Richard Stearman
Personal information
Full name	Richard James Michael Stearman
Date of birth	19 August 1987 (1987-08-19) (age 22)
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Centre Back, Right back
Club information
Current club	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number	5
Youth career
1998–2004	Leicester City
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2004–2008 2008–	Leicester City Wolverhampton Wanderers	116 (7) 040 (2)
National team2
2008–2009	England U21	004 (0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 November 2009. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 21:10, 29 June 2009 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Richard James Michael Stearman (born 19 August 1987) is an English football defender, who plays for Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. He is a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a right back or centre half.^[1]

[edit] Career

[edit] Leicester City

Stearman, born in Wolverhampton and raised in Leicestershire, joined the Leicester City youth academy in 1998 having been spotted playing for his local side Harborough Town. Equally adept at playing at right-back or centre-back, he signed his first professional contract in 2004, shortly after having won Leicester's Young Player of the Year award in 2003–04.

Stearman made his senior debut aged 17, on 30 October 2004 in a goalless draw at Cardiff, and finished his first season with 8 appearances. He became a first team regular in 2005–06, and attracted a bid from Sunderland, rejected by then-manager Rob Kelly, who said he was unwilling to part with one of his players he considered a hot prospect.^[2] He remained with the club for two more seasons, and won both Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year awards in 2007–08.^[3]

[edit] Wolverhampton Wanderers

After Leicester were relegated to League One, Stearman signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers of The Championship on 25 June 2008 in a four year deal.^[4] He made his debut for Wolves in a 2–2 draw at Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2008. Towards the latter end of 2008 saw Stearman partnering England under-21's team-mate Michael Mancienne in defence. After a poor run of form, Mick McCarthy dropped him to the bench to be replaced by the experienced Jody Craddock for the promotion run in. Wolves went on to concede only one goal in five games keeping Stearman on the bench. On 3 May, he scored his first for goal for the club, an injury time winner against Doncaster Rovers,^[5] and received a championship winners medal.

On 29 August 2009 Stearman scored his first Premier League goal against Hull City.^[6] With regular right back Kevin Foley out injured, Stearman had an extended run in the starting eleven, deputising at left back on several occasions.

[edit] International

Stearman has represented England at Under-17 and Under-18 level. He was first called up by the England under-21 squad in November 2007 for the 2009 European Championship qualifiers, however he was an unused substitute in the games. He later received a second call-up from the under-21s when he was selected for a European Championship qualifier against Portugal in September 2008.^[7] However, he was again an unused substitute in the game, and again in the qualifying play-offs against Wales in October 2007.^[8]

He finally made his debut in a 2–0 friendly win over the Czech Republic under-21s on 18 November 2008, and a 3–2 defeat to Ecuador on 11 February 2009. Stuart Pearce included him in the squad for the 2009 UEFA U21 championships as back up for Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards.

[edit] Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Championship Winner: 2008–09

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Wolves profile
• Richard Stearman career stats at Soccerbase

v • d • e England squad – 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 1 Hart • 2 Cranie • 3 Taylor • 4 Cattermole • 5 Stearman • 6 Onuoha • 7 Milner • 8 Gardner • 9 Agbonlahor • 10 Noble • 11 Johnson • 12 Muamba • 13 Lewis • 14 Walcott • 15 Rodwell • 16 Tomkins • 17 Richards • 18 Mancienne • 19 Gibbs • 20 Driver • 21 Campbell • 22 Loach • 23 Rose • Coach: Pearce