Stephen Ireland Biography

Name :
Stephen Ireland

Nationality :
Irish

Date of Birth :
22/08/1986

Height
5' 8" (173cm)

Weight :
10st 7lbs (66.74kg)

Squad Number :
7

Previous Clubs :
Newcastle (loan), Manchester City

Position :
Midfielder

Stephen Ireland is ready to make a fresh start to his Villa career, insisting: "I'll give my all for the cause."

The Irish midfielder endured a difficult first season after joining from Manchester City in August 2010.

He picked up a couple of niggling injuries and then slipped down the pecking order under former boss Gerard Houllier.

A frustrating loan spell at Newcastle followed when an ankle problem restricted him to just two appearances.

But Ireland is determined to kick-start his claret and blue career under new manager Alex McLeish.

He is determined to to forge an impressive career at Villa - and attack from midfield with his usual zest and energy.

The classy central star is also renowned for his goalscoring exploits and hammering home the odd long-range missile.

Ireland started his career in Cobh, playing junior football for Cobh Ramblers, a team his father Michael had previously played for.

At the age of 15 he joined Manchester City. Ireland played for City's first team in a number of friendlies in the 2005-06 pre-season and made his competitive debut in September of that year against Bolton Wanderers, coming on as a late substitute.

He subsequently made his first competitive start against Doncaster later that month.

He soon made an impression, scooping the man of the match award on his first Barclays Premier League start against Everton in October 2005.

He then started the next six matches for City, which earned him a contract to keep him at the club until 2009.

He ended the season with a total of 16 starts and 12 substitute appearances.

In December 2005, Ireland scored his first Premier League goal for City, a sweet left footed volley from 20 yards.

The goal proved to be the only goal in a vital 1-0 victory at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane.

But it was a goal just under two years later which bought him national attention.

Having started the season well, the midfield ace scored the only goal, a volley, in a 1-0 home win over Sunderland. The celebration saw Ireland drop his shorts to reveal a pair of underpants sporting the Superman logo.

He finished the 2007-08 season with four goals but the following term will go down as probably his best with City, bagging 13 goals in a memorable campaign.

In May 2009, he was named City's Player of the Year for his blistering performances and as a result secured a new five-year contract.

He began the following term in fine form, scoring in the opening day 2-0 away win at Blackburn. But the departure of Mark Hughes and arrival of Roberto Mancini eventually paved the way for the move to Villa.

Now the midfielder will be looking to kick-start his career in claret and blue.

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