Steve Walsh (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Steven Walsh is a former professional football
er, who spent most of his career at Leicester City
. He also played for Wigan
, Norwich
, Tamworth
and Coventry City
, over a career lasting 21 years. He was a defender and an occasional striker. He is the record holder for the most red cards in the Football League
, 13, an unenviable mark that he holds jointly with Roy McDonough
.
, Walsh won the 1984-85 Freight Rover Trophy
with Wigan before following Bryan Hamilton
to Leicester for £100,000, where he soon established himself as a non-nonsense central defender. In 1986 he received an eleven match ban after smashing the jaw of striker David Geddis
, whilst playing for Leicester against Shrewsbury
, part of his often violent reputation which included a longstanding rivalry with Wolverhampton Wanderers
striker Steve Bull
which led to both being sent off in separate matches.
made Walsh Leicester's club captain in 1992 and in 1992-93 started playing him as a striker. He went on to score fifteen goals that season including one in the Division 1 play-off final against Swindon Town
at the end of that season. In 1993-94 he scored twice as Leicester won the final and promotion to the Premier League over Derby County
, having missed much of that season due to a cruciate knee ligament
injury. Injury kept him out for most of that top flight season too, but he was returned to the captaincy by Martin O'Neill
for the 1995-96 play-off final victory over Crystal Palace
, a position he retained for the successful 1996-97 season, lifting the Coca-Cola Cup
at Hillsborough
having set up Emile Heskey's goal in the first game and Steve Claridge
's winner in the replay. This was also his testimonial season, the likes of Paul Gascoigne
and David Seaman
playing in his benefit game. He was also captain when City lost what was now the Worthington Cup final to Tottenham Hotspur
in 1999. His last ever European appearance was a 2-1 UEFA Cup
defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium
in 1997.
Walsh was a hugely popular figure with Leicester fans, who nicknamed him "Captain Fantastic".
and has formed an events company with England Rugby player Neil Back
and another business partner. Walsh made an unsuccessful attempt to become the new manager of Leicester City when Gary Megson
vacated the position in October 2007. Steve regularly attends home games at the Walkers Stadium, and is often a guest during the half-time shows.
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...
er, who spent most of his career at 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...
. He also played for Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, 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...
, Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
and 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...
, over a career lasting 21 years. He was a defender and an occasional striker. He is the record holder for the most red cards in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, 13, an unenviable mark that he holds jointly with Roy McDonough
Roy McDonough
Roy McDonough is a former professional football player and manager in the English football league. His surname is occasionally misspelt in the media as Roy McDonagh.-Playing career:...
.
Early Life and start of career
Born in Preston, LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Walsh won the 1984-85 Freight Rover Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
with Wigan before following Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years. He is currently Technical Director at Antigua Barracuda F.C.-Playing career:Born in Belfast,...
to Leicester for £100,000, where he soon established himself as a non-nonsense central defender. In 1986 he received an eleven match ban after smashing the jaw of striker David Geddis
David Geddis
David Geddis, , is a football coach and scout, a former professional football player and England youth international.-Playing career:...
, whilst playing for Leicester against Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
, part of his often violent reputation which included a longstanding rivalry with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
striker Steve Bull
Steve Bull
Stephen George "Steve" Bull, MBE, is an English former footballer who is best remembered for his 13-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers...
which led to both being sent off in separate matches.
Leicester City
Brian LittleBrian Little (footballer)
Brian Little is an English former football player and manager who is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity on 22 August 2011. Little has previously managed Darlington, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City,...
made Walsh Leicester's club captain in 1992 and in 1992-93 started playing him as a striker. He went on to score fifteen goals that season including one in the Division 1 play-off final against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
at the end of that season. In 1993-94 he scored twice as Leicester won the final and promotion to the Premier League over Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, having missed much of that season due to a cruciate knee ligament
Cruciate ligament
Cruciate ligaments are pairs of ligaments arranged like a letter X. They occur in several joints of the body, such as the knee...
injury. Injury kept him out for most of that top flight season too, but he was returned to the captaincy by Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
for the 1995-96 play-off final victory over 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...
, a position he retained for the successful 1996-97 season, lifting the Coca-Cola 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...
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...
having set up Emile Heskey's goal in the first game and Steve Claridge
Steve Claridge
Stephen Edward Claridge is an English football player, pundit and coach. He is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows including Football Focus and the The Football League Show, whilst also playing as a striker for semi-professional team Gosport Borough.Claridge's career is known for its...
's winner in the replay. This was also his testimonial season, the likes of Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
and David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
playing in his benefit game. He was also captain when City lost what was now the Worthington Cup final to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in 1999. His last ever European appearance was a 2-1 UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
defeat to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium
Vicente Calderón Stadium
The Vicente Calderón Stadium is the home stadium of La Liga football club Atlético Madrid and is located in the Arganzuela district of Spanish capital Madrid. The stadium was originally called the Manzanares Stadium, but this was later changed to the Vicente Calderón Stadium, after the famous...
in 1997.
Walsh was a hugely popular figure with Leicester fans, who nicknamed him "Captain Fantastic".
After Leicester
Peter Taylor let Walsh leave Leicester in 2000, and after unsuccessful short spells at Norwich and Coventry he coached junior soccer schools and ran a golf course in Spain. Still a cult favourite at the club, he currently writes a weekly column for the Leicester MercuryLeicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, for the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland...
and has formed an events company with England Rugby player Neil Back
Neil Back
Neil Antony Back is a former international rugby union footballer for England, who also played for Leicester Tigers, and captained both England and Leicester during his career....
and another business partner. Walsh made an unsuccessful attempt to become the new manager of Leicester City when Gary Megson
Gary Megson
Gary John Megson is an English former football player and is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday.He has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers...
vacated the position in October 2007. Steve regularly attends home games at the Walkers Stadium, and is often a guest during the half-time shows.
Honours
Leicester City- First Division play-offsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
: 1994, 1996 - League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
: 1996-971997 Football League Cup FinalThe 1997 Coca-Cola Cup Final was played between Middlesbrough and Leicester City. The first game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 6 April 1997 ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time. Fabrizio Ravanelli opened the scoring only for Leicester's Emile Heskey to equalise in the last minute of extra time...