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Gary Muir

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Gary Muir
Gary Muir, 2012
Muir playing for Vittoriosa Stars in 2012
Personal information
Full name Gary Muir
Date of birth (1985-12-15) 15 December 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Midfielder/Full Back
Team information
Current team
 Sliema Wanderers
Number 23
Youth career
Partick Thistle
Greenock Morton
2005–2006 Louisburg College
2007–2008 University of Hartford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008 Stirling Albion 17 (0)
2008–2009 Lisburn Distillery 38 (13)
2009 Clyde 19 (1)
2010 Ballymena 17 (2)
2010–2011 Airdrie United 19 (2)
2011–2012 Antigua 20 (5)
2012–2013 Vittoriosa Stars 39 (14)
2013–2015 Floriana 54 (12)
2015– Sliema Wanderers 32 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Muir (born 15 December 1985 in Glasgow) is a Scottish professional footballer currently with Sliema Wanderers in the Maltese Premier League. Muir holds experience as a footballer in Europe and both North and South America.

United States

After playing in Scotland during his teenage years, Muir moved to the United States to develop his playing career and was uniquely awarded a 100% scholarship fund. A successful four years in the USA began as Captain of the Louisburg College Hurricanes for two seasons in North Carolina, leading to Captaincy at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.

In 2005, he was awarded All-American status in the NJCAA, named in the Division I All-Region team, and also selected for the Mid-Atlantic district team. Muir took the Hurricanes to the semi-finals in the NJCAA Championships and received the Regional Player of the Year Award, as well as being named the Most Valuable Player of the season.

In 2006, Muir signed for the University of Hartford by Ex-Portugal, Benfica and Porto coach Dan Gaspar at the US National College Championships.[1] 2006 saw Muir playing in all 17 games, scoring three goals and assisting on six occasions. He was also named Most Valuable Player at the Hartwick College Invitational.[2]

Professional career

Muir originally was invited back to Scotland to sign and play in the first eleven at Livingston for manager Mark Proctor in 2007, however, the sale of the club prevented the deal moving forward and Muir featured for Stirling Albion in the Scottish First Division for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.[3]

Signing for Irish Premiership side Lisburn Distillery in 2008 proved to be an important move in Muir's career after being offered deals from a variety of clubs in the Scottish first and second divisions.[4][5] Muir was an important player for Distillery starting every game, scoring 13 goals, assisting on 15 occasions and was awarded 11 Man of the Match awards. He also scored his first senior football hat-trick at the club. Distillery finished fourth in the IPL, qualifying for the preliminary qualification rounds of the UEFA Europa League.

An impressive season attracted interest from various clubs in the UK and Ireland, but a foot fracture sidelined him for four months and delayed a move forward. After recovering, the unexpected sacking of Lisburn manager Paul Kirk, Muir returned to Scotland with Clyde in September 2009, however, this was only to be short term before heading back across the water to play at Ballymena United for the remainder or the 2009–10 season. [6]

In 2010 Muir signed for Airdrie United in the Scottish First Division and at the end of the season was approached and offered an exceptional deal to play in Central America (Guatemala) with US coach Jeff 'Ziggy' Korytoski at Antigua GFC. During another season of multiple goals and assists Muir scored a memorable second career hat-trick.[7]

With head coach Ziggy Korytoski deciding to move on from his post after changes in the club's ownership, Muir signed for Vittoriosa Stars in Malta.[8] Finishing the remainder of the 2011–12 campaign at the Stars, Muir made a huge impact bringing the club from 11th position in the league table up to 5th – 11 undefeated games, scoring five goals and providing seven assists.

In the 2012–13 season, Muir played an influential role at Vittoriosa Stars winning promotion to the Premier Division, scoring nine goals and assisting on 15 occasions.

2013–14 saw Muir move to the most successful club in Maltese history, Floriana, after agreeing a deal with ex-Liverpool youth coach Ian Dawes. During the 2013–14 campaign he only missed one game during the entire season, was positioned in multiple roles in both attack and defence, achieved 10 goals and 10 assists and was a significant performer during the club's AME Cup triumph. Muir was resigned under new head coach Giovanni Tedesco and club president Ricardo Gaucci. Having spent two successful seasons as club captain scoring 12 times and assisting in 18 goals, Muir transferred to old firm rivals Sliema Wanderers.

Muir's move in season 2015–16 turned out to be a major success turning out for the stripes 35 times, the most appearances of any of the playing squad. He scored one goal and assisted in 11 from the fullback's positions. He won the prestigious FA trophy, the club's 21st time, qualifying for the UEFA Europa league qualifying rounds. Muir's achievements ended high as he was a nominee by the MFPA season 2015–16 for the league's best left full back award.

References

  1. ^ "Great Scot: The Long Journey of Gary Muir". Cedric Quackenbush, Hartford Hawks' Official Website. Retrieved 6 October 2008. [dead link‍]
  2. ^ "Gary Muir; Player Profile". Hartford Sports Information, Hartford Hawks' Official .Website. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  3. ^ "Latest News, 29th March 2008". Scott McLean, Stirling Albion's Official Website. Retrieved 29 March 2008.
  4. ^ "Lis Distillery 1–1 Cliftonville". BBC Sport. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Crusaders 1–1 Lisburn Distillery". BBC. 11 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Muir Makes Bully Wee Switch". Cylde FC. 25 September 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  7. ^ Walker, Mark (6 December 2011). "Kids stone us and our left-back is less than 5ft tall... that's Guatemala". Scottish Sun. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Dingli in serious trouble". Times of Malta. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.

Sources

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