- Michael Stewart (footballer)
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For other people named Michael Stewart, see Michael Stewart (disambiguation).
Michael Stewart Personal information Full name Michael James Stewart Date of birth 26 February 1981 Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Playing position Midfielder Youth career Rangers 1997–1998 Manchester United Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1998–2005 Manchester United 8 (0) 2003–2004 → Nottingham Forest (loan) 13 (0) 2004–2005 → Hearts (loan) 17 (0) 2005–2007 Hibernian 54 (2) 2007–2010 Hearts 87 (12) 2010–2011 Gençlerbirliği 0 (0) 2011 Charlton Athletic 9 (0) National team‡ 2002–2008 Scotland 4 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 May 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:33, 3 April 2011 (UTC)Michael James Stewart (born 26 February 1981) is a Scottish footballer who is currently a free agent after his release by Charlton Athletic. He is notable for beginning his career with Manchester United and having played for both of the Edinburgh derby rivals Hibernian and Hearts. He terminated his contract with Turkish club Gençlerbirliği in 2011. Stewart has also been capped by the Scotland national football team.
Contents
Career
Man Utd
As a highly-rated young player, Stewart trained twice a week with Rangers while still at Craigmount High School.[citation needed] Manchester United signed Stewart as a professional in 1998. He made his senior debut for the club on 31 October 2000 against Watford. Later that season it was agreed for Stewart and two other players (John O'Shea and Jimmy Davis) to be loaned to Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, but Stewart decided against the move, believing he would break into the first team more quickly by training with United.[1] His initial promise saw him rewarded with further opportunities, filling in for a suspended Roy Keane.[1] He struggled to hold down a first team place,[1] however, and had a disappointing loan spell at Nottingham Forest. He is known for playing with a high-tempo style and can often find himself in trouble, regularly being booked or sent off.
In the summer of 2004, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson intimated that Stewart had no future at the club and he was free to leave. Rangers initially showed interest, but after a two week trial, he was sent back to Manchester.[2] Stewart's lucrative contract with United was seen as a stumbling block to a transfer.[2] A loan deal was reached with Stewart's boyhood favourites Hearts, with Stewart himself taking a substantial wage drop to facilitate the deal.[3] Stewart failed to match expectations and at the end of a season disrupted by injury, Hearts allowed him to leave.[3]
Hibernian
Desperate for continuity and regular football, Stewart expressed his wish to stay in Edinburgh. He therefore signed for Hearts' rivals Hibernian after negotiating the end of his Manchester United contract. After two seasons with Hibs, the club announced in April 2007 that his contract would not be extended and he was free to leave the club.[4] He left Easter Road after the media reported that there was unrest amongst the Hibs squad.[5] Stewart spent a week training with Roy Keane's Sunderland, but he did not earn a contract.
Hearts
On 30 June 2007, Hearts introduced Stewart as a new signing,[5] making him the only player since the Second World War to sign for Hearts, then Hibs and then return to Hearts. Stewart scored his first SPL goal for Hearts against Aberdeen on 12 August 2007. He also scored a penalty for Hearts in a 4–2 win over Rangers in September 2007.
Stewart was appointed Hearts club captain by manager Csaba Laszlo before the start of the 2009–10 season, following the departure of the previous captain, Robbie Neilson, to English side Leicester City. He was sent off, for two bookable offences, 52 minutes into his first competitive game as captain in a 2–0 loss to Dundee United at Tannadice.[6] Stewart left the club by mutual consent on 13 May 2010.
Gençlerbirliği
Stewart then agreed a "lucrative" move to Turkish club Gençlerbirliği signing a one year contract with the club with the option of a further 2 years.[7] Stewart picked up an injury early into his spell at Gençlerbirliği, Stewart left the club in January 2011, claiming that they had not honoured his contract since suffering an injury early in the 2010–11 season.[8]
Charlton
Sky Sports reported on 6 February that Stewart had been given a one week trial with Leeds United.[9] He played part in a training ground friendly match against York City.[10] Stewart's trial period with Leeds was extended,[11] but he did not sign for Leeds and subsequently went on trial at Charlton Athletic.[12] He agreed to sign for Charlton until the end of the 2010–11 season on 22 March.[12]
International career
Stewart won three caps for Scotland while he was a youth player at Manchester United. He won a recall after an absence of six years for the friendly match against Northern Ireland in August 2008.[13]
References
- ^ a b c Forsyth, Neil (7 September 2003). "Stewart goes it a loan at Forest to impress Ferguson". Scotland on Sunday. http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Stewart-goes-it-a-loan.2459539.jp. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
- ^ a b Rangers send Stewart back to Manchester, Daily Telegraph, 19 July 2004.
- ^ a b Hearts allowing Stewart to leave, BBC Sport, 11 June 2005.
- ^ "Stewart told Hibs days are over". BBC Sport. 19 April 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6571523.stm.
- ^ a b "Hearts call tempts Stewart back". BBC Sport. 30 June 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6256560.stm.
- ^ Dundee United 2–0 Hearts BBC Sport 17 August 2009.
- ^ Johnstone, Darren (22 May 2010). "Stewart completes move to Turkish top flight". The Scotsman. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/Stewart-completes-move-to-Turkish.6312812.jp. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
- ^ McLauchlin, Brian (20 January 2011). "Michael Stewart severs ties with Genclerbirligi". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9368803.stm. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ Kajue, Soriebah (6 February 2011). "Leeds eye Stewart". Sky Sports. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11715_6733182,00.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110207/stewart-one-of-two-trialists-in-for-game_2247585_2287356
- ^ http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110217/trialist-set-for-extended-stay_2247585_2295500
- ^ a b Haines, Gary (22 March 2011). "Stewart signs up". Charlton Athletic F.C. official website. http://www.cafctv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2322282,00.html. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
- ^ "Five withdraw from Scotland squad". BBC Sport. 18 August 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7567763.stm.
External links
Charlton Athletic F.C. – current squad 1 Hamer · 2 Hughes · 3 Evina · 4 Jackson · 5 Morrison · 6 Taylor · 7 Green · 8 Stephens · 9 Hayes · 10 Wright-Phillips · 11 Wagstaff · 12 Doherty · 13 Sullivan · 14 Benson · 16 Wiggins · 17 Euell · 18 Pritchard · 20 Solly · 21 Izquierdo · 22 Hollands · 23 Alonso · 25 Davisson · 26 Popo · 27 Warren · 28 Cort · 31 Cousins · 32 Harriott · 33 Osborne · 34 Smith · 36 Kermorgant · — Ephraim · Manager: Powell
Categories:- 1981 births
- Association football midfielders
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- Expatriate footballers in Turkey
- Gençlerbirliği S.K. footballers
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
- Heart of Midlothian F.C. captains
- Hibernian F.C. players
- Living people
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Nottingham Forest F.C. players
- Premier League players
- Süper Lig players
- Scotland B international footballers
- Scotland international footballers
- Scotland under-21 international footballers
- Scottish expatriate footballers
- Scottish footballers
- Scottish Premier League players
- Sportspeople from Edinburgh
- The Football League players
- People educated at Craigmount High School
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