{{Short description|Footballer (born 1994)}} {{for|the video game character|Grand Theft Auto III}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Donald Love | image = | caption = | full_name = Donald Alistair Love<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html |title=Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists |date=17 December 2015 |publisher=Premier League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928111647/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-16/sep/030915-2015-2016-premier-league-squads-announced.html |archive-date=28 September 2015}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|12|2|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Rochdale]], England | height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/13558/Donald-Love/overview|title=Donald Love Premier League Profile|publisher=Premier League|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> | position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]] | currentclub = [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] | clubnumber = 2 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Northwich Town | youthyears2 = 2002–2013 | youthclubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C. Under-21s and Academy|Manchester United]] | years1 = 2013–2016 | clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2015 | clubs2 = → [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] (loan) | caps2 = 7 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2016–2019 | clubs3 = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2019–2021 | clubs4 = [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] | caps4 = 42 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2021–2022 | clubs5 = [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]] | caps5 = 25 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2022–2024 | clubs6 = [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] | caps6 = 52 | goals6 = 2 | years7 = 2024– | clubs7 = [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] | caps7 = 76 | goals7 = 2 | nationalyears1 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national under-17 football team|Scotland U17]] | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2013 | nationalteam2 = [[Scotland national under-19 football team|Scotland U19]] | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2015–2016 | nationalteam3 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U21]] | nationalcaps3 = 5 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 16:39, 3 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = }} '''Donald Alistair Love''' (born 2 December 1994) is a professional [[association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[defender (association football)|defender]] for {{English football updater|AccringS}} club [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]].
Love began his professional career with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], but made just two senior appearances, and after a loan spell with [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in 2015, he was sold to [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] at the end of the 2015–16 season. Three years into a four-year contract, he was released by the club and joined Shrewsbury Town.
Born in England, Love represents Scotland at international level, having played for the [[Scotland national under-17 football team|under-17]], [[Scotland national under-19 football team|under-19]] and [[Scotland national under-21 football team|under-21]] national teams.
==Club career== ===Manchester United and Wigan Athletic (loan)=== Love was born in [[Rochdale]], Greater Manchester.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2015/Oct/donald-love-joins-wigan-athletic-on-loan-for-two-months.aspx|title=Donald Love loaned to Wigan Athletic|first=Adam|last=Marshall|publisher=Manchester United|date=2 October 2015|access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> He played junior football for Northwich Town and was personally scouted by [[Alex Ferguson]]. After rising through the ranks of the Manchester United academy, he first signed a professional contract with Manchester United in 2013.<ref name="wigan loan">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11682/10014654/manchester-united-youngster-donald-love-joins-wigan-athletic-on-loan|title=Manchester United youngster Donald Love joins Wigan Athletic on loan|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2 October 2015|access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
On 2 October 2015, he was loaned to [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] for two months.<ref name="wigan loan"/> Love made his professional debut the following day, appearing as a 70th-minute substitute for [[Will Grigg]] in a goalless [[Football League One|League One]] draw with [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] at the [[DW Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wigan Athletic 0–0 Walsall|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34366275|access-date=18 February 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 October 2015}}</ref> Love totalled eight appearances for the Latics.
After returning from his loan spell, Love made his Manchester United debut in a 2–1 defeat against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] at the [[Stadium of Light]] on 13 February 2016, coming on as a first-half substitute for the injured [[Matteo Darmian]]. Five days later, he made his first start in an injury-stricken United team, a 2–1 loss away to [[FC Midtjylland|Midtjylland]] in the first leg of the [[2015–16 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] round of 32, and was booked for a challenge on [[Martin Pušić]] that caused the Austrian to be substituted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/35548870|title=Midtjylland 2–1 Manchester United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=18 February 2016|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref>
===Sunderland=== On 11 August 2016, Love joined Premier League club [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] on a four-year deal. He joined with his Manchester United teammate [[Paddy McNair]], for a combined fee of £5.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/august/sunderland-sign-united-duo|title=Sunderland sign Man Utd duo|publisher=Sunderland AFC|website=safc.com|date=11 August 2016|access-date=11 August 2016}}</ref> He made his debut two days later, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 loss at [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Osborne |first=Chris |title=Manchester City 2–1 Sunderland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36994521 |access-date=27 July 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2016}}</ref> and scored his first goal for Sunderland in an [[EFL Cup]] tie against [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] on 22 August 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Carlisle United 1–2 Sunderland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40932016 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref>
In August 2018, Love sustained an injury to his ankle which, after attempting to continue playing for another three matches, kept him out of first-team action for the remainder of the [[2018–19 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2018–19 season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/forgotten-man-donald-love-opens-up-on-his-sunderland-injury-hell-and-comeback-1-9708065 |title=Forgotten man Donald Love opens up on his Sunderland injury hell and comeback |work=Sunderland Echo |date=13 April 2019 }}</ref> After three years, a year before the end of his contract, Love was released by Sunderland in July 2019.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Fraser |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/17763559.donald-love-set-depart-sunderland-12-months-remaining-deal/ |title=Donald Love set to depart Sunderland with 12 months remaining on deal |work=The Northern Echo |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=11 July 2019 |access-date=11 July 2019 }}</ref>
===Shrewsbury Town=== Following his release from Sunderland, on 12 July 2019, Love signed for fellow [[EFL League One|League One]] side [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/07/12/former-manchester-united-defender-donald-love-signs-for-shrewsbury-town/ |title=Former Manchester United defender Donald Love signs for Shrewsbury Town |work=Shropshire Star |date=12 July 2019 |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref> He made his debut on 3 August, playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–0 home win over [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Cox |first=Lewis |title=Shrewsbury Town 1 Portsmouth 0 - Report and pictures |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/shrewsbury-town-fc/2019/08/03/shrewsbury-town-1-portsmouth-0-report-and-pictures/ |access-date=30 January 2020 |work=Shropshire Star |date=3 August 2019}}</ref> On 13 November, after coming on in the 67th minute for [[Louis Thompson]] in a 3–1 win over [[Macclesfield Town]] in the [[EFL Trophy]] group stage, he was sent off.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hillback |first=Ryan |title=Match Report: Shrewsbury Town 3 – 1 Macclesfield Town|url=https://www.shropshirelive.com/sport/2019/11/14/match-report-shrewsbury-town-3-1-macclesfield-town/ |publisher=Shropshire Live |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref>
On 26 January 2020, in the fourth round of the FA Cup at home to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], Love drove [[Neco Williams]]' cross into his own net in the first minute of the second half to give Liverpool a 2–0 lead, though Shrewsbury drew the match 2–2 to earn a replay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrewsbury Town 2–2 Liverpool |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51208528 |access-date=30 January 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 January 2020}}</ref> On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Shrewsbury at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shrewsburytown.com/news/2021/may/released-and-retained-list/|title=Released and retained list|website=www.shrewsburytown.com}}</ref>
===Salford City=== On 31 August 2021, he signed a one-year contract with [[EFL League Two|League Two]] side [[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]], with manager [[Gary Bowyer]] signing him to provide competition in various positions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58400919 |title=Donald Love: Salford City sign ex-Shrewsbury defender |work=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2021 |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>
===Morecambe=== On 17 June 2022, Love agreed to join League One club [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] on a two-year deal upon the expiration of his contract with Salford City.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2022/june/all-you-need-is-love/|title=All You Need Is Love!|website=www.morecambefc.com|date=17 June 2022|accessdate=17 June 2022}}</ref>
===Accrington Stanley=== On 23 July 2024, Love agreed to join League Two club [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2024/july/23/signing-donalds-a-red/|title=SIGNING: Donald's a Red |website=accringtonstanley.co.uk|date=23 July 2024|accessdate=23 July 2024}}</ref>
==International career== Love was born in Rochdale, England but qualifies for the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]] through his [[Stranraer]]-born grandmother.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United kid Donald Love tipped for Scotland call-up |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/manchester-united-kid-donald-love-tipped-scotland-call-1482861 |access-date=9 October 2020 |work=The Scotsman |date=15 February 2016}}</ref> He has represented Scotland at [[Scotland national under-17 football team|under-17]], [[Scotland national under-19 football team|under-19]] and [[Scotland national under-21 football team|under-21]] level.<ref name = "wigan loan"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=1848&playerID=216660&squadID=5|title=Donald Love|publisher=Scottish Football Association|access-date=5 October 2015}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|21 September 2024}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Love|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=88249|work=Soccerbase|access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club! !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]] !colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]] !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |[[2015–16 Manchester United F.C. season|2015–16]]||[[Premier League]] |1||0||0||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Europa League]]}} |0||2||0 |- |[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] (loan) |[[2015–16 Wigan Athletic F.C. season|2015–16]]||[[EFL League One|League One]] |7||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||8||0 |- |rowspan="4"|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] |[[2016–17 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2016–17]]||Premier League |12||0||2||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |—||16||0 |- |[[2017–18 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2017–18]]||[[EFL Championship|Championship]] |11||0||1||0||2||1|| colspan="2" |—||14||1 |- |[[2018–19 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2018–19]]||League One |4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||4||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!0!!3!!0!!4!!1!!0!!0!!34!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|[[Sunderland A.F.C. Reserves and Academy|Sunderland U21s/U23s]] |colspan="2"|[[2016–17 EFL Trophy]]||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT">Appearances in the [[EFL Trophy]]</ref>||1||2||1 |- |colspan="2"|[[2017–18 EFL Trophy]]||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||1||3||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!5!!2!!5!!2 |- |rowspan=3|[[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] |[[2019–20 Shrewsbury Town F.C. season|2019–20]]<ref name=sb1920>{{soccerbase season|88249|2019|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>||League One |28||0||7||0||0||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||38||0 |- |[[2020–21 Shrewsbury Town F.C. season|2020–21]]<ref name=sb2021>{{soccerbase season|88249|2020|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>||League One |14||0||0||0||1||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="EFLT"/>||0||18||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !42!!0!!7!!0!!1!!0!!6!!0!!56!!0 |- |rowspan=2|[[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]] |[[2021–22 Salford City F.C. season|2021–22]]<ref name=sb2122>{{soccerbase season|88249|2021|accessdate=17 June 2022}}</ref> |[[EFL League Two|League Two]] |25||0||2||0||0||0||2{{efn|name="EFLT"}}||0||29||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !25!!0!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!29!!2 |- |rowspan=3|[[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]] |[[2022–23 Morecambe F.C. season|2022–23]]<ref name=sb2223>{{soccerbase season|88249|2022|accessdate=17 June 2022}}</ref> |League One |36||2||0||0||2||0||3{{efn|name="EFLT"}}||0||41||2 |- |[[2023-24 Morecambe F.C. season|2023-24]] |League Two |16||0||1||0||1||0||1||0||19||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !52!!2!!1!!0!!3!!0!!4!!0!!60!!2 |- |[[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] |[[2024-25 Accrington Stanley F.C. season|2024-25]] |League Two |7||1||0||0||0||0||1||0||8||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !161!!3!!14!!0!!8!!1!!19!!2!!202!!8 |}
{{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Accrington Stanley F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Love, Donald}} [[Category:1994 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Footballers from Rochdale]] [[Category:English men's footballers]] [[Category:Scottish men's footballers]] [[Category:English people of Scottish descent]] [[Category:Men's association football full-backs]] [[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]] [[Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players]] [[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]] [[Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players]] [[Category:Salford City F.C. players]] [[Category:Morecambe F.C. players]] [[Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players]] [[Category:English Football League players]] [[Category:Premier League players]] [[Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers]] [[Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers]] [[Category:21st-century English sportsmen]] [[Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen]]