Ian Black (footballer, born 1985)

Ian Black

Black playing for Heart of Midlothian in 2010
Personal information
Full nameIan Black
Date of birth14 March 1985
Place of birthEdinburgh, Scotland
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionCentral midfielder
Club information
Current team
Rangers
Number8
Youth career
2003–2004Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2009Inverness CT132(8)
2009–2012Heart of Midlothian87(4)
2012–Rangers82(5)
National team‡
2005–2009Scotland B2(0)
2012Scotland1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 January 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 August 2012

Ian Black (born 14 March 1985) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Scottish Championship side Rangers. He plays as a central midfielder. Black made his international debut for Scotland in August 2012, despite playing in the Third Division.

Black has previously played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Heart of Midlothian. He has also played for the Scotland national football team.

Club career

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Black began as a youth player with Tranent Boys Club. He was also a youth player at Hibernian, where he played alongside Scott Brown.[1] Black first signed a professional contract with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers F.C. He never played in the Blackburn first team and was subsequently freed with two other Scottish youth players. All three players went to the north of Scotland, Black to Inverness CT, and the other two to Elgin City. In his early days at Inverness, Black also played for Elgin City on loan from Inverness.[1][2] He joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle in July 2004.[3] Black made his debut as a substitute on 7 August 2004 against Livingston,[4] with his first start coming on 9 April 2005 against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.[5] In his first season he made 13 appearances.[6]

He scored his first goal for the club on 5 November 2005 with a fifth-minute strike against Dunfermline.[7] The following season on 30 December 2006 he was sent off for a second bookable offence against Falkirk.[8]

He made 132 league appearances for Caley, and scored eight goals.[9] His last game for Inverness was against Falkirk in a 1–0 loss for Inverness, which saw them relegated to the Scottish First Division.[10]

Heart of Midlothian

It was reported in The Scotsman newspaper on 24 December 2008 that Black had agreed in principle to sign a pre-contract agreement to join boyhood heroes[11] Heart of Midlothian in the summer of 2009.[12] Hearts confirmed that he had signed the agreement on 28 December and would join up with the club for the 2009–10 season.[13] On 2 July 2009, Black finally signed for Hearts after signing a pre-contract agreement in December 2008,[14] marking a return to the club he has once been a ball boy for.[15] He made his debut on 17 August 2009 as a substitute against Dundee United at Tannadice,[16] with his first start coming on 23 August against Rangers.[17] He scored his first goal for Hearts on 13 February 2010 with a long range effort against Falkirk in a 3–2 win.[18] In his first season with the club he made 32 appearances in all competitions scoring once.[19]

Early in the 2010–11 season, Black was criticised by Rangers player Nikica Jelavić, who claimed that Black had intentionally injured him during a match.[20] Black apologised for injuring Jelavic.[20] On 7 August 2011, he was sent off for challenge on Keith Lasley, who was also sent off later in the same match. Hearts eventually lost 1–0 to Lasley's club Motherwell.[21] He was sent off again against Kilmarnock on 29 October 2011.[22] On 14 January 2012 he was given a yellow card for an attempted trip on Paul McGowan,[23] invoking a ban because he went over the points threshold. This prompted his manager to comment that he was being booked because of his reputation rather than the incidents.[24]

In December 2011, with Hearts having problems paying wages it was reported that Black had taken a part-time job as a painter.[25][26] At half time in the match against Dunfermline on 17 December the stadium announcer played Paint it black[27] and after the Edinburgh Derby on 2 January 2012 he revealed a t shirt with the message "I'll paint this place maroon" in reference to his part-time job.[28] On 30 April 2012, Hearts announced that Black would leave Hearts in the summer.[29] Black helped Hearts win the 2011–12 Scottish Cup, defeating Hibernian 5–1 in the 2012 Scottish Cup Final.

Rangers

It was reported on 4 July 2012 that Black had agreed a deal in principle to sign for Rangers, depending on which division of the Scottish Football League the club was admitted to.[30] However, when Rangers were put into the Third Division Black stated that he would still sign for them.[31] On 24 July 2012 he began a trial training spell with the club.[32] It was announced on 28 July that Black had signed a three-year deal with Rangers subject to clearance.[33] He made his debut for Rangers as a trialist on 29 July against Brechin City in the first round of the Scottish Challenge Cup,[34] Rangers won the match 2–1.[35] Ian scored his first Rangers goal against Queens Park in a 4–0 victory. [36]

In September 2013, Black was suspended and fined after admitting breaches of Scottish Football Association rules in relation to betting on matches.[37]

International career

Black represented Scotland B once in the 2005 Future Cup, in a 3–2 defeat by Turkey B.[38] After a four-year absence he was included in the Scotland B squad for their game against Northern Ireland. In 2012, despite now playing in Division Three, Black was called up to the Scotland squad for the friendly against Australia.[39] He was subsequently booed whilst coming on as a substitute in the second half.[40]

Career statistics

As of 22 January 2015[9][41]
Club statistics
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2004–05 13000000000130
2005–06 26130200000311
2006–07 26010000000270
2007–08 33310100000353
2008–09 34420200000384
Hearts 2009–10 26110302000321
2010–11 32110100000341
2011–12 29230003000352
Rangers 2012–13 29230300030382
2013–14 32250100041423
2014–15 16120410031253
Total 296 17 22 0 17 1 5 0 10 2 350 20

International

Scotland national team
YearAppsGoals
201210
201300
201400
Total10

Personal life

Black's father, also named Ian, was a professional footballer who started his senior career with Celtic, before being farmed out to Tranent Juniors, also played for Hearts as well as city rivals Hibernian. Peter Black, Ian's grandfather, was also footballer; he is the only one in the family to be a keeper.[14]

On 17 May 2011, it was extensively reported that Black, along with his Hearts team mate Robert Ogleby, had been arrested and charged with possession of a class A drug in an Edinburgh night club.[42][43] On 17 February 2012 the case was dismissed due to failure of witnesses to attend court.[44] It was the seventh time the case has been called.[45]

Honours

Club

Heart of Midlothian

Rangers

Personal awards

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gordon, Moira (15 April 2012). "Scottish Cup: Ian Black insists he has tempered his style ahead of clash with Scott Brown". Scotland on Sunday (Johnston Press). Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  2. ↑ "BROCKHALL BOY: IAN BLACK". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Ian Black Hearts Profile". Hearts News. Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Livingston 3–0 Inverness". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 August 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Kilmarnock 0–1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport (BBC). 9 April 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "2004–05 stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2–1 Dunfermline". Football.co.uk. 5 November 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Falkirk 3–1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport (BBC). 30 December 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Ian Black Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  10. ↑ McDaid, David (23 May 2009). "Inverness CT 0–1 Falkirk". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Ian Black’s T-shirt pokes fun at himself while riling up Hearts’ rivals". The Scotsman. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  12. ↑ Hearts sign Black on pre-contract, The Scotsman, 24 December 2008.
  13. ↑ inewsDetail/0,,10289~1501707,00.html Ian Black to join Hearts, Heart of Midlothian F.C., 28 December 2008.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Black finally arrives at Hearts". BBC Sport. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Hearts agree return for former Tynecastle ball boy Ian Black". Daily Record. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  16. ↑ Lindsay, Clive (17 August 2009). "Dundee Utd 2 – 0 Hearts". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  17. ↑ McGuigan, Thomas (23 August 2009). "Hearts 1 – 2 Rangers". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  18. ↑ "Hearts 3 – 2 Falkirk". BBC Sport (BBC). 13 February 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  19. ↑ "2009–10 stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Ian Black to atone for Nikica Jelavic injury". BBC Sport. 6 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Motherwell 1 – 0 Hearts". BBC Sport (BBC). 7 August 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  22. ↑ "Hearts 0–1 Kilmarnock". BBC News. 29 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Hearts 5 – 2 St Mirren". BBC Sport (BBC). 14 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  24. ↑ "Hearts' Paulo Sergio bemoans refs' treatment of Ian Black". BBC Sport (BBC). 16 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  25. ↑ MacKay, Ronnie (15 December 2011). "Gary backs Black’s job". London: The Sun. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  26. ↑ MacKay, Ronnie (14 December 2011). "Wages row takes gloss off for Black". London: The Sun. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  27. ↑ McGuigan, Thomas (17 December 2011). "SPL as it happened". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  28. ↑ "Ian Black took Hearts' derby penalty so he could show off T-shirt message.. then missed, reveals Jamie Hamill". Daily Record. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  29. ↑ "Black to leave Hearts". Sky Sports. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  30. ↑ McLauchlin, Brian (4 July 2012). "Rangers: Ian Black agrees to join club in principle". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  31. ↑ MacKay, Ronnie (17 July 2012). "Black: I’ll be a Div 3 star". London: The Scottish Sun. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  32. ↑ "Ian Black and Craig Beattie train with Rangers newco". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  33. ↑ "Rangers: Ian Black and Andy Little sign three-year deals". BBC Sport (BBC). 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  34. ↑ Grieve, Robert (29 July 2012). "Legends of the fall". thesun.co.uk (London: The Sun (United Kingdom)). Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  35. ↑ "Ramsdens Cup: Brechin City 1–2 Rangers". BBCSport. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  36. ↑ Sky Sports http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/271561/report. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ "Rangers' Ian Black suspended and fined for match-gambling". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  38. ↑ FUTURE CUP 2005, Scottish Football Association.
  39. ↑ "Ian Black & Ross McCormack called up to Scotland squad and Black was the only Rangers player called up to the squad at that time.". Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  40. ↑ "Scotland debutant Ian Black booed by home fans(hibs fans)". Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  41. ↑ "Ian Black Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  42. ↑ "O'Connor, Black and Ogleby held over drugs BBC News". 17 May 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  43. ↑ "STV News Stars arrested for 'possessing cocaine'". Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  44. ↑ "Hearts player Ian Black cleared of cocaine charge". BBC Sport (BBC). 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  45. ↑ "Ian Black cleared of cocaine charge". The Scotsman. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.

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