Stephen Ward (footballer)

Stephen Robert Ward (born 20 August 1985) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Ipswich Town.

Stephen Ward
Ward playing for the Republic of Ireland at the 2011 Nations Cup
Personal information
Full name Stephen Robert Ward[1]
Date of birth (1985-08-20) 20 August 1985[2]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Left-back, Winger
Club information
Current team
 Ipswich Town
Number 3
Youth career
Home Farm
Portmarnock
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Bohemians 74 (11)
2007–2014 Wolverhampton Wanderers 222 (9)
2013–2014 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 44 (4)
2014–2019 Burnley 101 (3)
2019–2020 Stoke City 15 (0)
2020– Ipswich Town 20 (0)
National team
2003–2004 Republic of Ireland U19 5 (3)
2005–2008 Republic of Ireland U21 13 (4)
2007 Republic of Ireland B 1 (0)
2011–2018 Republic of Ireland 50 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:05, 9 February 2021 (UTC)

Ward began his senior career with Bohemians in his native Ireland, before moving to English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2007. Featuring regularly, he was part of their promotion to the Premier League two years later and played over 230 times for the club. Following consecutive relegation's though he was transfer listed and after spending the 2013–14 season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion he eventually left to return to the Premier League with Burnley in 2014. He spent five seasons at Turf Moor making 113 appearances for the Clarets before joining Stoke City in June 2019.

From 2011 until his retirement from international football in March 2019, he had been a regular member of the Republic of Ireland's international squads, and played at UEFA Euro 2012 and UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Bohemians

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Ward grew up in Portmarnock where he attended St Helen's Primary School and Portmarnock Community School.[4] Ward played schoolboy football for Home Farm and Portmarnock before joining Dublin-based League of Ireland side Bohemians in the summer of 2003.[5] He scored twice on his debut as a substitute against Skerries Town in the FAI Cup on 15 August 2003. Ward played as a forward for Bohemians before converting to a left-back.[6] His form in Ireland attracted interest from various English sides including Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers.[7] The 2006 season with Bohemians ended up being his last and he made a total of 93 appearances for the club, scoring 26 times.[5]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

After a successful trial, Ward joined English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 2007 on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[8] The fee, although undisclosed, was reported to be £100,000.[9]

Ward had a bright start to English football scoring three times in his first six games, earning him the Championship Player of the Month Award for February 2007;[10] his first goal came against Plymouth Argyle on 3 February.[11] He featured in all of Wolves remaining 2006–07 fixtures as they reached the play-offs where they lost 4–2 on aggregate to Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion.[12] The next season was less successful for Ward as he was mostly used in an unfamiliar left midfield role, covering for the injured Matt Jarvis, but announced he was happy to play anywhere.[13] Later on in the season, Ward himself also suffered injury woes as he was struck down with patellar tendinitis that ruled him out for four months.[14] He played 31 times in 2007–08 as the team narrowly missed a second successive play-off spot finishing in 7th position.[15]

The 2008–09 season again saw Ward adopt a new position as he was converted to a makeshift left-back, after George Elokobi sustained knee damage in only the third game of the campaign.[16] Despite the emergency purchase of natural full back Matt Hill, Ward was often preferred in the spot anyway.[17] Ward only missed four Championship matches helping Wolves win the title and earn promotion to the Premier League.[18]

Ward began the club's return to the top flight in the left-back role, but he soon suffered a cartilage injury that kept him out of action for two months.[19] Returning in December 2009 he was sent-off by Andre Marriner against Liverpool a decision which angered manager Mick McCarthy.[20] Ward made a total of 22 league appearances in 2009–10 as the club managed to avoid an immediate return to the second tier, finishing in 15th.[21] At the end of the campaign Ward signed a contract extension with Wolves.[22]

During the 2010–11 season, Ward filled a variety of roles, playing left-back, left midfield and as a striker. One game up front saw him net his first Premier League goal, when he scored the only goal of the game against Liverpool at Anfield on 29 December 2010.[23] He was part of the team that avoided relegation on the final day of the season as results went their way after a 3–2 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers.[24] Ward played 41 times in 2011–12 as Wolves suffered relegation to the Championship, finishing bottom of the table.[25] Ward scored Wolves' first goal back in the Championship a 3–1 win against Barnsley on 20 August 2012.[26] However Wolves would go on to have another poor campaign in 2012–13, suffering a second successive relegation.[27]

Loan to Brighton & Hove Albion

After Wolves suffered a second consecutive relegation to enter League One in 2013, Ward was one of a group of players made available for transfer by the club's new head coach Kenny Jackett.[28] On 16 August 2013, Ward was loaned to Brighton & Hove Albion for the 2013–14 season,[29] where he made 47 appearances as the club reached the play-offs but were defeated at the semi-final stage by Derby County. Brighton then agreed to a permanent deal with Wolves for Ward over the close season,[30] but interest from the Premier League halted the move.[31]

Burnley
Ward (right) playing for Burnley in 2016

On 15 August 2014, Ward moved to newly promoted Premier League side Burnley, signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[32] Ward made only ten appearances for Burnley in 2014–15 due to injuries as the side suffered an immediate relegation.[33] In 2015–16 Burnley went on a 23-unbeaten run which saw them gain promotion back to the Premier League as champions.[34] Ward only missed one league match in 2016–17, playing a total of 38 times helping the Clarets avoid relegation, finishing in 16th position.[35] Ward signed a contract extension in August 2017, keeping him contracted at Turf Moor until 2019.[36] Ward scored in a 3–2 win away at champions Chelsea on the opening day of the 2017–18 season.[37] Ward made 28 appearances as Burnley had a successful campaign finishing in 7th, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.[38] Ward lost his place in the side to Charlie Taylor in 2018–19, only making ten appearances. On 12 May 2019, it was confirmed he would leave Burnley at the end of his contract on 1 July 2019.[39]

Stoke City

On 26 June 2019, Ward joined Stoke City, signing an initial one-year contract.[40] Ward made his debut against Charlton Athletic on 10 August 2019 in a 3–1 defeat.[41] Ward was in and out of the team in the first half of the 2019–20 season as Stoke were involved in a relegation fight.[42] He picked up a calf injury against Fulham 29 December 2019 which ruled him out for four months.[43] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the season was suspended for 15 weeks and extended into the summer and on 1 July 2020 Ward signed a contract extension to cover the remaining matches.[44] After only playing once since the restart Ward left Stoke on 17 July 2020.[45]

Ipswich Town

On 17 August 2020, Ward joined League One side Ipswich Town on a free transfer. He signed a one-year deal with the club, with the option of an additional one-year extension.[46] Ward made his debut for Ipswich on 5 September, starting in a 3–0 win over Bristol Rovers in a League Cup first round tie at Portman Road.[47]

International career
Ward in action during Euro 2012

Ward received his first full call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team squad on 4 May 2011, for friendlies against Northern Ireland and Scotland as well as a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia.[48][49] He made his national team debut on 24 May 2011 in a Nations Cup game against Northern Ireland, where he opened the scoring in a 5–0 victory.[50] Ward made his competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland against Slovakia in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match, during which he kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. Ward scored his second international goal in the second leg of the play-off for UEFA Euro 2012 against Estonia, sealing Ireland's place in their first major tournament since 2002 with an unprecedented 5–1 aggregate win.[51]

Ward was picked in Trapattoni's 23-man squad for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine,[52] going on to play in all three of their matches in the tournament before their group stage elimination.

He played in three of Ireland's four matches at Euro 2016 as the Boys in Green made the knockout stages, losing to France in the Round of 16.[53][54]

He announced his retirement from international football on 14 March 2019 after missing out on the final squad for upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.[55][56]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 9 February 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bohemians 2003[57] LOI Premier Division 60??
2004[57] LOI Premier Division 162??
2005[57] LOI Premier Division 297??
2006[57] LOI Premier Division 232??
Total 74119326
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2006–07[58] Championship 18310—2[lower-alpha 1]0213
2007–08[59] Championship 2901010—310
2008–09[60] Championship 4201010—440
2009–10[61] Premier League 2202000—240
2010–11[62] Premier League 3413000—371
2011–12[63] Premier League 3832010—413
2012–13[64] Championship 3921010—412
Total 222911040202399
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2013–14[65] Championship 44410002[lower-alpha 1]0474
Burnley 2014–15[66] Premier League 900010—100
2015–16[67] Championship 2412110—272
2016–17[35] Premier League 3711000—381
2017–18[38] Premier League 2810000—281
2018–19[68] Premier League 3020104[lower-alpha 2]0100
Total 10135130401134
Stoke City 2019–20[69] Championship 1500020—170
Ipswich Town 2020–21[70] League One 200001000210
Career total 476271711008053043
  1. Appearances in Football League Championship play-offs
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

Source:[57]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 201192
201290
201320
201490
201520
201691
201790
201810
Total503

International goals
Republic of Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ward goal.[57]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 24 May 2011Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland1 Northern Ireland1–05–02011 Nations Cup[71]
2 15 November 2011Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland9 Estonia1–01–1UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs[72]
3 31 May 2016Turners Cross, Cork, Ireland33 Belarus1–21–2Friendly[73]

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Burnley

Republic of Ireland

Individual

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 429. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  4. "Stephen hits new heights at Euros". Irish Independent. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  5. "Stephen Ward on homesickness, beating Germany & the frustration of not playing". The42. TheJournal.ie. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  6. Young, Collin (17 March 2019). "'He was as mad then as I thought he was playing against him' - Colin Young meets Stephen Ward and Stephen Hunt". independent.ie. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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  13. "Ward happy with his Molineux role". BBC Sport. 10 July 2008.
  14. "Ward glad at lucky escape". Birmingham Mail. 8 March 2008.
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  16. "Wolves hamstrung without wingers". BBC Sport. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
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