Gary Breen

Gary Breen
Personal information
Full nameGary Patrick Breen
Date of birth(1973-12-12) 12 December 1973 (age 40)
Place of birthHendon, London, England
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing positionCentre back
Youth career
Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1990–1991Charlton Athletic0(0)
1991–1992Maidstone United19(0)
1992–1994Gillingham51(0)
1994–1996Peterborough United69(1)
1996–1997Birmingham City40(2)
1997–2002Coventry City146(2)
2002–2003West Ham United14(0)
2003–2006Sunderland107(7)
2006–2008Wolverhampton Wanderers59(1)
2008–2010Barnet47(0)
Total552(13)
National team
1996–2006Republic of Ireland63(7)
Teams managed
2009–2010Barnet (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Gary Patrick Breen (born 12 December 1973 in Hendon, London) is a former footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. He played for numerous clubs over a 20-year career, including more than 100 appearances each for Coventry City and Sunderland. He won 63 caps for the Republic of Ireland, and played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring in Ireland's 3–0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Career

Club career

Breen began his professional career as a youth player at Charlton Athletic but never made a first-team appearance for the club. Instead, he moved to Maidstone United where he played his first league game at age 17. After one full season with the club he joined Gillingham where he eventually became a first-team regular, prompting a £70,000 bid from Peterborough United.

He only had one full season at Peterborough United, but did well enough to draw attention from First Division Birmingham City, who paid £250,000 for him in February 1996. Less than 12 months after arriving at Birmingham, he was on the move again, to Premier League Coventry City in a £2.5 million deal. He played for five full seasons at Highfield Road, four in the top flight.

Following the 2002 World Cup, Breen was signed on a free transfer by West Ham United by manager Glenn Roeder,[1] but left the club after relegation from the top flight and only 18 appearances in all competitions.[2] He was signed on a free transfer[2] by his old Ireland manager Mick McCarthy for Sunderland, where he was later to become captain. Here, he won promotion to the Premier League as champions in 2004–05, having lost in the play-offs the previous season.

However, they were relegated and club captain Breen was released by the club. This meant Breen had been relegated with three different Premier League teams: Coventry City, West Ham United and Sunderland.

Breen was subsequently signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a two-year deal, reuniting him again with McCarthy. He played almost all the club's games as they reached the play-offs in his first season at Molineux, scoring once, against Luton Town.[3] This season also saw him end his international career after 63 caps, as he retired after not being selected for a friendly against the Netherlands in August 2006 by recently appointed manager Steve Staunton.

He was made Wolves' club captain for the 2007–08 season,[4] but ended up missing several months through injury. He was involved in an after-match confrontation with his manager in March 2008,[5] and was released at the conclusion of the season as the club missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.

In December 2008, he joined Barnet as a player/coach.[6] In July 2009 Breen signed a new contract to become player/assistant manager at the club.[7]

On the Goals on Sunday programme on 6 September 2009, Breen revealed that he had agreed to move to Inter Milan after the 2002 World Cup, but failed a medical.[8] Breen had also been linked with a move to Barcelona.[9] Breen left Barnet in June 2010.[10]

Breen was appointed first-team coach of Peterborough United in June 2013.[11]

International career

Breen's form at Birmingham won him a call-up to the Republic of Ireland national football team. On 29 May 1996, he made his debut when he replaced Alan Kernaghan in the 88th minute of the 1–0 friendly defeat against Portugal at Lansdowne Road.[12] Three days later, Breen made his first start in the 2–2 friendly draw with Croatia, he played 74 minutes before being replaced by Tony Cascarino.[13] He scored his first goal for his country two days later, he opened the scoring in the 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam.[14]

Breen's form at Coventry cemented his place in his national side and he played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup as Ireland made the second round under Mick McCarthy. He scored in Ireland's 3–0 group win against Saudi Arabia,[15] and played every minute of their campaign.

Honours

Sunderland

Awards

  • Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05
  • Coventry City F.C. Player of the Year: 2000–01

References

  1. Jump up ^ Pierson, Mark (30 July 2002). "Roeder's ability persuades Breen to join West Ham". The Independent. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Gary Breen". westhamstats.info. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  3. Jump up ^ "Luton 2–3 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. 3 March 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2010. 
  4. Jump up ^ "Wolves name Breen as club captain". BBC Sport. 7 August 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  5. Jump up ^ "McCarthy and Breen in bust-up". Express & Star (Wolverhampton). 6 March 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. 
  6. Jump up ^ "Bees land Breen". Sky Sports. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  7. Jump up ^ "Breen named Barnet assistant boss". BBC Sport. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  8. Jump up ^ "Gary Breen and Inter Milan". 7 September 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2010. 
  9. Jump up ^ Rookwood, Dan (21 February 2003). "Gary Breen: Uppity of Upton Park?". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 14 July 2010. 
  10. Jump up ^ "Ex-World Cup star departs Underhill for new challenge". Barnet & Potters Bar Times. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  11. Jump up ^ "Peterborough United: Gary Breen becomes first-team coach". BBC Sport. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013. 
  12. Jump up ^ "Keane's apology is little comfort". Independent.co.uk (The Independent). 30 May 1996. Retrieved 30 June 2014. 
  13. Jump up ^ "Irish hold Croatia to end losing streak". Independent.co.uk (The Independent). 3 June 1996. Retrieved 30 June 2014. 
  14. Jump up ^ "Zimbabwe recall Ndlovu brothers for World Cup qualifier". Independent.co.uk (The Independent). 6 June 1996. Retrieved 30 June 2014. 
  15. Jump up ^ "Ireland stroll into last 16". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 11 June 2002. Retrieved 30 June 2014. 

External links

2004–05 Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year
Coventry City F.C. Player of the Year
  • 1968: Machin
  • 1969: Glazier
  • 1970: Martin
  • 1971: Carr
  • 1972: Hunt
  • 1973: Hutchison
  • 1974: Glazier
  • 1975: Hutchison
  • 1976: Hutchison
  • 1977: Ferguson
  • 1978: Wallace
  • 1979: McDonald
  • 1980: Wallace
  • 1981: Gillespie
  • 1982: Thomas
  • 1983: Gillespie
  • 1984: Platnauer
  • 1985: Gibson
  • 1986: Peake
  • 1987: Ogrizovic
  • 1988: Speedie
  • 1989: Speedie
  • 1990: Borrows
  • 1991: Gallacher
  • 1992: Robson
  • 1993: Atherton
  • 1994: Babb
  • 1995: Borrows
  • 1996: Williams
  • 1997: Dublin
  • 1998: Dublin
  • 1999: Shaw
  • 2000: McAllister
  • 2001: Breen
  • 2002: McAllister
  • 2003: Konjić
  • 2004: Warnock
  • 2005: Doyle
  • 2006: McSheffrey
  • 2007: Marshall
  • 2008: Tabb
  • 2009: Gunnarsson
  • 2010: Westwood
  • 2011: King
  • 2012: Keogh
  • 2013: Baker


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