Gareth McAuley

Gareth Gerald McAuley ( born 5 December 1979) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

He represented Northern Ireland at senior international level, being capped on 80 occasions and scoring nine times.

He began his career at Linfield and spent some time in early 2000 on loan at Ballyclare Comrades.

After four years at Linfield, he moved to Crusaders in the summer of 2000.

After two successful seasons, he moved to Coleraine.

McAuley began his career playing in Northern Irish football with Linfield, Ballyclare Comrades, Crusaders and Coleraine before joining English side Lincoln City in the summer of 2004.

He impressed enough at Sincil Bank to earn a move to Championship side Leicester City.

In the summer of 2004, McAuley decided the time had come to look for a move into full-time football in the Football League.

After attracting interest from Lincoln City and Stockport County he linked up with Edgeley Park based club for a two-week trial under the eye of the former Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy who had given McAuley his first Northern Ireland B call-up.

After impressing in his trial, McAuley seemed set to sign for Stockport but talks broke down and he instead joined Lincoln City on a two-year deal with Coleraine receiving £10,000 for his services.

With Lincoln already boasting one of the strongest defences in League Two at the time of McAuley's arrival, he did not walk straight into the first team.

His first few appearances for the club were all as a substitute, and often in the role of a target man striker.

However, when Dean West was dropped from the squad and club captain Paul Morgan sidelined with an injury, McAuley moved into central defence to partner Ben Futcher.

He immediately drew the plaudits for his excellent performances, which included a man of the match display against Derby County.

He thereafter battled for a starting centre back role with fellow giant Jamie McCombe for much of the season.

However, in March 2005, McAuley earned a starting role as the right full-back, replacing the perpetually out of form fan favourite Matt Bloomer.

He continued to play in this position for the rest of the season, helping Lincoln to the play-off final, not just with his exceptional defensive performances, but with 5 goals, including both in a 2–1 aggregate victory over Macclesfield in the play-off semi-final.

The 2005–06 season, however, saw him cement a spot in the centre of the Imps defence.

With Ben Futcher leaving on a free transfer to join rivals Boston United, McAuley took his place.

He enjoyed a fantastic season, which culminated ultimately in play-off defeat for Lincoln again, but saw him named in the League Two Team of the Year, and also caught the attention of a number of bigger clubs.

The lure of playing at a higher level saw McAuley reject Lincoln City's offer of a new contract in the summer of 2006, and he moved on a free transfer to Leicester City.

McAuley signed for Leicester City on 5 June 2006, after reaching the end of his contract at Lincoln, signing a three-year deal.

He scored his first senior goal for Leicester on 17 January in a 4–3 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup, and was also on the scoresheet against Ipswich Town on 10 February, heading in both as Leicester won 2–0.

In the 2007–08 season, McAuley was appointed captain in a 0–0 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 October 2007, following Stephen Clemence's injury.

He scored his fourth goal on 5 October against Sheffield Wednesday, helping Leicester earn their second only league win of the season, and was then named in the Championship Team of the Week three days later.

McAuley is one of three players (DJ Campbell & Carl Cort) who netted in three goals against Chelsea in a League Cup match on 31 October at Stamford Bridge, but could not prevent his side from losing 4–3.

He moved on to Ipswich Town in June 2008 following Leicester's relegation and then on to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in July 2011.

In January 2008, Ipswich Town manager Jim Magilton made two bids to sign McAuley, but both of these were turned down.

Despite signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal on 8 February, McAuley decided to leave Leicester following their relegation three months later.

McAuley signed for Ipswich Town on 18 June 2008 and was named captain for the 2008/09 season, following the departure of club captain Richard Naylor in February 2009.

The defender got off to a somewhat shaky start, but after settling into the squad, established himself as a commanding leader and consistent defender.

He made his debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season, starting in a 1–2 loss to Preston North End.

He made 39 appearances in all competitions during his first season at the club.

McAuley further enhanced his international credentials whilst with the Suffolk team.

He continued to be a regular starter in the team during the 2009–10 season.

He scored his first goal for the club on 29 September 2009, in a 3–3 away draw with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

McAuley scored 5 goals in 43 games over the course of the season.

On 6 November 2010, McAuley played his 100th game for Ipswich Town, in which he scored the winner in a 2–1 win against Sheffield United.

McAuley won West Brom's player of the year award for the 2012–13 season.

McAuley was born in Larne, County Antrim.