CLUB CAREER

Stephen started his football career with Cobh Town Schoolboys as an eight year old playing in the Cork Schoolboys League, and made it to the Bobby Charlton Soccer Schools Skills Competition Final at Old Trafford when he was aged ten, out of a final group of thirty boys Stephen won the competition. The following year he returned to Old Trafford and again won the competition. Stephen continued with his football education and at the age of 13 was selected as a member of the Cork Kennedy Cup Squad. Stephen was playing for Cobh Ramblers Schoolboys Cork, under Barry McGovern and made it to the final in Limerick but were defeated by the Dublin and District Schoolboys League DDSL, a small consolation for Stephen was that he was selected as the player of the tournament. Stephen's performances in Limerick attracted interest from 22 British clubs, and he had trials with a number of them but several were discouraged by his Osgood-Schlatter disease, which he suffered from in his mid-teens. At the age of 15 he joined the youth academy at Manchester City and soon became a regular in the reserves, he made his first team debut on the 20th July 2005 in a pre season friendly against Bolton Wanderers in the Thailand Cup. Stephen made his Premiership debut against Bolton Wanderers on the 18th September 2005 when he came on as an 81st minute substitute, He subsequently made his first competitive start against Doncaster Rovers on the 21 September 2005 and was man of the match on his first Premiership start against Everton on the 2nd October 2005, he scored his first Premiership goal on the 26th December 2006, the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United's Bramall Lane. Stephen has played 172 times for Manchester City and scored 23 goals, in 2009 he was voted Manchester City player of the year and was nominated for the PFA young player of the year. Stephen Moved to Aston Villa in August 2010 for £8 million pounds and has made 13 apperances.Stephen joined Newcastle United on loan for the remainder of the 2010/11 premiership season.

International Career

Stephen represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-16 and under-17 level, but was also eligible for England and Italy. Stephen made his Republic of Ireland debut on the 1st March 2006 at Lansdowne Road in the 3-0 victory against Sweden. His first international goal was on the 7th October, 2006 in a 5-2 loss to Cyprus. On the 7th February 2007 he scored the last minute goal against San Marino to win the match 2-1. On the 24th March, 2007, he scored the first ever football goal at Croke Park against Wales and also scored against Slovakia in Bratislava on the 8th September 2007. Stephen has played 6 times for the Republic of Ireland and scored 4 goals and was voted FAI young player of the year in 2007.

Stephen Ireland Foundation

In July 2007 after visiting Francis House Children's Hospice in Didsbury Manchester for the first time, Stephen decided to set up a registered charity, Stephen Ireland Foundation and a charity website stephenireland.com, to raise funds for this worthy cause. Stephen and his family visit Francis House on regular occasions and they are welcomed and by all the staff the children and their families. The Stephen Ireland Foundation continually raises money for Francis House Children' Hospice through selling Stephen's football memorabilia, sportsman's dinners a 1000 hole golf marathon in Spain, and a Valentine's Ball and charity golf day.

 

Total amount raised so far for Francis House Children's Hospice £140,000

International Career

Stephen represented Ireland at under-15, under-16 and under-17 level, but was also eligible for England and Italy.

 

In January 2006 Steve Staunton was named as Republic of Ireland manager, and in his first squad for a match against Sweden, Stephen received his first senior call up, and made his debut when he came on as a substitute replacing John O'Shea. He scored his first international goal on the 7th October, 2006 in a 5-2 loss to Cyprus.

 

On the 7th February 2007 Stephen scored the last minute goal against San Marino to win the match 2-1. On the 24th March, 2007, he scored the first ever football goal in Croke Park against Wales and also scored against Slovakia in Bratislava on the 8th September 2007. Stephen was voted FAI young player of the year for 2007.

 

Total appearances (6) and (4) goals.

Full name	Stephen James Ireland
Date of birth	August 22, 1986
Place of birth	Cork, Republic of Ireland
Height	5 foot 9 inches
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Manchester City
2005 to present
	(App)	(Goals)
	118	20
Republic of Ireland
2006 to present                                                                                   (App)                                 (Goals)                                                                                             6                                           4
Up to 24/05/09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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