Neil Ruddock
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 9 May 1968 | ||
Place of birth | Wandsworth, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Centre back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Enfield (director) | ||
Youth career | |||
1984–1986 | Millwall | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1985–1986 | Millwall | 0 | (0) |
1986–1988 | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | (0) |
1988–1989 | Millwall | 2 | (1) |
1989–1992 | Southampton | 107 | (9) |
1992–1993 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | (3) |
1993–1998 | Liverpool | 115 | (11) |
1998 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 7 | (0) |
1998–2000 | West Ham United | 42 | (2) |
2000–2001 | Crystal Palace | 20 | (2) |
2001–2003 | Swindon Town | 15 | (1) |
2015 | Wellingborough Whitworth | 0 | (0) |
Total | 355 | (29) | |
International career | |||
1989 | England U21 | 4 | (0) |
1994 |
England B | 1 | (0) |
1994 | England | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Neil "Razor" Ruddock (born 9 May 1968) is an English former professional footballer and television personality who is a club director at Enfield.
As a player he was a central defender from 1986 to 2003, and was voted the 17th "hardest footballer of all time".[2][3] He made his debut at Millwall, having been associated with the club since the age of 13, and also represented Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Liverpool, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town during a professional career spanning 17 years. He was capped once by England, in 1994.
Ruddock came out of retirement in 2015, aged 46, to play for United Counties League side Wellingborough Whitworth. He has since appeared on a variety of television shows including I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity MasterChef.
Club career
Early career
Ruddock began his career at
Southampton
Ruddock joined Southampton in February 1989, in a £200,000 transfer from Millwall.[6] A rugged, uncompromising defender, he soon became popular with the Southampton fans especially after confidently scoring a penalty against Newcastle United on 1 April in only his sixth game for the club, thus helping the "Saints" earn their first victory in 18 matches and start Southampton on a climb away from the relegation zone. His goal celebration after the 89th-minute penalty became known as the "Ruddock stomp". Ruddock missed his next two penalties, allowing Matt Le Tissier to take over for the following season.[7]
Despite early disciplinary problems at
In the
After three years on the south coast, he was enticed back to Tottenham by Terry Venables in May 1992, with the tribunal setting the transfer fee at a "ridiculous" £750,000.[6]
Liverpool
In July 1993, Ruddock was signed by Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur on a £2.5 million transfer.[9] While at Liverpool, he was involved in an on-field scuffle with Manchester United player Eric Cantona. Ruddock responded to Cantona's taunts about his weight by turning down the Frenchman's collar.[10] In 1993, he was absolved of fracturing Peter Beardsley's jaw with an elbow in a testimonial match. Beardsley contemplated legal action on the grounds that Ruddock acted deliberately, but later decided to withdraw charges.[11] In 1996, Ruddock's tackle on Andy Cole of Manchester United in a reserve game at Anfield left the player with two broken legs, and Ruddock claimed innocence, while Cole said he believed Ruddock did not intend harm.[12] However, in a 2010 interview with Talksport, he jokingly refers to the incident as "not big, and not clever", adding "but it was great", and that "I didn't mean to break both of his legs if I'm honest, I only meant to break one".[13]
At Liverpool, Ruddock was part of the squad of the 1990s under Roy Evans, known as the "Spice Boys", that included David James, Robbie Fowler, Jamie Redknapp, Jason McAteer, Steve McManaman and Stan Collymore, but left in 1998 when new coach Gérard Houllier joined.[14]
West Ham United
In July 1998, Ruddock moved to
In 56 games for West Ham, he scored three goals, was booked 14 times and sent-off once, in December 1998, in a 4–0 away defeat to
Swindon Town
In 2000, Ruddock moved to Crystal Palace on a free transfer, spending one season there before signing for Division Two side Swindon Town. He was also accused by Crystal Palace chairman, Simon Jordan in November 2005, of "taking the team out and getting them wasted when we were fighting relegation".[18] He scored twice for Swindon, with goals against Colchester in the league[19] and Hartlepool in the FA Cup.[20] Relations turned sour when Ruddock refused to quit after being advised to do so by a specialist; during a period of time where the club was in serious financial difficulties. The club responded by appointing Steve Coppell as assistant manager and taking Ruddock's coaching duties away. The board eventually stopped paying Ruddock's wages in an attempt to drive him out. He took the club to an employment tribunal and in December 2002, received £57,000, representing money lost in wages and loyalty payments, with an agreement to terminate his contract as player/coach.[21]
Wellingborough Whitworth
In January 2015, Ruddock came out of retirement at the age of 46 years, to sign for United Counties League side Wellingborough Whitworth.[22]
Coaching career
In August 2018, Ruddock joined the coaching team of Essex Senior League side Enfield.[23] In June 2020 he became a club director.[24]
International career
Ruddock won four caps for the
Television career
In 2004, he appeared on the third series of
In 2006, he was involved in the television programme Razor Ruddock's Pass & Move Soccer School where children released by academies were coached by Ruddock.[28]
In 2007, he appeared in Celebrity Wife Swap UK (Series 10 Episode 1), going to live with English singer and television personality Pete Burns, while wife Leah went to live with Burns' partner Michael Simpson.[29]
In 2006, Ruddock helped produce Football Saved My Life a reality sports TV show for
In November 2011, he appeared in
In 2019 and 2020, Ruddock featured in both seasons of ITV show Harry's Heroes, which featured former football manager Harry Redknapp attempting to get a squad of former England international footballers back fit and healthy for a game against Germany legends.[33]
Personal life
Ruddock was given the nickname "Razor" by teammates after they claimed to have seen the unrelated boxer Donovan Ruddock billed as "Razor Ruddock" in a boxing match at White Hart Lane;[34][unreliable source?] however, Donovan Ruddock never boxed at White Hart Lane during his career.
In 2011, Ruddock declared bankruptcy. On 25 September 2014, he was featured in an episode of the
In 2020, Ruddock confirmed that he had been fitted with a
Career statistics
Club
Source:[38]
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Millwall | 1984–85 | Third Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 1 | 4 | 1 |
1985–86 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1986–87 | First Division | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
1987–88 | First Division | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | ||
Total | 9 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 1 | |||
Millwall | 1988–89 | First Division | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2[b] | 0 | 6 | 4 |
Southampton | 1988–89 | First Division | 13 | 3 | — | — | — | 13 | 3 | |||
1989–90 | First Division | 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 36 | 4 | ||
1990–91 | First Division | 35 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2[b] | 0 | 44 | 5 | |
1991–92 | First Division | 30 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 45 | 1 | |
Total | 107 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 138 | 13 | ||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1992–93 | Premier League | 38 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 47 | 3 | |
Liverpool | 1993–94 | Premier League | 39 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 46 | 4 | |
1994–95 | Premier League | 37 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 52 | 2 | ||
1995–96 | Premier League | 20 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 28 | 5 | |
1996–97 | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
1997–98 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 115 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 152 | 12 | ||
Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 1997–98 | First Division | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
West Ham United | 1998–99 | Premier League | 27 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | |
1999–2000 | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | 26 | 1 | |
Total | 42 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 56 | 3 | ||
Crystal Palace | 2000–01 | First Division | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 26 | 3 | |
Swindon Town | 2001–02 | Second Division | 15 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 19 | 2 |
Career total | 355 | 29 | 34 | 5 | 52 | 6 | 25 | 2 | 466 | 42 |
- ^ a b Appearances in Football League Trophy
- ^ a b c Appearances in Full Members' Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- UEFA Cup, three in UEFA Intertoto Cup
Honours
Southampton
Liverpool
West Ham United
References
- ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ "Julian Dicks and Neil Ruddock above Liverpool legend Tommy Smith in 'hardest player' vote". Liverpool Daily Post. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ "Ruddock erases 'hard' reputation". The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 September 2000. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ "Port Vale: Look out Spurs, the BBC are to show one of Vale's greatest games". Stoke Sentinel. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Player profile: Neil Ruddock". lfchistory.net. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
- ^ In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. p. 205.
- ^ In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC. p. 301.
- ^ White, Clive (21 July 1993). "Ruddock move finally completed: Souness secures defensive reinforcement while Forest rue tribunal fee". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ McDonnell, Daniel (22 January 2015). "Neil Ruddock: Roy Keane is a pussy – but players fear his management style". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ Spall, Leo (24 January 2001). "Ruddock: I'm public enemy No1". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 22 August 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cole, Andy (22 October 2009). "The sign says 'This is Anfield'. The heart says 'This is it. This is what it's all about'". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Neil Ruddock on breaking Andy Cole's legs (Video)". Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ Bennett, Dan (12 November 2019). "Names of the Nineties: Neil Ruddock". These Football Times. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Neil Ruddock". Westhamstats.info. 9 May 1968. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ Wilson, Steve (18 March 2009). "Top 10: Worst spitting incidents in football". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- ^ Parkes, Ian (2010). "Football News | Live Scores, Football Transfer News & Gossip". Sporting Life. Retrieved 17 August 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sport.co.uk meets…Neil Ruddock". sport.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ "Swindon 1–0 Colchester". BBC. 1 September 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ "Swindon 3–1 Hartlepool". BBC. 17 November 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ Collins, Roy (12 December 2002). "Ruddock leaves Swindon quietly". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ^ Bozeat, Matt (13 February 2015). "'Razor' Ruddock signs up for the Flourmen". northantstelegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ "NEIL 'RAZOR' RUDDOCK JOINS THE E'S". enfieldfc.co.uk. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Enfield FC make double signing in Neil 'Razor' Ruddock and Jamie Cureton". 29 June 2020.
- ^ "England 1 – Nigeria 0". englandstats.com. 16 November 1994. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ a b Smith, Giles (30 November 2006). "Look before you bleep in Ruddock's new offering". The Times. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ Paine, Andre (12 February 2004). "Brocket to rock it". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Razor Ruddock's Pass and Move Soccer School – Press Conference". thediamondsfc.com. Retrieved 4 September 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Celebrity Wife Swap". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "James May's Man Lab". BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ "James May's Man Lab". BBC. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ^ "BBC One – Celebrity MasterChef, Series 14 Contestants – Neil 'Razor' Ruddock". BBC. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ "Who is taking part in Harry's Heroes: Euro Having a Laugh?".
- ^ metrowebukmetro (27 October 2009). "Neil Ruddock | Metro News". Metro. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- ^ kentonline (25 September 2014). "Former England footballer Neil 'Razor' Ruddock's wife Leah lashes out when debt collectors show up at their Kingsnorth home in Ashford". Kent. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
- ^ "Neil 'Razor' Ruddock thanks Paul Merson for 'pulling him up' after pacemaker fitting". arsenal.news. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "Neil Ruddock health: Football star was 'technically dead' after life-saving surgery". Daily Express. 21 December 2021.
- ^ Neil Ruddock at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ISBN 0-9534474-3-X.
- ^ Moore, Glenn (2 April 1995). "Liverpool prevail in cup final to savour". The Independent. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
External links
- Liverpool FC profile
- LFCHistory.net profile
- Neil Ruddock at Soccerbase
- Neil Ruddock at Englandstats.com
- England profile
- Neil Ruddock – UEFA competition record (archive)