Kieron Courtney Dyer (born 29 December 1978) is an English
football player currently playing for Newcastle United. A pacy
midfield player, Dyer is a regular member of the England squad
when he is not injured, but has failed, so far, to win a regular
place in the starting line-up.
Dyer's football career began with his hometown team, Ipswich
Town, whom he signed for as a 17 year old trainee in 1996. He
broke into the Ipswich first team during his first season at the
club, and quickly established a reputation as one of the top
youngsters in English football outside of the Premier League. He
spent three years at Portman Road, then requested a transfer to
a bigger club in order to further his international prospects,
after Ipswich failed to gain promotion through the playoffs into
the Premier League in 1999.
Dyer was sold to Newcastle United in July 1999 for a fee of
£6.5m, which is still the record transfer fee received by
Ipswich Town. He was the only English player signed by Ruud
Gullit during his spell as Newcastle's manager. Dyer opened his
Newcastle goalscoring account at home to local rivals Sunderland,
but the game ended in a 2:1 defeat, which saw Gullit resign
shortly afterwards. After joining Newcastle it was not long
before Dyer made his England debut - he had previously
represented his country at Youth, under-21, and 'B' level. His
debut came on 04 September 1999 when he started in England's 6-0
win against Luxembourg. He then played for his country at the
2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. As of 14 November 2005 he had
earned 28 caps for his country, although 20 of these have come
as a substitute. He is yet to score an international goal.
Dyer's time at Newcastle has been hampered with injury, which
has also limited his international chances somewhat. Yet, when
fully fit, his pace and skill is a match for any in the
Premiership.
In August 2004 Dyer received a public caution from the Club's
management after he was filmed urinating in public. This
followed on from Dyer being named in connection with a criminal
investigation in October 2003 into the gang rape of a 17 year
old girl at the Grosvenor Hotel where Dyer was also staying. He
also memorably crashed his Ferrari into a bridge stanchion in
the middle of Newcastle.
On April 2 2005, Dyer was involved in an on-pitch brawl with
fellow teammate Lee Bowyer in Newcastle United's Premiership
match with Aston Villa. This resulted in Dyer receiving a red
card for that particular game plus a further three game ban.
Bowyer received a more severe punishment of a four game ban and
a fine of more than £200,000 - approximately six weeks wages.
At the start of the 2005/06 season Dyer was once again on the
injured list, preventing his selection for club or country. This
followed a close-season in which Newcastle manager Graeme
Souness signed a number of other midfield players including
Emre, Scott Parker, Albert Luque and Nolberto Solano.
Dyer returned to first-team action on the 04 February, 2006
against Portsmouth, Newcastle first game following the departure
of Souness. Dyer received a rapturous reception from the
supporters, who hope that he can help change the side's
fortunes, especially as he'd been on good form prior to his
injury, especially against West Bromwich Albion where he set up
Michael Owen's second goal. |
