Ian Murray

Football player infobox
playername = Ian Murray


fullname = Ian William Murray
height = height|m=1.83
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|3|20
cityofbirth = Edinburgh
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = fc|Hibernian
clubnumber = 6
position = Defensive midfielder
Centre back
Full back
years = 1999–2005
2000–2001
2005–2007
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = fc|Hibernian
→ fc|Alloa Athletic (loan)
fc|Rangers
fc|Norwich City
fc|Hibernian
caps(goals) = 141 (13)
002 0(0)
043 0(0)
009 0(0)
021 0(0)
nationalyears = 2002–2006
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 0(0)
pcupdate = 4 October 2008
ntupdate = 4 October 2008

Ian William Murray (born 20 March 1981) is a Scottish professional association football player who plays for his home town club fc|Hibernian. Murray has represented Scotland six times.

His versatility has seen him deployed in a variety of roles in his career, without really establishing a recognised position. He is a versatile footballer who can play centre back, left back, right back, defensive midfielder and even as a striker, but prefers centre-back or central midfield. [ [http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1098625,00.html Murray joins Norwich City] , fc|Norwich City official site.]

Club career

Murray began his professional career with fc|Hibernian, where he was appointed captain for the 2004–05 season. He joined fc|Rangers on a Bosman transfer in the summer of 2005. On October 3, 2006 it was revealed that Murray had been suffering from reactive arthritis and was ruled out until early 2007. His return to the team against fc|Motherwell was manager Paul Le Guen's last match in charge before leaving the club by mutual consent. His whole season was put in disarray due to the illness.

Murray signed for fc|Norwich City following his release by Rangers in August 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/norwich/6960406.stm Murray set to seal Norwich move] , BBC Sport.] He made his Norwich debut against fc|Hull City two days later. Murray had a difficult start to his Norwich career due to illness. He was substituted at half-time in a League Cup tie at Rochdale after a dreadful performance, with Norwich manager Grant admitting afterwards that he should not have played Murray as the player was ill. Murray's health problems continued as he was ruled out of subsequent matches. [ [http://www.pinkun.com/content/ncfc/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=Norwich&tBrand=PinkUnOnline&tCategory=Norwich&itemid=NOED20%20Sep%202007%2012%3A13%3A17%3A050 Murray absent due to illness] ] Grant left the club in October 2007 and Murray failed to establish himself in the Norwich first team under new boss Glenn Roeder.

Murray then moved back to his first club fc|Hibernian on a contract until the end of the 2007-08 season. [ [http://www.pinkun.com/content/ncfc/story.aspx?brand=PINKUNOnline&category=Norwich&tBrand=PinkUnOnline&tCategory=Norwich&itemid=NOED18%20Jan%202008%2010%3A33%3A55%3A290 Murray leaves Canaries] ] He subsequently signed a deal to keep him at the club until 2010. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7316513.stm Murray signs new deal with Hibs] , BBC Sport.]

International career

Murray's international debut for Scotland came as a substitute against Canada in October 2002 in a 3–1 win. He did not win a cap until two years later when he came on during a World Cup 2006 qualifier at half time against Moldova in a 1–1 draw played in October 2004. His only start for the national team so far was a disappointing 1–0 home defeat against Belarus, during which he was substituted at half time. In total he has won six caps for Scotland, although he has failed to establish himself as a starter in an established position.

Murray was also a captain of the Scotland under–21 side.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=16929|name=Ian Murray
*SFA Profile|id=20584|name=Ian Murray