Gary Breen
Encyclopedia
Gary Patrick Breen is an Irish
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
.
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. His form here won him a call-up to the Ireland team
, and he made his international debut on 2 June 1996 in a 2–2 friendly draw with Croatia
.
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, and cemented his place in his national side, playing at the 2002 World Cup
as they made the second round under Mick McCarthy
. He scored in their 3–0 first-round win against Saudi Arabia
, and played every minute of their campaign.
Following the World Cup, Breen was signed on a free transfer by West Ham United
by manager Glenn Roeder
, but left the club after relegation from the top flight and only 18 appearances in all competitions. He was signed on a free transfer by his old Ireland manager 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
. 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, but ended up missing several months through injury. He was involved in an after-match confrontation with his manager in March 2008, 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. In June 2009 Breen signed a new contract to become player/assistant manager at the club.
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. Breen had also been linked with a move to Barcelona
. Breen left Barnet in June 2010.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Premier League. He played for numerous clubs over a 20-year career, including more than 100 appearances each for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He won 63 caps for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, and played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, scoring in Ireland's 3-0 victory over Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
.
Career
Breen began his professional career as a youth player at Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
but never made a first-team appearance for the club. Instead, he moved to Maidstone United
Maidstone United F.C.
Maidstone United Football Club is an English football team from Maidstone, Kent.The current club is a continuation of the old Maidstone United, which was a member of the Football League between 1989 and 1992. The club was forced out of the league by financial ruin but the youth squad formed the...
where he played his first league game at age 17. After one full season with the club he joined Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
where he eventually became a first-team regular, prompting a £70,000 bid from Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
.
He only had one full season at Peterborough United, but did well enough to draw attention from First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, who paid £250,000 for him in February 1996. His form here won him a call-up to the Ireland team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, and he made his international debut on 2 June 1996 in a 2–2 friendly draw with Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
.
Less than 12 months after arriving at Birmingham, he was on the move again, to Premier League Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in a £2.5 million deal. He played for five full seasons at Highfield Road, four in the top flight, and cemented his place in his national side, playing at the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
as they made the second round under Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
. He scored in their 3–0 first-round win against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
, and played every minute of their campaign.
Following the World Cup, Breen was signed on a free transfer by West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
by manager Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
, but left the club after relegation from the top flight and only 18 appearances in all competitions. He was signed on a free transfer by his old Ireland manager McCarthy for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, 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
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
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
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, scoring once, against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. 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
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
in August 2006 by recently-appointed manager Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
.
He was made Wolves' club captain for the 2007–08 season, but ended up missing several months through injury. He was involved in an after-match confrontation with his manager in March 2008, 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
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
as a player/coach. In June 2009 Breen signed a new contract to become player/assistant manager at the club.
On the Goals On Sunday
Goals On Sunday
Goals on Sunday is a British TV Show on Sky Sports 1 that shows highlights and analysis of Premier League and Football League matches. Shown on a Sunday morning, the programme is fronted by Chris Kamara and Ben Shephard...
programme on 6 September 2009, Breen revealed that he had agreed to move to Inter Milan
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
after the 2002 World Cup, but failed a medical. Breen had also been linked with a move to Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. Breen left Barnet in June 2010.