Tyrone Mears

Tyrone Mears (born February 18, 1983 in Stockport, England) is a professional English football (soccer) player who currently plays as a right-back for Olympique de Marseille (on loan from Derby County F.C.). His previous clubs include Manchester City F.C., Preston North End F.C. and West Ham United F.C..

Club career

Manchester City

Mears came through the ranks at Manchester City F.C. and signed trainee forms in August 2001. Mears only made one appearance for City, replacing Stuart Pearce as a substitute in the 84-minute against Nottingham Forest F.C. in March 2002. On Manchester City's promotion to the FA Premier League in 2002, Mears' first-team opportunities became limited and he was sold to Preston North End F.C..

Preston North End

Mears joined Preston in July 2002 for a fee of £200,000. He made his debut for Preston as a substitute in a 3-3 draw with Walsall in October 2002 and went on to make a total of 24 league and cup appearances in the 2002-03 season as Preston finished in mid-table of the Football League Championship. Despite his long-term injury, he was offered and signed a further three-year contract in March 2005, saying "I was out for 10 months so you worry about what is going to happen to you. You need to be in the team but Preston have been very good to me and I can't speak more highly of the manager. Last season to get the stress fracture was very hard but that's all behind me now and I'm looking forward to a fresh start with a three-year deal."

West Ham United

Mears signed for West Ham for an initial £1 million in July 2006, rising to £1.9 million depending on appearances and possible future international recognition with England national football team.

Derby County

With his opportunities in the West Ham first-team limited, he was allowed to join Derby County F.C. on loan until the end of the 2006-07 season in January 2007. Derby manager, Billy Davies, who had managed Mears at his previous club, Preston, said of him, ""He is a very attacking full-back with excellent pace who adds great competition. Ideally we would like to make this deal permanent in the summer." and went on to make a total of 17 league and cup appearances Mears then joined Derby permanently for £1 million in July 2007, signing a three-year contract. Manager Billy Davies said, ""We're delighted with this deal. Tye is a very good young full back with excellent pace and potential. We need him for the challenge ahead and I know he is committed to working hard." Mears scored his first goal for Derby against Leeds United in a 2-0 win on the last day of the 06/07 season. Mears scored his second goal for Derby in April 2008 against his former club West Ham.

Olympique de Marseille

On August 29 2008 Mears caused controversy when he flew to France to go on trial with Olympique de Marseille without the express permission of Derby manager Paul Jewell. Jewell responded, saying that Mears will never play for the club again whilst he is in charge.Mears was fined six weeks by County for going on the trial with Marseille, a fee of less than £75,000. Mears was given six weeks in which to appeal the punishment. Following the trial, the clubs agreed that Mears would go on loan to Marseille for the duration of the 2008/09 season, for a loan fee of £160,000, with the French club having the option to buy him for £1.5m at the end of the loan.