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Gary Caldwell
	Gary Caldwell
Personal information
Full name	Gary Robert Caldwell
Date of birth	12 April 1982 (age 27)
Place of birth	Stirling, Scotland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Celtic
Number	5
Youth career
1995–1997; 1997–1999	Celtic; Newcastle United
Senior career1
National team2
	1 Senior club appearances and goals; counted for the domestic league only and; correct as of 19:39, 15 November 2009 (UTC).; 2 National team caps and goals correct; as of 19:39, 15 November 2009 (UTC).; * Appearances (Goals)

Gary Robert Caldwell (born 12 April 1982 in Stirling), is a Scottish football player who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Celtic and also for the Scottish national team.

Primarily considered a central defender, Caldwell has proved extremely versatile and has been deployed as a right back, defensive midfielder at various spells in his career. His brother, Steven, plays for Burnley and is also a defender.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Newcastle United

Caldwell started his career with Celtic Boys Club. At 16 he went to England, alongside his elder brother Steven at Newcastle United. Breaking through from the reserves proved difficult, however, and in search of first team football, he went on loan to other clubs on several occasions: Darlington and Hibernian in 2001/02, then Coventry and Derby County the following season.

[edit] Hibernian

During the 2003–04 season, Caldwell was given a free transfer by Newcastle.^[1] He signed a short-term contract with Hibs for the second half of the 2003–04 season,^[1] and during this period he played in their defeat by Livingston in the 2004 CIS Cup Final. After going on trial with Vitesse Arnhem in the summer of 2004,^[1] he signed a two-year contract with Hibs.^[1] During the 2005–06 season, rumours circulated that he had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic in the summer of 2006.^[2] This prompted Hibs fans to jeer Caldwell when he made a bad mistake in a game against Aberdeen.^[2] After this, the deal was confirmed by Gordon Strachan.^[2]

[edit] Celtic

Since joining Celtic in 2006, Caldwell has helped the club win two league championships, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup, although he was subject to criticism from Celtic fans.^[3]^[4] Caldwell himself later said that this was due to injuries in his first season, and then having to play out of position at right back during the early part of the 2007–08 season (before Andreas Hinkel was signed).^[5] He was also criticised during the 2006–07 season for a bad tackle on Kilmarnock player David Fernández, which damaged the Spaniard's cruciate ligament.^[6] Caldwell apologised to Fernandez after the game, protesting that he had never intentionally hurt an opponent.^[6]

Caldwell has since gained recognition and respect from the fans, becoming something of a cult hero, as shown by the chants of "heid" when he is in possession of the football.^[5] After being named as the Writers' Player of the Year for the 2008–09 season, Caldwell stated his belief that this was due to him having a long run in his preferred position, and improved concentration and decision making on his part.^[5]

[edit] International career

Caldwell's international debut came in the first match of Berti Vogts management, a 5–0 defeat to France at the Stade de France. He scored the only goal of the game as Scotland defeated France 1–0 at Hampden Park, on 7 October 2006 in a Euro 2008 qualifying match.^[7]

Caldwell was sent off in a key 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Norway.

[edit] International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 May 2004	Edinburgh, Scotland	Trinidad and Tobago	3–0	4–1	Friendly match
2.	7 October 2006	Glasgow, Scotland	France	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

[edit] Honours

Celtic

Scottish Premier League winner: 2006/07, 2007/08
Scottish Cup winner: 2007
Scottish League Cup winner: 2009

Personal

SFWA Footballer of the Year: 2009
Clydesdale Bank SPL Player of the Year: 2009

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Caldwell stays on at Hibs, BBC Sport, 20 July 2004.
^ ^a ^b ^c Caldwell agrees Celtic summer switch, RTE, 20 January 2006.
^ CALDWELL PRAISES STRACHAN SUPPORT, Football 365, 29 May 2008.
^ Gordon, Phil. Gary Caldwell hits back at critics by pointing to defensive record, The Times, 29 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c In from the cold, Caldwell wins player of the year, Scotland On Sunday, 10 May 2009.
^ ^a ^b Caldwell apologises to Fernandez, BBC Sport, 30 October 2006.
^ "Scotland 1–0 France". BBC Sport. 7 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5397614.stm.

[edit] External links

[Caldwell_stays-0] Caldwell stays on at Hibs, BBC Sport, 20 July 2004.

[RTE-1] Caldwell agrees Celtic summer switch, RTE, 20 January 2006.

[2] CALDWELL PRAISES STRACHAN SUPPORT, Football 365, 29 May 2008.

[3] Gordon, Phil. Gary Caldwell hits back at critics by pointing to defensive record, The Times, 29 May 2008.

[sfwa-4] In from the cold, Caldwell wins player of the year, Scotland On Sunday, 10 May 2009.

[Caldwell_apologises-5] Caldwell apologises to Fernandez, BBC Sport, 30 October 2006.

[Scotland_1-0_France-6] "Scotland 1–0 France". BBC Sport. 7 October 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5397614.stm.

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