Tam McManus

Football player infobox
playername = Tam McManus
fullname = Thomas Kelly McManus
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|2|28
cityofbirth = Glasgow
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Colorado Rapids
clubnumber = 20
position = Striker
years = 1997-2005
2000
2000-2001
2004
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-
clubs = Hibernian
→ East Fife (loan)
→ Airdrieonians (loan)
→ Boston United (loan)
Dundee
Falkirk
Dunfermline Athletic
Colorado Rapids
caps(goals) = 109 (19)
011 0(3)
001 0(0)
008 0(0)
037 (10)
005 0(0)
025 0(3)
019 0(4)
pcupdate = June 1, 2008

Thomas Kelly "Tam" McManus (born 28 February 1981, in Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids.

Career

McManus started his career with Hibernian, making his debut against Stranraer in 1999, while he enjoyed his first start in an Edinburgh Derby against Heart of Midlothian a year later. He had earlier gained first-team experience with 3-month loan spells at East Fife and then Airdrieonians. McManus went on to become a first-team regular for Hibs, enjoying his best season in 2002-03, when he scored 11 goals.

In August 2004, new manager Tony Mowbray decided McManus would not feature in Hibs first team plans and he was loaned to Boston United. McManus failed to settle in quiet Lincolnshire however, and returned north to sign for Dundee in January 2005. The "Dark Blues" were struggling in the league though, and despite McManus' goal in a relegation-decider against Livingston, Dundee fell short and were demoted to the Scottish First Division. Financial difficulties at Dundee, resultant from relegation and an earlier spell in administration required them to remove the highest-earners from their wage bill and along with Lee Wilkie, McManus negotiated a release settlement in the summer of 2006.

He signed for Falkirk in August,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/5313068.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McManus wins contract with Bairns|date=8 September 2006] however, after playing a largely peripheral role in the first half of the 2006-07 season, he was released by the Bairns.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/6318517.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=McManus allowed to leave Falkirk|date=31 January 2007] Four weeks later, McManus signed a short term contract with Dunfermline for the remainder of the current season. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/6382311.stm|title=Dunfermline sign striker McManus|accessdate=January 1|accessyear=2008] He instantly became a big hit with the Dunfermline fans, scoring two goals in seven games. In June, he signed a new two-year deal at East End Park despite interest from at least three SPL clubs. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/6764895.stm|title=McManus agrees new deal at Pars|accessdate=January 1|accessyear=2008] He appeared as a substitute in the UEFA Cup against BK Hacken FC of Sweden on 30 August 2007 and scored the winning goal on 6 October 2007 against Queen of the South F.C.

In March 2008, McManus was approached by MLS side Colorado Rapids and offered a trial while the club were playing a number of friendlies in England. McManus played 45 minutes against Ipswich Town [citeweb|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=pmHDwnmC3FE=#|title= Rapids Record 3-2 Victory over Ipswich in England |accessdate=March 8|accessyear=2008] in a pre-season game for the American side and was widely expected to sign for the side. [cite news|url=http://www.dafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/dugout/0,,10288~1259886,00.html|title=Jim McIntyre on Friday|date=8 March|accessdate=2008|publisher=DAFC.co.uk] [cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/03/08/sportstory11039314t0.asp|title=Three more signings as McIntyre builds his side|date=8 March|accessdate=2008|publisher=The Courier] After over a week of extensive medicals, McManus eventually signed for the MLS outfit on the 28 of March 2008. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dunfermline_athletic/7319957.stm|title=McManus makes a rapid Pars exit|date=28 March|accessdate=2008|publisher=BBC.co.uk]

McManus made his Colorado Rapids debut on April 12, 2008, coming on as a half-time substitute in the game against New England Revolution. He scored his first Rapids goal in a 2-1 loss to Chicago Fire on 26 April, 2008. McManus won the Week 9 Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honour for his 40 yard strike against C.D. Chivas USA on May 24, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/NewsDetails.aspx?NID=zemT4cZNOAU=|title=McManus Wins MLS Goal of the Week Honors|accessdate=May 30|accessyear=2008]

ee also

* Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season 2007-08
* List of current MLS players

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=11167|name=Tam McManus