| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary McSheffrey | ||
| Date of birth | 13 August 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Coventry, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Left winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Coventry City | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2006 | Coventry City | 143 | (44) |
| 2001 | → IK Brage (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | → Stockport County (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2003 | → Luton Town (loan) | 18 | (8) |
| 2004 | → Luton Town (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2006–2010 | Birmingham City | 83 | (16) |
| 2009 | → Nottingham Forest (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2010 | → Leeds United (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2010– | Coventry City | 50 | (10) |
| National team | |||
| England U20 | |||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:34, 31 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Gary McSheffrey (born 13 August 1982) is an English footballer who plays as a left winger. He is currently in his second spell with hometown team Coventry City in the Football League Championship.
McSheffrey began his professional career with Coventry, and also played in the Football League and Premier League for Stockport County, Luton Town, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United before returning to Coventry in 2010.
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McSheffrey was born in Coventry, and began his football career at home town club Coventry City. When he made his first-team debut against local rivals Aston Villa at the age of 16 years and 198 days on 27 February 1999, a game that Coventry won 4–1, he became the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League. He held the record for over four years until Aaron Lennon made his Leeds United debut at a younger age in August 2003.[1] During his time at Coventry he spent loan spells at Luton Town, Stockport County (scoring once against Burnley)[2] and Swedish side IK Brage. He also won England U-20 honours.[3]
Playing primarily on the left wing in the 2005–06 season, McSheffrey ended up amongst the top scorers in the Football League Championship with 15 league goals. It was form like this that brought him to the attention of local rivals Birmingham City during the summer of 2006. After weeks of bidding, Coventry accepted an offer valued at £4 million.[4] This has since been estimated at £2.3m cash with a further £1.3m depending on promotion and appearances.[5] The deal was completed on 16 August 2006, and McSheffrey became a Birmingham City player three days after his 24th birthday.[6]
McSheffrey scored his first hat-trick for his new club in a league match against Preston North End on 9 December 2006.[7] On 2 December 2007 he converted a penalty in Birmingham's 3–2 win against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane to score his first goal in the Premier League.[8] In March 2009, he joined Nottingham Forest on loan for an initial period of 29 days.[9] Because of his need for surgery on a persistent knee injury, he was reported to have returned to Birmingham,[10] but manager Alex McLeish confirmed he was still on loan at Forest.[11] Told in August 2009 that he was free to find another club,[12] and frustrated by lack of opportunity,[13] McSheffrey made one start and four substitute appearances in the 2009–10 Premier League[14] before joining Leeds United on loan. In May 2010, Birmingham City announced that McSheffrey would be released when his contract expired at the end of June.[15]
On 29 January 2010, McSheffrey joined Leeds United of Football League One on loan for the remainder of the season.[16] He made his debut the following day, producing a man-of-the-match performance on the left wing in Leeds' 2–0 League home win against Colchester United.[17] In an interview after the game McSheffrey said "there'd be no better club to be with at Championship level" should Leeds succeed in gaining promotion.[18] Ineligible for an FA Cup replay against Tottenham Hotspur, McSheffrey returned to the starting lineup for the 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United.[19]
McSheffrey started on the left wing for Leeds against Carlisle United in the JPT Northern Final second leg. Leeds who won the game 3–2, but ended up losing the tie after losing the penalty shootout 6–5, with McSheffrey converting one of the penalties for Leeds.
McSheffrey scored his first goal for Leeds against Walsall after his mis-hit cross eluded Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince and sailed into the back of the net.[20] However Leeds still lost the match 2–1 to Walsall which was their 1st defeat at home in over a year. McSheffrey was dropped to the bench against Oldham Athletic and replaced in the starting lineup by Aidan White, but after White suffered an injury McSheffrey returned to Leeds' starting lineup against Huddersfield Town. McSheffrey earned promotion with Leeds to the Championship, after finishing as runners up in League 1.
After his release by Birmingham, McSheffrey rejoined home-town club Coventry City of the Football League Championship. He agreed a one-year deal, with the option of a further year, to begin on 1 July 2010 after the expiry of his Birmingham contract.[21] In November 2010, McSheffrey entered a war of words with his former club Leeds after claiming his surprise that Leeds did not take up their first option in the summer to sign him and fellow teammate Michael Doyle permanently.[22]
McSheffrey has coached children at a soccer school in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.[23]
His brother Danny McSheffrey is manager of non-league side Coventry Sphinx, who recently forged an official tie with Coventry City.
Fans of his clubs have been known to call him "Sheffchenko", after popular Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Doyle |
Coventry City Player of the Year 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by Andy Marshall |
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