Paul Andrew McLaren (born 17 November 1976) is an English former professional footballer who last played for Oxford United in 2012. He was born in High Wycombe.
Career He began his career as a trainee for Luton Town, playing over 160 games over eight seasons. He left Luton to step up a Division for Sheffield Wednesday where he played 96 games and scored six goals. He turned down a contract offer, however, by Chris Turner after the club's relegation and subsequent failure to gain promotion to The Championship. He played for Rotherham United under Ronnie Moore and in the 2006–07 close season signed a two-year contract for Moore's new club Tranmere Rovers having left Rotherham. In his debut season at the centre of the Rovers midfield McLaren started 42 of Tranmere's 46 games in League One, and a further 43 the following season and being named Player of the year.
McLaren is a central midfielder, with an excellent assist record—13 during the 2007–08 season—mainly due to his passing and set piece ability.
He turned down a new contract offer from Tranmere and instead, on 1 July 2008, signed a two-year deal with League Two club Bradford City. He was one of four Bradford players to make his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season against Notts County, which Bradford won 2–1. His first goal for his new club came on 30 August 2008, with the opening goal in a 3–2 defeat to Aldershot Town. He was a regular in the Bradford side but missed a month of the season during February and March because of a calf injury, before leaving at the end of the season.
On 10 July 2009 McLaren rejoined Tranmere on a two-year contract. He scored his first Tranmere goal upon his return when he scored at home to Grimsby in a first-round League Cup tie on 11 August 2009. On 26 November 2010, McLaren decided to leave Tranmere Rovers as he wasn't enjoying the type of football they were playing. A little over a month later, on 31 December 2010, he joined Oxford United until the end of the 2010–11 season. In May 2012, McLaren left the club and rejoined his family in Cheshire.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLuton Town1995–96Second Division1214000001611996–97Second Division24000101Appearance(s) in Division Two Play-offs02601997–98Second Division43010202Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy04801998–99Second Division2302031102911999–2000Second Division2914010003412000–01Second Division352314010433Total166414111151966Sheffield Wednesday2001–02First Division3621051004232002–03First Division3640010003742003–04Second Division252100010272Total978206111069Rotherham United2004–05Championship3311000003412005–06League One393121010425Total72422101766Tranmere Rovers2006–07League One4212000004412007–08League One434401000484Total85560100925Bradford City2008–09League Two343101010373Tranmere Rovers2009–10League One3803021004312010–11League One6000200080Total44030410 511Oxford United2010–11League Two2410000002412011–12League Two181100020211Total42210002 452Career total5402629324310060332
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