Shaun Derry

Football player infobox
playername = Shaun Derry


fullname = Shaun Peter Derry
height = height|m=1.80
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|12|6
cityofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Crystal Palace
clubnumber = 4
position = Defensive Midfielder
years = 1995–98
1998–2000
2000–02
2002–05
2004–05
2005–2008
2007–2008
2008–
clubs = Notts County
Sheffield United
Portsmouth
Crystal Palace
→ Nottingham Forest (loan)
Leeds United
→ Crystal Palace (loan)
Crystal Palace
caps(goals) = 82 (4)
72 (0)
49 (1)
83 (3)
07 (0)
74 (3)
12 (0)
28 (0)
pcupdate = 15:10, 4 October 2008 (UTC)

Shaun Peter Derry (born December 6, 1977 in Nottingham) is an English professional footballer currently playing for Crystal Palace. Derry is known for his hard-tackling and aggressive midfield style.

Early career

Derry, a defensive midfielder, started his career at Notts County as a trainee before being bought by Sheffield United in 1998 for a fee of £700,000.

Portsmouth

He was then sold to Portsmouth in 2000 for £300,000 where he was a regular in the side under both Tony Pulis and Steve Claridge before being made captain by Graham Rix. After Rix's departure, Derry was amongst the many players deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Harry Redknapp in summer 2002 rebuilding and was sold to Crystal Palace 2002 for £400,000.

Crystal Palace

He helped Crystal Palace in their return to the Premiership in 2004, making 44 appearances including an appearance in the play-off final. It was his corner that led to Darren Powell scoring a 90th minute header to send the Eagles to extra-time in the semi-final, which they would win on penalties. He struggled to get into the team during the 2004-05 season, and, after a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, Leeds signed him for an undisclosed amount in February 2005 [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=256798&plid=1420&clid=&cpid=10 |title=Leeds seal Derry swoop |accessdate=2007-06-22 |date=18 February 2005 |work=James Pearson|publisher=Sky Sports] .

Leeds United

His first goal for the club came on his home debut against West Ham United, sealing a 2-1 victory against the Hammers. Derry was a regular in the Leeds starting eleven in season 2005-06, becoming a vital part of the squad as they pushed for promotion back into the Premiership. In August 2006 he pledged his future to the club, signing a contract extension until July 2009 [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=408606&plid=1420&clid=2&cpid=10 |title=Derry pens Whites extension |accessdate=2007-06-22 |date=8 August 2006 |work=James Pearson |publisher=Sky Sports] .

In October 2006, new Leeds manager, Dennis Wise revealed Derry as the new vice captain of the club, with Kevin Nicholls made captain [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=424717&CPID=10&clid=2&lid=2&title=Wise+makes+Nicholls+captain |title=Wise makes Nicholls captain |accessdate=2006-10-26 |date=26 October 2006 |work=James Pearson |publisher=Sky Sports] .

Derry was once again a regular in the Leeds team in the 2006-07 season, however many Leeds fans believed that his performances were not as good as those in the previous season. A hernia and achilles injury in January 2007 saw Derry being ruled out for the rest of the season. Derry admitted he was distraut at not being able to help Leeds with their fight to avoid relegation.

Perhaps partly due to Derry's absence, Leeds were relegated and the usual speculation began of a mass-exodus of players from the club.

After Leeds' 2-1 victory over Derry's former club Crystal Palace at Elland Road in February, manager Wise revealed that one member of his squad, who has become known as 'the mole' had given United's teamsheet to the Palace management. Though Wise did not reveal who he suspected it was, he did assure that the player in question would not play for Leeds United again.

Derry's fitness returned the following season as Leeds prepared for life in League One. However, Derry did not feature for the club again and returned to former club Palace on loan in November, further fuelling suspicision that Derry was indeed the 'mole' who had given the Palace management (though the management had changed since the incident) the United teamsheet.

Back to Palace

Further doubts about the midfielder's future at the Elland Road club arose when it was reported that Derry had declined Wise's offer to return and feature in the home tie against Oldham Athletic on New Years' Day 2008 following Leeds' midfield being decimated by injuries. That same day, Derry was named "Man of the Match" for the third successive game at Selhurst Park after a performance that typified his work since his return to Selhurst Park. It was later revealed that it was actually manager Neil Warnock who blocked Derry's return to Leeds rather than Derry himself. [cite web |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/leedsunited/Warnock-I-blocked-Derry-return.3637559.jp |title=Warnock: I blocked Derry return|accessdate=2008-01-22 |date=22 January 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport]

Shortly after his loan spell concluded, Derry made his move back to Palace a permanent one, signing for the club on a three year deal [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crystal_palace/7200108.stm |title=Derry signs permanent Palace deal|accessdate=2008-01-03 |date=3 January 2008 |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post] for £150,000.

In his second season back at the club he was named captain of the club after the departure of former captain, Mark Hudson to Charlton.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 4 October 2008)"

Honours

* 2004 Football League Championship Play-Off Winner with Crystal Palace

References

External links

* [http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10323~8755,00.html Shaun Derry player profile] at cpfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|8965