Alan Joseph Mahon (born 4 April 1978) is an Irish former professional footballer who played a midfielder and was capped by the Republic of Ireland.
Dublin-born Mahon, who was educated at St. James Street Christian Brothers Secondary School in the Irish capital, joined English Football League club Tranmere Rovers in 1995.
He played the first half in a 4–0 defeat in the Champions League to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on 25 October,[2] he was loaned to First Division club Blackburn Rovers on 15 December for the rest of the season, making his debut two days later as an 89th-minute substitute in a 2–0 victory over their Lancashire rivals Burnley at Turf Moor.
After starting the 2005–06 season in the first team, he dropped out of favour halfway through the campaign and was allowed to leave, despite being seen as an ongoing squad player by Paul Jewell.
[citation needed] On 23 March 2006 he joined Burnley on loan for the rest of the 2005–06 season, making his debut the following day against Norwich City.
On 14 March 2009, Cotterill's successor as Burnley manager, Owen Coyle, stated that fellow Championship club Blackpool had made an enquiry to take Mahon on loan for the rest of the season, saying: "I won't stand in his way because Alan needs to play.
Mahon played for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team in the 1996 UEFA European Under-18 Championship finals in Luxembourg and made his senior international debut on 26 April 2000 as a 54th-minute substitute in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Greece at Lansdowne Road, Dublin.