Richard Wright (footballer)
| nickname = Dixie Wright | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 3 2006 | |||
Richard Ian Wright (born November 5, 1977 in Ipswich, Suffolk) is a Premiership goalkeeper who currently plays for Everton, after enjoying stints with Ipswich Town and Arsenal. He has been a member of the England squad, and has two caps.
Career
Club
Wright started out at Ipswich Town played a major role in Ipswich's 1999-2000 season. The club were promoted from the old First Division to the Premier League via the play-offs, defeating Barnsley, and Wright saved an all-important penalty kick.
In 2001 he moved to Arsenal for £6million, intended as a long-term replacement for David Seaman. He made his debut against Derby County on September 29 2001, but despite an injury to Seaman which gave him an extended run in the team, his season soon fell apart. He punched the ball into his own net in a 4-2 defeat to Charlton Athletic and then limped off with injury in a UEFA Champions League match against Deportivo La Coruna. Wright slipped to third-choice behind youth goalkeeper Stuart Taylor and only played FA Cup matches for the remainder of the season, although Seaman replaced him for the final, which Arsenal won 2-0 against Chelsea.
Although he made enough appearances to qualify for a Premiership winners' medal that season, Wright moved to Everton in the 2002 close season in search of first-team football, having made 22 appearances for Arsenal in total. Although initially first-team keeper at Everton, a number of injuries, including a serious knee injury and a damaged shoulder (after Wright fell out of his loft in a freak accident), have blighted the past few years of Wright's career. He lost his place at Everton and had to be content with being understudy to veteran Nigel Martyn. During 2005-06 Martyn had a spell out with injury, but Wright promptly injured his ankle whilst warming up in a match against Chelsea and was out for the rest of the season. Although Martyn retired in the 2006 close season, American Tim Howard was brought in on loan from Manchester United to replace him, meaning Wright is likely to be second in the pecking order again for the 2006-07 season.
International
Wright has been included in 28 squads and capped twice for England, making his debut against Malta in a friendly in 2000; he conceded a penalty kick early on but saved a second penalty in the 88th minute as England won 2-1. He was a member of the England Euro 2000 squad, where he was third-choice behind David Seaman and Nigel Martyn, and won his second cap as a substitute in a friendly against the Netherlands in 2001. However, he has not been called up to the England squad since 2003.[1]
External links
- Richard Wright at Soccerbase
- ESPNSoccernet.com player profile