Stephen Craigan

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Stephen Craigan
Personal information
Full name Stephen James Craigan
Date of birth October 29, 1976 (1976-10-29) (age 31)
Place of birth    Newtownards, Northern Ireland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Motherwell
Number 5
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1995-2000
2000-2003
2003-		 Motherwell
Partick Thistle
Motherwell		 22 (0)
103 (1)
163 (5)   
National team2
Northern Ireland 30 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 07 January 2008.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 10 June 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Stephen James Craigan (born 29 October 1976[1] in Newtownards) is a Northern Irish professional footballer currently playing for Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.

A boyhood Glentoran fan, Craigan started his career in Scotland with Motherwell in 1995 when the young Ulsterman was signed by Alex McLeish. However, after only twenty-two appearances, he was released on a free transfer. He signed for Scottish Second Division club Partick Thistle in 2000 and helped them back to the Scottish Premier League, making 103 appearances. After his contract expired in 2003, he returned to Motherwell, who were now managed by former England international Terry Butcher.

Since then, Craigan has been an integral part of Motherwell's steady progress in the SPL and was rewarded for his performances with a call-up to the Northern Ireland national team.

Arguably, his most impressive display in a Northern Ireland jersey came in their stunning 1 – 0 win over England at Windsor Park on September 7, 2005 where he was up against the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen amongst others. Since then he has become a key figure in the Northern Irish defence, helping his side to wins over Spain and Sweden among others, as well as a draw against Portugal in which he scored an unfortunate own goal.

Craigan has since gone on to become Motherwell's most capped player. He also commentates on some European matches for Setanta Sports.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Note that some sources state his birth date as 21 October 1976

[edit] External links

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Motherwell F.C. – current squad

1 G. Smith • 3 Hammell • 4 Reynolds • 5 Craigan • 6 McLean • 7 Hughes • 9 Porter • 11 McCormack • 12 Clarkson • 14 Lasley • 16 Fitzpatrick • 17 Malcolm • 18 McGarry • 20 Meldrum • 22 Quinn • 23 D. Smith • 24 Grehan • 26 Connolly • 27 Maguire • 28 Forbes • 29 Nixon • 31 Murray • 32 J. Murphy • 33 Archdeacon • Manager: McGhee
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