Sammy Clingan became Norwich City's first signing of the 2008 summer when on 17th June 2008, he agreed to join the Canaries on 1st July 2008 after his contract with Notts Forest expired.

The Northern Irish midfielder began his career in August 2001 as a youth trainee at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He captained Wolves reserves in 2003/04, but never broke into the first team. He was loaned out to Chesterfield on two occasions to gain experience and made 29 appearances, scoring three times, between October 2004 and January 2006

In early 2006, Nottingham Forest confirmed their interest in him. The original deal fell through because of the existing loan deal with Chesterfield, but when his loan period ended on 15 January, Forest made a second bid. Despite the player's wish to remain at Chesterfield, the Spirerites were unable to match the offer, and Clingan joined Forest on the 23rd January 2006 for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in a 2-0 defeat to Barnsley. He went on to make 85 appearances for Forest and attracted interest from QPR and Ipswich before he signed for Norwich.

Clingan has represented Northern Ireland at Under 17, Under 19, Under 21 and full international levels. He gained six Under 21 caps and captained the side. He made his senior debut at the Giants Stadium in New York against Uruguay during Northern Ireland's two-game tour of the USA in May 2006. His first competitive senior cap came in the 3-0 home defeat by Iceland on 2nd September 2006

Following Norwich's relegation to League One at the end of the 2008/9 season, Clingan's future was the subject of much speculation. On 11th June 2009, it was speculated that he would join Coventry in return for £1million and striker Robbie Simpson. Instead he joined the Sky Blues on 24th July 2009 for an undislosed fee without Simpson coming the other way. He signed a three year contract with Coventry.