Michael Bridges
Encyclopedia
Michael Bridges is an English
football striker
who currently plays for A-League
club, Newcastle Jets. Bridge has previously played over 200 Premier League games.
season at Sunderland
, but was unable to save them from relegation. Two years later he helped them return to the Premiership and joined Leeds United
for £5million soon afterwards.
He made a total of 79 Appearances at Sunderland, and scored 16 Goals.
, Bridges scored 19 Premiership goals including a hat-trick against Southampton
. Bridges also helped his side finish third in the Premiership, qualify for the Champions League
and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup
. Bridges was seriously injured in the 0-0 draw with Beşiktaş J.K.
and was plagued with injuries over the next 4 seasons of his Leeds United career, only making 10 appearances and not scoring any goals
.
in a loan swap with Stephen Caldwell in January 2004 in order to help alleviate their striker crisis. After only making a single start for Newcastle, on the right wing as opposed to in his favoured striking role, Bridges was out of contract in the summer of 2004 with his contract not being renewed due to his injury problems, he made only 6 appearances for Newcastle, and failed to score in any of those matches.
but only figured in one League Cup
game. Released by Bolton he spent the rest of the season back at the Stadium of Light
with Sunderland, scoring once against Stoke, before joining Bristol City
, where he scored once in the League Cup against Barnet.
ended in November 2005, and he joined Carlisle United
, becoming perhaps their most influential player in their successful promotion charge into League One. Bridges' 15 goals made him very popular in Carlisle and thanks to them he reestablished his football career, but the fans were sad when he decided to leave Brunton Park
on transfer deadline day, 31 August 2006. It was reported that Hull City had a £250,000 bid for Bridges turned down, and that because of this, Bridges handed in a transfer request. Hull returned with an improved bid of £350,000, and this was accepted.
, but through a combination of injuries (back and ankle), suspension (following a sending off in a reserve game) and simply not being selected, he made only eight starts and seven substitute appearances for the Tigers, scoring further goals against Cardiff in the league and Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup.
Due to lack of first team opportunity at Hull, Bridges was allowed to leave on loan for a short term deal at Australia
n side Sydney FC
on 15 October 2007.
In the same season he rejected a loan move to League One
side Crewe Alexandra
. On 2 June 2009 was released alongside with seven other players from his contract.
and Wellington Phoenix
and following this found it hard to regain favour of coach John Kosmina
. He returned to the Sydney first team in January as a substitute against Queensland Roar.
After just nine games and two goals Bridges returned to Hull after the expiration of his six-month loan deal.
In July 2009, Bridges was taken on pre-season tour by Norwich City
, as a triallist.
on a non-contract basis. He came on as a substitute towards the end of the match on the opening day of the season against Hartlepool United
and started in a League Cup
defeat against Swindon Town
, being replaced in the second half. He left the club after three weeks and making two appearances, and decided to return to Australia to continue his career.
' Matchday Saturday program that, if all went well, he and Jets coach, Branko Čulina
would sit down and discuss a contract. Bridges signed a contract to play for the Jets for the remainder of the 2009–10 season on 30 September.
In his first game for the Jets, a 1–1 draw with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium
on 5 October, Bridges set up Korean midfielder Song Jin-Hyung
for the opening goal of the match in the sixth minute. He managed to last for around 80 minutes before being replaced by Sasho Petrovski
. Branko Čulina
expressed his surprise that Bridges had lasted so long and suggested that he would only improve as he continued to increase his match-fitness. On 23 October, Bridges scored his first goal for the Jets, netting the opener in the team's 2–1 home win over their derby rivals, the Central Coast Mariners. It was the Jets' first victory after a six-game winless streak.
As Bridges settled in with his new team, he began to find consistent form. A week after the Jets' derby victory, he floated in a cross to set up strike partner Labinot Haliti
's opening goal in Newcastle's 1-1 away draw with Brisbane Roar. Despite squandering several chances in a mid-week 3-0 defeat away to Wellington Phoenix. The Jets missed several good chances in the first half of the match, with both teams goalless at half-time, but in the 55th minute Bridges set up Jets captain Matt Thompson for the opening goal before earning and converting a penalty in the 85th minute to seal the victory. Bridges missed the Jets' next game, a 1-0 home defeat to the Phoenix in sweltering conditions, but he was instrumental in helping the Jets to a 3-1 victory over Sydney FC
on 29 November. Bridges had an early headed goal disallowed for offside, but converted a penalty in the 24th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead at half-time.
He scored again in the 50th minute after finishing a precise through-ball from Matt Thompson, and in turn set up Thompson for the decisive goal of the match in the 58th minute before being substituted a minute later in light of a recent hamstring injury. Following the Sydney match, which saw the Jets notch up their first ever win against their big-city rivals at the Sydney Football Stadium, Bridges pledged his commitment to the club by signing a two-year extension to his contract on 2 December which will see him play with the Jets until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season. In his first game against Brisbane Roar on 16 January after a scrappy first half leaving both sides goalless. Bridges set up Matt Thompson with a back-heel through ball and Thompson scored past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Moments later Thompson was once again in the penalty area this time with a defender who hand balled and the Jets were awarded a penalty. Bridges stepped up and converted with a low shot into the bottom right corner out of the goalkeeper's reach.
On 22 July 2010 Bridges was named captain of the Newcastle Jets alongside defender Ljubo Miličević
who was named the vice-captain thereby becoming the first international captain in the club's history. On 29 April 2011, Bridges announced his retirement from his playing career following a prolonged battle with a knee injury, taking on a new role with owners of the Newcastle Jets, Tinker Sports Group.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who currently plays for A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club, Newcastle Jets. Bridge has previously played over 200 Premier League games.
Sunderland
Bridges emerged as one of the Premier League's most promising young strikers during the 1996–971996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
season at 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...
, but was unable to save them from relegation. Two years later he helped them return to the Premiership and joined 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...
for £5million soon afterwards.
He made a total of 79 Appearances at Sunderland, and scored 16 Goals.
Leeds United
In his first season at Elland RoadElland 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...
, Bridges scored 19 Premiership goals including a hat-trick 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...
. Bridges also helped his side finish third in the Premiership, qualify for the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Bridges was seriously injured in the 0-0 draw with Beşiktaş J.K.
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
and was plagued with injuries over the next 4 seasons of his Leeds United career, only making 10 appearances and not scoring any goals
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
.
Newcastle United
As a result of his injuries he was loaned out to Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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...
in a loan swap with Stephen Caldwell in January 2004 in order to help alleviate their striker crisis. After only making a single start for Newcastle, on the right wing as opposed to in his favoured striking role, Bridges was out of contract in the summer of 2004 with his contract not being renewed due to his injury problems, he made only 6 appearances for Newcastle, and failed to score in any of those matches.
Unsettled
He was quickly snapped up by Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
but only figured in one League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
game. Released by Bolton he spent the rest of the season back at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
with Sunderland, scoring once against Stoke, before joining 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...
, where he scored once in the League Cup against Barnet.
Carlisle United
His spell at Ashton GateAshton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
ended in November 2005, and he joined Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, becoming perhaps their most influential player in their successful promotion charge into League One. Bridges' 15 goals made him very popular in Carlisle and thanks to them he reestablished his football career, but the fans were sad when he decided to leave Brunton Park
Brunton Park
Brunton Park is a football stadium and the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in the city of Carlisle, Cumbria and has a certified capacity for the 2011/2012 season of 18,202. The ground opened in 1909...
on transfer deadline day, 31 August 2006. It was reported that Hull City had a £250,000 bid for Bridges turned down, and that because of this, Bridges handed in a transfer request. Hull returned with an improved bid of £350,000, and this was accepted.
Hull City
His first season at Hull was largely disappointing. However, he did earn the Tigers their first league win of the season with a spectacular goal against Leicester CityLeicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, but through a combination of injuries (back and ankle), suspension (following a sending off in a reserve game) and simply not being selected, he made only eight starts and seven substitute appearances for the Tigers, scoring further goals against Cardiff in the league and Crewe Alexandra in the League Cup.
Due to lack of first team opportunity at Hull, Bridges was allowed to leave on loan for a short term deal at Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n side Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
on 15 October 2007.
In the same season he rejected a loan move to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side 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...
. On 2 June 2009 was released alongside with seven other players from his contract.
Sydney FC
He scored his first league goal for the club on 3 November in the 1–0 win over Newcastle Jets. A viral infection forced him to miss two matches away at Adelaide UnitedAdelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
and Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
and following this found it hard to regain favour of coach John Kosmina
John Kosmina
Alexander John Kosmina , known as John Kosmina, is a former Australian football player and manager of Polish Australian ethnicity. He was most recently the manager of Sydney FC...
. He returned to the Sydney first team in January as a substitute against Queensland Roar.
After just nine games and two goals Bridges returned to Hull after the expiration of his six-month loan deal.
Return to Carlisle United
On 24 July 2008, Bridges returned to Carlisle, on a season-long loan deal. The club had first option on signing him permanently, at the end of the loan, as his Hull City contract where to expire. After the now departed manager John Ward had left him out of every starting lineup since the start of the season, Bridges finally got a starting place in the League One fixture against top of the table Leicester City at Brunton Park. Although Carlisle lost the game 2–1, Bridges and his strike partner Danny Graham looked to be forming an impressive partnership and this was later proved so in a 3–0 boxing day victory over Huddersfield Town with Michael Bridges on the scoresheet. He then started the following game, a 0–0 draw away at promotion chasing Oldham Athletic.In July 2009, Bridges was taken on pre-season tour by Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, as a triallist.
Milton Keynes Dons
On 8 August 2009, he was signed by Milton Keynes DonsMilton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on a non-contract basis. He came on as a substitute towards the end of the match on the opening day of the season against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
and started in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, being replaced in the second half. He left the club after three weeks and making two appearances, and decided to return to Australia to continue his career.
Newcastle Jets
On 25 September 2009, it was confirmed that Bridges was trialling with the Newcastle United Jets with a view to earn a six-month contract at the club. He announced on Fox SportsFox Sports (Australia)
Fox Sports is an Australia group of sports channels. They are owned by the Premier Media Group, which is in turn owned by News Corporation, and Consolidated Media Holdings. Its main competitors are ESPN, which has little local content and the free-to-air digital channel One HD...
' Matchday Saturday program that, if all went well, he and Jets coach, Branko Čulina
Branko Culina
Branko Čulina is a football coach and former player. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Newcastle Jets.-Club career:...
would sit down and discuss a contract. Bridges signed a contract to play for the Jets for the remainder of the 2009–10 season on 30 September.
In his first game for the Jets, a 1–1 draw with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
on 5 October, Bridges set up Korean midfielder Song Jin-Hyung
Song Jin-Hyung
Song Jin-Hyung is a South Korean football player who plays for Tours FC in French Ligue 2.-Club career:Song started his professional career at Brazilian club Internacional, before moving back to his homeland Korea to play for one of the powerhouses of Korean and Asian football FC Seoul.After a...
for the opening goal of the match in the sixth minute. He managed to last for around 80 minutes before being replaced by Sasho Petrovski
Sasho Petrovski
Sasho Petrovski is an Australian football player. He is a striker who last played for the Newcastle Jets in the Hyundai A-League. Petrovski has two caps for the Australian national team...
. Branko Čulina
Branko Culina
Branko Čulina is a football coach and former player. He is currently without a club after being sacked by Newcastle Jets.-Club career:...
expressed his surprise that Bridges had lasted so long and suggested that he would only improve as he continued to increase his match-fitness. On 23 October, Bridges scored his first goal for the Jets, netting the opener in the team's 2–1 home win over their derby rivals, the Central Coast Mariners. It was the Jets' first victory after a six-game winless streak.
As Bridges settled in with his new team, he began to find consistent form. A week after the Jets' derby victory, he floated in a cross to set up strike partner Labinot Haliti
Labinot Haliti
Labinot Haliti is a football player who plays as striker for the Newcastle Jets in the A-League. He holds Albanian, Australian and Kosovar passports, making him eligible to represent Albania, Australia and the non FIFA-recognised Kosovo.-Club career:Haliti’s story begins in Kosovo’s capital,...
's opening goal in Newcastle's 1-1 away draw with Brisbane Roar. Despite squandering several chances in a mid-week 3-0 defeat away to Wellington Phoenix. The Jets missed several good chances in the first half of the match, with both teams goalless at half-time, but in the 55th minute Bridges set up Jets captain Matt Thompson for the opening goal before earning and converting a penalty in the 85th minute to seal the victory. Bridges missed the Jets' next game, a 1-0 home defeat to the Phoenix in sweltering conditions, but he was instrumental in helping the Jets to a 3-1 victory over Sydney FC
Sydney FC
Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
on 29 November. Bridges had an early headed goal disallowed for offside, but converted a penalty in the 24th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead at half-time.
He scored again in the 50th minute after finishing a precise through-ball from Matt Thompson, and in turn set up Thompson for the decisive goal of the match in the 58th minute before being substituted a minute later in light of a recent hamstring injury. Following the Sydney match, which saw the Jets notch up their first ever win against their big-city rivals at the Sydney Football Stadium, Bridges pledged his commitment to the club by signing a two-year extension to his contract on 2 December which will see him play with the Jets until the end of the 2011–12 A-League season. In his first game against Brisbane Roar on 16 January after a scrappy first half leaving both sides goalless. Bridges set up Matt Thompson with a back-heel through ball and Thompson scored past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Moments later Thompson was once again in the penalty area this time with a defender who hand balled and the Jets were awarded a penalty. Bridges stepped up and converted with a low shot into the bottom right corner out of the goalkeeper's reach.
On 22 July 2010 Bridges was named captain of the Newcastle Jets alongside defender Ljubo Miličević
Ljubo Milicevic
Ljubo Miličević is an Australian football player who currently plays for Hajduk Split in the Prva HNL.-Early Career and Overseas:...
who was named the vice-captain thereby becoming the first international captain in the club's history. On 29 April 2011, Bridges announced his retirement from his playing career following a prolonged battle with a knee injury, taking on a new role with owners of the Newcastle Jets, Tinker Sports Group.
Return from retirement
On 7 November 2011, Bridges returned from retirement signing a contract with the Jets until the end of the 2011-12 Season.Sunderland
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
/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...
(II): 1996, 1999, 2005