Gary Breen

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Gary Breen
Personal information
Full name Gary Patrick Breen
Date of birth (1973-12-12) 12 December 1973 (age 50)
Place of birth Hendon, London, England
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Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
– Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1991 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
1991–1992 Maidstone United 19 (0)
1992–1994 Gillingham 51 (0)
1994–1996 Peterborough United 69 (1)
1996–1997 Birmingham City 40 (2)
1997–2002 Coventry City 146 (2)
2002–2003 West Ham United 14 (0)
2003–2006 Sunderland 107 (7)
2006–2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers 59 (1)
2008–2010 Barnet 47 (0)
Total 552 (13)
International career
1996–2006 Republic of Ireland 63 (7)
Managerial career
2009–2010 Barnet (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gary Patrick Breen (born 12 December 1973) is a former footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. He played for numerous clubs over a 20-year career, including more than 100 appearances each for Coventry City and Sunderland. He won 63 caps for the Republic of Ireland, and played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, scoring in Ireland's 3–0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Career

Club career

Breen was born in Hendon, London, and began his professional career as a youth player at Charlton Athletic, but never made a first-team appearance for the club. Instead, he moved to Maidstone United where he played his first league game at age 17. After one full season with the club he joined Gillingham where he eventually became a first-team regular, prompting a £70,000 bid from Peterborough United.

He only had one full season at Peterborough United, but did well enough to draw attention from First Division Birmingham City, who paid £250,000 for him in February 1996. Less than 12 months after arriving at Birmingham, he was on the move again, to Premier League Coventry City in a £2.5 million deal. He played for five full seasons at Highfield Road, four in the top flight.

Following the 2002 World Cup, Breen was signed on a free transfer by West Ham United by manager Glenn Roeder,[1] but left the club after relegation from the top flight and only 18 appearances in all competitions.[2] He was signed on a free transfer[2] by his old Ireland manager Mick McCarthy for Sunderland, where he was later to become captain. Here, he won promotion to the Premier League as champions in 2004–05, having lost in the play-offs the previous season.

However, they were relegated and club captain Breen was released by the club. This meant Breen had been relegated with three different Premier League teams: Coventry City, West Ham United and Sunderland.

Breen was subsequently signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers in a two-year deal, reuniting him again with McCarthy. He played almost all the club's games as they reached the play-offs in his first season at Molineux, scoring once, against Luton Town.[3] This season also saw him end his international career after 63 caps, as he retired after not being selected for a friendly against the Netherlands in August 2006 by recently appointed manager Steve Staunton.

He was made Wolves' club captain for the 2007–08 season,[4] but ended up missing several months through injury. He was involved in an after-match confrontation with his manager in March 2008,[5] and was released at the conclusion of the season as the club missed out on the play-offs on goal difference.

In December 2008, he joined Barnet as a player/coach.[6] In July 2009 Breen signed a new contract to become player/assistant manager at the club.[7]

On the Goals on Sunday programme on 6 September 2009, Breen revealed that he had agreed to move to Inter Milan after the 2002 World Cup, but failed a medical.[8] Breen had also been linked with a move to Barcelona.[9] Breen left Barnet in June 2010.[10]

Breen was appointed first-team coach of Peterborough United in June 2013.[11]

International career

Breen's form at Birmingham won him a call-up to the Republic of Ireland national football team. On 29 May 1996, he made his debut when he replaced Alan Kernaghan in the 88th minute of the 1–0 friendly defeat against Portugal at Lansdowne Road.[12] Three days later, Breen made his first start in the 2–2 friendly draw with Croatia, he played 74 minutes before being replaced by Tony Cascarino.[13] He scored his first goal for his country two days later, he opened the scoring in the 3–1 defeat to the Netherlands at De Kuip in Rotterdam.[14]

Breen's form at Coventry cemented his place in his national side and he played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup as Ireland made the second round under Mick McCarthy. He scored in Ireland's 3–0 group win against Saudi Arabia,[15] and played every minute of their campaign.

Honours

Sunderland

Awards

References

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External links

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