Craig Gardner

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For the American author, see Craig Shaw Gardner.

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Craig Gardner
Craig Gardner Cropped.jpg
Gardner playing for Sunderland in 2012
Personal information
Full name Craig Gardner[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-25) 25 November 1986 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height Script error: No such module "person height".
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
 West Bromwich Albion
Number 8
Youth career
0000–2005 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 Aston Villa 59 (5)
2010–2011 Birmingham City 42 (9)
2011–2014 Sunderland 81 (11)
2014– West Bromwich Albion 53 (4)
International career
2007–2009 England U21 14 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:04, 5 January 2016 (UTC)

Craig Gardner (born 25 November 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for West Bromwich Albion. A versatile midfielder, Gardner can play in many different positions, although central midfield is his preferred position. Gardner began his career at Aston Villa before spending the 2010–11 season with city rivals Birmingham City. After three seasons with Sunderland, he joined West Bromwich Albion in 2014.

Career

Aston Villa

Gardner playing for Aston Villa in 2008

Born in Solihull, West Midlands,[1] Gardner rejected the chance to join Birmingham City in 2003 in order to play for Aston Villa[3] and turned professional on 31 January 2005. Before Gardner made his Premier League debut on 26 December 2005 he played for the youth team Yardley Kings. This was before joining Aston Villa's youth system which then later took him to his debut, when he came on as a substitute for Steven Davis against Everton at Villa Park. He scored his first professional goal for Villa in the 3–1 away win on 14 April against Middlesbrough.[4] He also netted a contender for goal of the month on the last day of the season away to Bolton Wanderers.[5] After a series of appearances Villa Manager Martin O'Neill entered contract talks with Gardner.[6]

In August 2007, Gardner signed a new four-year deal, which ran until June 2011. On 1 October 2007 he scored two goals in two games with two free-kicks. First he scored away to Tottenham Hotspur in a 4–4 draw[7] and then the winner against West Ham 5 days later with a deflected free-kick.[8]

On 1 December 2007, Gardner scored the opener in a home match against Arsenal. Villa went on to lose the match 2–1.[9] Gardner has often played in the right-back slot, and impressed both his manager, Martin O'Neill, and captain, Gareth Barry, who said that Gardner could be a key player for years to come.

Gardner made just one appearance for Villa in the 2009–10 due to a groin injury. On 4 January 2010 it was announced that Birmingham City were preparing a £3.5 million bid. However it was revealed that Aston Villa had turned down the bid for the player. However, the club later offered a second deal including add-ons that was accepted by Aston Villa. He made exactly 80 appearances for Villa in all competitions.

Birmingham City

Gardner signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Birmingham City on 26 January 2010 for a fee reported as £3m plus £500,000 in add-ons.[10] He made his debut on 7 February as a 68th-minute substitute, and set up the first of Kevin Phillips' goals as Birmingham came back to beat Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1.[11] He scored his first goal for the club against Everton on 13 March.[12] Towards the end of the season Gardner was preferred to Sebastian Larsson on the right of midfield.[13] Restored to his favoured central position, he scored twice in the first home game of the 2010–11 season as Birmingham came from behind to beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1,[14] and scored again in the next game away at Bolton Wanderers.[15] Gardner's winning goal in extra time against West Ham United took Birmingham City through to the 2011 Football League Cup Final.[16] He was the club's top goalscorer in the 2010–11 season with eight League goals, ten in all competitions,[17] as Birmingham were relegated to the Championship.

Sunderland

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Gardner alongside Lee Cattermole in a pre-season friendly against York City

Gardner signed a three-year deal with Sunderland for an undisclosed fee, believed by BBC Sport to be about £6 million, on 30 June 2011.[18] Gardner made his debut as a substitute in the home defeat to Newcastle United on 20 August,[19] and scored his first competitive goal on 18 September 2011 with a deflected shot that looped over Stoke Citys goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as Sunderland beat Stoke City 4–0 at home to secure their first win of the season.[20] Gardner fell out of favour at Sunderland, and was linked with a departure in the January transfer window. However, he was re-united with former boss O'Neill when he replaced Steve Bruce as Sunderland manager in December 2011, and this prompted a change in fortune for Gardner and the Black Cats. Gardner was deployed at right back against Manchester City on New Year's Day 2012 due to an injury crisis, and helped Sunderland to a shock 1–0 win against the league leaders. Two days later Gardner, again playing at right back, scored his second goal for Sunderland, direct from a free kick 30 yards away from goal in their 4–1 away win at Wigan. Gardner was rumoured to be homesick at Sunderland in the press, and was linked with a move back to The Midlands. Sunderland rejected a loan bid for Gardner from former club Birmingham City on 19 January. Gardner scored a stunning volley from outside the box in Sunderland's 2–0 win over Swansea City on 21 January.[21]

Gardner remained at Sunderland for the 2012–13 season, dismissing rumours that he was unsettled on Wearside. He was deployed as a right-back by O'Neill for much of the season. His first goal of the season came from a direct free kick against MK Dons in a 2–0 Capital One Cup victory on September 25. Gardner scored again from a free kick in a 2–4 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion, and scored the Black Cat's conselation goal in a 2–1 loss at Norwich in December. On 5 January, Gardner scored a late equalizer in their FA Cup 3rd Round tie away at Bolton Wanderers with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, earning Sunderland a replay. He scored a penalty as Sunderland lost 2–1 at Reading in January. In March, Gardner conceded a penalty by bringing down Ashkan Dejagah in the box, but made amends by scoring another penalty to help Sunderland draw 2–2. Gardner scored yet another penalty as Sunderland drew at home to Norwich later that month, bringing his tally for the season to eight. Despite Gardner's goals, Sunderland were on a run of eight games without a win, and following a home defeat to Manchester United, O'Neill was sacked and replaced with Paolo Di Canio. Gardner started Di Canio's first game in charge, a 2–1 loss at Chelsea, and picked up his tenth yellow card of the season. As a result, Gardner missed the Tyne-Wear derby at Newcastle through suspension. However, Di Canio allowed Gardner to travel to the game with Sunderland supporters and watch the game with the fans in the away end. Gardner was seen singing with Sunderland fans on the Metro journey to Tyneside, and celebrating as Sunderland thrashed their rivals 3–0. Gardner returned to the team following his suspension, but against Stoke was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Charlie Adam, ending his season prematurely.

Gardner scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season from the penalty spot in a 3–1 home defeat to Arsenal. He also opened the scoring against Manchester United a few weeks later, although Sunderland went on to lose 2–1. Gardner scored the only goal of the FA Cup fifth-round tie against Southampton when he "unleashed a 20-yard shot which arced imperiously before brushing the underside of the bar as it dipped en route to the top corner".[22]

West Bromwich Albion

On 20 May 2014, Gardner signed a three-year deal with West Bromwich Albion, to begin when his Sunderland contract expired at the end of the 2013–14 season.[23] He scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 victory against his former club Aston Villa.[24]

Personal life

Gardner said he was a lifelong Birmingham City supporter.[25] He had previously claimed (while playing for Aston Villa) to have been a Villa fan since childhood.[26] His younger brother Gary Gardner also played for England at youth level and turned professional with Aston Villa.[27][28] In June 2012, he donated £500 to the family of a disabled toddler after a chance meeting in a department store; this was only revealed after the Stoke-on-Trent family told a local newspaper.[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 28 December 2014
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 2005–06[30] FA Premier League 8 0 1 0 0 0 — 9 0
2006–07[31] FA Premier League 13 2 0 0 0 0 — 13 2
2007–08[32] Premier League 23 3 1 0 1 0 — 25 3
2008–09[33] Premier League 14 0 4 0 1 0 11[lower-alpha 1] 1 30 1
2009–10[34] Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0 1[lower-alpha 2] 0 3 0
Total 59 5 6 0 3 0 12 1 80 6
Birmingham City 2009–10[34] Premier League 13 1 2 0 0 0 — 15 1
2010–11[35] Premier League 29 8 2 0 6 2 — 37 10
Total 42 9 4 0 6 2 — 52 11
Sunderland 2011–12[36] Premier League 30 3 6 0 1 0 — 37 3
2012–13[37] Premier League 33 6 2 1 2 1 — 37 8
2013–14[38] Premier League 18 2 3 1 5 0 — 26 3
Total 81 11 11 2 8 1 — 100 14
West Bromwich Albion 2014–15[39] Premier League 35 3 3 0 0 0 — 38 3
Career totals 200 26 21 2 17 3 12 1 250 32
  1. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, nine appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Cup

Honours

Birmingham City

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Gardner ready to sign Villa deal
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select season required via dropdown menu.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/dec/13/west-bromwich-albion-aston-villa-premier-league-match-report
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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