Lee Carsley

Football player infobox
playername = Lee Carsley


fullname = Lee Kevin Carsley
height = height|ft=5|in=11
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1974|2|28|df=y
cityofbirth = Birmingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Birmingham City
clubnumber = 26
position = Defensive Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1992–1999
1999–2000
2000–2002
2002–2008
2008–
clubs = Derby County
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Everton
Birmingham City
caps(goals) = 138 0(5)
047 (11)
047 0(4)
166 (11)
007 0(0)
nationalyears = 1997–
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 038 0(0)
pcupdate = 18:33, 21 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 13:15, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

Lee Kevin Carsley (born 28 February 1974 in Birmingham) is a professional footballer who plays for Birmingham City. Although born in England, he represents the Republic of Ireland internationally.

Career

Carsley joined Everton for £1,950,000 from Coventry City in 2002. Prior to playing for Coventry, Carsley also played at Blackburn Rovers, where he was top scorer in 1999–00,Fact|date=May 2008 and Derby County. Carsley enjoyed mixed fortunes during his first two seasons at Everton, but the 2004–05 season saw him become an increasingly important player within the team. He was a regular starter in the 4-1-4-1 formation, sitting just in front of the defence and just behind the midfield.Fact|date=May 2008

In December 2004, Carsley scored the winner in the 200th Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool. The win took Everton temporarily to 2nd in the Premier League. He continued to perform well and Everton ended up finishing fourth thus gaining entry to the third qualifying stage of the Champions League.Or|date=May 2008

Four minutes from the end of the 04–05 season, during a game against Bolton Wanderers, Carsley was stretchered off with a twisted knee. He was fit to resume pre-season training but was injured again at the start of the 2005–06 campaign in a pre-season friendly away to Fenerbahçe S.K. keeping him out for a further 5 months.

Carsley returned to the Everton's first team for the 0–0 away draw with Charlton Athletic in April 2006. He played in the next game against Tottenham Hotspur and lined up against Chelsea also. 46 minutes into that game Carsley received a dubious straight red card for his foul on Didier Drogba,Or|date=May 2008 warranting a three match suspension and ending his season.

On 3 November 2007 Carsley scored a brilliant goal in the 93rd minute for Everton against Birmingham City to give Everton victory after the game appeared to be heading towards a 1–1 draw.Or|date=May 2008 Everton eventually won 3–1.

His contract with Everton was due to expire at the end of 2007–08 season; he chose not to accept the offered extension, and signed for home-town club Birmingham City in May 2008. [cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/everton/7396978.stm |title=Carsley signs for Birmingham City |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-05-19 |accessdate=2008-05-19] With club captain Damien Johnson expected to be out of action for several months following a back operation, Carsley started the 2008–09 season as captain. [cite web |url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1347946,00.html |title=Jonty to have op |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=2008-07-21 |accessdate=2008-07-21]

International career

Carsley qualifies for Republic of Ireland through his grandmother, who is from Dunmanway, County Cork.

In 2004 he declared he was going to take a break from the international scene to focus both on getting back in the Everton side and on his family.

In September 2005, Carsley announced that "As soon as I am playing again, I will be straight on the phone saying I want to be considered for the Ireland squad".Fact|date=May 2008 Although he was controversially left out of the squad for a 5–2 defeat away to Cyprus, he showed he could still perform at the highest international level with a solid display against Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road in October 2006.Or|date=May 2008

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=1329|name=Lee Carsley

Persondata
NAME = Carsley, Lee
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 28 February 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH = Birmingham, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =