Gary Caldwell

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Gary Caldwell

Caldwell with Celtic in 2009
Personal information
Full nameGary Robert Caldwell
Date of birth (1982-04-12) 12 April 1982
Place of birthStirling, Scotland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current clubWigan Athletic
Number5
Youth career
1995–1997Celtic
1997–2001Newcastle United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2004Newcastle United0(0)
2001→ Darlington (loan)4(0)
2002→ Hibernian (loan)11(0)
2002–2003→ Coventry City (loan)36(0)
2003→ Derby County (loan)9(0)
2004–2006Hibernian88(5)
2006–2010Celtic106(5)
2010–Wigan Athletic100(6)
National team‡
2001–2003Scotland U2119(2)
2002–Scotland55(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 May 2013.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2013

Gary Robert Caldwell (born 12 April 1982) is a Scottish footballer who is currently the captain of Wigan Athletic and also plays for the Scotland national football team. Caldwell has previously played for Newcastle United, Darlington, Coventry City, Derby County, Hibernian and Celtic.

Primarily considered a central defender, Caldwell has proved extremely versatile and has been deployed as a right back, defensive midfielder at various spells in his career. His brother, Steven, also a defender, plays for Toronto FC. The two brothers were at Wigan Athletic simultaneously.[2]

Club career

Newcastle United

Caldwell started his career with Celtic Boys Club. At 16 he went to England, alongside his elder brother Steven at Newcastle United. Breaking through from the reserves proved difficult, however, and in search of first team football, he went on loan to other clubs on several occasions: Darlington and Hibernian in 2001–02, then Coventry and Derby County the following season.

Hibernian

During the 2003–04 season, Caldwell was given a free transfer by Newcastle.[3] He signed a short-term contract with Hibs for the second half of the season,[3] and during this period he played in their defeat by Livingston in the 2004 League Cup Final. After going on trial with Vitesse Arnhem in the summer of 2004,[3] he signed a two-year contract with Hibs.[3] During the 2005–06 season, rumours circulated that he had signed a pre-contract agreement to join Celtic in the summer of 2006.[4] This prompted Hibs fans to jeer Caldwell when he made a mistake in a game against Aberdeen.[4] After this, the deal was confirmed by Gordon Strachan.[4]

Celtic

Since joining Celtic in 2006, Caldwell helped the club win two league championships, one Scottish Cup and one League Cup, although he was subject to criticism from Celtic fans.[5][6] Caldwell himself later said that this was due to injuries in his first season, and then having to play out of position at right back during the early part of the 2007–08 season (before Andreas Hinkel was signed).[7] He was also criticised during the 2006–07 season for a bad tackle on Kilmarnock player David Fernández, which damaged the Spaniard's cruciate ligament.[8] Caldwell apologised to Fernandez after the game, protesting that he had never intentionally hurt an opponent.[8]

Caldwell subsequently gained recognition and respect from the fans, becoming something of a cult hero, as shown by the chants of "heid" when he was in possession of the football.[7] After being named as the Writers' Player of the Year for the 2008–09 season, Caldwell stated his belief that this was due to him having a long run in his preferred position, and improved concentration and decision making on his part.[7]

During the 2009–10 season, however, Caldwell had a contract dispute with the club, claiming that the club were "kidding themselves" if they thought he would accept their offer.[9] New manager Tony Mowbray, who had also worked with Caldwell at Hibernian, responded by stating that he would not ask the board to increase the offer.[9] Subsequent to this, Middlesbrough had a joint offer for Caldwell and Barry Robson accepted by Celtic.[10]

During what proved to be his final game for the club, an Old Firm derby against Rangers, Caldwell was beaten in the air by Lee McCulloch for the equalising goal.[11]

Wigan Athletic

Caldwell eventually signed for Wigan Athletic on a four-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 13 January 2010.[12] He made his Wigan debut in a 2–0 win against Wolves on 16 January 2010. He scored his first goal for Wigan in a 2–1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers on 27 January 2010.[13] Caldwell has since been sent off twice in Premier League matches, defeats against Manchester City on 29 March (3–0) and Chelsea on the final day of the 2009–10 season (8–0). Caldwell was appointed captain of Wigan Athletic early in the 2010–11 season.[2]

In May 2013 he jointly lifted the FA Cup with playing captain Emerson Boyce after Wigan defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the final.[14]

International career

Caldwell made his full international debut for Scotland in the first match managed by Berti Vogts, a 5–0 defeat to France at the Stade de France.[15] He scored the only goal of the game as Scotland defeated France 1–0 at Hampden Park, on 7 October 2006 in a Euro 2008 qualifying match.[16] He was sent off, however, in a key 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Norway.[17]

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 30 May 2004 Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland  Trinidad and Tobago 3–0 4–1 Friendly match
2 7 October 2006 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  France 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

Career statistics

Club

As of 7 May 2013[18][19]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2001–02Darlington (Loan)Division 3400000-40
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2001–02Hibernian (Loan)Scottish Premier League1100010-120
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2002–03Coventry City (Loan)Division 13602030-410
2003–04Derby County (Loan)Division 1900010-100
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
2003–04HibernianScottish Premier League1710020-191
2004–05373413010454
2005–06341411020412
Hibernian Total 8858260301057
2006–07CelticScottish Premier League210201040280
2007–083514120100512
2008–09363213060474
2009–10141002080241
Celtic Total 106582802801507
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2009–10Wigan AthleticPremier League1621000-172
2010–112302010-260
2011–123631000-373
2012–132510010-261
Wigan Athletic Total 10064020001066
Career Total 3531622421031042720

Honours

Celtic
Wigan Athletic

Personal

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 17 March 2011. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Steven Caldwell joins brother Gary at Wigan. He has one daughter called Ellie.". BBC Sport. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Caldwell stays on at Hibs". BBC Sport. 20 July 2004. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Caldwell agrees Celtic summer switch, RTE, 20 January 2006.
  5. ↑ CALDWELL PRAISES STRACHAN SUPPORT, Football 365, 29 May 2008
  6. ↑ Gordon, Phil Gary Caldwell hits back at critics by pointing to defensive record, The Times, 29 May 2008
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 In from the cold, Caldwell wins player of the year, Scotland on Sunday, 10 May 2009
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Caldwell apologises to Fernandez, BBC Sport, 30 October 2006
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gary Caldwell handed contract ultimatum by Celtic manager Tony Mowbray, The Guardian, 18 September 2009
  10. ↑ Celtic accept Boro bid for pair, BBC Sport, 8 January 2010
  11. ↑ Lindsay, Clive (3 January 2010). "Celtic 1–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2010. 
  12. ↑ McLaughlin, Chris (13 January 2010). "Caldwell joins Wigan from Celtic'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 January 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Blackburn 2 – 1 Wigan". BBC. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Scotland defender Gary Caldwell laughs as he leads Wigan up to lift trophy.. without having played a minute". Daily Record. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Scotland: Gary Caldwell eyes pain-free 50th cap". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 September 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012. 
  16. ↑ "Scotland 1–0 France". BBC Sport. 7 October 2006. 
  17. ↑ "Norway 4 – 0 Scotland". BBC Sport (BBC). 12 August 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Gary Caldwell Career Stats". Soccerbase. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 
  19. ↑ "Gary Caldwell Career Stats". Premier League. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 

External links

2007–08 PFA Scotland SPL Team of the Year
2008–09 PFA Scotland SPL Team of the Year
Wigan Athletic F.C. – current squad
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