David Unsworth
David Gerald Unsworth ( born October 16, 1973 in Chorley ) is a former English footballer. As a robust defensive player was "Rhino", as he was called with the ball at his feet because of its dynamic advances, initially often found in the center of defense and later moved to the left side - both in the function of the full-back and in midfield. Greatest success was in 1995 it won the FA Cup with Everton, for whom he played 302 Premier League games with a short break and to date simplified internal record holder in this category. He is currently working on the coaching staff of the second division side Preston North End.
Professional career
In the club
Everton, Part 1 (1991-1997)
After playing in the U -13 team of Preston North End, Unsworth signed at the age of 14 years, a student contract at Everton. For the first time in the first team he was on 25 April 1992, the then First Division called English top Checkout to train and shot off the bench late 3-3 equalizer against Tottenham Hotspur. After another sporadic operations in the next two years, he sports the breakthrough came in the 1994/95 season under manager Joe Royle. On the center back position alongside the experienced Dave Watson, he convinced by athleticism and aerial ability and showed beyond technically demanding and takes up relatively quickly, he often procured advantages in duels with opposing strikers. Coronation of the consistently good season was next to a senior international game for England after a surprising 1-0 playoff victory against Manchester United's success in the FA Cup. In the following years took over the " left-footed " often the role of left-back in place of Andy Hinchcliffe and although he has frequently formed a reliable center-back pair with Watson, with five goals - a goal threat showed and especially in the three - man defense, the left side - mostly by Penalty well clothed, the person in charge the exact use for Unsworth seemed unclear in Everton. Beginning of August 1997 came up with Howard Kendall, a new coach to the " Toffees " and this was Unsworth a few days later in exchange for Danny Williamson draw with West Ham United.
Although Unsworth with good performances remembered in East London on the achievements of the 1994/95 season and scored two goals contributed to victories against Chelsea and Crystal Palace to the Unsworth family felt far from uncomfortable and sought a return to the English north. He was transferred for a fee of three million pounds of end of June 1998 initially to Aston Villa, before he found out that his old club Everton - Kendall had left the club again now and had been replaced by Walter Smith - had interest in a renewed commitment. Villas coach John Gregory responded angrily that the wavering attitude that had taken Unsworth in view of these advances of his old clubs and not even two months later he agreed a resale for the exact three million pounds, which had previously been paid to West Ham. For the "Villans " Unsworth had completed just one single game in the dress of the reserve team.
Everton, Part 2 (1998-2004)
After his return to the club wish Unsworth seamless continuation of the good form at the " hammer " on, was stable defensively and demonstrated his versatility, as he went through long periods in the defensive midfield at the height of the Ever toner injury crisis. In this role, he also acted in the FA Cup quarter-final against Newcastle United and per shot scored a spectacular goal which, however, given the 1:4 defeat was only a " consolation ". As a " Penalty Specialist" Unsworth was in the 1999/2000 season with nine goals behind Kevin Campbell second best scorer of Everton; in addition, he led the team in August 1999 at White Hart Lane in Tottenham for the first time as captain. About the left position in the tripartite defensive line he came later than in the subsequent 2000/ 01 more frequently than so-called offensive "Wing -back" - a kind of attacking full-back who can also be assigned to the midfield in a 3 -5- 2 system - for the course, with him his above-average fitness values benefited from this intensive running position. Nevertheless, Unsworth had to contend with a shape weaknesses in a relegation battle before then instrumental in the decisive phase with four goals jointly responsible for the league in six games.
Finally arrived in the left midfield Unsworth was finally, as David Moyes in the 2001/ 02 season, the sporting management took over. Already after 27 seconds, he scored the first goal during the reign of new coach and in the subsequent week was followed by the next of three league matches. The " position shuttle game" went on and again mostly as a left-back exceeded Unsworth in the season 2002/ 03, the 300 - Compulsory Games brand for Everton, and laid down a the club 's internal record of 23 transformed Elftmetern. Since the club's management Everton wanted verlängeren the end of the season 2003/ 04 expiring contract of Unsworth only one year, but this striving for a longer duration, this season Unsworth was last in Liverpool. He acted more frequently to its initial position in central defense before banished him the return of Joseph Yobo on the bench. After the Premier League Appearances for Everton had exceeded 300 in respect, he joined in July 2004 free transfer to FC Portsmouth.
Recent career stations (2004-2009)
In the managed by Harry Redknapp Erstligakonkurrenten Unsworth held various positions in defense and midfield, but was there mainly central defender. As Redknapp in November 2004, stepped down from his post and successor Velimir Zajec found little liking to the newcomer, borrowed in " Pompey " the end of January 2004 for the remaining season games in the second division Ipswich Town from where Unsworths Joe Royle - "Mentor " from earlier days - the line held. There he shot not only at first in the first game against Sheffield United a goal, but stabilized at a total of 16 league appearances with his " presence," the defense composite considerably. Since the loan period did not include the play-off games, the short engagement ended after the championship round.
Next stop was from the 2005/ 06 Sheffield United. The " blades " that also in the second division " kicked " one more time was needed his experience and calm in the defensive work. Although now not counted the speed at advanced age footballer 's strengths, he still prepared in standard situation associations opposing defenses problems and convinced especially in Sheffield in the interaction on the left with Chris Armstrong. About the runner he rose at the end of the club to the Premier League. Back in the English top flight, Armstrong played as an attacking full-back still five games before the faster Chris Armstrong and Derek Geary accounted for the position among themselves. Thus Unsworth had no future in the squad and then moved early January 2007 free transfer to Erstligakonkurrenten Wigan Athletic. In the " Latics " Unsworth was after the serious injury of Steve McMillan primarily for his replacement and protection for left-back Leighton Baines and helped to out in central defense. The single goal in ten league games he managed just against former club from Sheffield and his personal 50th goal - significantly from the penalty spot - presented simultaneously in the league safe. Nevertheless, his end of the season expiring contract was not renewed.
In the last two years as a pro active until 2009 Unsworth was further reserve player. In the 2007 /08 season he helped the second division club FC Burnley on various defensive positions in the event of cross suspension or injury and came up in a little more than half of the games used. Although he then was offered a contract extension at the end of the season, which also provided the opportunity for future changes to coaching specialist, he joined in the summer of 2008, the last time the club. When third-rate Huddersfield Town he let his career fade away with four league games; a missed penalty against FC Millwall made sure that he left without gate from there.
England national team
Unsworth played between 1994 and 1995 a total of seven times for the English U- 21 team and made on 3 June 1995 at Wembley Stadium, his only senior international game for England against Japan, when, and in the friendship game even more debutants like Gary Neville Stan Collymore could prove.
After the active career
Following his retirement as an active player in April 2009 Unsworth moved to the coach compartment. For this purpose, it hired Preston North End at first as Supervised in the youth and development. After the departure of Alan Irvine transport was followed in the coaching staff for the first team, and the end of 2010 as head coach Darren Ferguson was released, he was responsible for the A- team on an interim basis until the obligation of Phil Brown 's successor in January 2011.
Title / Awards
- FA Cup: 1995
- Charity Shield: 1995