Mark Howard (defender)
Encyclopedia
Mark James Howard is an English footballer who plays for Danish Superliga
side AGF as a defender
. Mark has played with Wayne Rooney
in his time at Manchester United, where he also knows another AGF-player Adam Eckersley from.
Mark Howard was in the season 2010/2011 elected by fans to AGF's hottest player.
, Howard attended Hope High School, Salford, with fellow Manchester United
players Phil Bardsley and Mark Redshaw
. Howard began his career playing for the Barr Hill Lads Club in Salford. He signed for Manchester United as a junior player, and played a number of years in the youth and reserve teams of the club. Having failed to make an impact in the first team, Howard was amongst seven United players given a free transfer at the end of the 2005–06 season.
Howard moved to Danish Superliga
champions Brøndby IF
. Brondby had recently hired Manchester United reserve team coach René Meulensteen
as manager. Howard participated in training sessions and played a friendly match against German
team 1. FC Nuremberg, before signing a three-year contract with Brøndby on 28 July 2006. He made his senior debut for Brøndby in August 2006, and played 13 of 18 league games as Brøndby finished in seventh place after the first half of the 2006–07 Superliga season.
When Meulensteen left the club in January 2007, new manager Tom Køhlert
brought in Danish defender Mikkel Bischoff
in contention for Howard's place in the central defence. When Bischoff suffered an injury, Howard proved himself once again and continued in the starting 11 for the rest of the season. He was also a part of the Brøndby team which won the 2006–07 Royal League cup on 15 March 2007. In the final match of the cup, Howard received a penalty kick
, which Martin Ericsson
converted to a goal, securing Brøndby a 1–0 win over F.C. Copenhagen
.
Having secured his place in the starting eleven during the first half of the 2007–08 season, Howard was awarded the player of the year in Brøndby on 1 December 2007. On 10 December 2008, he signed a three and a half year contract with AGF.
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
side AGF 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....
. Mark has played with Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
in his time at Manchester United, where he also knows another AGF-player Adam Eckersley from.
Mark Howard was in the season 2010/2011 elected by fans to AGF's hottest player.
Career
Born in Salford, Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, Howard attended Hope High School, Salford, with fellow Manchester United
Manchester 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...
players Phil Bardsley and Mark Redshaw
Mark Redshaw
Mark Redshaw is an English professional footballer who plays for Dutch Eerste Divisie club FC Oss, as a striker.-Career:...
. Howard began his career playing for the Barr Hill Lads Club in Salford. He signed for Manchester United as a junior player, and played a number of years in the youth and reserve teams of the club. Having failed to make an impact in the first team, Howard was amongst seven United players given a free transfer at the end of the 2005–06 season.
Howard moved to Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
champions Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF
Brøndby IF is a Danish professional football club based in Brøndbyvester, Brøndby, on the western outskirts of Copenhagen and is the biggest football club in Denmark with almost 2000 members. The club is also known as Brøndbyernes Idrætsforening, or Brøndby and BIF for short...
. Brondby had recently hired Manchester United reserve team coach René Meulensteen
René Meulensteen
René Meulensteen is a Dutch football coach. He holds both the UEFA "A" and the Royal Dutch FA "TCI" coaching licenses. Meulensteen played football himself in the Dutch lower leagues as a midfielder but he retired from playing at the age of 29...
as manager. Howard participated in training sessions and played a friendly match against German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
team 1. FC Nuremberg, before signing a three-year contract with Brøndby on 28 July 2006. He made his senior debut for Brøndby in August 2006, and played 13 of 18 league games as Brøndby finished in seventh place after the first half of the 2006–07 Superliga season.
When Meulensteen left the club in January 2007, new manager Tom Køhlert
Tom Køhlert
Tom Køhlert is a Danish former football player at, and former manager of, Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga.He started playing for Brøndby IF right from the beginning in 1964. He becam manager in 1981....
brought in Danish defender Mikkel Bischoff
Mikkel Bischoff
Mikkel Rufus Mutahi Bischoff is a Danish footballer of Kenyan descent. He plays as a centre back. At 6'4"/1.93 m he adds height to any defence and can play at full back or even as a striker...
in contention for Howard's place in the central defence. When Bischoff suffered an injury, Howard proved himself once again and continued in the starting 11 for the rest of the season. He was also a part of the Brøndby team which won the 2006–07 Royal League cup on 15 March 2007. In the final match of the cup, Howard received a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, which Martin Ericsson
Martin Ericsson
Martin Ericsson is a Swedish professional footballer, who plays as an attacking midfielder for IF Elfsborg in Allsvenskan. He has played seven matches for the Sweden national football team....
converted to a goal, securing Brøndby a 1–0 win over F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
.
Having secured his place in the starting eleven during the first half of the 2007–08 season, Howard was awarded the player of the year in Brøndby on 1 December 2007. On 10 December 2008, he signed a three and a half year contract with AGF.