 Sullivan withLeeds United in 2005 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neil Sullivan[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1970-02-24)24 February 1970 (age 55)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Sutton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1988 | Wimbledon | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–2000 | Wimbledon | 181 | (0) |
| 1992 | →Crystal Palace (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2000–2003 | Tottenham Hotspur | 64 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Chelsea | 4 | (0) |
| 2004–2007 | Leeds United | 95 | (0) |
| 2006 | →Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2007 | →Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2007–2013 | Doncaster Rovers | 184 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | →AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 20 | (0) |
| Total | 565 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1997–2003 | Scotland | 28 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Neil Sullivan (born 24 February 1970) is a professionalfootball player and coach. He played as agoalkeeper from 1988 until 2013, playing in thePremier League forWimbledon,Tottenham Hotspur andChelsea, and representedScotland internationally.
He started his career withWimbledon, and remained with The Dons for twelve years during which he made 181 league appearances. He also at times covered for the likes ofDave Beasant,Hans Segers andPaul Heald, and also spent a period on loan atCrystal Palace. In 2000, he moved toTottenham Hotspur where he replacedIan Walker as the club's favoured keeper. In 2003, he departed Tottenham after losing his place in the team and was signed as a back-up keeper by rivalsChelsea.
In 2004, he moved to freshly relegatedFootball Championship sideLeeds United where he remained until 2007. Whilst at Leeds he eventually lost his place in the team and was loaned out toDoncaster Rovers in both 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he joined Rovers on a permanent deal where he remained the club's favoured keeper until the 2012–13 season when he was loaned toAFC Wimbledon, the side formed after the relocation of his first club. Sullivan returned to Doncaster towards the end of the year and aided Doncaster to theLeague One title. In July 2013, he announced he was leaving Doncaster. After rejecting offers to prolong his playing career, he started working as a goalkeeping coach.
Between 1997 and 2003, Sullivan was capped 28 times byScotland. He was selected for the1998 FIFA World Cup, where he was the second choice goalkeeper behindJim Leighton.
Sullivan was born inSutton, Greater London.[2] He began his career with local clubWimbledon in 1988, amassing a total of 224 appearances between 1988 and 2000. It was during his tenure at Wimbledon that Sullivan was often acknowledged as one of the bestgoalkeepers in the league marked by his selection for the division's 1997–98 team of the season.[citation needed]
He was initially an understudy forHans Segers, and then spent the1995–96 season vying withPaul Heald for the job as Wimbledon's regular goalkeeper, before making the position his own for the1996–97 season.[citation needed]
Sullivan conceded a famous goal byDavid Beckham scored from the halfway line, while he was off his line, in August 1996. He also played one game on loan forCrystal Palace in 1992.[citation needed]
In 2000, after Wimbledon's relegation, Sullivan moved from Wimbledon toTottenham Hotspur, where he made over 80 appearances. He helped Tottenham reach the2002 Football League Cup Final which they lost toBlackburn Rovers.[4]
Chelsea began the 2003–04 season with three senior goalkeepers;Carlo Cudicini,Marco Ambrosio andJurgen Macho. However, Jurgen Macho picked up a serious knee injury and Chelsea moved to replace him with Sullivan. Sullivan was to compete with Ambrosio for providing back up to Cudicini.[5][6] He made his debut in aLeague Cup tie againstReading on 3 December 2003.[7] His league debut followed againstPortsmouth on 28 December 2003.[8] In all Sullivan made eight appearances for Chelsea, four of which came in the league.
In June 2004, he was signed byLeeds United,[9] by managerKevin Blackwell to replacePaul Robinson who had left Leeds to join Tottenham. Sullivan beat off competition for number one spot from young goalkeeperScott Carson. Leeds were debt-ridden and had just been relegated from the Premier League when Sullivan joined them.[citation needed]
In his first season (2004–05), he was voted as the club's Player of the Year after some superb saves throughout the season, including saving several penalties for Leeds in games againstWolverhampton Wanderers,Cardiff City,Burnley andNottingham Forest.[10][11][12][13] Leeds finished 10 points off the playoffs after a season of rebuilding. In his second season at Leeds he continued his penalty saving prowess, saving one in a 1–0 win away atStoke City,[14] and Leeds went on to reach the playoff final againstWatford with Sullivan again having a decent season. But the playoff final ended in defeat for Leeds, losing 3–0 and Sullivan scoring an own goal.[15]
Due to an injury picked up in the pre-season match againstNottingham Forest, Sullivan made few appearances in the 2006–07 campaign for Leeds, with loan goalkeeperTony Warner filling in whilst Sullivan was injured. Kevin Blackwell was sacked and replaced byDennis Wise. Wise decided to signGraham Stack on loan to compete with Warner and Sullivan. On 23 November 2006, he moved on loan toDoncaster Rovers. His loan was however cut short and he returned to Leeds on 21 December 2006. Manager Dennis Wise told the press after Leeds' 2–1 victory againstCoventry City that Sullivan had put on weight, and his performances were not as good, hence his loan to Doncaster.[16] Leeds signedCasper Ankergren as the new number one goalkeeper. Sullivan re-signed on loan for Doncaster Rovers in February 2007. After the end of his loan at Doncaster, Sullivan returned to Leeds but was released at the end of his contract.[citation needed]
On 15 May 2007, Sullivan returned to Doncaster. He became the regular first team keeper and his consistent performances throughout the 2007–08 season helped Doncaster to promotion. He made an error in the 2–1 loss toYeovil Town on 21 March 2008, mis-controlling a backpass which led to a Yeovil goal, but the disappointment of this mistake was over-shadowed by a very successful season between the sticks, in which Sullivan kept an impressive 20 clean sheets.[17] He overcame this to help Doncaster win promotion to the Championship with a playoff final win over former club Leeds United, leaving them in the third tier of the Football League for at least another year.[citation needed]
Sullivan was also credited with a man-of-the-match performance againstAston Villa on 24 January 2009 which gave Doncaster a 0–0 draw that helped keep them in theFA Cup.[18]
The veteran goalkeeper continued to be an ever-present in the Rovers side throughout the 2009–10 season, appearing in all 46 league games for the club.[citation needed] In 2010, Sullivan signed a one-year contract extension for Rovers, meaning he would be at the club until the end of the 2010–11 campaign. However, he had an injury-hit season, and was eventually replaced byGary Woods as no.1. At the end of the season, he signed another one-year extension.[19]
On 16 November 2012, Sullivan joined AFC Wimbledon on a short-term loan from Doncaster Rovers and made his debut the following day againstAldershot.[20] On 2 December 2012 Sullivan started in theFA Cup 2nd round match againstMK Dons, which they lost 2–1.[citation needed]
With first choice keeperGary Woods injured, Doncaster recalled him for their game atAFC Bournemouth on 9 March 2013.[21] Following his return to the Rovers' team from his loan spell in March 2013, Sullivan went on to play till the end of the season as Doncaster won the League One title and sealed automatic promotion to the Championship. It was later announced that he would be retained by the club for the following season.[22] On 11 July 2013, Doncaster Rovers confirmed that Sullivan had left the club.[23]
Sullivan wascapped 28 times byScotland between 1997 and 2003. He was named in theScottish squad for the1998 FIFA World Cup in France, but was an unused substitute in all of Scotland's three matches.[citation needed] Sullivan became the first choice Scotland goalkeeper afterJim Leighton retired from international football later in 1998, and he played regularly during the Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup qualification groups.
After gaining promotion to theChampionship withDoncaster Rovers, Sullivan turned down the offer of extending his playing career at the club as well as an Ambassadorial role[24] in favour of returning to former clubLeeds United as Academy Goalkeeper Coach on 16 July.[25][26] With an injury to Leeds substitute goalkeeperJamie Ashdown, Sullivan revealed he had not officially retired from playing and would be willing to register himself as a player for the 2013/14 season.[27] In the summer of 2014, Sullivan became the First Team Goalkeeping Coach for the 2014–15 season, under Head CoachesDave Hockaday,Darko Milanic andNeil Redfearn.[citation needed]
For the start of the 2015–16 season under new Leeds Head CoachUwe Rösler, Sullivan was to revert to his original role as the Leeds United Academy Goalkeeper Coach.[28] After the appointment of Goalkeeper CoachRichard Hartis on 9 June 2015, Leeds confirmed Sullivan had returned to his role as Academy Goalkeeper Coach.[29] In 2020, shortly after Leeds United were promoted back to the Premier League, Sullivan was relieved of his duties.
Since leaving Leeds for the second time, Sullivan has taken a coaching role with the Hull City under-18s.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Play Offs | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wimbledon | 1989–90 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1990–91 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 1991–92 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 1992–93 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 1993–94 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| 1994–95 | First Division | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| 1995–96 | First Division | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| 1996–97 | First Division | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 0 | |||
| 1997–98 | First Division | 38 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 0 | |||
| 1998–99 | First Division | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 46 | 0 | |||
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 0 | |||
| Total | 181 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 18 | 0 | — | — | 224 | 0 | ||||
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 1991–92 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2000–01 | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2002–03 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 64 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | — | 81 | 0 | ||||
| Chelsea | 2003–04 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Leeds United | 2004–05 | Championship | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Championship | 42 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 50 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07 | Championship | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 95 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 110 | 0 | |||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2006–07 | League One | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers (loan) | 2006–07 | League One | 13 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Doncaster Rovers | 2007–08 | League One | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | Championship | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 51 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10 | Championship | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 47 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11 | Championship | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | Championship | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13 | League One | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 200 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 220 | 0 | ||
| AFC Wimbledon (loan) | 2012–13 | League Two | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 565 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 665 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 1997 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 0 | |
Tottenham Hotspur
Doncaster Rovers
Individual
 | ||