Richie Baker
Encyclopedia
Richie Baker is an Irish footballer
currently playing for League of Ireland
Premier Division club Bray Wanderers
. Baker primarily plays a right-sided winger.
striker Dessie Baker
, alongside whom he made numerous appearances for Shelbourne
in the late nineties and early noughties. Richie made his Shelbourne debut at the age of 18 against Shamrock Rovers
in August 1998. During this period, Baker was an important part of the Irish national team
youth teams, playing for the U-18's, U-20's, and U-21's.
He represented his country at the UEFA U-19 Championship
in Sweden in 1999 where he won a bronze medal http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1999/0717/Pg032.html#Ar03202:22550026B51A.
The highlight of Baker's career to date was arguably his 83rd minute free-kick which earned Shelbourne a 1-0 victory away to Sloga Jugomagnat
of the Republic of Macedonia
in a Champions League
qualifying match on July 12, 2000. This represented the first away victory achieved by an Irish
side in European competition for almost two decades. Shels won the tie 2-1 but were eliminated by Norwegian champions Rosenborg
in the second qualifying round.
Richie won both the League of Ireland
championship and the FAI Cup
with Shels in 1999/2000 and three further league titles with them in 2001/02, 2003, and 2006. He spent the 2004 season with the New England Revolution
of Major League Soccer
before returning to Shels for the beginning of the 2005 season. He was sent off in the last game of the 2006 season versus Bohemians
but Shels still went on to win the game and clinch the title.
Following Shelbourne's financial meltdown at the end of 2006, Baker signed for Drogheda United for the 2007 season. Baker picked up his fifth league title when United were crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions at the end of the 2007 season. Baker spent two seasons at Drogheda United before financial problems at the County Louth club curtailed his spell. Despite training with Bohemians
and Glentoran
during 2009 pre-season Baker failed to find a new club to continue professional football. On February 9, 2009 Baker made a return to Shelbourne
, now playing in the First Division, for a third spell where he was re-united with his former Shels boss Dermot Keely
. He struggled for fitness on his return to Shelbourne but still made 25 league and cup appearances for Shelbourne in 2009, scoring 5 goals.
Baker was not offered a new contract by Shelbourne at the end of the 2009 season and on 4 March 2010 he signed for Bray Wanderers.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
currently playing for League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Premier Division club Bray Wanderers
Bray Wanderers A.F.C.
Bray Wanderers A.F.C. are an Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1942 and elected to the League in 1985, hails from Bray and play their home matches at the Carlisle Grounds. Club colours are Green and White, and it goes by the nickname...
. Baker primarily plays a right-sided winger.
Career
Richie, who served his footballing apprenticeship with junior club Stella Maris, is the brother of Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
striker Dessie Baker
Dessie Baker
Desmond "Dessie" Baker is an Irish footballer currently playing for Leinster Senior League side Edenderry Town.- Early career :...
, alongside whom he made numerous appearances for Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in the late nineties and early noughties. Richie made his Shelbourne debut at the age of 18 against Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
in August 1998. During this period, Baker was an important part of the Irish national team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
youth teams, playing for the U-18's, U-20's, and U-21's.
He represented his country at the UEFA U-19 Championship
UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
The European Under 19 Football Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955...
in Sweden in 1999 where he won a bronze medal http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1999/0717/Pg032.html#Ar03202:22550026B51A.
The highlight of Baker's career to date was arguably his 83rd minute free-kick which earned Shelbourne a 1-0 victory away to Sloga Jugomagnat
FK Sloga Jugomagnat
FK Sloga Jugomagnat is a football club, playing in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. They currently compete in the Macedonian Vtora Liga.-Achievements:Macedonian First League: 3*1999*2000*2001Macedonian Cup: 3*1996*2000*2004Runners-up: 5...
of the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
in a 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...
qualifying match on July 12, 2000. This represented the first away victory achieved by an Irish
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
side in European competition for almost two decades. Shels won the tie 2-1 but were eliminated by Norwegian champions Rosenborg
Rosenborg B.K.
Rosenborg Ballklub is a Norwegian football club from the city of Trondheim, currently playing in the Norwegian Premier League. With 22 league titles and nine Norwegian Cup titles, the club is the most successful in Norway and has dominated Norwegian football since the start of the 1990s...
in the second qualifying round.
Richie won both the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
championship and the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
with Shels in 1999/2000 and three further league titles with them in 2001/02, 2003, and 2006. He spent the 2004 season with the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
before returning to Shels for the beginning of the 2005 season. He was sent off in the last game of the 2006 season versus Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
but Shels still went on to win the game and clinch the title.
Following Shelbourne's financial meltdown at the end of 2006, Baker signed for Drogheda United for the 2007 season. Baker picked up his fifth league title when United were crowned League of Ireland Premier Division champions at the end of the 2007 season. Baker spent two seasons at Drogheda United before financial problems at the County Louth club curtailed his spell. Despite training with Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
and Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
during 2009 pre-season Baker failed to find a new club to continue professional football. On February 9, 2009 Baker made a return to Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, now playing in the First Division, for a third spell where he was re-united with his former Shels boss Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely, is the former manager of Irish football team Shelbourne.-Family:Keely's family have played League of Ireland football at various levels. His late father Peter Keely played for Shelbourne, his brother Joe played on the same Home Farm FAI Cup winning side of 1775 as Dermot Keely himself...
. He struggled for fitness on his return to Shelbourne but still made 25 league and cup appearances for Shelbourne in 2009, scoring 5 goals.
Baker was not offered a new contract by Shelbourne at the end of the 2009 season and on 4 March 2010 he signed for Bray Wanderers.
Honours
- League of Ireland Premier Division: 5
- ShelbourneShelbourne F.C.Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
- 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003, 2006 - Drogheda United - 20072007 League of IrelandThe League of Ireland, consisting of both the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland First Division, kicked off in March, 2007...
- Shelbourne
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 1- ShelbourneShelbourne F.C.Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
- 2000
- Shelbourne