Craig Moore

Craig Moore
Personal information
Full name	Craig Andrew Moore
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Newcastle United
Number	18
	‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:00, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

For the Australian radio presenter, see Craig Moore (radio presenter).

Craig Andrew Moore (born December 12, 1975 in Sydney, New South Wales), is a defender from Australia, who plays for the Australia national football (soccer) team and Newcastle United.

Moore, a product of the Rangers youth system, became an important player in Rangers' defence up until 2004 (although he did spend most of the 1998/99 season at Crystal Palace, where he was also highly successful, despite the Eagles' relegation).

Moore was the captain of the "Olyroos", the Australian Olympic Football Team at the 2004 Olympics at Athens, Greece, when they managed to reach the quarter-finals. However, his involvement angered Rangers manager Alex McLeish as it forced him to miss the start of the Scottish league season. As a result Moore was stripped of the club captaincy and was forced to the fringes of the team and was sold to Borussia Mönchengladbach in January 2005 where he teamed up with former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat.

However Advocaat was sacked after a short time in charge and Moore left the German club after a falling out with club management.

On July 30 2005 he signed a two year deal at Newcastle United to play for the first time in the English Premiership.

Moore made his competitive Newcastle debut on March 22 2006 against Chelsea in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals, becoming the first Australian to play for Newcastle. His actual first game came at home to Yeading in which he scored one of five goals.

Moore represented Australia in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored a penalty kick against Croatia in the 39th minute of the Croatia vs Australia game, enabling Australia to progress to the second round.

Reports claim Moore will return to his native Australia in the summer and will be available on a free transfer in the summer. Neither Craig Moore or Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has commented on the situation. However, when fellow team mate Nolberto Solano signed a one year extension to his contract, Glenn Roeder said he would next be trying to tie up new contracts for both Craig Moore and fellow centre half Titus Bramble.

After Titus Bramble's dip in form, Moore returned from a injury that had kept him out since November. He has formed a good partnership with Steven Taylor at the heart of Newcastle's defence.

Childhood

When Craig Moore was a child, he attended the public school Crawford Public School in Doonside, NSW. He became the school captain of the school and has his name on the honour roll.

External links

Craig Moore at Soccerbase