Jermaine Wright
Encyclopedia
Jermaine Malaki Wright is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder
and can also operate as a defender
.
as a trainee, but moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1994, and after a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers
he joined Crewe Alexandra
in February 1998 for a fee of £50,000. At Crewe, his career took off under the guidance of Dario Gradi
, who switched him from the right wing to a creative role in the centre of midfield.
In July 1999, after rejecting the offer of a new contract, he was transferred for a fee of £500,000 to Ipswich
, where George Burley
saw him as a replacement for Kieron Dyer
, who had just been sold to Newcastle United
. His career thrived under the guidance of Burley but then stalled after he surprisingly opted to move to relegated Leeds United
rather than Everton
in July 2004.
However he fell out of favour at Leeds in 2005 and was loaned out first to Millwall
(where he had started his career) and then, in January 2006, to Saints where he linked up with Burley once more. It took a few weeks for him to regain match fitness but he then shone during the successful run at the tail-end of the 2005-06 season.
After his loan spell ended, he returned to Elland Road
where the remaining year of his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. He returned to Southampton for a trial during pre-season training and signed with the club on 10 July 2006 on a two-year deal keeping him at St Mary's
until June 2008. He scored his only Saints goal in the 2-1 home defeat by QPR
on 30 September 2006.
Wright was released by Southampton on 2 July 2008. During his two years at St Mary's
, Wright made exactly 100 appearances, either in midfield or more often at right-back.
On 11 July 2008, Wright signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal with the option of a second. He made his debut for the Seasiders on 9 August 2008 in a 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City
. However, he suffered an achilles injury in his third league match for the club against Sheffield United
on 23 August and a month later he underwent an operation which kept him on the sidelines for more than four months and he never managed to establish himself in the side on his return.
On 9 June 2009, Blackpool confirmed that Wright had not been offered a new deal and that he was being released. In July 2010 it was announced that new promoted Ryman Premier League side Croydon Athletic had signed Wright for the new season.. Following allegations that Croydon owner Mazhar Majeed was using the club for money laundering purposes, Wright followed former Crydon boss Tim O'Shea to Lewes FC in October 2010. Wright played an important role in helping Lewes recover from being adrift in last place but the team fell just short by one point of staying up and Wright retired at the end of the 2010–11 season.
star Ian Wright
, and played alongside Ian's son, Bradley
, at Southampton.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and can also operate as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Football career
Wright started his career at MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
as a trainee, but moved to 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 1994, and after a loan spell at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
he joined Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in February 1998 for a fee of £50,000. At Crewe, his career took off under the guidance of Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi
Dario Gradi MBE is an Italian-born English football manager and former player, who was serving as manager of the Crewe Alexandra F.C. Academy. He is a former manager of Crewe Alexandra, with whom he has been associated for almost thirty years.Gradi is notable for his 24-year first spell as manager...
, who switched him from the right wing to a creative role in the centre of midfield.
In July 1999, after rejecting the offer of a new contract, he was transferred for a fee of £500,000 to Ipswich
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, where George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
saw him as a replacement for Kieron Dyer
Kieron Dyer
Kieron Courtney Dyer is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. Born in Ipswich, he is an attacking midfielder who played youth football for his home club before going on to make nearly 100 league appearances for the club's first team...
, who had just been sold to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. His career thrived under the guidance of Burley but then stalled after he surprisingly opted to move to relegated Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
rather than Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in July 2004.
However he fell out of favour at Leeds in 2005 and was loaned out first to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
(where he had started his career) and then, in January 2006, to Saints where he linked up with Burley once more. It took a few weeks for him to regain match fitness but he then shone during the successful run at the tail-end of the 2005-06 season.
After his loan spell ended, he returned to Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
where the remaining year of his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. He returned to Southampton for a trial during pre-season training and signed with the club on 10 July 2006 on a two-year deal keeping him at St Mary's
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
until June 2008. He scored his only Saints goal in the 2-1 home defeat by QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 30 September 2006.
Wright was released by Southampton on 2 July 2008. During his two years at St Mary's
St Mary's Stadium
St Mary's Stadium is the home of Southampton F.C., in the city of Southampton. It is a UEFA 4-star rated stadium and with a capacity of 32,689 is the largest football stadium in the south of England, outside of London.-History:...
, Wright made exactly 100 appearances, either in midfield or more often at right-back.
On 11 July 2008, Wright signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal with the option of a second. He made his debut for the Seasiders on 9 August 2008 in a 1-0 home defeat to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. However, he suffered an achilles injury in his third league match for the club against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on 23 August and a month later he underwent an operation which kept him on the sidelines for more than four months and he never managed to establish himself in the side on his return.
On 9 June 2009, Blackpool confirmed that Wright had not been offered a new deal and that he was being released. In July 2010 it was announced that new promoted Ryman Premier League side Croydon Athletic had signed Wright for the new season.. Following allegations that Croydon owner Mazhar Majeed was using the club for money laundering purposes, Wright followed former Crydon boss Tim O'Shea to Lewes FC in October 2010. Wright played an important role in helping Lewes recover from being adrift in last place but the team fell just short by one point of staying up and Wright retired at the end of the 2010–11 season.
Personal life
Wright is the cousin of former ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
star Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
, and played alongside Ian's son, Bradley
Bradley Wright-Phillips
Bradley Edward Wright-Phillips is an English footballer who plays for Charlton Athletic as a striker.He is the son of former Arsenal and England player Ian Wright, and younger half-brother to Queens Park Rangers and England international Shaun Wright-Phillips; Ian's adopted son, with whom he used...
, at Southampton.