Gary Breen
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Patrick Breen | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Hendon, London, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| – | Charlton Athletic | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1990–1991 | Charlton Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | Maidstone United | 19 | (0) |
| 1992–1994 | Gillingham | 51 | (0) |
| 1994–1996 | Peterborough United | 69 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Birmingham City | 40 | (2) |
| 1997–2002 | Coventry City | 146 | (2) |
| 2002–2003 | West Ham United | 14 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | Sunderland | 107 | (7) |
| 2006–2008 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 59 | (1) |
| 2008–2010 | Barnet | 47 | (0) |
| Total | 552 | (13) | |
| National team | |||
| 1996–2006 | Republic of Ireland | 63 | (7) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2009–2010 | Barnet (assistant) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:19, 8 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Gary Patrick Breen (born 12 December 1973 in Hendon, London) is an Irish footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. He played for numerous clubs over a 20-year career, including more than 100 appearances each for Coventry City and Sunderland. He won 63 caps for the Republic of Ireland, and played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring in Ireland's 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.
[edit] Career
Breen began his professional career as a youth player at Charlton Athletic but never made a first-team appearance for the club. Instead, he moved to Maidstone United where he played his first league game at age 17. After one full season with the club he joined Gillingham where he eventually became a first-team regular, prompting a £70,000 bid from Peterborough United.
He only had one full season at Peterborough United, but did well enough to draw attention from First Division Birmingham City, who paid £250,000 for him in February 1996. His form here won him a call-up to the Ireland team, and he made his international debut on 2 June 1996 in a 2–2 friendly draw with Croatia.
Less than 12 months after arriving at Birmingham, he was on the move again, to Premier League Coventry City in a £2.5 million deal. He played for five full seasons at Highfield Road, four in the top flight, and cemented his place in his national side, playing at the 2002 World Cup as they made the second round under Mick McCarthy. He scored in their 3–0 first-round win against Saudi Arabia, and played every minute of their campaign.
Following the World Cup, Breen was signed on a free transfer by West Ham United by manager Glenn Roeder,[1] but left the club after relegation from the top flight and only 18 appearances in all competitions.[2] He was signed on a free transfer [2] by his old Ireland manager McCarthy for Sunderland, where he was later to become captain. Here, he won promotion to the Premier League as champions in 2004–05, having lost in the play-offs the previous season.
However, they were relegated and club captain Breen was released by the club. This meant Breen had been relegated with three different Premier League teams: Coventry City, West Ham United and Sunderland.
Breen was subsequently signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a two-year deal, reuniting him again with McCarthy. He played almost all the club's games as they reached the play-offs in his first season at Molineux, scoring once, against Luton Town.[3] This season also saw him end his international career after 63 caps, as he retired after not being selected for a friendly against the Netherlands in August 2006 by recently-appointed manager Steve Staunton.
He was made Wolves' club captain for the 2007–08 season, but ended up missing several months through injury. He was involved in an after-match confrontation with his manager in March 2008,[4] and was released at the conclusion of the season as the club missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.
In December 2008, he joined Barnet as a player/coach.[5] In June 2009 Breen signed a new contract to become player/assistant manager at the club.
On the Goals On Sunday programme on 6 September 2009, Breen revealed that he had agreed to move to Inter Milan after the 2002 World Cup, but failed a medical.[6] Breen had also been linked with a move to Barcelona.[7] Breen left Barnet in June 2010.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ "Roeder's ability persuades Breen to join West Ham - Football League, Football". The Independent. 2002-07-30. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/roeders-ability-persuades-breen-to-join-west-ham-649946.html. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
- ^ a b "Gary Breen". Westhamstats.info. 1973-12-12. http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=767&united=Gary_Breen. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
- ^ "Luton 2–3 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. 3 March 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/6392561.stm. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "McCarthy and Breen in bust-up". Express & Star. 6 March 2008. http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/03/06/mccarthy-and-breen-in-bust-up/. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ "Bees swoop to bring in Breen". Sporting Life. 2 December 2008. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide3/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer_league_1_and_2/08/12/02/manual_140918.html&TEAMHD=nationwide3. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ "Gary Breen and Inter Milan". 7 September 2009. http://bigredbench.blogspot.com/2009/09/gary-breen-and-inter-milan.html. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Rookwood, Dan (21 February 2003). "Gary Breen: Uppity of Upton Park?". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2003/feb/21/newsstory.sport1. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ "Barnet | News | Latest News | Latest News | GARY BREEN SAYS "THANK YOU"". Barnetfc.com. http://www.barnetfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10431~2072524,00.html. Retrieved 2011-05-16.
[edit] External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gary McAllister |
Coventry City Player of the Year 2000-2001 |
Succeeded by Gary McAllister |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Jason McAteer |
Sunderland Captain 2004-2006 |
Succeeded by Dean Whitehead |
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- 1973 births
- Living people
- People from Hendon
- People from Maidstone
- Republic of Ireland international footballers
- Republic of Ireland under-21 international footballers
- Association football defenders
- Premier League players
- The Football League players
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- Maidstone United F.C. (1897) players
- Barnet F.C. players
- Birmingham City F.C. players
- Coventry City F.C. players
- Gillingham F.C. players
- Peterborough United F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- West Ham United F.C. players
- Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
- Sportspeople from London
