Stuart Taylor (footballer born 1980)

For other people named Stuart Taylor, see Stuart Taylor (disambiguation).

Stuart Taylor

Personal information
Full name	Stuart James Taylor
Date of birth	28 November 1980 (1980-11-28)
Place of birth	Romford, England
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Manchester City
Number	12
Youth career
	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2005	Arsenal	18	(0)
1999	→ Bristol Rovers (loan)	4	(0)
2000	→ Crystal Palace (loan)	10	(0)
2001	→ Peterborough United (loan)	6	(0)
2004–2005	→ Leicester City (loan)	10	(0)
2005–2009	Aston Villa	12	(0)
2009	→ Cardiff City (loan)	8	(0)
2009–	Manchester City	1	(0)
National team‡
1997	England U16	1	(0)
1998–1999	England U18	5	(0)
1999	England U20	2	(0)
2001	England U21	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:26, 15 October 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:26, 13 April 2010 (UTC)

Stuart James Taylor (born 28 November 1980) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester City.

Career

Arsenal

Taylor had been at since joining the club in 1997 as a youth player, though he was loaned out several times – to Bristol Rovers (September 23 – October 23, 1999), Crystal Palace (August 9 – October 1, 2000), Peterborough United (February 15 – March 15, 2001) and Leicester City (November 18, 2004 – January 23, 2005). He played only 30 times in eight years for Arsenal's first team, as he was often the club's second or third-choice keeper. However, this included ten League appearances in Arsenal's 2001–02 Premiership-winning season, thus qualifying him for a winner's medal, although this was only achieved in the final match,with the title already won. Taylor and Richard Wright were on 9 appearances so manager Arsène Wenger picked Wright from the start but substituted him for Taylor on 85 minutes so that both were entitled to a winner's medal.

During his time at Arsenal he was tipped to become David Seaman's successor. However, although he saw off competition from Alex Manninger and Richard Wright, the signings of Jens Lehmann and Manuel Almunia in 2003 and 2004 respectively led to his decision to seek opportunities elsewhere. Taylor missed the whole of the 2003–04 season due to a persistent shoulder problem.

Aston Villa

In June 2005 Taylor moved to Aston Villa, signing on a four-year deal. He became Villa's second-choice goalkeeper, behind Thomas Sørensen. During the 2005–06 season he made just two appearances for the club. He blocked Wayne Rooney's penalty in a match against Manchester United on 20 October 2007 during a match in which first-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson was sent off. Aston Villa signed Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan at the start of the 2008–09 season, and Friedel became the first choice goalkeeper. Second choice was Guzan with Taylor slipping down to third. This despite generally putting in good performances, when called upon. Taylor's final game for Villa was the game against Odense BK in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Cardiff City (loan)

In a bid to find first team football, Taylor began to search for a short term loan deal at a Football League side, entering into talks with League One side Leeds United. However, on 13 March 2009, a last minute offer from Cardiff City prompted Taylor to instead opt for the Championship side on a one-month loan deal, becoming the third goalkeeper to sign on loan at the club during the season, after Tom Heaton and Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. He made his debut for the side two days later in a 1–1 draw with Bristol City.

Taylor continued as first choice for Cardiff throughout his first month at the club, despite the return of Tom Heaton from injury, and his loan deal was extended to the end of the season. However, following a 6–0 defeat to Preston North End, Taylor was dropped from the side for the final three games of the season. At the end of the campaign, he returned to Villa Park.

Manchester City

Taylor agreed terms with Manchester City regarding a free transfer on 23 June 2009, following the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2008–09 season. He officially became a Manchester City player on July 1, 2009. Taylor admitted taking advice from Brad Friedel, who had previously worked with manager Mark Hughes and goalkeeping coach Kevin Hitchcock at Blackburn Rovers. On 18 July 2009, when Manchester City played the South African team Orlando Pirates, Taylor conceded his first two goals for Manchester City.

He made his first-team debut in the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Scunthorpe United on 24 January 2010. On 10 July, he signed a new two year deal with the club, despite being officially released by City nine days earlier. Taylor also played against New York Red Bulls on 25 July 2010 in the second half in Manchester City's US Tour, and conceded one goal in a 2–1 defeat. He was then seen as third choice goalkeeper for Manchester City after he was benched with Costel Pantilimon starting in front of him at the Carling Cup tie against Arsenal, which City won 1-0.

International career

Taylor played for the England U20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship alongside Ashley Cole, Peter Crouch and Andy Johnson. He was capped three times for the England U21 team.

Honours

Arsenal

• FA Premier League: 2001–02
• FA Cup: 2003
• FA Community Shield: 1999, 2002

Manchester City

• FA Cup: 2010–11

External links

• Stuart Taylor career stats at Soccerbase
• Stuart Taylor: The Arsenal Verdict
• Profile at UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database
• Premier League profile