Stephen Andrew (Steve) Guppy (born 29 March 1969) is a retired English football winger, and currently an assistant coach with the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

He was once rated as the second best crosser in Europe, behind David Beckham.^[1]

[edit] Club career

Guppy was spotted playing for his local team, Colden Common and offered a chance with Southampton in March 1989. He made a handful of appearances in the Saints reserves at the end of the 1988-89 season (but failed to break into the first team) before moving to Jim Kelman's Wycombe Wanderers in September 1989.^[2] He turned professional with Wycombe in 1992, at the age of 23.^[1] Prior to turning pro he worked on building sites.^[3]

At Wycombe, he first teamed up with newly appointed Martin O'Neill and helped take them into the Football League as Conference champions in 1992-93 as well as completing the non-league double by winning the FA Trophy. He was a virtual ever-present in Wycombe's debut 1993-94 season in the Football League at the end of which they secured promotion to Division Two via the play-offs.

In August 1994, he was snapped up by Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United for a fee of £150,000.^[2] He made one first team appearance as a substitute in the League Cup in Newcastle's 2–0 defeat of Manchester United.^[1] He subsequently moved on to Port Vale in November 1994 for £225,000.^[4] Vale was a step down, but another top manager- in the form of John Rudge, helped him focus on being a first team performer again.^[1] In nearly three seasons at the then Division One club he became a firm fan favourite and is now classed a club legend after his memorable performances on the left wing.

In February 1997 he was tracked down by his former boss Martin O'Neill, who paid £850,000 to take him to Premier League club Leicester City for the first time.^[2] It was in his first spell with the Foxes that he was most successful, playing in over 140 matches under O'Neill. He gained League Cup honours with Leicester City in 2000, having also reached the final in the previous season.

In August 2001 re-joined O'Neill at Celtic for £700,000,^[5] where he spent 2 and half years.^[2] During his time at Celtic, they won the Scottish Premier League. After being released by Celtic in January 2004 he temporarily re-joined Leicester City but left them in the summer of 2004, to try and get to the US to play.^[6] He then spent a brief spell at Leeds United in August 2004,^[7] scoring once against Nottingham Forest,^[8] before gaining a short term deal at Stoke City^[9] followed by a short spell back at Wycombe,^[2][10] scoring once against Swansea City.^[11] He moved to the USA^[12] but his short stint in Major League Soccer with Washington based D.C. United was ended prematurely due to injury, and he was released by the club after playing in just five league games in which he was featured in a starting line-up alongside Freddy Adu in midfield.

In August 2006 he signed for Stevenage Borough,^[13] scoring his first goal for them in a 1-1 draw at Exeter City.^[14]

With Jeff Kenna, Guppy became the first player to play at both the new Wembley and the old Wembley.^[1] This was achieved on 12 May 2007 when Kidderminster Harriers played Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy 2007 at the new Wembley Stadium. Stevenage Borough won 3–2 despite being 2–0 down at half time. Due to Stevenage winning, Guppy is the first ever person to win medals at both the old and new Wembley Stadium.^[1]

In 2008 he headed for America again, signing with the Rochester Rhinos as Player and Assistant Coach. Guppy logged 1,520 minutes of playing time in 21 league matches, starting in most of his appearances. He tallied 2 assists, both of which came off of his trademark crosses from the left wing. Guppy's first goal for the Rhinos came off of a header on 26 September in the final 10 minutes of the first-round, first leg play-off tie against the Charleston Battery.

After a season at Rochester, Guppy was recruited for the position of assistant coach with the Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids. Having had one more year on his coaching contract with the Rochester Rhinos, Rochester released Guppy from his duties, allowing him to move onto a higher level of coaching.

[edit] International career

It was whilst at Leicester that he gained his only England cap, playing against Belgium on 10 October 1999.^[2]. Guppy remains the only footballer to have played for England under-21, England semi-pro, England B and the full England teams.

[edit] Honours

with Wycombe Wanderers

• FA Trophy winner: 1993
• Conference National champion: 1992-93
• Football League Third Division play-off winner: 1994

with Leicester City

• Football League Cup winner: 2000

with Celtic

• Scottish Premier League champion: 2001–02
• Scottish Cup runner-up: 2002

with Stevenage Borough

• FA Trophy winner: 2007

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Steve Guppy career stats at Soccerbase