Steven Smith (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Stevie Smith


fullname = Steven Smith
height = height|m=1.78
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|8|30
cityofbirth = Bellshill
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Rangers
clubnumber = 26
position = Left back
years = 2004–
clubs = Rangers
caps(goals) = 39 (1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = July 31, 2008
ntupdate =

Steven "Stevie" Smith (born 30 August 1985 in Bellshill) is a Scottish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Rangers.

Club career

Smith, a left sided defender, made his Rangers debut against Hearts in October 2003 but had to wait until the winter of 2005-06 to establish himself in the team. He made his Champions League debut against Villarreal CF on 22 February 2006. Smith signed a two-year contract extension on the 27th February 2006.cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11788_2368584,00.html|publisher=Sky Sports website|title=Rangers give Smith new deal|date=27 February 2006] He went on to win the Bank of Scotland Scottish Premier League young player of the month for April 2006 and by then had cemented his place as first choice left back at the club.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/4978866.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Top youth Smith praises McLeish|date=5 May 2006]

Despite Rangers' poor results and performances, Smith started the 2006-07 season impressively and scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Dunfermline Athletic on 11 November 2006, as well as being named Man of the Match.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6133540.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Rangers 2-0 Dunfermline Athletic|date=11 November 2006]

During the winter of 2006, Smith was again troubled by a recurring pelvic injury which has sidelined him since. He has not played for Rangers boss Walter Smith yet, his last game was against Celtic on the 17 December 2006.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7049503.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Smith focused on Rangers return |date=17 October 2007]

On the 20 November 2007 it was reported that Smith was finally on the injury comeback and that, after a successful hernia operation, he was soon to be fit again.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7103463.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Smith's targeting Rangers return|date=20 November 2007]

Smith returned to the first team, appearing as an unused substitute in a Scottish Cup match against Partick Thistle in March 2008, over fifteen months after his last appearance [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7302930.stm Rangers 1-1 Partick Thistle] BBC Sport website, 19 March 2008] and he made his first start back in the replay of that match the following month.

International career

Smith was in line for his first Scotland appearances in the double header of 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying matches against France and Ukraine in October 2006 but he was ruled out with a thigh injury.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5410810.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Smith denied chance for Scotland|date=5 October 2006]

He has played for the Scotland under-21 football team in the past.

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=40436|name=Steven Smith