Wikipedia

Richard Stearman

Richard James Michael Stearman (born 19 August 1987) is an English former professional footballer who is first-team coach at Solihull Moors. He was a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a centre half or right-back.[3] He spent majority of his career at Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Richard Stearman
Stearman playing for Fulham in 2016
Personal information
Full name Richard James Michael Stearman[1]
Date of birth (1987-08-19) 19 August 1987 (age 37)[2]
Place of birth Wolverhampton, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Solihull Moors (first-team coach)
Youth career
1998–2004 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Leicester City 116 (7)
2008–2015 Wolverhampton Wanderers 211 (5)
2013 → Ipswich Town (loan) 15 (0)
2015–2017 Fulham 29 (0)
2016–2017 → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 18 (0)
2017–2020 Sheffield United 44 (3)
2020–2021 Huddersfield Town 38 (0)
2021–2023 Derby County 24 (0)
2023–2024 Solihull Moors 26 (0)
Total 521 (15)
International career
2003 England U16 3 (0)
2004 England U17 9 (0)
2005 England U19 1 (0)
2008–2009 England U21 4 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  England
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2009 Sweden
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His career started at Leicester City, joining the academy in 1998, before turning professional in 2004, making his senior debut in the same year. He then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008, where he would stay for seven years, with a loan spell at Ipswich Town in 2013.

He joined Fulham in 2015, staying there until 2017, he also had a loan spell back at Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2016–17 season. Stearman then joined Sheffield United in 2017, in January 2020 after being released by United, Stearman joined Huddersfield Town where he stayed until June 2021. In August 2021 Stearman joined Derby County where he would stay for two years before being released in May 2023. In August 2023 Stearman joined Solihull Moors and was released in May 2024.[4]

Club career

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Leicester City

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Stearman was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, and raised in Leicestershire. He joined the Leicester City youth academy in 1998 having been spotted playing for his local side Harborough Town.[5] Equally adept at playing at right-back or centre-back, he signed his first professional contract in 2004, shortly after having won Leicester's Young Player of the Year award in 2003–04.

Stearman made his senior debut, aged 17, on 30 October 2004 in a goalless draw at Cardiff City. He scored his first senior goal in Leicester's 3–1 home victory over Millwall on 2 April 2005 and finished his first season with eight appearances. He became a first team regular in 2005–06, and attracted a bid from Sunderland, rejected by then-manager Rob Kelly, who said he was unwilling to part with one of his players he considered a hot prospect.[6] He remained with the club for two more seasons, and won both Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year awards in 2007–08.[7]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Stearman playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014

After Leicester were relegated to League One, Stearman signed for Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 June 2008 in a four-year deal.[8] He made his debut for Wolves in a 2–2 draw at Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2008. Towards the latter end of 2008 saw Stearman partnering England under-21s teammate Michael Mancienne in defence. On 3 May, he scored his first goal for the club, an injury time winner against Doncaster Rovers,[9] and received a championship winners medal. Stearman was also named in the PFA 2009 Championship team of the year alongside Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, voted for by his fellow professionals.

With regular right back Kevin Foley out injured, Stearman had an extended run in the starting eleven early in their Premier League return in 2009–10, during which he scored his first and only top flight goal, against Hull City.[10] He featured throughout the first half of the season, but after being sent off against Wigan in January 2011 he made only one further substitute appearance during the campaign.

Stearman started 27 Premier League games – primarily replacing Jody Craddock at centre back – during the following season as the club avoided relegation on the final day. He made another 28 starts during the 2011–12 season despite suffering a broken wrist, but the team were ultimately relegated back to the Championship

Back in the Championship, Stearman fell out of favour at Wolves, and in January 2013 he moved on loan to Ipswich Town for the remainder of the current season, where he was reunited with his former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.[11]

Stearman returned to Wolves' first team in the 2013–14 season, with the team now in League One and under the management of Kenny Jackett. He was a regular in the side that won the League One title and during the summer signing a new contract that was to last until summer 2016.[12] He remained a regular at the heart of Wolves' defence during the 2014–15 season as the club missed the play-offs on goal difference. His performances earned him both Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year Awards.

The following season began with Stearman captaining the team in the absence of the injured Danny Batth but after only four league games, Wolves coach Kenny Jackett confirmed reports that Wolves had accepted an offer from Fulham for Stearman and he would be leaving Molineux.[13] Although officially undisclosed, media reports placed the accepted bid at £2 million.[14] Stearman departed having made a total of 234 appearances (scoring six times) for the club in three different divisions.[15]

Fulham

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On 1 September 2015, Stearman moved to another Championship club, signing a three-year deal (with the option of an additional year) with Fulham.[16] He made 29 league appearances for the club during the 2015–16 season but at the start of the following campaign was not used in the opening league matches.

On 31 August 2016, less than a year after departing Wolves, he rejoined them on a season-long loan.[17] On 28 January 2017, he scored his only goal on that spell against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round, scoring in the first minute of a 2–1 victory.[18]

Sheffield United

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On 6 July 2017, it was announced that Stearman had signed for Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.[19] He helped United to promotion to the Premier League on 28 April 2019.[20]

Huddersfield Town

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After being released by Sheffield United, Stearman signed an 18-month contract with Huddersfield Town on 10 January 2020.[21]

Derby County

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On 6 August 2021, Stearman signed a one-year contract with Derby County following a trial period with the club.[22] On 8 July 2022, Stearman extended his time at Derby by a further year until 2023.[23] Stearman was released by Derby on 10 May 2023 after 31 appearances over two seasons.[24]

Solihull Moors

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On 3 August 2023, Stearman joined Solihull Moors of the National League on one-year contract,[25] this was the first time Stearman would play non-league football.

In July 2024, Stearman announced his retirement from football.[26]

International career

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Stearman has represented England at Under-17 level in the 2004 European Championships and also at the Under-18 level. He was first called up by the England under-21 squad in November 2007 for the 2009 European Championship qualifiers, however he was an unused substitute in the games. He later received a second call-up from the under-21s when he was selected for a European Championship qualifier against Portugal in September 2008.[27] However, he was again an unused substitute in the game, and again in the qualifying play-offs against Wales in October 2008.[28]

Stearman made his debut in a 2–0 friendly win over the Czech Republic under-21s on 18 November 2008, and a 3–2 defeat to Ecuador on 11 February 2009. Stuart Pearce included him in the squad for the 2009 UEFA U21 championships when centre half and captain Steven Taylor withdrew due to injury.[29]

On 12 March 2011, the Football Association of Ireland confirmed that they had contacted Stearman to play for the Republic of Ireland as he has an Irish grandparent on his mother's side of the family. Irish sources say teammate Kevin Doyle initiated with contact the FAI, who followed up with a call to Stearman. In November 2012, Stephen Hunt declared that Stearman had acquired an Irish passport.[30]

Coaching career

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Following his retirement in July 2024, Stearman remained with National League side Solihull Moors as first-team coach.[31]

Career statistics

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As of match played 8 January 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leicester City 2004–05[32] Championship 8 1 0 0 0 0 — 8 1
2005–06[33] Championship 34 3 2 0 3 1 — 39 4
2006–07[34] Championship 35 1 1 0 3 2 — 39 3
2007–08[35] Championship 39 2 1 0 4 1 — 44 3
Total 116 7 4 0 10 4 — 130 11
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2008–09[36] Championship 37 1 1 0 2 0 — 40 1
2009–10[37] Premier League 16 1 2 0 0 0 — 18 1
2010–11[38] Premier League 31 0 3 0 2 1 — 36 1
2011–12[39] Premier League 30 0 2 0 1 0 — 33 0
2012–13[40] Championship 12 1 0 0 3 0 — 15 1
2013–14[41] League One 40 2 2 0 0 0 2[a] 0 44 2
2014–15[42] Championship 42 0 2 0 1 0 — 45 0
2015–16[43] Championship 4 0 0 0 0 0 — 4 0
Total 211 5 12 0 9 1 2 0 234 6
Ipswich Town (loan) 2012–13[40] Championship 15 0 0 0 0 0 — 15 0
Fulham 2015–16[43] Championship 29 0 0 0 1 0 — 30 0
2016–17[44] Championship 0 0 0 0 2 0 — 2 0
Total 29 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 32 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) 2016–17[44] Championship 18 0 1 1 — — 19 1
Sheffield United 2017–18[45] Championship 28 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 30 2
2018–19[46] Championship 16 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 1
2019–20[47] Premier League 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 3 1
Total 44 3 4 0 2 1 0 0 50 4
Huddersfield Town 2019–20[47] Championship 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2020–21[48] Championship 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0
Total 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 0
Derby County 2021–22[49] Championship 14 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 15 0
2022–23[50] League One 10 0 3 0 1 0 2[b] 0 16 0
Total 24 0 3 0 2 0 2 0 31 0
Solihull Moors 2023–24[51] National League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career totals 585 12 24 0 26 6 4 0 549 18
  1. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sheffield United

Solihull Moors

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Huddersfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 34. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. ^ "Richard Stearman says he'll play wherever he is needed for Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier fight". birminghammail.net. 10 November 2009.
  4. ^ Halls, Ross (17 May 2024). "Ipswich Town: Richard Stearman released by Solihull Moors". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Leicester City step up search for stars of the future". Leicester Mercury. 29 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Leicester reject bid for Stearman". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Stearman proud of awards double". BBC Sport. 30 April 2008.
  8. ^ "Stearman swaps Foxes for Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 June 2008.
  9. ^ "Wolves 1–0 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 3 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Wolverhampton 1–1 Hull". BBC Sport. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Richard Stearman: Ipswich Town sign Wolves defender on loan". BBC Sport. 29 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Stearman stays!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Gaffer confirms Stearman offer". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Wolves accept Fulham offer for Richard Stearman". Express & Star. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Farewell Stears". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Richard Stearman: Fulham sign Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Stearman returns". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Liverpool vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Richard Stearman: Sheffield United sign Fulham defender for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Sheffield United promoted to Premier League after Leeds draw". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  21. ^ "Huddersfield Town sign Richard Stearman after Sheffield United release and Emile Smith Rowe joins on loan". BBC Sport. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  22. ^ "RAMS ADD TRIO TO THEIR SQUAD AHEAD OF NEW SEASON". Derby County. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  23. ^ "Defender Stearman Agrees New Derby Contract". www.dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  24. ^ "DERBY COUNTY RETAINED LIST: MAY 2023". Derby County. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Stearman Signs For Moors!". Derby County. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  26. ^ Jones, Jordan (12 July 2024). "Former Wolves, Leicester City, Sheffield United, Huddersfield, Derby and Fulham man announces retirement at 36". Birmingham World. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  27. ^ "Stearman called up for England Under-21s". wolves.co.uk. 2 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008.
  28. ^ "England Under-21 Call-up For Stearman". wolves.co.uk. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008.
  29. ^ "England Under-21s hit by injuries". BBC Sport. 1 June 2009.
  30. ^ "Richard Stearman has got Irish passport now". thestar.ie. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
  31. ^ "Stearman Appointed As First Team Coach! | Solihull Moors FC". www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  33. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  34. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  35. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  36. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  37. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  38. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  39. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  41. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  42. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  43. ^ a b "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  44. ^ a b "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  46. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  47. ^ a b "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  48. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  49. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  50. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  51. ^ "Games played by Richard Stearman in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  52. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 44, 416–417. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0.
  53. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2014). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2014–2015. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-1-4722-1251-1.
  54. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2019). Football Yearbook 2019–2020. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 320–231. ISBN 978-1-4722-6111-3.
  55. ^ "FA Trophy final: Gateshead 2–2 Solihull Moors (5–4 on pens) - Lineups". BBC Sport. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  56. ^ a b "Double Reward For Stearman". LCFC.co.uk. 2 May 2008. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  57. ^ "Giggs earns prestigious PFA award". BBC Sport. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  58. ^ "Wolves Hero's Player of the Year". Wolves Hero's. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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