Richard Wright (footballer)

For other people named Richard Wright, see Richard Wright (disambiguation).

Richard Wright

Personal information
Full name	Richard Ian Wright
Date of birth	5 November 1977 (1977-11-05)
Place of birth	Ipswich, England
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Ipswich Town
Number	1
Youth career
1994–1995	Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–2001	Ipswich Town	240	(0)
2001–2002	Arsenal	12	(0)
2002–2007	Everton	60	(0)
2007–2008	West Ham United	0	(0)
2008	→ Southampton (loan)	7	(0)
2008–2010	Ipswich Town	58	(0)
2010–2011	Sheffield United	2	(0)
2011–	Ipswich Town	1	(0)
National team‡
1996	England U18	1	(0)
1997–2000	England U21	15	(0)
2000–2001	England	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:10, 26 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:40, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

Richard Ian Wright (born 5 November 1977) is an English professional goalkeeper, currently playing for Ipswich Town, now his third spell with the club having played earlier in the season for the reserves. Born in Ipswich, he joined Ipswich Town as a trainee, going on to play for the club more than 200 times between 1995 and 2001.

He moved to Premiership club Arsenal in 2001 before being signed by Everton in 2002 where he spent five years. A brief spell on loan from West Ham United with Southampton was followed by a transfer back to Ipswich. Having made over 50 more appearances for the club, he was released at the end of the 2010–11 season.

He has been a member of the England squad, and has two caps.

Club career

Ipswich Town

Wright was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and joined Ipswich Town as a trainee in January 1995, making his debut as a 17-year-old in a 2–0 victory at home to Coventry City in May 1995. He played a major role in Ipswich's 1999–2000 season when the club were promoted from the Football League First Division to the Premier League via the play-offs, defeating Barnsley, and Wright saved an all-important penalty kick. He made a total of 298 league and cup appearances for Ipswich.

Arsenal

Wright joined Arsenal in July 2001 for an undisclosed fee, reported as £6m but claims have suggested it was as low as £2m due to a clause in Wright's contract, a figure subsequently suggested as more likely by the club's accounts. He signed a five-year contract and was signed as manager Arsène Wenger envisaged him as a long-term successor to David Seaman and also as a more experienced competitor for the previous second choice goalkeeper Alex Manninger (who soon left the club). He made his debut against Derby County on 29 September, but despite an injury to Seaman which gave him an extended run in the team, his season soon fell apart. He punched the ball into his own net in a 4–2 home defeat to Charlton Athletic and then limped off with injury in a UEFA Champions League match against Deportivo La Coruna. Wright later slipped to third-choice behind youth goalkeeper Stuart Taylor and only played FA Cup matches for the remainder of the season, although Seaman replaced him for the final, which Arsenal won 2–0 against Chelsea. He made his last Arsenal appearance on the final day of the 2001–02 season, a 4–3 victory over Everton. He was substituted in the 85th minute for Taylor, which gave both goalkeepers enough appearances to qualify for a Premier League winners' medal that season. Wright made 22 appearances for Arsenal in total.

Everton

Although initially first-team keeper at Everton, a number of injuries, including a serious knee injury, hampered his playing aspirations. He lost his place at Everton and had to be content with being understudy to veteran Nigel Martyn. During 2005–06 Martyn had a spell out with injury, but Wright promptly injured himself whilst warming up in a match against Chelsea. This was a freak accident in which Wright saw a large sign instructing players to use temporary goals but he ignored the warning and fell on the sign, thereby injuring his ankle. This was the second strange injury involving Wright as he had injured himself falling from his loft three years earlier. He did come back to finish the remainder of the season but his form was unimpressive. Despite the retirement of first choice goalkeeper Martyn, Wright remained second in the pecking order for the 2006–07 season behind new arrival Tim Howard.

West Ham United

Wright was released by Everton at the end of the 2006–07 season and signed for West Ham United in July 2007.

On 20 March 2008 he joined Southampton on a month's loan as their first three goalkeepers were all unavailable through injury. He made his debut for Southampton in a 0–0 home draw with Coventry City on 22 March. On 18 April the loan was extended to the end of the 2007–08 season.

Return to Ipswich Town

Wright rejoined Ipswich on 21 July for an undisclosed fee on a two year contract with the option of a third year. He then made his 300th club appearance for Ipswich in a 4–1 loss against Wigan Athletic on 23 September in the third round of the League Cup. His fine performances for his hometown club have earnt him the Players and supporters' player of the season awards for the 2008–2009 season. On 1 December 2009 Wright was ruled out for up to 4 months following confirmation of a knee injury suffered during a 2–1 win against Cardiff City. Wright was released by Ipswich at the end of the 09/10 season.

Sheffield United

After a brief trial spell, Wright joined Sheffield United on a free transfer on a four month short term deal in September 2010, having been extended until the end of the season. Despite this Wright spent most of his time at Bramall Lane injured and made only two starts, both times being withdrawn mid way through the game due to further injuries. His contract was terminated with Sheffield United by mutual consent on at the start of April 2011.

Second return to Ipswich Town

Wright returned to Ipswich in the summer of 2011 to train with the club. Having been on trial at other clubs he had impressed enough while training with Ipswich to earn a call up to the reserves, in which he featured in a game against Colchester United.

Wright re-signed for the club for his third spell on 23 November 2011. Earlier in the week he had stated he wanted to return to the club; "I love Ipswich Town Football Club, I don’t hide that. I think everyone knows that, but at the moment there’s nothing there for me – simple as that, you just get on with it and look elsewhere. If anything changed and something came up (at Ipswich) then I’d be a liar to say I wouldn’t consider it because I would." In his third debut for the club, he conceded three times in a 3–2 home defeat to Reading.

International career

Wright has been included in 3 squads and capped twice for England, making his debut against Malta in a friendly in 2000; he conceded a penalty kick early on but saved a second penalty in the 88th minute as England won 2–1. He was a member of the England Euro 2000 squad, where he was third-choice behind David Seaman and Nigel Martyn, and won his second cap as a substitute in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2001. However, he has not been called up to the England squad since 2003.

Career statistics

Club

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
1994–95	Ipswich Town	Premier League	3	0	-		1	0	-		4	0
1995–96		First Division	23	0	3	0	1	0	-		27	0
1996–97			40	0	1	0	5	0	-		46	0
1997–98			46	0	4	0	6	0	-		56	0
1998–99			46	0	2	0	4	0	-		52	0
1999–00			46	0	1	0	4	0	-		51	0
2000–01		Premier League	36	0	2	0	6	0	-		44	0
2001–02	Arsenal	Premier League	12	0	5	0	1	0	4	0	22	0
2002–03	Everton	Premier League	33	0	1	0	3	0	-		37	0
2003–04			4	0	-		-		-		4	0
2004–05			7	0	2	0	3	0	-		12	0
2005–06			15	0	1	0	-		-		16	0
2006–07			1	0	-		1	0	-		2	0
2007–08	West Ham United	Premier League	-		-		3	0	-		3	0
2007–08	Southampton	Championship	7	0	-		-		-		7	0
2008–09	Ipswich Town	Championship	46	0	2	0	2	0	-		50	0
2009–10			12	0	0	0	1	0	-		12	0
2010–11	Sheffield United	Championship	2	0	0	0	-		-		2	0
2011–12	Ipswich Town	Championship	1	0	0	0	-		-		1	0
Total	England		379	0	24	0	41	0	4	0	448	0
Career total			379	0	24	0	41	0	4	0	448	0

Stats accurate as at 12:40, 3 January 2011.

Honours

With Ipswich Town

• Division 1 (Level 2) Playoffs: 1999–2000

With Arsenal

• FA Premier League: 2001–02
• FA Cup: 2002

External links

• Richard Wright career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile on The FA website
• ESPNSoccernet.com player profile