David McMillan (footballer)

David McMillan (footballer)
David McMillan (born 14 December 1988) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a forward for UCD over two spells, St Patrick's Athletic, Sligo Rovers, St Johnstone, Hamilton Academical, Falkirk and Dundalk over two spells. He is currently the League of Ireland's all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League and was joint top-scorer in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round. McMillan has also been named League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month on three occasions.
His older brother, Evan is also a footballer and they were teammates at UCD, St Patrick's Athletic and Sligo Rovers. In addition to playing football, McMillan is also a qualified architect.
Club career
Early years
Between 2000 and 2007, McMillan attended Wesley College, Dublin where he studied for his Leaving Cert. As a schoolboy he played for Templeogue United and Mount Merrion Youths. He initially attended UCD games when Templeogue United supplied the club with ballboys. Mount Merrion Youths were effectively UCD's schoolboy team and his brother Evan also played for them.
UCD
Between 2007 and 2010, McMillan attended University College Dublin on a sports scholarship and obtained a degree in architecture.
He also played for University College Dublin A.F.C. at both intervarsity and national level. In 2006 McMillan and his brother Evan began playing for UCD in their Leinster Senior League team. McMillan subsequently progressed through the ranks into the senior team. He made his Premier Division debut during the 2008 season, coming on as a substitute in an away game against Cork City on 26 September. During his time at UCD he helped the club win three Collingwood Cups, two CUFL Premier Division titles, two A Championships and the 2009 League of Ireland First Division title. In the 2008 A Championship final, McMillan and his brother scored the two goals in an extra time win against Bohemians A. McMillan also scored 12 league goals during UCD's successful 2009 First Division season. In May 2010 McMillan was named League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month after he enjoyed a prolific run of form. McMillan scored against Dundalk, St Patrick's Athletic and Galway United. He also scored twice in a 6–0 win over Bray Wanderers.
In 2011 McMillan began studying at UCD for his master's degree in architecture. After spells with St Patrick's Athletic and Olympic F.C., McMillan also re-joined UCD A.F.C. midway through the 2012 season. His eight goals in 15 league appearances helped UCD avoid relegation. In 2013, he also helped UCD win the Collingwood Cup for a third time, scoring the only goal in the final against UCC.
St Patrick's Athletic
During the 2011 season McMillan played for St Patrick's Athletic where he once again linked up with his brother Evan. He made 13 league starts but also gained a reputation as a super-sub, adding 14 more appearances from the bench. He also played for St Pat's during their 2011–12 UEFA Europa League campaign, scoring in the second qualifying round against Shakhter Karagandy. On 10 October 2011, McMillan helped St Pat's win the 2011 Leinster Senior Cup, scoring in the final against Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Olympic
In 2012 while studying for his master's degree in architecture, McMillan spent an Erasmus semester at the University of Queensland. He also played for Olympic F.C., scoring three goals for them in the Brisbane Premier League.
Sligo Rovers
In July 2013 McMillan signed for Sligo Rovers. McMillan scored on his debut for Rovers, a 3–1 defeat to Cork City. This proved to be his only goal in 13 league appearances over the remainder of the 2013 season. He also played for Rovers in their 2013–14 UEFA Champions League games against Molde FK. However having played for UCD in the early rounds, McMillan was cup-tied and he missed out on Rovers successful 2013 FAI Cup campaign.
Dundalk
In December 2013 McMillan signed for Dundalk. During the 2014 season he scored 15 goals and helped Dundalk win a League of Ireland double as the club won both the Premier Division title and the League of Ireland Cup. He also played for Dundalk in their 2014–15 UEFA Europa League campaign. In the 2015 season, McMillan scored 14 times as he helped Dundalk win a second double. This time Dundalk retained the Premier Division title and won the 2015 FAI Cup. In March 2015, after scoring four goals in six league games, McMillan won the League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month for a second time. In Dundalk's 2015–16 UEFA Champions League campaign, McMillan scored their only goal as they lost 2–1 on aggregate to BATE Borisov in the second qualifying round.
During Dundalk's 2016–17 UEFA Champions League campaign, McMillan scored three times against Fimleikafélag Hafnarfjarðar in the second qualifying round. In the third qualifying round he scored twice against BATE Borisov. McMillan goals secured a 3–1 aggregate win for Dundalk and guaranteed the club a place in the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League group stage. McMillan also became the League of Ireland's all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League, overtaking Jason Byrne and Glen Crowe. After scoring two hat-tricks against Derry City and Longford Town in the 2016 Premier Division and scoring five goals in the UEFA Champions League, McMillan was named Premier Division Player of the Month for July 2016. McMillan was joint top-scorer in the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round with five goals.
While playing for Dundalk, McMillan has also been employed as an architect by O'Brien Finucane Architects, a company based in Dawson Street, Dublin.
St Johnstone
McMillan signed a contract running to the summer of 2020 with Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone in December 2017. He made his debut on 27 January 2018, as a substitute at home to Partick Thistle, however he only lasted 21 minutes before having to go off injured. The hamstring injury he sustained kept him out for nearly three months. On 5 May 2018, McMillan scored his first goal for St Johnstone, in a 5–1 win away at Motherwell.
He moved on loan to Hamilton Academical in January 2019. On 4 September 2019, McMillan joined Falkirk on a season-long loan. McMillan left the Saints in July 2020.
Return to Dundalk
After two years in Scotland, McMillan signed again with Dundalk on 29 July 2020. He scored the winning goal against Inter Club d'Escaldes in the 2020 Europa 2nd qualifying round. Dundalk went on to qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage and he scored two goals from the penalty spot in Dundalks 4-3 lost against Rapid Vienna at the Allianz Stadion. This equalled Glen Crowe's European record of 11 goals. On 6 December 2020, McMillan scored a hat-trick in the 2020 FAI Cup Final in a 4–2 win over Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium, becoming the third player ever to achieve the feat. He was part of the starting 11 as his side won the 2021 President's Cup, beating Shamrock Rovers on penalties after a 1–1 draw at Tallaght Stadium on 12 March 2021. He scored in both legs to help defeat Newtown A.F.C. and FCI Levadia Tallinn in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying phase and play-off round.
Retirement
On 23 February 2023, McMillan publicly announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 34, stating "I would never have dreamed of coming through and doing the things I did" during his career.
International career
McMillan has represented the Republic of Ireland U23s at international level. On 28 September 2010, in a 2009–11 International Challenge Trophy away game against Estonia, McMillan came on as a late substitute for Daniel Kearns.
Career statistics
Honours
Club
Dundalk
League of Ireland Premier Division: 3
2014, 2015, 2016
FAI Cup: 2
2015, 2020
League of Ireland Cup: 2
2014, 2017
President's Cup: 1
2021
UCD
League of Ireland First Division: 1
2009
A Championship: 2
2008, 2010
Collingwood Cup: 3
2009, 2010, 2013
CUFL Premier Division: 2
2007–08, 2009–10
St Patrick's Athletic
Leinster Senior Cup: 1
2011
Individual
League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month: 3
May 2010
March 2015
July 2016
PFAI Team of the Year: 2
2016, 2017
References
1988 births
Living people
Association footballers from County Dublin
Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
University College Dublin A.F.C. players
St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Sligo Rovers F.C. players
Dundalk F.C. players
League of Ireland players
A Championship players
Leinster Senior League (association football) players
Republic of Ireland men's under-23 international footballers
People educated at Wesley College, Dublin
Alumni of University College Dublin
University of Queensland alumni
Irish architects
Irish expatriates in Australia
Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia
St Johnstone F.C. players
Scottish Professional Football League players
Men's association football forwards
Hamilton Academical F.C. players
Falkirk F.C. players