Matt Holland

Matthew Rhys "Matt" Holland (born April 11, 1974 in Bury, England) is an Irish people football (soccer) currently playing for Charlton Athletic F.C. in the Football League Championship.

Club career

Initially rejected by Arsenal F.C. for being 'too small' he went to West Ham United F.C. where he moved up the ranks of the academy but never played for the first team. In order to gain first team football, he joined South Coast side A.F.C. Bournemouth in January 1995. He played a total of 116 games scoring 18 goals whilst at Dean Court, and also became captain (football).

In the summer of 1997, Holland joined for a fee of £800,000. He again became team captain and
captained the club into the Premier League by winning the Football League First Division play-offs in 2000. He later captained the club to surprise fifth place finish and qualification for the UEFA Cup in 2001, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the country. Though Ipswich were relegated in 2002 he stayed with the club after he turned down a £4.5 million move to . His spell at Ipswich is most remembered for the consistency he showed, after playing 223 consecutive games and only missing one league match (due to international duty) in the six years he was at Portman Road.

After Ipswich failed to win promotion in 2003, Holland moved back to the Premier League by joining for an initial £750,000 fee which later rose to £900,000. Again with this move he assumed the captain's armband and was ever present in his first season for the club. One of the longest-serving, he stars claimed more than half the entire vote to overwhelmingly succeed 2007 Fans' Player of the Year Scott Carson, who became the first ever loan player to win the trophy last season.

International career

Although born in England, he qualifies to play for Ireland through his grandmother and went with Republic of Ireland national football team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup scoring the equaliser against Cameroon national football team in their opening game. Ireland were eliminated from this tournament in a Second Round penalty shootout against Spain national football team and Holland was selected to take a penalty.

Following Ireland's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he announced his retirement from international football in early February 2006 having made 49 appearances bagging 5 goals.

Media career

He was one of several players and managers (including Danny Mills and Paul Jewell) who acted as summarisers for BBC Radio Five Live during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Holland has also appeared on the BBC television program A Question of Sport.