Career Stephen Hunt (footballer, born 1981)

1 career

1.1 club

1.1.1 years
1.1.2 reading
1.1.3 hull city
1.1.4 wolverhampton wanderers
1.1.5 ipswich town
1.1.6 coventry city


1.2 international

career
club
early years

hunt became known creative , skilful play work rate winger. although born in laois, hunt grew in clonea-power, waterford. talented under-age hurler , soccer player. played waterford hurlers @ under-15 , under-16 levels. hurling first love.

hunt s first introduction organised football when moved christian brothers secondary school in carrick-on-suir, co. tipperary @ age of 11. during time @ secondary school began playing waterford soccer side johnville f.c. , won munster schools junior cup carrick cbs. gained hunt degree of recognition , played in kennedy cup waterford county. later excelled carrick united @ various age levels, before going england starting career trainee crystal palace. failing make impact on first team, hunt had trials clubs including dundee united before leaving join brentford. in 4 years @ west london club, became integral part of team.

in 2005 hunt rejected new contract , decided leave brentford. after agreeing join bradford city, late interest reading, in football league championship, made him change mind.

reading

hunt reading

hunt denied more starting appearances in first reading season form of bobby convey. still made contribution, appearing bench, reading won championship title , promotion premiership during 2005–06 season.

on 14 october 2006, hunt s knee collided chelsea s goalkeeper petr Čech when reading player lunging @ ball, resulting in Čech undergoing surgery depressed fracture of skull. since injury, petr Čech has had wear head protection during every game. following incident, premier league officials, players, pundits, player s representatives , mps expressed views either condemning or supporting hunt , others involved in aftermath of incident. fa confirmed no action taken against hunt but, in mean time, both hunt , teammate ibrahima sonko, involved in collision in same match Čech s replacement carlo cudicini, had allegedly received death threats chelsea fans. hunt scored first premier league goal in 6-0 home win on west ham.

during january 2008 transfer window, reading rejected series of bids (peaking @ £5.5 million) sunderland hunt, reading confirmed had no intention of selling players @ time. on 1 february 2008, hunt signed new deal reading keeping him @ club until summer of 2011. in 2007–08, hunt scored 6 goals in 39 appearances reading s first team not prevent club being relegated on goal difference.

on 4 february 2009, reading confirmed hunt had signed new three-and-a-half year contract, keep him @ club until summer of 2012. however, after club failed in attempt win instant return premier league, losing in playoff semi finals burnley, hunt announced intention leave reading in hope securing move premier league.

hull city

on 13 august 2009 confirmed hunt had signed hull city undisclosed fee, believed around region of £3.5 million. scored first goal club 28 minutes debut against chelsea on 15 august 2009. first goal of 2009–10 premier league season. however, taunted chelsea fans throughout game, due incident cech. hunt scored in next match, home debut hull city, beaten 5–1 tottenham.

in january transfer window, hunt subject of £5 million bid wolverhampton wanderers, tigers rejected it. shortly after, hunt suffered foot injury ruled him out of run-in. in absence, club relegated amid growing financial worries.

wolverhampton wanderers

on 21 june 2010 wolverhampton wanderers signed hunt on three-year deal undisclosed fee, reported £3 million. hunt, still recovering foot injury time hull, did not return action until several months season, making wolves debut substitute against chelsea on 23 october 2010. scored first goal club on 27 november, 3–2 win against sunderland.

in part of 2011, hunt suffered calf , hernia injuries kept him out of action 3 months. returned injury final 5 fixtures of season , scored 3 minutes time on final day of season against blackburn rovers guarantee wolves premier league safety.

although undergoing groin operation, hunt largely regular player wolves throughout 2011–12 season club suffered relegation. campaign in championship hampered persistent hip injury played regularly throughout final months team once again relegated. @ conclusion of season announced hunt free leave contract had expired. in total made 66 appearances club, scoring 8 times.

ipswich town

on 8 november 2013 hunt signed short-term deal ipswich town.

on 30 june 2014 hunt signed further 1-year deal ipswich.

coventry city

on 8 january 2016 hunt signed short term deal league 1 promotion chasing side coventry city fc after short spell free agent.

he retired playing football @ end of 2015–16 season.

international

hunt (far right) during welcome ceremony irish squad in sopot before uefa euro 2012

hunt earned first cap republic of ireland in 2–1 win away san marino on 7 february 2007, coming on substitute. later year sent off following challenge on jan polák in match against czech republic on 12 september 2007.

the midfielder became regular member of giovanni trapattoni s team narrowly failed qualify 2010 world cup. hunt scored first, , date only, international goal through late penalty in 2–3 friendly defeat poland @ croke park on 19 november 2008. subsequently selected part of ireland s squad euro 2012 tournament did not play in of games.