Dean Richards (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Dean Ivor Richards | ||
| Date of birth | 9 June 1974 | ||
| Place of birth | Bradford, West Yorkshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 26 February 2011 (aged 36) | ||
| Place of death | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1990–1992 | Bradford City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | Bradford City | 86 | (4) |
| 1995 | → Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 10 | (2) |
| 1995–1999 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 112 | (5) |
| 1999–2001 | Southampton | 67 | (3) |
| 2001–2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | 73 | (4) |
| Total | 348 | (17) | |
| National team | |||
| 1995 | England U21 | 4 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
Dean Ivor Richards (9 June 1974 – 26 February 2011) was an English footballer who played as a defender. He began his career at hometown club Bradford City before a four-year stay with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He left to play Premier League football with Southampton and finally Tottenham Hotspur. He also made four appearances for England under-21s.
Richards retired from playing in 2005 due to health concerns, but later returned to the game as a coach at Bradford. He died six years later at the age of 36.
Richards was born in Bradford on 9 June 1974. He attended Allerton Middle School and Rhodesway School in Bradford.
As a central-defender, Richards started his career at his hometown club Bradford City as a youth trainee. He signed as a full-time professional in 1992 and made his debut aged 17 in October of the same year in a 3–1 victory over A.F.C. Bournemouth in a game in which he scored. He played 86 league games for the Bantams, scoring four goals, and playing 102 games in all competitions.
Richards moved on loan to promotion-chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 1995, making his debut on 1 April in a 1–0 win at Southend. A permanent deal was quickly arranged for a fee which was initially £1.3m but eventually rose to £1.8m once various clauses took effect.
Richards made four England under-21 appearances at the Toulon Tournament in 1995, making his debut as captain against Brazil. England reached the semi-final of the competition but lost to hosts France.
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