John Ruddy

John Thomas Gordon Ruddy (born 24 October 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Birmingham City.

Ruddy began his career at Cambridge United, before signing for Everton as a 19-year-old.

He spent five years with Everton, but made just one appearance, while playing on loan at nine different clubs.

He made his professional debut in the final match of the 2003–04 season at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road stadium on 8 May 2004, keeping a clean sheet and saving a penalty.

Ruddy earned his place as Cambridge's first-choice keeper in the 2004–05 season, making 38 appearances in a season that saw the U's relegated from League Two after finishing bottom with 30 points.

This was despite Ruddy's efforts, which included keeping nine clean sheets and conceding just 45 goals.

Ruddy had two trials at Manchester United in November 2004, before moving to Everton in the summer of 2005 for a fee of around £250,000 that would rise depending on appearances.

He was called into the England Under-19 squad in 2005 after being scouted by England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence and was touted by his manager David Moyes as a future England goalkeeper.

In September 2005, Ruddy signed for Walsall on loan; he made five appearances in League One before returning to Everton.

Loan spells with Rushden & Diamonds and Chester City followed.

Ruddy made his first and only appearance for Everton in February 2006 in unusual circumstances.

Nine minutes into the match against Blackburn Rovers, Iain Turner was sent off for handling outside the area.

Since Turner was substituting for injured first- and second-choice keepers Nigel Martyn and Richard Wright, it meant that Ruddy was the only keeper left who could play.

He kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory.

In September 2006, Ruddy went on loan again.

A one-month deal was agreed with Stockport County, which was twice extended after some impressive performances.

He then agreed a one-month loan with Wrexham in February 2007, but failed to establish a place in the team during his time at the Racecourse Ground and manager Brian Carey decided against extending the loan beyond the initial month.

Ruddy spent a week's emergency loan at League One club Bristol City in April, and helped them move closer to promotion, by playing one match – a 3–1 win over Carlisle United.

He later joked that he would ask if he were eligible for a runners-up medal as City finished second and won promotion.

In January 2009, he went out on loan until the end of the season to Crewe Alexandra.

On 24 July 2009, Ruddy joined Scottish Premier League club Motherwell on a six-month loan, to vie with Michael Fraser and Sebastian Kosiorowski for a place in goal.

Ruddy kept clean sheets during goalless draws at home to Rangers on 12 September and away to Celtic on 17 October.

He also saved a Barry Robson penalty in a 3–2 loss to Celtic on 12 December.

Ruddy was signed by Paul Lambert to play for Norwich City in 2010 and, in his first season, was part of the team that finished second in the Championship, gaining promotion to the Premier League.

When the original loan expired in January 2010, the Fir Park club decided that they wanted to keep Ruddy and fellow Everton loanee Lukas Jutkiewicz for longer; an initial one-month extension was agreed, followed on 27 January by confirmation that both would stay at Motherwell for the rest of the season.

Ruddy finished the Scottish Premier League season with 15 clean sheets from 34 appearances.

On 5 July 2010, Ruddy signed for Championship club Norwich City for an undisclosed fee, which Ruddy revealed in 2017 to have been £250,000.

The following year, Norwich finished twelfth in the Premier League, and Ruddy was selected by new England manager Roy Hodgson for the squad for Euro 2012.

However, he was ruled out after breaking a finger during training.

He made his debut in a 2–1 win against Italy in August 2012.

He suffered a long-term thigh injury in November 2012, but returned to help Norwich to an 11th-place finish at the end of the 2012–13 Premier League season.

Ruddy married his wife Laura on 2 June 2012.

Prior to the Euro 2012 tournament, he jokingly cited breaking his finger as the reason he was able to have his wedding on that date.

Ruddy began his football career at Cambridge United, where his team-mates gave him the nickname "The Iceman".

In 2012, Paul Lambert revealed that on two earlier occasions he had considered signing Ruddy for clubs he'd previously managed: "It is funny but ... [we] ... went to watch him for Crewe at MK Dons ... but he had an absolute stinker. We also saw him when he was at Stockport and ... I decided against him at that time, but when Fraser [Forster] went and it was clear we wouldn't be able to get him back again I knew John had had a really good season at Motherwell. There was that clamour to sign Fraser, but with the finances we just couldn't do that. I wanted somebody with the same stature, a big goalkeeper, and John had that."

After 243 appearances for Norwich, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017.

After one season as first choice as Wolves gained promotion to the Premier League, he spent four years as backup, and left the club at the end of the 2021–22 season.

He then joined Birmingham City.

Ruddy was born in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, where he attended St Ivo School.

He grew up as a fan of Manchester United.