Chris Brunt
Encyclopedia
Christopher Brunt is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion
. He plays as a left winger and more recently an attacking midfield position. He is also the Albion captain.
and Middlesbrough
, eventually signing for Middlesbrough, but he failed to break into the first team.
He went on to hit seven goals the following season, finishing the campaign as the club's top goalscorer. During the 2006–07 campaign Brunt passed the 100 appearance mark for Wednesday, making him the club's most experienced player at the time. His impressive displays during the 2006–07 season Brunt linked with a move away from Hillsborough. With only one year remaining on his contract, negotiations between Brunt and Wednesday broke down in July 2007, due to what the club described as 'excessive wage demands'.
had a bid accepted for Brunt on 14 August 2007. They completed the signing the next day, in a £3 million four-year deal, which includes £500,000 of performance-related add-ons. Brunt made his Albion debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 home win over Barnsley
on 1 September 2007. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory away at Scunthorpe United
on 22 September 2007. Brunt's performance in the 3–0 home win against Plymouth Argyle
on 1 March 2008 saw him named in the Championship Team of the Week. On 28 April 2008 Brunt scored a late equalising goal against Southampton
in a 1–1 draw; this effectively secured Albion's promotion to the Premier League because of their superior goal difference.
He went on to score the free-kick in West Brom's 2–0 win over QPR that sealed automatic promotion.
Brunt was the club's top scorer in the 2008–09 season, scoring eight goals. Following the club's relegation, Brunt then signed a new three-year deal at the club. In the 2009/10 season, he once again helped the club reach the highest tier of English football, scoring the second goal in a 3–2 win over Doncaster, which sealed the club's Premier League status.
In January 2011 Brunt was made the stand-in captain of West Bromwich Albion as the manager decided to drop old club captain Scott Carson
. When the new manager came in February 2011, he confirmed that he had made Brunt the permanent captain for the club.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He plays as a left winger and more recently an attacking midfield position. He is also the Albion captain.
Early life
Brunt grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he attended Newtownbreda Primary School. He then went on to study at Wellington College, a grammar school in Belfast. As a youth player he appeared for Saint Andrews Boys Club.Middlesbrough
Brunt had trials with both professional teams Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, eventually signing for Middlesbrough, but he failed to break into the first team.
Sheffield Wednesday
He moved to Sheffield Wednesday in March 2004 on an initial short-term deal. A permanent free transfer followed soon after as Brunt signed a two-year contract at Wednesday. In 2004–05, his first full season at the club, Brunt helped Wednesday achieve promotion to the Championship by scoring five goals. In July 2005 he agreed a one-year extension to his existing contract.He went on to hit seven goals the following season, finishing the campaign as the club's top goalscorer. During the 2006–07 campaign Brunt passed the 100 appearance mark for Wednesday, making him the club's most experienced player at the time. His impressive displays during the 2006–07 season Brunt linked with a move away from Hillsborough. With only one year remaining on his contract, negotiations between Brunt and Wednesday broke down in July 2007, due to what the club described as 'excessive wage demands'.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
had a bid accepted for Brunt on 14 August 2007. They completed the signing the next day, in a £3 million four-year deal, which includes £500,000 of performance-related add-ons. Brunt made his Albion debut as a second-half substitute in a 2–0 home win over Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on 1 September 2007. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory away at Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on 22 September 2007. Brunt's performance in the 3–0 home win against Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 1 March 2008 saw him named in the Championship Team of the Week. On 28 April 2008 Brunt scored a late equalising goal against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in a 1–1 draw; this effectively secured Albion's promotion to the Premier League because of their superior goal difference.
He went on to score the free-kick in West Brom's 2–0 win over QPR that sealed automatic promotion.
Brunt was the club's top scorer in the 2008–09 season, scoring eight goals. Following the club's relegation, Brunt then signed a new three-year deal at the club. In the 2009/10 season, he once again helped the club reach the highest tier of English football, scoring the second goal in a 3–2 win over Doncaster, which sealed the club's Premier League status.
In January 2011 Brunt was made the stand-in captain of West Bromwich Albion as the manager decided to drop old club captain Scott Carson
Scott Carson
Scott Paul Carson is an English footballer who plays for Bursaspor as a goalkeeper.He joined the Leeds United football academy in 2002, making his full first team debut for Leeds against Manchester United in February 2004...
. When the new manager came in February 2011, he confirmed that he had made Brunt the permanent captain for the club.
International career
Brunt has won 33 caps for the Northern Ireland national team. He scored his first goal for his country in February 2009, when his free-kick helped Northern Ireland to a 3–0 victory over San Marino.Honours
Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
- Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
play-off winners: 2004–05
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
winners: 2007–08
Personal life
Brunt became a father for the first time on 1 May 2008, when his wife Cathy gave birth to a baby boy named Charlie. The couple then welcomed a second child, Zach David Brunt, on 18th April 2011.External links
- Chris Brunt player profile at wba.co.uk
- Chris Brunt profile on the Irish FA website
- Chris Brunt player profile at Premier League
- Chris Brunt player profile at BBC Sport