Liam Craig

Liam Craig
Personal information
Full nameLiam Craig
Date of birth27 December 1986
Place of birthChirnside, Scotland
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Hibernian
Number10
Youth career
2000–2002Berwick Rangers Juniors
2002–2006Ipswich Town
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2006–2008Falkirk27(2)
2007–2008St. Johnstone (loan)19(2)
2008–2013St. Johnstone172(32)
2013–Hibernian57(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 06:28, 3 March 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Liam Craig (born 27 December 1986) is a Scottish professional football player who is currently captain of Hibernian in the Scottish Championship. He is an attack minded creative midfield player who can operate on the left side of midfield or in a central position.

Career

Craig began his career at Ipswich Town and skippered the youth side to victory in the 2005 FA Youth Cup final. However, after finding it difficult to break into the first team he joined Falkirk in January 2006.[1]

Craig moved to St. Johnstone on a month's loan in December 2007[2] and scored on his home debut against Livingston. He then signed on loan until the end of the season with the Saints and then signed on a permanent basis in July 2008.[3] A transfer tribunal ruled that Saints would pay Falkirk £25,000 for his services, with a further £12,000 if the club is promoted to the SPL during his time at McDiarmid Park and also 25% of any future transfer received by Saints from another club.[4] Craig has made over 200 appearances for St. Johnstone.[5] In his last game for St. Johnstone, Craig scored a goal which would help seal third position in the Scottish Premier League and qualification for the 2013–14 UEFA Europa League.[6]

Craig signed a pre-contract agreement with Hibernian in January 2013.[5][7] He scored his first goal for Hibs on 24 August, scoring twice in a 2–1 victory against Kilmarnock.[8] Craig scored his first ever career hat-trick on 24 September, in a 2013–14 Scottish League Cup tie against Stranraer.[9] Craig was appointed Hibs captain in November 2013 by new manager Terry Butcher.[10] Shortly after this, on 2 January 2014, Craig scored the winner in the Edinburgh derby against city rivals Hearts from the penalty spot.[11]

Career statistics

As of 06:28, 3 March 2015 (UTC)[12]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Falkirk 2005–06 160300000190
2006–07 272114100324
2007–08 6000100070
Total 492415100584
St. Johnstone
(loan)
2007–08 192520000244
St. Johnstone 2008–09 345102100376
2009–10 3181240003610
2010–11 345512000416
2011–12 367302000417
2012–13 377202120438
Total 191341751222022241
Hibernian 2013–14 346202340429
2014–15 191212010242
Total 5374143506611
Career Total 292432572167034556

Honours

Ipswich Town

References

  1. "Falkirk sign youth, list Glennon". BBC Sport. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  2. "St Johnstone seal Craig loan deal". 14 December 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
  3. "Falkirk's Craig to stay a Saint". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  4. "FEE SET FOR LIAM TRANSFER". St Johnstone FC. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "St Johnstone's Liam Craig agrees summer switch to Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  6. Ralston, Gary (20 May 2013). "St Johnstone 2 Motherwell 0: Liam Craig hands Saints the perfect parting gift as goal helps seal Euro spot". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  7. "Transfer Update". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  8. "Hibernian: Pat Fenlon reckons Liam Craig is finding form". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  9. Gordon, Moira (24 September 2013). "Hibernian 5–3 Stranraer: Liam Craig hat-trick". The Scotsman (Johnston Publishing). Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  10. "Football – Craig ready to lead Hibs on". Yahoo! Eurosport. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  11. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25516816
  12. Liam Craig career statistics at Soccerbase

External links