Andy Reid

Andrew Matthew "Andy" Reid (born 29 July 1982) is a professional Association football who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Sunderland A.F.C.. He started with youth clubs Lourdes Celtic and Cherry Orchard F.C.. He began his professional career with Nottingham Forest and played 144 games, scoring 21 goals. He moved to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in 2005, where he scored one goal in 26 appearances. In 2006, he joined Charlton Athletic F.C., and played 38 games and scored 8 goals. In 2008, he joined Sunderland. He has represented his country at both Senior and Under-21 level.

Personal life

Reid was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. He started his footballing career with Irish youth clubs - Lourdes Celtic and Cherry Orchard F.C.. He turned down Manchester United F.C. and Arsenal F.C. to sign for Nottingham Forest F.C..
He has often been criticised for being overweight, but Les Reed (football coach) claimed that he was one of the fittest on show at a game against Everton F.C., Reed said "He is fit. You have only got to look at the amount of running he was doing and how he was still going at the end to see that".

Playing career

Nottingham Forest

Reid started his career with Nottingham Forest F.C., after joining from Cherry Orchard F.C., which would mean that Cherry Orchard would receive money from the move.
In the 2001–02 season Reid failed to score a goal although playing in 31 games.

He scored a goal against Sheffield United F.C. in the Football League Championship playoffs 2003 on 15 May, 2003, where Nottingham Forest lost the match 4–3, and 5–4 on Two-legged match. He scored two goals in the 3–1 win over Coventry City F.C. on 27 August, 2003.
Reid scored 13 goals in the 2003–04 season, finishing as Nottingham Forest's top scorer for the season, he was also name in the PFA_Team of the Year 2004.
During his time at Nottingham Forest, Reid was described as one of the most talented midfielders playing in the Football League at that time. He was listed as a Legend of Nottingham Forest.
Reid went on to score 21 goals in 144 appearances. He made his debut in a 3–1 win over Portsmouth F.C. on 5 February, 2005, and Martin Jol said "Andy Reid also did well on his debut, and you worry a bit how new players will cope with the Premiership".

Reid scored his first goal for Tottenham against Aston Villa F.C. in a 5–1 win on 1 May, 2005. He scored just one goal in 26 games, but started in 20 of the games.

Charlton Athletic

Reid joined Charlton Athletic F.C. for a fee of around £3 million on 16 August 2006. He scored his first goal for Charlton against Everton F.C. on 25 November, 2006. Following the Everton match, Charlton manager Les Reed (football coach) labelled Reid as being similar to Ferenc Puskás who was part of the famous Golden Team.
"The captain Andy Reid was brilliant, he was driving us on all night", Alan Pardew said about his performance. Reid also explained that he wanted Sunderland to be challenging for European places, and will not be happy fighting relagation season-after-season.

He made his debut on 9 February, 2008 against Wigan Athletic F.C., coming on as a 74th minute substitute and assisted Daryl Murphy by playing a cross field pass for him to score a goal on 9 February, 2008.
Reid scored his first goal for Sunderland on 29 March, 2008 in a 2–1 win over West Ham United F.C., his 95th minute volley earned Sunderland their first back-to-back Premier League victories since December 2001.

International career

Reid was part of the team that won the U16 Nordic Cup in August 1998 and scored in the final win over England

He also scored a consolation goal in a 2–1 friendly defeat by Italy national football team on 17 August, 2005. He also opened up the scoring in the last game at Lansdowne Road before redevelopment, a game in which Ireland won 5–0 against San Marino national football team on 15 November, 2006. He provided an assist with a low through ball for Robbie Keane in a 4–0 victory against Denmark national football team in a friendly on 22 August, 2007.

Reid believes that ex-Republic of Ireland national football team manager, Steve Staunton, should not have been sacked, the midfielder explained, "I do not believe they should have done it. I believe he should have been given more time".

International goals