Anthony Stokes
Anthony Stokes ( born July 25, 1988 in Dublin) is an Irish football player who is under contract with the Scottish first division club Celtic Glasgow since 2010.
Career
With only 15 years, Stokes joined the Irish club Shelbourne to London for the reserve team of Arsenal. He made his debut in the first team when he came off the bench in the League Cup against Sunderland on 25 October 2005 in the 88th minute Arturo Lupoli for. In summer 2006 he completed a trial at Sunderland to be borrowed with the aim of the Black cats. The then- coach Niall Quinn decided due to the squad size ultimately against his fellow countryman. August 29, 2006 Stokes was loaned to the Scottish first division side Falkirk from Arsenal until the end.
Falkirk
Stokes scored his first goal for the Bairns in the 1-0 win in the League Cup third round at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 19 September 2006. On 21 October, he was able to select two more goals against Inverness. On October 28, 2006 Stokes celebrated his first hat -trick in Falkirk 5-1 over Dundee United and was able to repeat it in the next match against Dunfermline Athletic and had thus a score of nine goals in just four games. Thus, Stokes was the first player in the history of the Scottish Premier League, who scored two in a row playing Hattrick. This feat he managed one more time, again against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, in his last match for Falkirk on 30 December in a 3-1 home win of the Bairns.
On November 7, Stokes scored the equalizer for Falkirk in the 100th minute of the CIS Insurance Cup against Celtic, Falkirk that eventually won 5-4 in a penalty shootout. Due to its continued great form, he was elected to the Young Player of the Month of October and November.
By the end of December 2006 he had 16 goals in 18 league and cup games was able to record on his account and so league rival Celtic showed interest in Stokes.
Sunderland
On 8 January 2007 Stokes ended the weeks of speculation about his future and signed for a fee of £ 2 million pounds at Sunderland. Celtic and Charlton Athletic had also shown great interest in the young Irishman, Stokes but reiterated that he was strongly influenced by Sunderland coach and former Irish international Roy Keane and he tipped the scales in favor of the North British. Stokes was originally given the jersey number 26, after the transfer of Jonathan Stead but to Sheffield United he got the 9 on January 13, 2007 Stokes made his first game for Sunderland and gave the edge for the game -winning goal by David Connolly against Ipswich Town. His first goal for Sunderland scored Stokes as a substitute on 10 February 2007 between Plymouth Argyle.
Hibernian
In August 2009, Stokes ' Change to the Scottish capital club Hibernian was announced. The Hibs he meets John Hughes, who coached him already in Falkirk.
Celtic FC
At the start of the 2010/11 season Stokes moved for 1.45 million euros to the Scottish top club and league rival Celtic FC. Zenith of his commitment was Stokes ' hat- trick in a historic 9-0 success over Celtic Aberdeen FC.
National
Stokes played his first international match play for the Irish national team in a 2-1 away win against San Marino on 7 February 2007 when he came on.
Achievements
With FC Sunderland:
- Football League Championship: 2006/ 07
With Celtic Glasgow:
- Scottish champions: 2011/ 12, 2012/13
- Scottish Cup Winners: 2010/ 11, 2012/13
Others
Anthony Stokes was awarded the " Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Stars Awards" 2005. 27 December 2009 Stokes scored the fastest goal in the history of the Scottish Premier League ( SPL). After only 12.4 seconds, he met the interim leadership in the 1:4 defeat of his Hibernian FC vs Rangers FC. Shortly after Stokes was named " Young Player of the Month for December 2009" in the SPL. This month Stokes scored in four games six goals.