Tony Capaldi

Anthony Charles "Tony" Capaldi (born 12 August 1981 in Porsgrunn, Telemark) is a Norway-born Northern Ireland football (soccer) player currently playing for Cardiff City F.C. as a Defender (football).

Club career

Capaldi began his career at Birmingham City F.C. where he came through the youth ranks as a trainee. During his time at Birmingham he spent time on loan at Hereford United F.C. before signing for Plymouth Argyle near the end of the Plymouth Argyle F.C. season 2001-02 without making a first team appearance for Birmingham.

Capaldi was forced to sit out for much of the first part of the Plymouth Argyle F.C. season 2004-05 after breaking a leg during a game but in December 2004 he signed a two year extension to his contract, extending his career with Plymouth until June 2007. During his time at Plymouth he was never a favourite with the fans, despite being a consistent performer during his time there, and often received verbal abuse from them during matches.

Capaldi rejected a new contract with Plymouth and on 25 May 2007 he signed a three-year contract with Cardiff City, joining on a Bosman free transfer. Capaldi began the season as first choice left back but after struggling to perform consistently found himself dropped from the side, being replaced by Chris Gunter. Following the sale of Gunter on 1 January, he returned to the first team squad and began to settle more comfortably into the side, including playing in all 6 of the clubs matches on their run to the 2008 FA Cup Final.

The start of the 2008-09 season saw Capaldi sidelined due to a knee problem. After sitting out the first fortnight of the season, he reutrned to first team action on 26 August in a 2-1 Carling Cup victory over Milton Keynes Dons F.C., only for him to sufer a recurrence of the problem.

International career

Capaldi has represented Northern Ireland national football team at senior level making his debut in March 2004 in a 1–0 victory over Estonia national football team and also played in their famous 1–0 victory over England in September 2005. Capaldi broke the record for international appearances made by an Argyle player when he was awarded his 21st cap in a friendly against Wales national football team. In doing so he beat the 80-year old record of Welshman Moses Russell.