Christian Dailly

Christian Edward Dailly (born October 23 1973 in Dundee, Scotland), is a Scottish professional football (soccer) player. He currently plays for FA Premier League side West Ham United F.C. and is a key player for the Scotland national football team national team. He is a versatile player, often seen in defence or defensive midfield, but has played in most outfield positions during his career. Unlike most modern footballers he does not have an agent and negotiates deals on his own behalf.

Club career

Dundee United

On 2 August 1990, Dailly signed professional terms with Dundee United, aged sixteen years old. He became the youngest-ever player to appear for Dundee United when he made his first-team debut on 21 August 1990. Playing as a striker and scoring in each of his first three games, Dailly quickly shot to prominence, making his Scotland national under-21 football team debut just a month later. In his debut season, Dailly managed five goals in eighteen appearances. His debut season would become his most prolific, and the 1991-92 season brought just eight games with no goals. In the 1992-93 season, Dailly scored four from fourteen appearances and firmly established himself as a regular in the 1993/94 season with 38 league appearances, and not only another four goals, but also the Scottish Cup, when his shot rebounded off the post for Craig Brewster to score the only goal against Rangers F.C..

The 1994-95 in Scottish football season ended in disappointment with relegation, with yet another four goals from 33 games. In 1995-96 in Scottish football, Dailly was firmly established as a central defender, and scored just once in 30 appearances. It was an important goal though, as it ensured United drew the away leg of the short-lived league-playoff against Partick Thistle F.C., and subsequently won the home leg to gain promotion at the first opportunity. This proved to be Dailly's final moment, as he joined Derby County in August 1996 for £500,000, with a further £500,000 payable dependent on his international career (which was paid).

Derby County

Dailly joined Derby County at the start of the 1996-97 in English football season, following Derby's promotion to the Premier League. In his debut English season, Dailly missed just two games, with his 3 goals helping Derby to 12th place and six points clear of relegation. In the 1997-98 in English football season, Dailly made 30 appearances and scored once; Derby fared even better, with the club finishing 9th and just two points from European football. In 1998-99 in English football, Dailly played just once, ironically against Blackburn Rovers, the club he was then transferred to.

Blackburn Rovers

Dailly joined Rovers in August 1998 for £5.35m but a tumultuous season followed with Dailly not finding a settled position and an injury meaning he played just seventeen times. To make matters worse, Rovers were relegated from the Premier League as Dailly suffered relegation for the second time in his career. In the First Division, Dailly appeared 43 times in a hectic 1999-00 in English football season, which saw him score 4 goals. However, he fell out of favour with new boss Graeme Souness and in January 2001, after making just nine apparances that season, Dailly left for West Ham United in a £1.75m deal and returned to the Premier League.

West Ham United

Dailly currently plays for West Ham United and has been at Upton Park since January 2001, following his £1.75m move from Blackburn Rovers. He made twelve appearances, helping the Hammers to 12th place. The following season, Dailly played every game as West Ham finished in 7th place. 2002-03 in English football proved to be a low point, as Daily suffered relegation for a third time. Playing 26 times, West Ham were relegated with the highest number of points since the 1995-96 change to 20 teams - 42.

In 2003-04 in English football, Dailly scored 3 times from 43 games as West Ham failed to win promotion. Injury prevented Dailly from the majority of West Ham's promotion-winning 2004-05 in English football season, although he returned to make cameo appearances in both playoff semi-final legs and the final. He signed a new deal with West Ham in June 2005. Dailly appeared as a substitute for West Ham in their 2006 FA Cup Final defeat to Liverpool F.C., coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute. Despite being 2-0 ahead, West Ham lost on penalties, although Dailly was not involved. Had West Ham won, Dailly would have become one of few players to win both the Scottish Cup and FA Cup, after Dundee United's Scottish Cup win in 1994. He is the current longest serving West Ham United player.

Statistics

Correct as of 1 September 2007

International career

Dailly has played many times for Scotland, at both under-21 and senior level.

Under-21 level

On 11 September 1990, Dailly made his Scotland under-21 debut aged 16, against Romania national football team at Easter Road and became the youngest player to appear for his country at that level. By the time Dailly was too old to continue playing at this level, he had received 34 caps, a world record for appearances at under-21 level.

Senior level

Dailly made his full international debut in May 1997, aged 23, in a 1-0 defeat against Wales national football team.

Dailly's first goal came in just his second match, and just four days after his international debut, when his early goal helped Scotland to a 3-2 away victory over Malta national football team in a friendly match.

Dailly was famously caught unawares after Germany's 2-1 defeat of Scotland on 10 September 2003. He returned to the dressing room after the match shouting, "Cheats! F- - - ing cheats! F- - - ing diving cheats!" Unfortunately, the outburst was being broadcast live on BBC Scotland as then Scotland manager Berti Vogts was being interviewed by Chick Young. The player would have remained anonymous had it not been for Vogts shouting "Christian!" mid-interview to stop the tirade.

Statistics

Correct as of 1 September 2007

Honours

- Scottish Cup
- - Winner (1): 1993-94 in Scottish football

- FA Cup
- - Runner-up (1): 2005-06 in English football