Steven Davis

Football player infobox
playername = Steven Davis
fullname = Steven Davis


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|1|1
cityofbirth = Ballymena
countryofbirth = Northern Ireland
currentclub = Rangers
clubnumber = 35
height = height|ft=5|in=7
position = Midfielder
years = 2003–2007
2007–2008
2008
2008–
clubs = Aston Villa
Fulham
→ Rangers (loan)
Rangers
caps(goals) = 91 (5)
22 (0)
12 (0)
03 (1)
nationalyears = 2005–
nationalteam = Northern Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 31 (1)
pcupdate = 14 September, 2008
ntupdate = 25 September, 2008

Steven Davis (born January 1, 1985 in Ballymena, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and the Northern Ireland national team.

Club career

Aston Villa

Davis started his career at Aston Villa and his first professional appearance was made on September 18, 2004. He came on after 57 minutes as a replacement for Nolberto Solano in a Premiership match against Norwich City. He was a member of the 2002 FA Youth Cup winning team that beat Everton 4-2 in the final.

By October 2005 he was a regular for the club and missed only one game for Villa in the 2005–06 season. Davis was named Villa's "Young Player of the Year", "The Fans Player of the Year" "and" "Player of the Year" for 2005–06. His form prompted the Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez, to state that Davis could be "another Frank Lampard". [cite web | title= Sanchez says Davis could emulate Lampard| publisher=The Independent| url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article318798.ece | date=August 20, 2005]

Fulham

In the 2006–07 season rumours began to circulate that Davis could leave Villa. These proved to be correct, as he followed team-mate Aaron Hughes to Fulham on July 5, 2007, for a fee of around £4 million.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/6270420.stm|title=Fulham complete £4m Davis swoop|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=July 5, 2007] Davis made 102 appearances for Villa and scored nine times. He made his Fulham debut against Arsenal on the August 12, 2007 and was a regular in the side until then manager, Sanchez', departure.

On January 31, 2008 Davis was signed on a six-month loan deal by Rangers, the club he supported as a boy. [ [http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1230473,00.html "Davis signs Loan deal"] Rangers official website (31 January, 2008)] Davis made his Rangers debut against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup on February 13. [ [http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7236378.stm Rangers 0-0 Panathinaikos] BBC Sport website (13 February, 2008)] He scored his first goal, again in European competition though this time it was against SV Werder Bremen. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7272692.stm|title=Rangers 2-0 Werder Bremen|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=March 6, 2008] Davis scored for Rangers in the penalty shootout against Dundee United that won him a Scottish League Cup winner's medal. He also helped the team reach the 2008 UEFA Cup Final and won the Scottish Cup in that May.

Rangers

On 21 August 2008, Davis made his move from Fulham permanent in a deal worth £3m, signing a four year contract. [cite web | date = 21 August 2008| title = Fulham's Davis moves to Rangers | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/7565732.stm| publisher = BBC Sport website] He made his first appearance of the season for Rangers against Aberdeen on 22 August during a 1-1 draw. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7575840.stm "Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers"] BBC Sport website (23 August 2008)] He celebrated the birth of his first child, Chloe, by scoring his first goal for Rangers, since his move became permanent, against Motherwell. [Cite web |url=http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1399524,00.html |title=Hungry For More |accessdate=2008-09-27]

International career

He made his full international debut on February 9, 2005 in a 1–0 loss to Canada, and made the assist in Northern Ireland's famous 1–0 victory over England in a qualification match for World Cup 2006. Davis first goal came against Wales in a 3-2 defeat. He was also part of the side who beat Spain 3–2 at Windsor Park in September 2006.

On May 21, 2006 he became Northern Ireland's youngest modern day captain against Uruguay in the United States, unfortunately his tenure as captain got off to a losing start, as the team lost 1–0.

International goals

"Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first. "

Honours

With Rangers

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=35928|name=Steven Davis
* [http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/2014/senior/steven-davis-midfielder/ Steven Davis profile] at irishfa.com