Joey Barton

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Joey Barton
Personal information
Full name Joseph Barton
Date of birth September 2, 1982 (age 24)
Place of birth    Liverpool, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Manchester City
Number 8
Youth clubs
Everton F.C. Academy, Manchester City
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2001- Manchester City 123 (14)   
National team2
2007- England 001 0(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 13:23, 18 March 2007 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 22:36, 7 February 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Joseph "Joey" Barton (born 2 September 1982 in Liverpool) is an English footballer from Huyton, who currently plays in midfield for Manchester City.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early Career and Disciplinary Problems

Barton made his first team debut against Bolton Wanderers on 5 April 2003[1] . His first senior goal came in a 2-0 win over Spurs at White Hart Lane on Good Friday, and he ended his first season with a run of seven consecutive starts.

Barton began the 2003-04 season as a first team regular. Following his second Premiership goal (against Blackburn Rovers), he was rewarded with a call up to the England U21 squad for their Euro qualifiers against Macedonia and Portugal.

Barton's career has so far been punctuated with disciplinary problems. His club considered sacking him after an incident at a Christmas party where he poked a cigar in junior player Jamie Tandy's eye. The following summer Barton was sent home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand after becoming involved in a fight with a young Everton fan,[2] and also saw an altercation with team-mate Richard Dunne which resulted in Dunne injuring his foot after kicking a wall in anger. These incidents resulted in Barton undergoing anger management therapy at the request of Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce and paying out £120,000 in club fines.[3]. On 13 March 2007, Joey Barton was arrested on suspicion of criminal assault and criminal damage after an alleged argument with a taxi driver in Liverpool, while going to his hotel after a match.

[edit] A New Deal and the Moon

In September 2004 Barton signed a new contract that kept him at Manchester City until 2007. However, on 30 January 2006, Barton handed in a written transfer request. The next day, Manchester City rejected a verbal offer for Barton from Middlesbrough (reported figures ranging from £3 million and £4.5 million), with Stuart Pearce asserting that a deal could still be done to keep him at the club. During the following week, Barton admitted that making such a request was hasty and wrong and apologised to the club. Though there were rumours that Barton would join Middlesbrough in the summer of 2006 due to the breakdown of contract talks, on 25 July he signed a new four-year deal ending speculation about his future.[4]

Joey Barton scored the penalty against Arsenal in their home game against them in the 2006-2007 season to give Man City a historic 1-0 win over Arsenal. On 30 September, however, he was captured by television cameras[5] exposing his rear end to Everton fans following Man City's injury-time equaliser in a game at Goodison Park.[6] On October 10, Merseyside Police looked into it but took no further action, but Barton was fined £2,000 and warned about his future conduct by the FA, escaping a ban.

On 16 January 2007, football agent Willie McKay stated that if any team offered at least £5.5 million for Barton, then Manchester City must allow Barton to talk to that club, and Everton F.C. manager David Moyes then asked City about Barton's availability. However, the next day Barton stated "People are trying to unsettle me but I'm happy to stay here", and Pearce added "I'm not sure if Willie McKay is his agent".[7]

[edit] International career

On 2 February 2007, following his recent impressive form, Barton received his first call-up to the full England squad for the friendly match against Spain, despite his recent criticism of some of the England squad turning out autobiographies after an unimpressive 2006 World Cup, summarizing it as "I played like shit. Here's my book".[8]

He made his international debut on 7 February 2007 replacing Frank Lampard in the 78th minute of the 1-0 defeat to Spain at Old Trafford.

[edit] Personal life

Joey Barton is the half brother of convicted murderer Michael Barton.

Joey Barton was arrested in March 2007 for assault and criminal damage following an alleged argument with a taxi driver. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. He has not been charged with any offence.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chris Bailey, Barton lifts City's gloom, Manchester Evening News, 7 April 2003, accessed 18 October 2005
  2. ^ Rob Hughes, Enigmas of 2 tarnished stars, International Herald Tribune, 7 February 2006, accessed 17 September 2006
  3. ^ Unknown, Fans Saw the Whole of the Moon, Footballers are Idiots website, 1 October 2006, accessed 1 October 2006
  4. ^ Unknown, Barton signs new deal, Manchester City official website, 25 July 2006, accessed 25 July 2006
  5. ^ Video Clip, Barton - Exposing his arse, 30 September 2006, accessed 30 September 2006
  6. ^ Unknown, Police to probe Barton incident, BBC Sport, 30 September 2006, accessed 30 September 2006
  7. ^ Andy Hunter, Barton insists he is staying put but Everton lie in wait Independent, 17 January 2007, accessed 13 February 2007
  8. ^ Gerrard plays peacemaker over Barton The Guardian, 6 February 2007, accessed 13 February 2007
  9. ^ City star arrested over assault BBC News, accessed 13 March 2007.

[edit] External links


Manchester City F.C. - Current Squad

1 Isaksson | 2 Richards | 3 Ball | 4 Jordan | 5 Dabo | 7 Ireland | 8 Barton | 9 Mpenza | 10 Abdoun | 11 Vassell | 12 Weaver | 14 Dickov | 15 Distin | 16 Onuoha | 17 Sun | 18 Mills | 20 Samaras | 21 Hamann | 22 Dunne | 24 Beasley | 27 Trabelsi | 28 Sinclair | 30 Corradi | 33 Johnson | 36 Sturridge | 39 Laird | 43 Miller | Manager: Pearce