Ciaran McKenna

Ciaran McKenna
Personal information
Full name Ciaran Paul McKenna[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-25) 25 March 1998
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Centre Back, Right Back
Team information
Current team
 Alqueries CF
Youth career
2006–2015 Celtic
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Duke Blue Devils 42 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Jacksonville Armada U-23 ? (?)
2019 Falkirk 17 (2)
2019–2020 Hamilton Academical 4 (0)
2020–2022 Partick Thistle 34 (1)
2022–2023 Queen of the South 22 (0)
2023– Alqueries CF
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:03, 3 August 2025 (UTC)

Ciaran Paul McKenna (born 25 March 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre back or right back for Spanish club Alqueries CF. McKenna has previously played for Falkirk, Hamilton Academical, Partick Thistle and Queen of the South.

Early life

McKenna was born in Glasgow and was educated at Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill, and St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch. McKenna played in the Celtic Academy, before turning down the offer of a three-year professional contract with the club, to accept the offer of a scholarship with Duke University in North Carolina.[2][3]

Club career

Early career

McKenna had 42 appearances with the Duke Blue Devils over three seasons and scored two goals.[4] McKenna also spent a spell during 2017 playing for Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League.[5]

Falkirk

In January 2019, McKenna joined Falkirk.[6] McKenna had 17 league appearances and scored two goals in his debut season as a professional with the Bairns.[7]

Hamilton Academical

In June 2019, McKenna joined Hamilton Academical and had four league appearances and also four League Cup matches for the Accies.[7]

Partick Thistle

In August 2020, McKenna joined Partick Thistle on a two-year contract. McKenna had 34 league appearances and scored one goal, as well as 14 cup matches for the Harry Wraggs.[8]

Queen of the South

On 24 June 2022, McKenna joined Queen of the South on a one-year contract.[9]

McKenna was released by the Doonhamers at the end of the 2022-23 season.[10]

Alqueries CF

In 2023, McKenna signed for Spanish club Alqueries CF.[11]

Personal life

In early 2016, McKenna was accused of rape by a fellow student at Duke University. The establishment then issued a six-semester suspension following a University hearing. Upon appeal by McKenna, an appeals board concluded that the original panel had not applied the correct “reasonable person” standard pursuant to Duke policy. The University set up a new panel which issued a new suspension against McKenna.[12] A law suit was filed on Mckenna’s behalf alleging due process violations, and in February 2017, Durham Judge Orlando Hudson issued a permanent injunction preventing Duke from suspending McKenna. In July 2018, McKenna and Duke settled the case outside of court, and in December 2018 McKenna graduated. [13] Although the terms of the settlement are unknown, it is reported that McKenna made a six-figure donation to the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic shortly afterwards. [14]


In June 2022, McKenna, married Jamaica Women's national team player Kayla McCoy in Oak Park, Illinois, USA.[15][16] The pair met in college.

Career statistics

As of 7 May 2023
Club Season League Scottish Cup Scottish League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Falkirk 2018–19[17] Scottish Championship 17 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 2
Hamilton Academical 2019-20[18] Scottish Premiership 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 7 0
2020–21[19] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 8 0
Partick Thistle 2020-21 Scottish League One 11 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 16 0
2021-22 Scottish Championship 23 1 2 0 4 0 3 0 32 1
Total 34 1 2 0 7 0 5 0 48 1
Queen of the South 2022-23 Scottish League One 22 0 1 0 5 0 4 1 32 1
Career total 77 3 3 0 16 0 9 1 105 4

Honours

Club

Partick Thistle

References

  1. ^ Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  2. ^ Haggerty, Anthony (25 July 2015). "Hoops to stripes: Youngster turns down deal with Celtic for football scholarship at prestigious American university". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Ciaran McKenna". Duke Blue Devils. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Individual Career History Ciaran McKenna". Duke Blue Devils. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Brinkman Garners PDL Weekly Honor". Duke Blue Devils. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Duke University's ex-Celtic defender signs for the Bairns". falkirkherald.co.uk. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Ciaran McKenna: Hamilton sign former Falkirk defender". BBC Sport. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Signing News: Ciaran McKenna is a Jag". Partick Thistle FC. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. ^ "QosFC: Welcome Ciaran McKenna".
  10. ^ "QosFC: Squad Update".
  11. ^ https://golsmedia.com/comunidad-valenciana/futbol/alqueries-cf/2023/09/06/alqueries-cf-ficha-defensor-escoces-para-competir-lliga-comunitat/?amp=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5KS0IBugiBp9xZ5Okh7OrxEKi7ZnE4HkjNbknFpncRpKGkWgOOfhOaVCQIlA_aem_fJoVKLSpFpAvPMo0ME_j0Q
  12. ^ "Men's soccer player suspended for rape files lawsuit against Duke". Duke Chronicle. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  13. ^ Stancill, Jane (31 July 2018). "Duke soccer player's lawsuit over sexual misconduct policy is resolved". The News&Observer. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  14. ^ Harnden, Toby (12 August 2018). "Ciaran McKenna — skewered by a Duke campus hook-up". The Times. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  15. ^ The Wedding Day The Knot. Retrieved 29 March 2023
  16. ^ "Reggae Girl McCoy's family lineage second to none". 14 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Games played by Ciaran McKenna in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  18. ^ "Games played by Ciaran McKenna in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Games played by Ciaran McKenna in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Scottish League 1: Partick Thistle thrash Falkirk to secure title". BBC Sport. 29 April 2021.
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