Jump to content

Kenny Miller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kennymiller (talk | contribs) at 19:18, 7 August 2008 (→‎International career: Added details of Rangers 2008/2009 European Run). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kenny Miller
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Miller
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Rangers
Number 18
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2008

Kenneth "Kenny" Miller (born 23 December 1979 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish professional footballer playing for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Scottish national team. He is a centre forward.

Club career

Hibernian

Miller's big break came when he signed for Hibernian, and made his debut during the end of the 1997–98 season. A loan spell at Stenhousemuir saw Miller score five doubles - 10 goals - in 11 league and Scottish Cup games, before he returned to Hibernian to establish himself as a regular player. Highlights of his four years at the club included being top scorer in season 1999–00 and receiving the Scottish Young Player of the Year crown in 2000.

Rangers

Miller signed for Rangers at a cost of £2 million in June 2000.[1] He made his debut against in a 4-1 win over FBK Kaunas on July 26 during a Champions League qualifier.[2] His first goal came on 5 August 2000 during an SPL match away to Kilmarnock, scoring the third in a 4-2 win.[3]

Three months later, Miller netted five goals (a Scottish Premier League record) during a 7-1 home defeat of St Mirren.[4] More goals followed against AS Monaco and Aberdeen and helped him to a tally of ten goals from just fourteen games. However, chances became limited thereafter and as the season came to a close he was to net only once more, against Brechin City in the Scottish Cup.

In September 2001, he went to Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) on a three-month loan, scoring two goals in his first two games. However, during his third appearance, Miller broke his collarbone in a fall. During the next two months, Wolves and Rangers had lengthy discussions over his future. Wolves finally secured him on a permanent transfer at a cost of £3 million, on a four and a half year deal.[5] Miller had made a total of 38 appearances and scored 11 goals for Rangers.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In 2002–03 Miller found himself back in the starting 11, but he had only managed six goals in 19 starts. However, during the final six months of the season he scored 18 goals in his final 24 appearances of that campaign. He equalled a club record of scoring in six consecutive games. That helped Wolves gain promotion into the Premier League.

In the 2003–04 season, Miller started off the season in the physiotherapy room; it was not until October that he made his first Premiership start. He went on to play in a 4-5-1 formation for the following few months, situated in a right-wing role. This led to frustration on Miller's part, and his only goals up until January came in the League, and FA Cup – against Burnley – and a double against Kidderminster. The next Saturday, Wolves beat Manchester United 1-0 with Miller hitting the winner in the 65th minute. Miller then grabbed a last minute equalizer against Liverpool the following Wednesday. Despite starting many games from then on in a striker's role, those were to be Miller's only Premier League goals and Wolves were relegated by the end of the season.

In the summer of 2004, Miller handed in a transfer request over lack of first team opportunities. Despite having a tense relationship with the Wolves manager at the time, Dave Jones, he started the 2004-05 season in good form for the club scoring seven goals in his first 10 games at Wolves. The appointment of Glenn Hoddle signalled a new start for Miller, and he formed a successful partnership with Carl Cort, ending the 2004–05 season with 21 goals.

In the summer of the 2005–06 season, his form attracted the attention of the newly promoted Premiership team Sunderland, but Wolves rejected their £1m and £1.2m offers[6] and Miller began the new season as a Wolves player. Despite only playing in his natural position on few occasions, Miller still ended the season with 12 goals, and ended the season as top scorer - the third time in Wolves last three Championship campaigns. Miller played more than 190 games for Wolves and scored more than 60 goals during his five years with the club.

Celtic

When Miller's contract expired at the end of that season, he transferred to Celtic for free under the Bosman ruling. He signed a pre-contract agreement in January after refusing to sign a new deal at Wolves a month earlier.[7]

Miller became only the third player since the war to have played for both sides of the Old Firm - following Alfie Conn and Maurice Johnston.

He was handed the number nine jersey upon his arrival and, despite being praised by many for his overall performances, failed to score in his first nine games for Celtic. He finally scored his first goal, against Old Firm rivals and former employers Rangers at Celtic Park in September 2006.[8] He proceeded to score in Celtic's 1–0 UEFA Champions League win against Copenhagen from the penalty spot[9] and netted two in the 3–0 win over S.L. Benfica.[10] By scoring in the 2006-07 Champions League season, Miller became the first player to score goals in the Champions League proper for both Rangers and Celtic. However, he ended the season with only four league goals. He did play in the clubs cup final, before being substituted because of an injury. Despite hints from the player himself that he would leave to get more first-team opportunities, Miller vowed to stay at the club and fight for his place at the club. Miller scored his first goal (his first appearance) of the 2007–08 season in a 3–1 victory over Falkirk. Miller added to his collection the following week by scoring two goals against Aberdeen.

Derby County

After days of speculation he would leave Celtic, Miller signed a three year deal with newly promoted Premier League club Derby County on 31 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee, rumored to be around £3 million, but later confirmed by Derby County manager Paul Jewell to be closer to £2.25m. [11]

Miller started well at his new club, scoring in his first two home matches, including the winner on his league debut for the Rams against Newcastle in a 1–0 win on 17 September 2007, a strike which won the club's Goal Of The Season award. However, following this initial success Miller netted just twice in his next 28 league fixtures.

With Derby looking likely candidates for relegation Miller expressed a desire to move just over 6 months after joining the club - with a return to Rangers his preferred destination [12], though his manager Jewell insisted any move would have to be financially fair for Derby. [11]

Return to Rangers

A fee of £2m was agreed between Rangers and Derby allowing Miller to enter into discussions about a transfer back to Ibrox on June 10, 2008.[13] The deal was completed on June 13.[14] Miller's return to Ibrox made him only the second player to cross the Old Firm divide twice. The first being Willie Kivlichan in the early 1900s.[15]

Miller made his second debut for the club on 30 July 2008 in a UEFA Champions League qualifier gainst FBK Kaunas.[16]

International career

Since making his Scottish international debut in 2001, Miller has remained a constant presence in the Scotland team under the management of Berti Vogts, Walter Smith and Alex McLeish, often playing as part of a two-man attack or as a lone striker.

He has scored goals in crucial games against several teams, including Germany and Ukraine. In 2005, Miller scored in three consecutive internationals, with goals against Austria, Italy and Norway.

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 March, 2003 Glasgow, Scotland  Iceland 1–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
2 7 June, 2003 Glasgow, Scotland  Germany 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying
3 17 August, 2005 Graz, Austria  Austria 1–0 2–2 Friendly
4 3 September, 2005 Glasgow, Scotland  Italy 1–0 1–1 FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying
5 7 September, 2005 Oslo, Norway  Norway 1–0 2–1 FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying
6 7 September, 2005 Oslo, Norway  Norway 2–0 2–1 FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying
7 1 March, 2006 Glasgow, Scotland   Switzerland 1–2 1–3 Friendly
8 2 September, 2006 Glasgow, Scotland  Faroe Islands 4–0 6–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
9 6 September, 2006 Kaunas, Lithuania  Lithuania 2–0 2–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
10 13 October, 2007 Glasgow, Scotland  Ukraine 1–0 3–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
11 26 March, 2008 Glasgow, Scotland  Croatia 1–1 1–1

Friendly

This 2 legged tie signaled the end of Rangers long 6 day European adventure for another season at least. Kenny is now dreaming of a return to Celtic if he can ever improve his dreadful performances! He will quietly sit at home on Champions League nights with his beloved Wolftones music playing in the background wishing he was still with the Celtic fans

References

  1. ^ "Rangers conclude Miller deal". BBC Sport website. June 26, 2000.
  2. ^ "Rangers 4-1 FBK Kaunas". Soccerbase. July 26, 2000.
  3. ^ "Kilmarnock 2-4 Rangers". Soccerbase. August 5, 2000.
  4. ^ "Rangers 7-1 St Mirren". Soccerbase. November 4, 2000.
  5. ^ "Wolves seal Miller deal". BBC Sport website. December 13, 2001.
  6. ^ "McCarthy drops interest in Miller". BBC Sport website. July 6, 2005.
  7. ^ "Celtic sign ex-Rangers man Miller". BBC Sport website. January 19, 2006.
  8. ^ "Celtic 2-0 Rangers". BBC Sport website. September 23, 2006.
  9. ^ "Celtic 1-0 Copenhagen". BBC Sport website. 26 September 2006.
  10. ^ "Celtic 3-0 Benfica". BBC Sport website. 17 October 2006.
  11. ^ a b "Jewell Demands Fair Miller Price". BBC Sport. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Miller would relish Ibrox return". BBC Sport. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "Rangers close in on Miller deal". BBC Sport website. 2008-06-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Miller makes way back to Gers". BBC Sport website. June 13 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Miller to follow in 100-year-old footsteps DailyRecord.co.uk (28 May 2008)
  16. ^ Rangers 0-0 FBK Kaunas BBC Sport website (30 July 2008)

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenny_Miller&oldid=230461936"