English Premier League - Player Profile: Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock
Warnock was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, and played his childhood football for Rufford Colts, a small amateur football youth club which is based at St. Bede’s RC High School. He also played for his high school team from St. Bede. After getting done with his high school, Stephen joined Liverpool’s youth academy. Liverpool’s academy is thought of as one of the best youth football institutions in England because the coaches there have contributed a great deal to the careers of famous superstars such as Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen.
After joining Liverpool’s youth setup, Warnock was also welcomed into England national team’s Under-16 setup. He also earned his first cap for the England Under-16s during this time. After coming good in Liverpool’s youth academy, Warnock joined Bradford City on loan. He scored his first career goal at Bradford against Sheffield Wednesday.
His debut for Liverpool came in a UEFA Champions League third round qualification match against Grazer AK in 2004, after his successful loan spell at Bradford and Coventry City ended. In his debut season at Liverpool (2004-2005), Warnock played most of the games as a full back and showcased impressive form which prompted the club manager to drop more experienced players such as Harry Kewell from the line-up to make space for Stephen in the starting line-up.
In his second season at Liverpool, the 2005-2006 season, Warnock played a squad rotational role at the left back spot in the first team and often switched places with John Arne Riise from The Reds’ bench. The young English defender scored his first goal for the Merseyside giants on 15th of March 2006, against Fulham in a five goals to one win. He made a total of sixty seven appearances during his time at Liverpool but only managed to score a single goal.
Frustrated due to the lack of first team games at Liverpool, Warnock agreed to a transfer to Blackburn Rovers on January 22, 2007. At first it was speculated that Stephen might swap clubs with Rovers’ defender and captain Lucas Neill; however, this did not come to fruition as Neill agreed to a higher wage package at West Ham United rather than at Liverpool. Nonetheless, Warnock was signed by the Rovers for a fee which amounted to around 2.5 million pounds.
The English International footballer made his debut for Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup fourth round match against Luton Town, an encounter that ended four nil in Blackburn’s favour. On the 31st of January, 2007, Warnock played his first Premier League game for Blackburn Rovers, against Chelsea F.C. His first goal for Rovers came against Portsmouth in a three nil victory for Blackburn.
After spending two full seasons at Blackburn Rovers, Warnock again switched clubs and this time went to Aston Villa, who signed the left back on a four year contract and gave him the number twenty five shirt number on 26th of August, 2009. His first goal for Villa came in the League Cup semifinal against Blackburn Rovers (January 20, 2010). His performances in the 2009-10 season were impressive for Aston Villa as they finished 6th in the Premier League.
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