The Longside Reference

Name: Chris McCann  

D.O.B: 27th July 1987

Place of Birth: Dublin

Previous Clubs: From Youth.

Signed by Steve Cotterill

Position: Midfielder

Contract: Signed a two year deal in June 2011.

Burnley Debut:13th August 2005, Coventry City (H), W 4-0 (Sub)

International Honours: Republic Of Ireland International U17 / U18 / U19

Claret Honours: Play-off winner 2009.

2011/12 Squad Number: 6

The complete midfielder, Chris McCann posseses the ability to pass, tackle, head, shoot and score.

The Irish center midfielder is one of the successes of the youth set up that has given us Richard Chaplow and Kyle Lafferty in recent years.  Burnley's Youth set up was once the envy of the entire football league, for the quality of players brought off the Turf Moor conveyor belt . With all that quality Chris McCann can be one of the best! Yet to star for Eire's full national side that call up cannot be very far away.

Steve Cotterill, love him or hate him, gave Chris McCann his chance as early as 2005 where he was added to the first team squads for the preseason games and the relaxing bonding session in Austria. He subsequently went on to win the Young Player of the season for two consecutive seasons beating Irish International Kyle Lafferty on both occasions.

His Debut came in 2005/06, Chris started 16 games in his first season as a professional (also coming off the bench 8 times), With two goals to his name already this Irish gem was looking the real deal. His second season seen Chris emerge as one of the first names on the team sheet competing in 28 league games and still only 19.

With Steve Cotterill leaving in November 2007, You would think 'New manager ,new ideas' but with Owen Coyle, came another believer in the talent Chris has, Chris starting 34 league games attracting the attention of Premiership Sunderland in the process.

Chris McCann was pivotal, in Burnley's rise to the Premiership in 2008/09, playing in 58 games scoring 8 times as Burnley beat Sheffield United in the Play-Off final at Wembley.

Chris also won the 'Young Player of the Year' that promotion season, the third time on the bounce he collected that converted award.

McCann took the form of that promotion season into the Premiership, starting the first six games before injury robbed the young Irishman of almost the rest of the season.

Out went Coyle in January, and his replacement Laws brought McCann back for the game against Bolton, it was to be too early as he went off injured again.  Chris didnt feature again after Laws rushed McCann back what seemed too early, when Laws left in December 2010 the batton was handed over to Eddie Howe who had to wait almost three months to see Chris McCann play, and after a few halfs in the reserves McCann finaly played in front of his new boss.

The start of 2011/12 season saw Howe give the Number 6 shirt, and the captaincy, following in the footsteps of Graham Alexander who left in the summer and Steve Caldwell who lead Burnley to the Premiership in 2009. Chris started the first full season under Eddie Howe and his seventh as a Claret in 2011/12.

After the injury problems Chris sufferes during the Premiership and the following year in the Championship, Chris' emergence as captain saw him play in every game of the Season in 2011/12, the final game he was given a well earned rest as he took his place on the bench to allow Marvin Bartley and Dean Marney to take the central roles, but an early injury to Marney saw Chris take his place and his armband, a captain not in the Caldwell mould, but one who after coming through the ranks at Turf Moor as a fresh faced 16 year old, Chris is one who knows what it means to the Claret faithful who sing his name, although its got to be one of the worst player songs in my history "Chris McCann m'lord, Chris McCann...Oh Lord Chris McCann"! well is they say Turf Moor is our church the hymns belong toi Chris McCann.