued his goal scoring form, netting again in the League and also in the Scottish Cup. He played in the final of the 2014 Scottish League Cup, where he came on as a substitute for James Vincent in the 63rd minute. Doran converted the fourth penalty in the shootout against Aberdeen, but Inverness Caledonian Thistle lost 4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw. Soon after, Doran suffered a hamstring injury, which he sustained during the match against Motherwell on 19 March 2014. Doran made his return to the matchday squad against Ross County on 4 April 2014, which Doran assisted and scored, in a 2–1 victory for Inverness CT.
The 2014–15 season started well for Doran, as the club earned 13 points in the first six matches. Of those first six matches, Doran scored his first Inverness CT goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Motherwell and scored two weeks later on 30 August 2014 against Kilmarnock before scoring in the next game against Partick Thistle on 13 September 2014. On 1 January 2015, Doran scored twice and set up a goal for Billy Mckay in the Highland derby, in a 3–1 win over Ross County. Doran was soon on the sidelines that put him out of action with a groin injury and made his return to the first team, coming on as a substitute for Nick Ross in the 73rd-minute, in a 2–1 loss against Motherwell on 28 February 2015. Doran then scored his sixth goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against St Johnstone on 2 May 2015. Doran started as a left-midfielder, in the Scottish Cup Final, where he set up the opener for Marley Watkins, in a 2–1 win over Falkirk to win their first ever Scottish Cup Final.
In 2024, he told STV news that the club had twice cancelled surgery for an injury he sustained whilst playing for club, following this the club received a lot of backlash prompting former teammate Shane Sutherland to set up a Go Fund me to pay for surgery with many Players, Managers and Fans donating to the cause. Shortly before he received surgery for his injury he confirmed that he had received confirmation from the club that they would not be renewing his contract.

### Strathspey Thistle

On 15 August 2024, Doran was appointed as a Player/Coach to be a part of former Inverness CT goalkeeper and coach, Ryan Esson's coaching staff.

## Career statistics

    As of match played on 19 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2008–09 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2010–11 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2009–10 | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Leyton Orient (loan) | 2009–10 | League One | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle (loan) | 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 3 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2011–12 | Scottish Premier League | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2012–13 | Scottish Premier League | 38 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 3 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2013–14 | Scottish Premiership | 33 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 8 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2014–15 | Scottish Premiership | 33 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 6 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2015–16 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2016–17 | Scottish Premiership | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2017–18 | Scottish Championship | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2018–19 | Scottish Championship | 33 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 11 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2019–20 | Scottish Championship | 26 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 9 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2020–21 | Scottish Championship | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2021–22 | Scottish Championship | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 39 | 2 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2022–23 | Scottish Championship | 29 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 3 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 2023–24 | Scottish Championship | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 |
| Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Total | Total | 289 | 35 | 33 | 11 | 31 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 376 | 53 |
| Strathspey Thistle | 2024–25 | Highland League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 316 | 38 | 35 | 11 | 31 | 6 | 24 | 1 | 406 | 56 |
* ↑ Appearance in the Football League Trophy
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
* ↑ 1 appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup & 4 appearances in the Playoffs
* ↑ 3 appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup & 5 appearances in the Playoffs

## Personal life

In February 2015, Doran and teammate Danny Devine were fined £40 fixed penalty notices after causing a late-night disturbance. Following this, the club's assistant manager Russell Latapy said he hoped the pair would learn from their mistake.

## Honours
### Inverness Caledonian Thistle

* Scottish Cup: 2014–15
* Scottish Challenge Cup: 2017–18

### Individual awards

* SPL Young Player of the Month: November 2012
* Scottish Championship Player of the Month: March 2019