David May (footballer)
David May (* June 24, 1970 in Oldham ) is an English former football player. The central defender, who was temporarily used as a right-back, his active career began at Blackburn Rovers before moving in 1994 to Manchester United and there within a short time two English championships (1996 & 1997) and the FA Cup ( 1996) won. Then, as it ensured injuries and high-profile new signings such as those of Jaap Stam and Henning Berg that May permanently falling behind and was, until the end of the 2002/03 season only substitute players in "United". After a second division last season for Burnley Mays professional career ended in summer 2004.
Professional career
Blackburn Rovers (1988-1994)
Just over a week before his 18th birthday, signed the educated at Blackburn Rovers David May his first professional contract and completed for the then second division on 1 April 1989 against Swindon Town ( 1-1) his league debut for the " first team ". Although he was used neither in the remaining eight league games yet in the subsequent playoff games of the 1988/89 season, he returned to the team trained at the time of Don Mackay at the start of season 1989/90 back as a regular player. By early December 1989, he was 16 times in the starting lineup before the veteran David Mail replaced him again. In January 1991 he returned to representation by Keith Hill regularly in the first team back, but by the end of the 1991/92 season was the sporting breakthrough for the albeit on different central defensive positions physically robust operating, technically but also somewhat limited acting May to to wait.
Only under the new manager Kenny Dalglish he succeeded the long awaited leap forward, although he claimed his obligation mid- October 1991 first of all had to vacate his seat in again. Only two league games, he subsequently completed in the regular season before the playoffs against Derby County (4-2, 1-2) and Leicester City (1-0 ) suddenly - aground at right-back, and thus - as previously rarely tested played a significant role in the rise in the 1992 newly created Premier League. In the following two Premiership years May became in Blackburn team regular, contested mostly on the right side 74 Premier League games and was involved in the " Sky Storm " of the club, the first ended in fourth place in 1994 resulted in the runner. Despite these successes, Mays ended time at the " Rovers " with a bitter aftertaste. Since it was present a lucrative transfer offer from Manchester United, he accordingly went confidently into the contract negotiations, demanded in the event of continued employment, the increase in his weekly salary from 500 to 4,000 pounds and referred then pocketed the 9,000 pounds that teammate Alan Shearer. All attempts agreement fell through and for a transfer fee of 1.4 million pounds in July 1994, joined May to the "Red Devils " Manchester.
Manchester United (1994-2003)
The team of Alex Ferguson May initially served only as a replacement for Paul Parker and he had a hard time trying to confirm his formerly good form at right-back. Only when his occasional appearances in the middle, he made a good position and heading ability attention to themselves, scored in this function, the first three Goals in official matches for the new club and reported on claims to stand by as a long term replacement for the 34 -year-old Steve Bruce. But behind the two center-backs Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister he stood first in the 1995/96 season hintenan yet. Together with Captain Bruce, he eventually formed in three consecutive games against Chelsea, Sheffield Wednesday and FC Liverpool, a good duo and also took advantage of his next chance to prove, as Bruce had to fight to the end of the season with a thigh problem. He took this in the FA Cup final, which United won 1-0 against Liverpool. This success was rounded to a " Double" after winning the English Championship, in the course of May had come 16 times used. When Bruce finally cleared the space for May with his departure from Manchester, this rose to become regulars. He was just one of four United players, which began Ferguson in all four competitions and on 41 official matches of the season 1996/97 he scored four goals. This included the first hit for the 4-0 quarter-final victory against FC Porto, who compensated as it is for a previous disappointment when he hit the game against Fenerbahce with his shoulder into his own goal and the 0-1 defeat for an end to the 40 - year series had seen without a home defeat in European matches. Nevertheless, he defended with the Red Devils, the English Championship. In addition, he was appointed by Glenn Hoddle for the first time in the squad of the English national team.
That he was denied at the highest level the further continuation of the career, announced itself in preparation for the 1997/98 season, when May drew upon a hamstring, then struggled to his fitness because of recurring knee problems and until February 1998 was no longer in the starting. Although he still signed a new six-year contract in October 1997, Ferguson had previously supplied with the obligation of Henning Berg two months for a further strengthening in the defensive area, which significantly deteriorated Mays prospects in the medium term. To this end, joined in the 1998/99 season with the Dutch national team Jaap Stam new top-class competition and since May further suffered from a series of injuries, he came up with only six league games, which despite an assignment on predetermining end 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur not sufficient for obtaining an official champion medal. Helped by generally large problems in the squad due to injuries and suspensions he stood for United after all, in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United ( 2-0) in the starting lineup and sat in the Champions League final against FC Bayern Munich (2: 1) on the bench. He achieved this is that, although he had not been one minutes during the Champions League season on the court, the winners led celebrations and "urged " the center of Greater awareness.
But changed to his predicament in the season 1999/2000 and little end of the year you lent him out to the second division Huddersfield Town, which was then cared for by the Steve Bruce now ascended to the coach. But there remained to him the misfortune faithful and in his only game for the " Terriers " he injured himself again and returned prematurely to treat back to Manchester. With difficulty he feilte there on his fitness, then suffered a further setback but during the training session in April 2000. Almost a year after his last professional use, he returned in November 2000, back in the reserve team, where he was after just two minutes with a thigh problem one more time passed. Only at the end of the season Ferguson " honorary " granted him two inserts after the profit of another championship had already been secured. As Jaap Stam suddenly left the club in September 2001, May suddenly found against Ipswich Town ( 4-0 ) back into the starting lineup before, but after only two other duty stakes prevented the old problems of sustainable "comeback". In the season 2002/ 03 he came in December 2002 by later Substitutes at Anfield against Liverpool (2-1) for Manchester United for his last Premier League and two days in the League Cup for the final competitive match use. In the summer of 2003 ended May's contract in Manchester, the then - was also not renewed - unsurprisingly.
Burnley FC (2003-2004)
Transfer fee free it attracted May in August 2003 for second division FC Burnley, where he was to reinforce the somewhat holey acting defensive and provided with experience. The " Claret " he was in spite of occasional injury breaks ( and barriers) with 39 competitive games right off the bat strain force, also made in standard situation in the opposing penalty areas for hazardous and scored four league goals. However, it was May's last year in professional football. In June 2004, he said goodbye to the big stage and hired for the purpose of career ending at the lower class Bacup Borough in the amateur field.
Title / Awards
- UEFA Champions League ( 1): 1999
- English Championship (2): 1996, 1997
- FA Cup ( 2): 1996, 1999
- Charity Shield (2): 1994, 1996