Dion Dublin
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Dion Dublin[1] | ||
Date of birth | [2] | 22 April 1969||
Place of birth | Leicester, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3] | ||
Position(s) |
Centre-forward Centre-back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Cambridge United (Club Director) | ||
Youth career | |||
Wigston Fields | |||
1985–1988 | Norwich City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1988–1992 | Cambridge United | 156 | (52) |
1988 | → Barnet (loan) | 1 | (0) |
1988 | → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
1992–1994 | Manchester United | 12 | (2) |
1994–1998 | Coventry City | 145 | (61) |
1998–2004 | Aston Villa | 155 | (48) |
2002 | → Millwall (loan) | 5 | (2) |
2004–2006 | Leicester City | 58 | (5) |
2006 | Celtic | 11 | (1) |
2006–2008 | Norwich City | 70 | (12) |
Total | 615 | (183) | |
International career | |||
1998 | England | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Dion Dublin (born 22 April 1969) is an English former professional footballer, television presenter and pundit. He is a club director of Cambridge United.
As a player he was a
Following his retirement from football, Dublin moved into the entertainment business. He is also an amateur percussionist, and invented a percussion instrument called "The Dube". In 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene in a gig at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, he joined the presenting team on the BBC One daytime show Homes Under the Hammer and has appeared as a regular pundit for BBC Sport on Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score. He also occasionally provides co-commentary on live televised FA Cup games.
Club career
Norwich City
Dublin was born in Leicester. Whilst at school he played for several Leicestershire youth teams, including Wigston Fields and Thurmaston Magpies.[4] He then went on to begin his professional footballing career with Norwich City after leaving school in 1985, but never made a first-team appearance and was released by the club in 1988.
Cambridge United
In August 1988, Dublin joined Cambridge United on a free transfer,
In the
Manchester United
Having seen Dublin in a cup tie, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson signed him for £1 million on 7 August 1992, fighting off competition from Chelsea and Everton.[9] Dublin was something of a surprise purchase for United,[10] after Ferguson had tried to sign Alan Shearer from Southampton but lost out to Blackburn Rovers.[11]
He scored in United's fourth Premier League game of the 1992–93 season, a last minute winner in United's first Premier league victory – 1–0 against Southampton at The Dell.[12] 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,[13] and was out of action for six months.[14] 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.
In the 1993–94 season, Dublin regained his fitness, but his first team chances were restricted by the successful partnership of Cantona and Hughes. 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 dispute sparked Kendall's resignation as manager. Dublin would remain a United player for another nine months, but never managed to claim a regular place in the first team.[15]
He managed five league appearances that season, scoring once in a 3–2 home win over
Coventry City
In four years with Coventry, Dublin established himself as one of the Premier League's top
Following
The following season, the Sky Blues improved at home and enjoyed a season of mid-table security. Dublin formed an impressive partnership with Darren Huckerby which not only produced some memorable goals, but also propelled the Sky Blues to the FA Cup sixth round against Sheffield United; a game they narrowly lost in a penalty shoot-out. On 8 November 1997, Dublin scored one of the most bizarre goals in Premier League history. Early in the match against Newcastle, goalkeeper Shay Given collected a cross from the right and placed the ball in front of him. The ball was still in play, and Dublin, who had attempted to meet the cross and was now behind Given, reappeared and calmly slotted the ball into the empty goal. This led to the joke: "Shay Given, the only Irishman who doesn't know where Dublin is." The match ended 2-2, with Dublin also scoring City's second goal in the second half.[21] 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).
Aston Villa
Dublin was controversially excluded from the England 1998 FIFA World Cup squad, despite being the Premier League's joint top-scorer in the 1997–98 season. However, his exploits at club level were still attracting significant attention, and in the autumn of 1998, he chose to move to Aston Villa for £5.75 million.[22] In his first four games for the club, he would score seven goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Southampton in only his second game for Villa. As a result, he is one of only six players to score in the first four consecutive games for a Premier League club.[23]
In December 1999, while playing for Aston Villa against Sheffield Wednesday, he sustained a life-threatening broken neck,[24] as a result of which he permanently has a titanium plate holding three neck vertebrae together. Just days before suffering this injury, it was reported in the News of the World that Dublin would soon be sold by Aston Villa for a fee of around £6 million as the club looked to finance a fall in its share value as a result of manager John Gregory's heavy expenditure on players.
However, the injury did not end Dublin's career and he was back in action three months later.[25]
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 against Chelsea,[26] scoring a penalty in the semi-final shoot-out against Bolton Wanderers.[27]
Faced with competition for a first-team place by new signings
Following Millwall's elimination from the play-offs, Dublin returned to Aston Villa in time for their final game of the season, against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He replaced Darius Vassell in the 84th minute and scored Villa's third goal in a 3-1 win.[33]Dublin once again found himself a first-choice striker at the start of the 2002-03 season, partnering Darius Vassell up front. In March 2003, he was sent off at
Leicester City
When his contract expired in the summer of 2004, he was given a
Celtic
He was snapped up quickly by then Celtic manager Gordon Strachan, to cover for the loss of Chris Sutton, on a contract until the end of the season.[36] At Celtic, Dublin achieved double success, with Scottish League Cup and Scottish Premier League winner's medals. On 19 March 2006, Dublin came on as a substitute and scored the final goal as Celtic defeated Dunfermline 3–0 to win the Scottish League Cup final,[37] 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 on 9 April 2006 in a 4–1 win at Rugby Park.[38] Despite one or two decent performances for the Parkhead outfit, Dublin was released by Strachan in May 2006.
Return to Norwich City
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 teammates.
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
"It was incredible at Hillsborough. If you think of the stadia I could've retired at, away from Norwich of course, with the history and the feeling, then Sheffield Wednesday was the perfect place".
Dion Dublin[39]
In the spring of 2008, Dublin was approached by
International career
Dublin earned his first cap for England on 11 February 1998, playing the whole 90 minutes in the 2–0 friendly defeat to Chile at Wembley Stadium.[40] In the run-up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Dublin played in the King Hassan II International Cup Tournament in May, starting in the 1–0 win against Morocco,[41] and coming off the bench in 0–0 draw with Belgium, a game England lost on penalties.[42] Despite showing good form and versatility throughout the season, including finishing joint top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals, Glenn Hoddle included Les Ferdinand ahead of Dublin in his 22-man squad for the tournament in France.[43] On 18 November, he started in the 2–0 friendly win against the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium.[44] This turned out to be Dublin's last cap for his country.[45] He won four caps for England but did not score any goals.[45]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | League Cup
|
Europe | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester United | 1992-93 | Premier League | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||
1993-94 | Premier League | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
Total | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | ||
Coventry City | 1994-95 | Premier League | 31 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 13 | |
1995-96 | Premier League | 34 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 14 | ||
1996-97 | Premier League | 34 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 13 | ||
1997-98 | Premier League | 36 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 41 | 20 | ||
1998-99 | Premier League | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 3 | ||
Total | 145 | 61 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 151 | 63 | |||
Aston Villa | 1998-99 | Premier League | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 9 |
1999-00 | Premier League | 26 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 16 | |
2000-01 | Premier League | 33 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 9 | |
2001-02 | Premier League | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 30 | 6 | |
2002-03 | Premier League | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 14 | |
2003-04 | Premier League | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
Total | 155 | 46 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 192 | 57 | ||
Millwall (loan) | 2001-02 | First Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | |
Leicester City | 2004-05 | Championship | 37 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 42 | 6 | |
2005-06 | Championship | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
Total | 58 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 65 | 5 | |||
Celtic | 2005-06 | Scottish Premier League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |
Norwich City | 2006-07 | Championship
|
33 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 7 | |
2007-08 | Championship | 37 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 41 | 9 | ||
Total | 70 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 79 | 16 | |||
Career total | 455 | 125 | 24 | 7 | 23 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 503 | 142 |
International
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
England | 1998 | 4 | 0 |
Total | 4 | 0 |
Television career
Since retiring from football, Dublin has worked in the media as a pundit for
Also for the BBC, he has appeared as a regular pundit for BBC Sport namely on Football Focus, Match of the Day or Final Score. He also occasionally provides co-commentary on live televised FA Cup games.
In August 2021 it was announced that Dublin would be a competitor on BBC's
Personal life
Away from football, during his spell with Norwich,[50] he invented a percussion instrument called The Dube,[51] a form of cajón. In 2011, he accompanied Ocean Colour Scene during a gig at the University of East Anglia.[50][52]
In July 2021, Dublin was appointed as a club director at former club Cambridge United.[53][54]
Honours
Cambridge United
- 1990–91[8]
Manchester United
- Premier League: 1992–93[55]
- FA Charity Shield: 1994
Aston Villa
Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: 2005–06[57]
- 2005–06[58]
Individual
- Premier League Golden Boot: 1997–98[55]
- Premier League Player of the Month: January 1998, November 1998[55]
- Coventry City Hall of Fame[59]
References
- ^ "Dion Dublin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Dion Dublin at Soccerbase
- ISBN 0-9514862-6-8.
- ^ "Dublin urges football hopefuls to listen and learn". 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^ Gardner, John (28 October 1998). "I'm not Dublin your money; Roy won't give Dion any special wage deal". Daily Record. The Free Library. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ Lewis, Paul (1 January 2000). "YOUR QUICK GUIDE TO THE U's FROM CAMBRIDGE..." Chairboys on the Net. Chairboys on the Net. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Paul (10 September 2020). "I believe this is the only picture of Dion Dublin playing for Wycombe Wanderers – October 1988. BTW – this is BASIC WYCOMBE KNOWLEDGE". Chairboys on the Net. Retrieved 11 July 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Ellis, Adam (9 March 2016). "Where Are They Now? Cambridge United's Div 3 Champions 1990/91". The League Paper. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- ^ Metcalf, Rupert (7 August 1992). "Football: United sign pounds 1m Dublin". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "On this day: Dion Dublin joins Manchester United – Sports Mole". sportsmole.co.uk.
- ^ "July 27 - Shearer Joins Blackburn Rovers". Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
- ^ Slot, Owen (25 August 1992). "Dublin delivers perfect finish for United". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ Allsop, Derick (3 September 1992). "Dublin facing five months out with broken leg". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Dion Dublin Q & A". Daily Mirror. 10 March 1997. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Howard Kendall: Bolt from the Blue". The Independent. 23 October 2011.
- ^ Lovejoy, Joe (5 April 1994). "United stay clear of rampant Rovers: Ince relieves fraying Old Trafford nerves – Dalglish's men keep up the pressure as Oldham and Everton drop closer to relegation". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ Burton, Mark (10 September 1994). "Dublin moves to Coventry". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "No Headline Present". HeraldScotland.
- ^ "Matchweek 41 Results". Premier League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "Final 1996-97 Premier League table". Premier League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "Coventry v Newcastle, 1997/98". Premier League. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Dublin becomes a Villan". BBC Sport. 5 November 1998. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Coyle happy to take a loan". Bolton News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
- ^ Curtis, John (21 December 1999). "Dublin's neck injury could have left him crippled". The Independent. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Flown From the Nest – Dion Dublin". ex-canaries.co.uk.
- ^ "Chelsea claim FA Cup glory". BBC Sport. 20 May 2000. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Villa book Cup final place". BBC Sport. 2 April 2000. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Millwall 3–0 Stockport". BBC Sport. 30 March 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Lions see off Mariners". BBC Sport. 21 April 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Bruce salutes Dublin". BBC Sport. 28 April 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Dublin dents Birmingham". BBC Sport. 28 April 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Birmingham steal win". BBC Sport. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Villa treble downs Blues". BBC Sport. 11 May 2002. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Blues win fierce derby". BBC Sport. 3 March 2003. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Leicester seal Dublin deal". BBC Sport. 12 June 2004. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "Veteran Dublin signs for Celtic". BBC Sport. 30 January 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Football Fixtures & Results – Updated Match Odds – Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2006.
- ^ "Kilmarnock 1–4 Celtic". BBC Sport. 9 April 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ a b Sheffield Wednesday vs Wigan Athletic. Wednesday – match programme. 2 August 2008. p. 43.
- ^ "Salas sinks England". BBC Sport. 11 February 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Morocco 0–1 England". EnglandStats.com. England International Database. 27 May 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "England 0–1 Belgium". EnglandStats.com. England International Database. 29 May 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Gazza axed and flies home". BBC Sport. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "England 2–0 Czech Republic". EnglandStats.com. England International Database. 18 November 1998. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Dion Dublin". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Dion Dublin | Football Stats | No Club | Age 54 | 1988-2008 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Dion Dublin joins BBC One Daytime show Homes Under The Hammer – Media Centre". BBC.
- ^ "Celebrity MasterChef 2021 line-up: Meet the 20 contestants confirmed for series 16". Radio Times.
- ^ "BBC One – Celebrity MasterChef, Series 16, Episode 17". BBC. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Dublin reveals musical side". BBC News. 28 February 2011.
- ^ "Dion Dublin has Created a Brand New Instrument Called The Dube". vice.com. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ "VIDEO: Dion Dublin plays The Dube with Ocean Colour Scene". MusicRadar.com. 4 March 2011.
- ^ "Dion Dublin appointed director of former club Cambridge". shropshirestar.com.
- ^ "Ex-Man Utd forward returns to Cambridge". BBC Sport.
- ^ a b c "Dion Dublin: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ "Angel carries Villa home". The Telegraph. 21 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
- from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Dunfermline 0-3 Celtic". 19 March 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ "Coventry City | Club | History | History | Hall of Fame". 22 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2015.