Stephen Hunt (footballer born 1981)

For other people named Stephen Hunt, see Stephen Hunt (disambiguation).

Stephen Hunt

Stephen Hunt with Ireland ahead of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying Group B game against Russia in Moscow on 6 September 2011
Personal information
Full name	Stephen Patrick Hunt
Date of birth	1 August 1981 (1981-08-01)
Place of birth	Portlaoise, Ireland
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Winger
Club information
Current club	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number	12
Youth career
	Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2001	Crystal Palace	3	(0)
2001–2005	Brentford	136	(25)
2005–2009	Reading	156	(17)
2009–2010	Hull City	27	(6)
2010–	Wolverhampton Wanderers	39	(6)
National team‡
2000	Republic of Ireland U21	1	(0)
2007–	Republic of Ireland	37	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 February 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 15 November 2011 (UTC)

Stephen Patrick Hunt (born 1 August 1981) is an Irish footballer who plays for Premier League team Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Republic of Ireland national football team. He was part of the team that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.

Hunt's position is left midfield, although he can also play at left back and as an attacking midfielder. He previously played for Brentford, Crystal Palace, Reading and Hull City. His younger brother, Noel, is also a footballer.

Club career

Early years

Hunt became known for his creative and skilful play as well as his work rate as a winger. Although born in Laois, Hunt grew up in Clonea-Power, Waterford. He was a talented under-age hurler and soccer player. He played for Waterford hurlers at under-15 and under-16 levels. Hunt's first introduction to organised football was when he moved to the Christian Brothers' Secondary School in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary at the age of 11. During his time at secondary school he also began playing for Waterford soccer side Johnville and won a Munster Schools Junior Cup with Carrick CBS. This gained Hunt a degree of recognition and he played in the Kennedy Cup with Waterford County. He later excelled for Carrick United at various age levels, before going to England starting his career as a trainee with Crystal Palace. Failing to make an impact on the first team, Hunt had trials with clubs including Dundee United before leaving to join Brentford. In his four years at the West London club, he became an integral part of the team.

In 2005 Hunt rejected a new contract and decided to leave Brentford. After agreeing to join Bradford City, late interest from Reading, then in the Football League Championship, made him change his mind.

Reading

Hunt was unfortunate to be denied more starting appearances in his first Reading season by the form of Bobby Convey. He still made a good contribution, appearing from the bench, as Reading marched to the Championship title and promotion to the Premiership during the 2005–06 season.

On 14 October 2006, Hunt's knee collided with Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Čech when the Reading player was lunging at the ball, resulting in Čech undergoing surgery for a depressed fracture of the skull. Since the injury, Petr Čech has to wear a head protection during every game. Following the incident, Premier League officials, players, pundits, player's representatives and even MPs expressed views either condemning or supporting Hunt and the others involved in the aftermath of the incident. The FA eventually confirmed that no action would be taken against Hunt but, in the mean time, both Hunt and team-mate Ibrahima Sonko, involved in a collision in the same match with Čech's replacement Carlo Cudicini, had allegedly received death threats from Chelsea fans.

During the January 2008 transfer window, Reading rejected a series of bids (peaking at £5.5 million) from Sunderland for Hunt, but Reading confirmed that they had no intention of selling players at that time. On 1 February 2008, Hunt signed a new deal with Reading keeping him at the club until the summer of 2011. In 2007–08, Hunt scored 6 goals in 39 appearances for Reading's first team but could not prevent the club being relegated on goal difference.

On 4 February 2009, Reading confirmed that Hunt had signed a new three and a half year contract, that would keep him at the club until the summer of 2012. However, after the club failed in their attempt to win an instant return to the Premier League, losing in the playoff semi finals to Burnley, Hunt announced his intention to leave Reading in the hope securing a move back to the Premier League.

Hull City

On 13 August 2009 it was confirmed that Hunt had signed for Hull City for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around the region of £3.5 million. He scored his first goal for the club 28 minutes into his debut against Chelsea on 15 August 2009. This was also the first goal of the 2009–10 Premier League season. However, he was taunted by Chelsea fans throughout the game, due to the incident with Cech. Hunt also scored in his next match, his home debut for Hull City, but they were beaten 5–1 by Tottenham.

In the January transfer window, he was the subject of a £5 million bid from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the Tigers rejected it. Shortly after, Hunt suffered a foot injury that ruled him out of the run-in. In his absence, the club were relegated amid growing financial worries.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On 21 June 2010 it was confirmed that Wolves had finally signed Hunt on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be £3 million. Hunt, still recovering from his foot injury from his time with Hull, did not return to action until 23 October 2010, as a half-time substitution against Chelsea. He made his first start for Wolves a week later against Manchester City. On 26 October 2010, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 3–2 defeat in the third round of the Carling Cup. He scored his first goal for the club against Sunderland on 27 November, winning the game 3–2 at Molineux.In the early part of 2011, Hunt suffered calf and hernia injury’s which kept him out of action for up to three months. He returned from injury for the final five fixtures of the season. On the final day of the season Hunt scored three minutes from time against Blackburn Rovers which guaranteed Wolves their Premier League safety. On 13 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Blackburn at Ewood Park in a 2–1 victory for Wolves in the opening Premier League game of the new 2011–12 season.

International career

Hunt earned his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in their 2–1 win away to San Marino on 7 February 2007, coming on as a substitute. He earned his second cap in their 1–0 home win against Wales on 24 March 2007, again coming on as a substitute.

Hunt then made a substitute appearance in Ireland's 1–0 defeat to the Czech Republic on 12 September 2007. However, he was sent off by Greek referee Kyros Vassaras following a challenge on Jan Polák, with later reports suggesting this was a harsh decision as Hunt had appeared to win the ball.

Hunt scored a late penalty in the 2–3 friendly defeat to Poland at Croke Park on 19 November 2008.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	19 November 2008	Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland	Poland	1–2	2–3	Friendly

Honours

Club

Reading

• Championship : 2005–06

International

Republic of Ireland

• Carling Nations Cup: 2011

Individual

• Reading Player of the Year 2007–08
• Hull City Player of the Year 2009–10
• Football League Championship Team of the Year: 2008–09

External links

• Official club profile
• Stephen Hunt career stats at Soccerbase
• ESPN Profile

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Michael Turner	Hull City Player of the Season 2009–2010	Succeeded by Anthony Gerrard