Gary Naysmith
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| Gary Naysmith | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Andrew Naysmith | |
| Date of birth | November 16, 1978 | |
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | |
| Nickname | Nace | |
| Position | Defender | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Everton | |
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
| 1996-2000 2000- |
Hearts Everton |
121(4) 138(6) |
| National team** | ||
| 1997- | Scotland | 32 (1) |
|
* Professional club appearances and goals |
||
Gary Andrew Naysmith (born November 16, 1978 in Loanhead, Scotland) is a football defender, currently rated as one of the best Scottish left-backs.
Naysmith started his career with Hearts and played for four years emerging as one of Scotland's finest young players, and was named Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year in 1998. He won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998. He also had the honour of being voted the 6th sexiest footballer by the Gay Football Supporters Network in 2002 [1].
Naysmith moved to Everton in October 2000 for a transfer fee of £1.7 million. He first became a regular under Walter Smith and then David Moyes. To date, he has made 128 appearances for Everton, scoring six goals.
A long term ankle injury in 2005 meant that Naysmith lost his first-team place at Everton to Alessandro Pistone in the 2004-2005 season, and in the 2005-2006 season Portuguese international Nuno Valente cemented himself as first choice left-back at Goodison Park. Naysmith recovered from ankle surgery in time for the start of the 2006-07 season. After some reassuring performances in place for the injured Valente, he is expected to play some games as a left-winger, following the vacancy left by Kevin Kilbane's move to Wigan Athletic F.C. [2]. As of September 6 2006, he has won 32 caps for Scotland, scoring one goal.
Throughout his time at Everton, Naysmith has been linked to transfers away from the club, his skilled play frequently catching the eye of opposition scouts. At the end of the 2004-2005 season, it was rumoured that he would be leaving on a free transfer, before signing a new 3-year contract with the blues that will keep him at Everton until 2008 [1]. Naysmith was widely rumoured to be a target for Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic and German club VfB Stuttgart this summer [2]. However, it now looks as though Naysmith will be staying with Everton, after manager David Moyes denied any interest from Celtic [3], and the August 31st transfer deadline passed with no transfer for Naysmith.
As a result of Valente's injury, Naysmith had otherwise started the 2006-07 season as Everton's first-choice left-back -- with the exception of the season opener which Valente started (and was subsequently injured). He had kept his place after Valente returned to fitness. However, it wasn't long before Naysmith received a serious medial ligament injury in the game against Newcastle United on September 24, 2006 whilst making a typically committed, brave, and skillful challenge. He is expected to recover and be in contention for a first team place by November.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
| Preceded by: Robbie Winters |
Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year 1998 |
Succeeded by: Barry Ferguson |
| Everton F.C. - Current Squad |
|---|
|
1 Wright | 2 Hibbert | 3 Naysmith | 4 Yobo | 5 Weir | 6 Arteta | 7 Van der Meyde | 8 Johnson | 9 Beattie | 10 Davies | 11 McFadden | 15 Stubbs | 16 Lescott | 17 Cahill | 18 Neville | 19 Valente | 21 Osman | 22 Vaughan | 23 Pistone | 24 Howard | 26 Carsley | 28 Anichebe | 31 Hughes | 36 Boyle | 41 Viðarsson | Manager: Moyes |
 |
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