 Holland playing forCharlton Athletic in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Rhys Holland[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1974-04-11)11 April 1974 (age 51)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bury, England | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Arsenal | |||
| –1992 | West Ham United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | West Ham United | 0 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | →Farnborough Town (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | →AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 1995–1997 | AFC Bournemouth | 88 | (17) |
| 1997–2003 | Ipswich Town | 259 | (38) |
| 2003–2009 | Charlton Athletic | 191 | (13) |
| Total | 575 | (69) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999 | Republic of Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
| 1999–2005 | Republic of Ireland | 49 | (5) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Matthew Rhys Holland (born 11 April 1974) is a former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder. He is a director and club ambassador atIpswich Town.[2]
Holland began his career atWest Ham United, having previously been withArsenal's academy. During his time at West Ham spent time out on loan atFarnborough Town andAFC Bournemouth, going on to join the later permanently in 1995. After making over one hundred appearances for Bournemouth and captaining the club, Holland signed forIpswich Town in 1997. He spent six years at Ipswich, making over three hundred appearances and captaining the club to promotion to thePremier League through the First Division play-offs in 2000. In 2003, Holland signed forCharlton Athletic. He spent six years at Charlton, captaining the club and making over two hundred appearances. He retired from playing in 2009.
Having won one cap for theRepublic of Ireland B team in 1999, he made his senior debut for theRepublic of Ireland in October 1999. He represented the Republic of Ireland from 1999 to 2005 at international level, earning 49 caps and scoring 5 goals. He was included in their squad for the2002 FIFA World Cup.
Since ending his football career he has worked in the media, including with theBBC,Setanta Sports,Talksport,BT Sport andRTÉ.
Initially rejected byArsenal for being 'too small', Holland went toWest Ham United where he moved up the ranks ofthe academy but did not play for the first team. He joinedFootball Conference sideFarnborough Town during the 1992–93 season and made twenty-one appearances.[3]
In order to gain first team football, Holland joined South Coast sideAFC Bournemouth in January 1995. He won the club's Player of the Year award for the 1995–96 season.[4] He played a total of 104 games, scoring 18 goals whilst atDean Court and also becamecaptain.
In the summer of 1997, Holland joinedIpswich Town for a fee of £800,000. He made his debut for Ipswich on the opening day of the 1997–98 season, starting in a 0–0 draw withQueens Park Rangers. He scored his first goal for the club on 20 September 1997, netting in a 3–2 loss toStoke City. Holland became an integral part of the side during his first season atPortman Road, starting every league and cup game as Ipswich finished 5th in the First Division, qualifying for the First Division play-offs as a result. Ipswich lost out 2–0 on aggregate over two legs toCharlton Athletic in the play-offs semi-finals. In total Holland made 59 appearances in all competitions during his first season at the club, scoring 12 goals, including a brace in a 3–0 away win overTorquay United in a League Cup second round tie.[5] He won the club'sPlayer of the Year award for the1997–98 season.[6]
He again became Ipswich's club captain during his second season at the club and continued to feature as a key part of the team. He scored his first goal of the season on 11 August in a 1–1 draw withExeter City in a League Cup match. He once again featured in every game of season as Ipswich finished 3rd in the league and qualified for the play-offs for a third successive season. Ipswich were knocked out of the play-offs byBolton Wanderers over two legs, losing the first leg 1–0, Holland scored a brace in the second leg in a 4–3 victory, one of which being the winning goal, leveling the tie at 4–4 with Ipswich losing out on away goals.[7]
Ipswich continued to challenge for promotion during the 1999–2000 season. Holland kept up his impressive record of playing every game over the course of the season. He scored 10 goals in the league as Ipswich once again finished 3rd in the First Division, narrowly missing out on an automatic promotion place on the final day of the season. This meant Ipswich had qualified for the play-offs for the fourth season in a row. Holland started both legs of the semi-finals. The first leg of the semi-finals saw Ipswich come from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 away at Bolton, withMarcus Stewart scoring a brace. Ipswich won the second leg 5–3 at Portman Road, in a match that also saw two Bolton Wanderers players red carded, with goals fromJamie Clapham,Martijn Reuser and aJim MagiltonHat-trick. Ipswich progressed to the play-offs final following a 7–5 aggregate win over Bolton Wanderers. Holland started in and captained Ipswich in thefinal on 29 May 2000 againstBarnsley atWembley Stadium. Ipswich again came from behind to eventually win the final 4–2, following goals fromTony Mowbray,Richard Naylor,Marcus Stewart andMartijn Reuser, winning promotion to thePremier League following a 5-year absence from the top flight.[8]
The following season, Holland captained the club to a 5th-placed finish in the2000–01 Premier League season, Ipswich's highest Premier League finish. He scored his first Premier League goal on 11 November in a 2–0 home win overCharlton Athletic at Portman Road. He also scored in League Cup wins overMillwall andManchester City as Ipswich reached the semi-finals of the2000–01 League Cup, losing 4–2 on aggregate toBirmingham City over two legs having won the first leg 1–0. Holland again started every league game that season, making 47 appearances in all competitions and scoring 5 goals.[9] As a result of finishing 5th in the Premier League, Ipswich qualified for theUEFA Cup for the first time since the 1982–83 season.
Holland scored his first goal of the 2001–02 season on 28 October in a 3–2 loss to his former clubWest Ham United. He played every match in the Premier League andUEFA Cup that season, however Ipswich suffered relegation from the Premier League after finishing 18th in the 2001–02 season. In total Holland made 46 appearances during the season, scoring 3 goals, including the winning goal in a 2–1 away win overEverton on 2 February.[10]
Though Ipswich were relegated Holland stayed with the club during the 2002–03 season after he turned down a £4 million move toAston Villa.[11] He continued to play regularly, scoring his first goals of the season on 18 August, netting a brace in a 6–1 win overLeicester City at Portman Road. On 15 March he scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win overSheffield Wednesday. He made 54 appearances over the course of the season, scoring 7 goals as Ipswich finished 7th in the league.[12] Holland won Ipswich's Player of the Year award for the second time in the2002–03 season.[13] His spell at Ipswich is remembered for the consistency he showed, after playing 223 consecutive games and only missing one league match (due to international duty) in the six years he was at Portman Road. Combined with the end of his time at Bournemouth, Holland's sequence of 286 matches is among the highest in English league football.[14]
After Ipswich failed to win promotion in 2003, Holland moved back to the Premier League by joiningCharlton Athletic on a four-year contract for an initial £750,000 fee,[15] which later rose to £900,000. Again with this move he assumed the captain's armband and was ever-present in his first season for the club. He made his debut for Charlton against Manchester City on 17 August 2003. He scored his first goals for the club on 3 November 2003 when he netted a brace in a 2–1 win overBirmingham City. He played in every league game during his first season at Charlton, scoring 6 goals. In his first season at the club, Holland captained Charlton to 7th in the league, their highest ever Premier League finish.[16]
Holland continued to be a key part of the Charlton side during the 2004–05 season. He scored the winning goal in 1–0 away win overWest Bromwich Albion on 11 December, a month later he again scored the winner in a 1–0 away win over Everton. He scored 3 goals in 36 appearances as Charlton finished 11th in the Premier League.[17]
He remained as a regular in the Charlton first-team during the following season, helping the club to another mid-table season in the top-flight in the 2005–06 season, although Charlton did suffer relegation from the Premier League the following season. Holland remained with the club following relegation, becoming one of the longest-serving Charlton players. He claimed more than half the entire vote for the 2007–08 Fans' Player of the Year award.[18] He continued to play regularly during the 2008–09 season, making 38 appearances across all competitions.[19] His final match came in a 2–2 draw withCardiff City on 21 April 2009,[20] and the club released him after relegation toLeague One at the end of the season.
In July 2009, Holland trained withColchester United following his release from Charlton in order to keep himself fit.[21]
Although born in England, Holland qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother who hailed from County Monaghan.[22] He made his international debut on 9 October 1999 in an awayEuro 2000 qualifier againstMacedonia, playing the last five minutes as a substitute forMark Kennedy.[23] He made his club manager at the time,George Burley, aware of his interest and Burley spoke to the national managerMick McCarthy.[24] Holland's first goal for the national team came on his fifth cap, the equaliser in a 1–1 draw withPortugal on 7 October 2000 in qualification for the2002 FIFA World Cup.[25] Holland captained the side in three internationals, the first on his 28th cap, a 2–0 friendly defeat toScotland.[26]
He went with theRepublic of Ireland to the2002 World Cup scoring the equaliser againstCameroon in their opening game. He swapped shirts withDietmar Hamann after theGermany game.[27] Ireland were eliminated from this tournament in aSecond Round penalty shoot-out againstSpain, with Holland among those who missed.[28] Following Ireland's failure to qualify for the2006 World Cup, he announced his retirement from international football on 5 February 2006 having made 49 appearances and scoring five goals. ManagerSteve Staunton had attempted to persuade Holland to continue.[29]
He was one of several players and managers (includingDanny Mills andPaul Jewell) who acted as summarisers forBBC Radio 5 Live during the2006 World Cup. Holland has also appeared on theBBC television programA Question of Sport and the radio quizFighting Talk. Holland as a freelance pundit has appeared on nearly every media outlet covering football in the UK. He has been a pundit onESPN &Sky Sports, appeared on BBC results service Final Score on the odd Saturday afternoon and appeared on ITV commentating on the UEFA Cup. He is also a presenter for the Eastern England edition of the BBC regional football showLate Kick Off.[30]
He has also appeared on many radio shows, he usually appears onTalksport on kick off usually on Friday nights and also appearing on Matchday Live on Saturday afternoons whenever he is not on Final Score. Holland has also appeared frequently onAbsolute Radio andBBC Radio 5 Live as a co-commentator as well as Final Score,Premier Soccer Saturday or Talksport. In addition Holland previously appeared as an analyst forSetanta Sports' live matches.
He also co-commentates onBT Sport on theUEFA Champions League andUEFA Europa League.[31]
Holland began work withRTÉ when he commentated alongside George Hamilton during the Rep. of Ireland and Brazil friendly. He then appeared as a member of the panel on RTÉ's Premier Soccer Saturday for a number of weeks. He commentated the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[32][33]
Holland iscolour blind. He said that he had particular difficulty on his Charlton debut, when they wore red againstPlymouth Argyle's green.[34]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Ham United | 1992–93 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Farnborough Town (loan) | 1992–93[3] | Football Conference | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 1994–95 | Second Division | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| AFC Bournemouth | 1995–96 | Second Division | 43 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 52 | 10 |
| 1996–97[35] | Second Division | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 7 | |
| Total | 104 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 116 | 18 | ||
| Ipswich Town | 1997–98[5] | First Division | 46 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2[b] | 0 | 59 | 12 |
| 1998–99[7] | First Division | 46 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2[b] | 2 | 54 | 9 | |
| 1999–2000[36] | First Division | 46 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 54 | 10 | |
| 2000–01[9] | Premier League | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 47 | 5 | ||
| 2001–02[10] | Premier League | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | 46 | 3 | |
| 2002–03[12] | First Division | 45 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | 54 | 7 | |
| Total | 259 | 38 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 19 | 2 | 314 | 46 | ||
| Charlton Athletic | 2003–04[37] | Premier League | 38 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 6 | |
| 2004–05[38] | Premier League | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2005–06[39] | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07[40] | Premier League | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08[41] | Championship | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09[42] | Championship | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 1 | ||
| Total | 191 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 215 | 14 | ||
| Career total | 575 | 69 | 30 | 1 | 39 | 6 | 22 | 2 | 666 | 78 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 1999 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 5 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 October 2000 | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal | 6 |  Portugal | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 28 March 2001 | Mini Estadi, Barcelona, Spain | 8 |  Andorra | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 6 June 2001 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia | 11 |  Estonia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 1 June 2002 | Niigata Stadium, Niigata, Japan | 20 |  Cameroon | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 FIFA World Cup |
| 5 | 27 May 2004 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Republic of Ireland | 40 |  Romania | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
Ipswich Town
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