Dion Dublin
Encyclopedia
Dion Dublin is a retired English
footballer. He was capped
four times for England
. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City
, but made his name at Cambridge United
as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an accomplished defender
. He had spells with Norwich City (twice), Cambridge United, Manchester United
, Coventry City
, Millwall
, Aston Villa
, Leicester City
and Celtic
.
Away from football, Dublin is also an accomplished amateur percussionist. He invented a percussion instrument, which he called "The Dube", and in 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene
in a gig at the University of East Anglia
, in Norwich
.
via the play-offs, when Dublin became the first ever scorer in a Wembley play-off final. In 1990–91 the club were champions of the Third Division
, and the club also reached the sixth round of the FA Cup
in both seasons, with Dublin scoring at Arsenal
in 1991. In 1991–92, he played a big part in helping Cambridge to their highest ever finishing position in the football league, by finishing in fifth place in the last ever season of the old Second Division, but when Cambridge failed to win promotion to the top flight via the play-offs Dublin was put up for sale. He has since spoken many times of his affection for Cambridge United.
signed him for £1million on 7 August 1992, fighting off competition from Chelsea
and Everton
. Dublin was something of a surprise purchase for United, after Ferguson had tried to sign Alan Shearer
from Southampton
but lost out to Blackburn Rovers
.
Dublin scored in the fourth Premier League game of the 1992–93 season, a last minute winner in United's first Premier league victory – 1–0 over Southampton at The Dell. However, on 2 September he suffered a broken leg against Crystal Palace
in a 1–0 win at Old Trafford
, after a tackle by Eric Young
, and was out of action for six months. By the time he had recovered, however, United had signed Eric Cantona
and the Frenchman
was firmly established as first choice strike partner to Mark Hughes
. United won the league that season for the first time since 1967, but Dublin failed to make the 10 Premier League appearances required to automatically gain a title winner's medal. However, he was given a medal as a result of special dispensation from the Premier League, meaning goalkeeper Les Sealey
was the only major first team player not to get a medal.
In 1993–94, Dublin regained his fitness but his first team chances were restricted by the excellent form of Eric Cantona
. In December 1993, Ferguson agreed a deal with Everton
manager Howard Kendall
that would have seen Dublin moving to Goodison Park
, but a member of Everton's board of directors, apparently feeling that Dublin was not worth the money Kendall had offered United, intervened to prevent the transfer going through – this incident led directly to Kendall's resignation as Everton manager and Dublin ended up staying at Old Trafford
until the end of the season.
He managed five league appearances that season, scoring once in a 3–2 home win over Oldham Athletic
in early April. He also managed a further goal in the Football League Cup
second round first leg as United were beaten 2–1 by Stoke City
at the Victoria Ground
. The goal against Oldham would be the only competitive goal that Dublin would score for United at Old Trafford. He was left out of the FA Cup
winning team and failed to make enough appearances to merit another Premier League title winners medal and soon after the end of the season he was sold to Coventry City for £2million.
Following Phil Neal's departure in 1995, the arrival of Ron Atkinson
and Gordon Strachan
would see Dublin fit into an attacking team in the typical Atkinson mould. It included the likes of Noel Whelan
, John Salako
and Darren Huckerby
to add to the already attack minded Peter Ndlovu
. The addition of Gary McAllister
, following Euro 96, should have provided mid table stability but the teams defensive frailties often undermined Dublin's scoring at the other end. This culminated in possibly one of the greatest escapes in Premiership history in May 1997. Sitting second from bottom, Coventry City needed favourable results elsewhere whilst needing an away win at White Hart Lane. This game followed on from an away win at Anfield (Dublin scoring in the dying seconds) and a home win against Chelsea. But at Tottenham Hotspur that afternoon, cheered on by a large travelling contingent of Sky Blues faithful, Dublin scored in the first half before Paul Williams
netted to secure an unlikely 2–1 win. The game reached a nerve racking climax which included a memorable late save from City keeper Steve Ogrizovic
. The following season however, the Sky Blues enjoyed an impressive home record and at long last a season of mid table security. Dublin formed a dynamic partnership with Darren Huckerby
which not only produced some memorable goals but also propelled the Sky Blues to the FA Cup Quarter Final against Sheffield United; a game they narrowly lost in a penalty shoot out. The 1997/98 season also saw Dublin share elite status as the Premier League's top scorer with Blackburn's
Chris Sutton
and Liverpool's
Michael Owen
– each Englishman scoring 18 league goals. During this season, Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson
tabled a bid which Dublin rejected. He remained at Highfield Road
and contributed to Coventry's best finish to date in the Premiership (11th). Despite Dion Dublin's fantastic form he was not included in England's 1998 World Cup Squad.
Although many people saw the eventual sale of Robbie Keane
in 2000 as the principal catalyst in Coventry City's 2001 relegation, the goalscoring deficit left by the sale of Dion Dublin is often overlooked. His ability to score over 15 goals per season, often in tightly contested relegation battles, was to prove irreplaceable. His transfer to Aston Villa caused some rancour amongst City fans, who suggested a lack of loyalty from the No.9, he was jeered by Coventry fans when Aston Villa played against Coventry during 1998/1999 season but today memories have mellowed and no City fan would deny the enormous contribution that Dion Dublin made to the club's fortunes. No other Coventry City player has scored more goals for the Sky Blues in England's top division.
squad. However, his exploits at club level were still attracting significant attention and in the autumn of 1998 he chose to move to Coventry's arch-rivals Aston Villa for £5.75m. In his first 4 games for the club, he would score 7 goals including a memorable hat-trick against Southampton in only his second game for the Villans. As a result, he is one of only six players to score in the first four consecutive games for a club. In December 1999 whilst playing for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday
, he sustained a life threatening broken neck as a result of which he permanently has a titanium
plate holding three neck vertebrae together. In April 2000, a week after returning to the team, he helped Aston Villa reach their first FA Cup final in 43 years (which they lost 1–0 to Chelsea
) scoring a penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Bolton Wanderers
. Having regained his fitness, Dublin remained on the Villa Park
payroll until 2002. Faced with competition for a first team place by Juan Pablo Ángel
and Peter Crouch
, Dublin spent several weeks on loan at First Division Millwall
. In his time there, he scored two goals (against Stockport County and Grimsby) in five league matches to help them in to the play offs where despite Dublin's goal in the first leg of the semi final, Millwall lost to Birmingham City 2–1 on aggregate. Returning to Villa, he found himself again a first choice striker, partnering Darius Vassell
up front. Dublin was sent off at Villa Park for a headbutt on Robbie Savage
in the Birmingham derby
match, which ended 2–0 to Birmingham City.
. In his first season with the club, he scored only four goals in 38 competitive matches. During the 2005–06 season, Dublin lost his place as the team's main striker, but continued to appear as a defender. His contract at Leicester City was terminated by mutual consent on 30 January 2006.
, to cover for the loss of Chris Sutton
, on a contract until the end of the season. At Celtic, Dublin achieved double success, with Scottish League Cup
and Scottish Premier League
winner's medals. He came on as a sub and scored the final goal as Celtic won the Scottish League Cup final, and also played enough matches with Celtic to merit a title medal. In the league, he made three league starts and eight substitute appearances for Celtic, scoring once against Kilmarnock. Despite one or two decent performances for the Parkhead outift, Dublin was released by manager Gordon Strachan
.
On 20 September 2006, Norwich City announced that Dublin had joined them until the end of the 2006–07 season. It marked a return, almost 20 years after leaving, for Dublin to the club where he began his career. He made his debut on 23 September 2006 when he came on as substitute against Plymouth Argyle
. He scored his first competitive goal in Norwich City colours in a 3–3 draw against Queens Park Rangers
on 14 October 2006 at Loftus Road
. Steve Wilson
cited Dublin as the main inspiration behind Norwich
's 4–1 FA Cup 3rd Round win at Tamworth, in which the striker scored two goals and set up numerous chances for other team mates. Dublin was an important figure in Norwich securing safety from relegation to League One and the supporters recognised his contribution by voting him in second place in the Norwich City player of the year
award, and on 23 May 2007 he ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract at Norwich, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2007–08 season. On 2 September 2007, Dublin, whilst a pundit on the Aston Villa v Chelsea
game, said that this season would be his last as a footballer, citing the fact that his 'bones have started to talk to him' as the reason, meaning that he did not think his body can handle another season.
During Spring 2008, Dublin was approached by Jimmy Quinn, then manager of Cambridge United, about joining his old club for the 2008–09 season. However, the player would not change his mind about retiring. He was voted the club's Player of the Year and awarded the Barry Butler trophy on 26 April 2008 in his final season as a footballer, at his penultimate game, and on his final appearance at Carrow Road
. Dublin played his final game on 4 May 2008, featuring in Norwich's 4–1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday in front of 36,208 fans at Hillsborough
– the highest Championship
attendance that season. When he was taken off in the 66th minute, Dublin received a standing ovation from both sets of supporters, players and referee Mark Clattenburg
.
in 1998. Despite his excellent form at the time (where he finished joint Premier League top scorer alongside Michael Owen
with 23 goals), he was surprisingly omitted from England's squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
.
. As well as appearing on Ford Super Sunday
with Richard Keys
, Dublin has done commentary on a number of games including the UEFA Champions League
games with Martin Tyler
. He has also been a member of the panel on BBC Radio 5 Live
's Fighting Talk. He has also co-presented 6-0-6
on BBC Radio 5 Live, Match of the Day 2 and is also a regular on BBC 1's late kickoff in the Anglia region. Dion is also a Jager Bomb aficionado and Mojito ninja.
a form of Caj%C3%B3n. The Dube is already being used in schools and even by the Royal Shakespeare company
. In 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene
during a gig at the University of East Anglia
.
Aston Villa
Celtic
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
four times for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. Dublin started his career as a centre back with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, but made his name at Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
as a goal-scoring centre forward. However, in his later years he showed his versatility by becoming an accomplished defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He had spells with Norwich City (twice), Cambridge United, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
.
Away from football, Dublin is also an accomplished amateur percussionist. He invented a percussion instrument, which he called "The Dube", and in 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
in a gig at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
.
Norwich City
Whilst at school in Leicestershire, Dublin played for Wigston Fields; the local team in a small South Leicester Town. Dublin then went on to begin his professional footballing career with Norwich City after leaving school in 1985, but he never made a first team appearance and was released from the club in 1988.Cambridge United
He then signed for Cambridge United as a centre-half, which had been his position at Norwich. However, his new club recognised that Dublin had greater potential as a striker. United's then manager (Chris Turner) and assistant manager (John Beck) have both since claimed sole credit for spotting Dublin's ability as a striker. Whoever was responsible, very soon his prolific goalscoring helped United to successive promotions. During the 1988–89 Dublin was then loaned out for a short spell to Barnet. The 1989–90 season saw Cambridge promoted from the FourthFootball League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
via the play-offs, when Dublin became the first ever scorer in a Wembley play-off final. In 1990–91 the club were champions of the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, and the club also reached the sixth round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in both seasons, with Dublin scoring at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1991. In 1991–92, he played a big part in helping Cambridge to their highest ever finishing position in the football league, by finishing in fifth place in the last ever season of the old Second Division, but when Cambridge failed to win promotion to the top flight via the play-offs Dublin was put up for sale. He has since spoken many times of his affection for Cambridge United.
Manchester United
Having seen Dublin in a cup tie, Manchester United manager Alex FergusonAlex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
signed him for £1million on 7 August 1992, fighting off competition from Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. Dublin was something of a surprise purchase for United, after Ferguson had tried to sign Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
but lost out to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
Dublin scored in the fourth Premier League game of the 1992–93 season, a last minute winner in United's first Premier league victory – 1–0 over Southampton at The Dell. However, on 2 September he suffered a broken leg against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in a 1–0 win at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, after a tackle by Eric Young
Eric Young (footballer)
Eric Young is a Welsh retired footballer, who was a strong, commanding centre half nicknamed "Ninja" due to his ever-present brown headband....
, and was out of action for six months. By the time he had recovered, however, United had signed Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
and the Frenchman
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
was firmly established as first choice strike partner to Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
. United won the league that season for the first time since 1967, but Dublin failed to make the 10 Premier League appearances required to automatically gain a title winner's medal. However, he was given a medal as a result of special dispensation from the Premier League, meaning goalkeeper Les Sealey
Les Sealey
Leslie Jesse "Les" Sealey was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for, among others, Coventry City, Luton Town, Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Ham United...
was the only major first team player not to get a medal.
In 1993–94, Dublin regained his fitness but his first team chances were restricted by the excellent form of Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
. In December 1993, Ferguson agreed a deal with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
manager Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall
Howard Kendall is an English football manager and former player. He is most famous for his connection to Everton, a club that he both played for and managed. His uncle Harry Taylor played for Newcastle United and Fulham in the 1950s....
that would have seen Dublin moving to Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, but a member of Everton's board of directors, apparently feeling that Dublin was not worth the money Kendall had offered United, intervened to prevent the transfer going through – this incident led directly to Kendall's resignation as Everton manager and Dublin ended up staying at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
until the end of the season.
He managed five league appearances that season, scoring once in a 3–2 home win over Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in early April. He also managed a further goal in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
second round first leg as United were beaten 2–1 by Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
at the Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground
Victoria Ground may refer to:*Victoria Ground, the former name of Hartlepool United’s ground Victoria Park.*Victoria Ground, Stoke City’s ground from 1878 to 1997.*Victoria Ground, current home of Bromsgrove Rovers...
. The goal against Oldham would be the only competitive goal that Dublin would score for United at Old Trafford. He was left out of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winning team and failed to make enough appearances to merit another Premier League title winners medal and soon after the end of the season he was sold to Coventry City for £2million.
Coventry City
In four-and-a-half years with Coventry, Dublin established himself as one of the Premier League's top strikers and during the 1997–98 season won the first of his four England full caps. That season, he equalled the Coventry City record for most goals in a top division season with 23 goals in all competitions.Following Phil Neal's departure in 1995, the arrival of Ron Atkinson
Ron Atkinson
Ronald Ernest Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and "Bojangles" is an English former football player and manager. In recent years he has become one of Britain's best-known football pundits...
and Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
would see Dublin fit into an attacking team in the typical Atkinson mould. It included the likes of Noel Whelan
Noel Whelan
Noel Whelan is a former English professional footballer who last played for Darlington. He has previously played for a number of league clubs including Leeds United, Coventry City and Middlesbrough...
, John Salako
John Salako
John Salako is an English former professional football player who played for a variety of clubs and has also represented England at senior level. He was a part of the Crystal Palace team which reached the 1990 FA Cup Final. A severe knee injury sustained against Leeds United in 1991 put him out...
and Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...
to add to the already attack minded Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean footballer, who plays as a striker.-Coventry City:Ndlovu was originally spotted by John Sillett, prior to his official signing from Highlanders by Terry Butcher in July 1991...
. The addition of Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister MBE is a Scottish former professional footballer.McAllister played primarily as a midfielder, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell before moving south of the border to Leicester City at the age of 20...
, following Euro 96, should have provided mid table stability but the teams defensive frailties often undermined Dublin's scoring at the other end. This culminated in possibly one of the greatest escapes in Premiership history in May 1997. Sitting second from bottom, Coventry City needed favourable results elsewhere whilst needing an away win at White Hart Lane. This game followed on from an away win at Anfield (Dublin scoring in the dying seconds) and a home win against Chelsea. But at Tottenham Hotspur that afternoon, cheered on by a large travelling contingent of Sky Blues faithful, Dublin scored in the first half before Paul Williams
Paul Williams (footballer born 1971)
Paul Darren Williams is an English professional footballer who was an unused substitute for Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup final, and played for long periods for Coventry City and Derby County...
netted to secure an unlikely 2–1 win. The game reached a nerve racking climax which included a memorable late save from City keeper Steve Ogrizovic
Steve Ogrizovic
Steven "Oggy" Ogrizovic is a former English goalkeeper who achieved fame during 16 years at Coventry City...
. The following season however, the Sky Blues enjoyed an impressive home record and at long last a season of mid table security. Dublin formed a dynamic partnership with Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby
Darren Huckerby is a former English footballer who played as a forward.-Early career:Huckerby was born in Nottingham, England. His mother is of partial Georgian descent. Huckerby started playing professionally for Lincoln City, before signing for Newcastle United in a £400,000 deal in 1995...
which not only produced some memorable goals but also propelled the Sky Blues to the FA Cup Quarter Final against Sheffield United; a game they narrowly lost in a penalty shoot out. The 1997/98 season also saw Dublin share elite status as the Premier League's top scorer with Blackburn's
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
and Liverpool's
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
– each Englishman scoring 18 league goals. During this season, Blackburn manager Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson is a former English footballer and current head coach of West Bromwich Albion.Hodgson, who has managed sixteen different teams in eight countries, guided the Switzerland national team to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup and qualification for Euro 1996; Switzerland had not qualified...
tabled a bid which Dublin rejected. He remained at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
and contributed to Coventry's best finish to date in the Premiership (11th). Despite Dion Dublin's fantastic form he was not included in England's 1998 World Cup Squad.
Although many people saw the eventual sale of Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
in 2000 as the principal catalyst in Coventry City's 2001 relegation, the goalscoring deficit left by the sale of Dion Dublin is often overlooked. His ability to score over 15 goals per season, often in tightly contested relegation battles, was to prove irreplaceable. His transfer to Aston Villa caused some rancour amongst City fans, who suggested a lack of loyalty from the No.9, he was jeered by Coventry fans when Aston Villa played against Coventry during 1998/1999 season but today memories have mellowed and no City fan would deny the enormous contribution that Dion Dublin made to the club's fortunes. No other Coventry City player has scored more goals for the Sky Blues in England's top division.
Aston Villa
Despite finishing as the Premier League's joint top scorer during for 1997–98 season, Dublin was controversially excluded from the England 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
squad. However, his exploits at club level were still attracting significant attention and in the autumn of 1998 he chose to move to Coventry's arch-rivals Aston Villa for £5.75m. In his first 4 games for the club, he would score 7 goals including a memorable hat-trick against Southampton in only his second game for the Villans. As a result, he is one of only six players to score in the first four consecutive games for a club. In December 1999 whilst playing for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, he sustained a life threatening broken neck as a result of which he permanently has a titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
plate holding three neck vertebrae together. In April 2000, a week after returning to the team, he helped Aston Villa reach their first FA Cup final in 43 years (which they lost 1–0 to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
) scoring a penalty in the semi-final shoot-out with Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. Having regained his fitness, Dublin remained on the Villa Park
Villa Park, England
Villa Park is an association football stadium in the district of Witton, Birmingham, England with a seating capacity of 42,786. It has been the home of Aston Villa Football Club since 1897. The team previously played at Aston Park from 1874 to 1876 and Perry Barr from 1876 to 1897...
payroll until 2002. Faced with competition for a first team place by Juan Pablo Ángel
Juan Pablo Ángel
Juan Pablo Ángel Arango is a Colombian footballer. He currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Atlético Nacional and River Plate:...
and Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch
Peter James Crouch is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Stoke City and the England national team.Crouch started his career as a trainee with Tottenham Hotspur...
, Dublin spent several weeks on loan at First Division Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. In his time there, he scored two goals (against Stockport County and Grimsby) in five league matches to help them in to the play offs where despite Dublin's goal in the first leg of the semi final, Millwall lost to Birmingham City 2–1 on aggregate. Returning to Villa, he found himself again a first choice striker, partnering Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell is an English footballer who plays for Championship side Leicester City, having previously played for Aston Villa, Manchester City and Ankaragücü, as well as the England national team....
up front. Dublin was sent off at Villa Park for a headbutt on Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage
Robert William "Robbie" Savage is a football pundit and former Welsh professional footballer who played predominantly as a midfielder. During his career he captained Derby County, and also played for the Welsh national team. He now presents 606 on BBC Radio Five Live on Sunday evenings alongside...
in the Birmingham derby
Birmingham derby
In English football, the Second City derby is the local derby between the two major clubs in the city of Birmingham, England – Aston Villa and Birmingham City....
match, which ended 2–0 to Birmingham City.
Leicester City
When his contract expired in the summer of 2004, he was given a free transfer. He was signed by Leicester City, who had been relegated from the Premier League to the ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. In his first season with the club, he scored only four goals in 38 competitive matches. During the 2005–06 season, Dublin lost his place as the team's main striker, but continued to appear as a defender. His contract at Leicester City was terminated by mutual consent on 30 January 2006.
Celtic
He was snapped up quickly by Celtic Manager Gordon StrachanGordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
, to cover for the loss of Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
, on a contract until the end of the season. At Celtic, Dublin achieved double success, with Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
winner's medals. He came on as a sub and scored the final goal as Celtic won the Scottish League Cup final, and also played enough matches with Celtic to merit a title medal. In the league, he made three league starts and eight substitute appearances for Celtic, scoring once against Kilmarnock. Despite one or two decent performances for the Parkhead outift, Dublin was released by manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
.
Norwich City (second spell)
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He scored his first competitive goal in Norwich City colours in a 3–3 draw against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 14 October 2006 at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
. Steve Wilson
Steve Wilson (Football commentator)
Steve Wilson is a British football commentator, currently working on the BBC's Match of the Day programme.Wilson previously worked on BBC Radio Five Live and before that at Capital Gold Sport in London where he was number two commentator to now BBC colleague Jonathan Pearce.-Early and personal...
cited Dublin as the main inspiration behind Norwich
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
's 4–1 FA Cup 3rd Round win at Tamworth, in which the striker scored two goals and set up numerous chances for other team mates. Dublin was an important figure in Norwich securing safety from relegation to League One and the supporters recognised his contribution by voting him in second place in the Norwich City player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
award, and on 23 May 2007 he ended speculation about his future by signing a new one-year contract at Norwich, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2007–08 season. On 2 September 2007, Dublin, whilst a pundit on the Aston Villa v Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
game, said that this season would be his last as a footballer, citing the fact that his 'bones have started to talk to him' as the reason, meaning that he did not think his body can handle another season.
During Spring 2008, Dublin was approached by Jimmy Quinn, then manager of Cambridge United, about joining his old club for the 2008–09 season. However, the player would not change his mind about retiring. He was voted the club's Player of the Year and awarded the Barry Butler trophy on 26 April 2008 in his final season as a footballer, at his penultimate game, and on his final appearance at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
. Dublin played his final game on 4 May 2008, featuring in Norwich's 4–1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday in front of 36,208 fans at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
– the highest Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
attendance that season. When he was taken off in the 66th minute, Dublin received a standing ovation from both sets of supporters, players and referee Mark Clattenburg
Mark Clattenburg
Mark Clattenburg is an English professional football referee, who officiates primarily in the Premier League, and for FIFA. He is based in Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
.
International career
Dublin represented England at international level, earning four caps for the senior teamEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1998. Despite his excellent form at the time (where he finished joint Premier League top scorer alongside Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
with 23 goals), he was surprisingly omitted from England's squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
After football
Since retiring, Dublin has worked in the media as a pundit for Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. As well as appearing on Ford Super Sunday
Ford Super Sunday
Ford Super Sunday is Sky Sports' flagship live football programme, broadcasting live Barclays Premier League football on most Sundays over the course of a season...
with Richard Keys
Richard Keys
Richard Keys is an English radio presenter best known for his time with British sports channel Sky Sports from 1991 until 2011. In February 2011, Keys along with fellow Sky presenter, Andy Gray signed with talkSPORT....
, Dublin has done commentary on a number of games including the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
games with Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler
Martin Tyler is an English football commentator who was voted as the FA Premier League Commentator of The Decade...
. He has also been a member of the panel on BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's Fighting Talk. He has also co-presented 6-0-6
6-0-6
6-0-6 is a football phone-in, broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live throughout the football season; when the programme started, it typically went on air at 6:06pm on a matchday . It covers topics relating to the current affairs of football in the United Kingdom. It currently airs on Saturdays and...
on BBC Radio 5 Live, Match of the Day 2 and is also a regular on BBC 1's late kickoff in the Anglia region. Dion is also a Jager Bomb aficionado and Mojito ninja.
The Dube
Away from football, during his spell with Norwich, he introduced a percussion instrument called The Dube,a form of Caj%C3%B3n. The Dube is already being used in schools and even by the Royal Shakespeare company
Royal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
. In 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
during a gig at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||||||
| Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
1987–88 | 0 | 0 | – | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | Cambridge United Cambridge United F.C. Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League... | 1988–89 | 21 | 6 | – | |||||||||||||
| 1989–90 | 46 | 15 | – | |||||||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | 46 | 16 | – | |||||||||||||||||
| 1991–92 | 43 | 15 | – | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 156 | 52 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 5 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... | 1992–93 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| 1993–94 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||
| Total | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 | ||||||||
| Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... |
1994–95 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | 38 | 16 | ||||||||
| 1995–96 | 34 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 39 | 16 | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | 34 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 39 | 14 | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | 36 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 43 | 23 | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |||||||||
| Total | 145 | 62 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 4 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... | 1998–99 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 24 | 11 | |
| 1999–2000 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | – | 0 | 0 | 33 | 16 | |||||||||
| 2000–01 | 33 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 9 | ||||||||
| 2001–02 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 6 | ||||||||
| Millwall Millwall F.C. Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the... (loan) |
2001–02 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 | ||||||||
| Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
2002–03 | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 14 | |||||||
| 2003–04 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |||||||||
| Total | 155 | 48 | 7 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 59 | ||||||||
| Leicester City Leicester City F.C. Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester... |
2004–05 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 42 | 6 | ||||||||
| 2005–06 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total | 58 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Celtic Celtic F.C. Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the... | 2005–06 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
| Norwich City Norwich City F.C. Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The... |
2006–07 Norwich City F.C. season 2006–07 The 2006–07 season was Norwich Citys second consecutive year in the Football League Championship after failing to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt... |
33 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 38 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2007–08 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 41 | 9 | |||||||||
| Total | 70 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | Career total | 612 | 184 | 54 | 23 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 17 | 6 | 743 | 235 | |
Club
Manchester United- Premier League
- Winner: 1992–93 (Special Dispensation)
Aston Villa
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
- Runner up: 2000
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
- Winner: 2001
Celtic
- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
- Winner : 2005–06
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
- Winner: 20062006 Scottish League Cup FinalThe 2006 Scottish League Cup Final was a football match played on 19 March 2006 at Hampden Park in Glasgow. It was the final match of the 2005–06 Scottish League Cup and the 59th Scottish League Cup Final. The final was contested by Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic...
- Winner: 2006
Individual
- Premier League Golden BootPremier League Golden BootThe Premier League Golden Boot, known for sponsorship reasons as the Barclays Golden Boot, is an annual English association football award given to the top goalscorer at the end of the Premier League season, the top domestic league competition in club football in England, since its creation in 1992...
: 1997–98 - Premier League Player of the MonthPremier League Player of the MonthThe Player of the Month is an association football award that recognises the best Premier League player each month of the season. The recipient is chosen by a panel assembled by the League's sponsor, and announced alongside the Manager of the Month on the first or second Friday of the following month...
: January 1998, November 1998