.jpg) Murray pre-match forBrighton & Hove Albion in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Glenn Murray[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-09-25)25 September 1983 (age 42)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Maryport, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2004 | Workington Reds | ||
| 2004 | Wilmington Hammerheads | 14 | (3) |
| 2004 | Barrow | 6 | (6) |
| 2004–2007 | Carlisle United | 46 | (5) |
| 2006 | →Stockport County (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2006–2007 | →Rochdale (loan) | 12 | (4) |
| 2007–2008 | Rochdale | 42 | (21) |
| 2008–2011 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 118 | (54) |
| 2011–2015 | Crystal Palace | 112 | (44) |
| 2014 | →Reading (loan) | 18 | (8) |
| 2015–2017 | AFC Bournemouth | 19 | (3) |
| 2016–2017 | →Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 26 | (15) |
| 2017–2021 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 115 | (34) |
| 2020–2021 | →Watford (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2021 | Nottingham Forest | 16 | (2) |
| Total | 560 | (202) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Glenn Murray (born 25 September 1983) is an Englishfootball pundit and former professional player who played as astriker between 2002 and 2021.
Best known for his two spells withBrighton & Hove Albion also played forWorkington Reds,Wilmington Hammerheads,Barrow,Carlisle United,Stockport County,Rochdale,Crystal Palace,Reading,AFC Bournemouth,Watford andNottingham Forest.
He held the record for most goals scored in a Championship season whilst playing for Crystal Palace, with 30 goals in the2012–13 season, untilIvan Toney scored 31 in the2020–21 season forBrentford, which itself was surpassed byAleksandar Mitrović who scored 43 in the2021-22 season forFulham.[4]
He announced his retirement on 31 May 2021, after a short spell with Nottingham Forest. Murray scored 217 goals in 624 appearances for 12 different clubs. He played for 13 clubs overall, starting with local sideWorkington Reds.
Murray now works as a pundit.
Born inMaryport, Cumbria,[2] Murray began his playing career playing fornon-League sideWorkington Reds before joining American teamWilmington Hammerheads in 2004. He spent one season with theNorth Carolina club playing 14 times and scoring three goals in theUSL Professional League.[5] After his time in America he joinedBarrow where he scored seven goals in seven games.[6] Murray then signed forConference National sideCarlisle United and was part of theConference play-off-winning team in 2005 andLeague Two-winning side a season later where they also camerunners-up in theFootball League Trophy, with Murray coming on as a substitute.[7][8][9]
Murray joinedStockport County on loan for two months and he returned to Carlisle after this loan deal,
Rochdale managerSteve Parkin then signed Murray on loan until January 2007. Murray then signed for the club on a contract until 2009, for an undisclosed fee. He made his first start for Rochdale in their 7–1 defeat away atLincoln City on 21 October 2006. His first goal was a 59th-minute equaliser in their match withBarnet on 18 November, but Rochdale lost the match 3–2. Murray made 31 league appearances in his first season with the club and scored 16 goals.
Murray made his first appearance for the 2007–08 season as a 53rd-minute substitute on the opening day in Rochdale's 3–0 loss away toPeterborough United. His first start of the season came in their 2–2 home draw withStoke City in the first round of theLeague Cup three days later on 14 August. Murray scored his first goal of the season in a 1–1 home draw withNorwich City in the League Cup second round, and his first league goal of the season came in Rochdale's 4–3 victory away atShrewsbury Town on 29 September. He made 42 league appearances scoring 21 goals, giving him an average of one goal every two games in his Rochdale career.
Murray had been linked with a transfer toLeague One teamBrighton & Hove Albion throughout the Januarytransfer window, and finally completed his move to theWithdean Stadium on 25 January 2008 for a reported £300,000.[10] He made his debut four days later, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute forNathan Elder during the 1–0 defeat away toNorthampton Town.[11] He started Albion's next match, on 2 February at home toCrewe Alexandra, and scored two goals on his home debut in the 3–0 victory.[12] Murray scored nine goals for Brighton during the 2007–08 season.
Despite suffering several injuries during the 2008–09 season,[13][14] Murray made 28 appearances and scored 12 goals.[15] In the team's 4–0 win over Barnet in the first round of the League Cup on 12 August 2008, he was sent off.[16] On 27 September, he netted twice in a 2–2 draw at Northampton Town; his second put the team ahead in added time beforeAdebayo Akinfenwa equalised.[17] A week later he scored twice in the opening seven minutes and finished with his firsthat-trick for the team in a 3–3 draw withCheltenham Town.[18]
On 17 October 2009, Murray won and converted a penalty for a consolation goal in a 2–1 defeat atTranmere Rovers, but three minutes later was sent off for a second yellow card.[19] He scored four times in Brighton's 5–2 win away atWycombe Wanderers on 28 December, a result which moved Brighton out of the relegation zone.[20] Murray's season ended on 24 April 2010 with Brighton's 2–1 win overBristol Rovers to stay in the division; he was sent off ten minutes after coming on as a substitute forChris Holroyd.[21]
The 2010–11 season proved to be Murray's best season thus far at Brighton, scoring 22 goals and finishing runner-up toCraig Mackail-Smith as League One top scorer.[22] This included a hat-trick on 1 January 2011 in a 5–0 win overLeyton Orient.[23] On 20 May, the club confirmed that Murray had rejected their final offer of a new contract, so would be available on a free transfer when his contract expired.[24]
On 24 May 2011, Murray signed a three-year contract withCrystal Palace,Brighton's main rivals. ManagerDougie Freedman said that Murray was the type of player that his squad needed.[25]
He made his debut – his first match in theChampionship – in the starting eleven as Palace began the season with a 2–1 loss atPeterborough United on 6 August.[26] He scored his first goal 21 days later, the equaliser in a 1–1 draw againstBlackpool atSelhurst Park.[27] On 27 September, he netted as Palace won 3–1 at his former club Brighton.[28] Murray scored the extra-time winner atOld Trafford againstManchester United in theLeague Cup quarter-finals on 30 November.[29]
On 22 September 2012, Murray scored a hat-trick including two penalties againstCardiff City,[30] and repeated the feat on 6 November againstIpswich Town in a 5–0 victory despite missing a third penalty.[31] He scored twice in a 3–0 home win over former club and now bitter rivals Brighton on 1 December, a result which put Palace on top of the league table.[32]
On 2 February 2013, Murray scored twice in four minutes against South London rivalsCharlton Athletic as Palace came from behind to win 2–1.[33] In March, he lost out toWatford'sMatěj Vydra asChampionship Player of the Season.[34] On 28 March, Murray signed a new three-year contract with Crystal Palace.[35] Murray missed theplay-off final, in which Palace secured promotion to thePremier League, having suffered a serious knee injury in the semi-final against Brighton.[36]
Murray came back from injury as a 72nd-minute substitute forJason Puncheon on 8 February 2014 in a 3–1 home win againstWest Bromwich Albion.[37] On 2 March, he scored his only goal of the season and his first in the Premier League, winning a late penalty againstSwansea City after being fouled byChico Flores and converting it pastMichel Vorm to earn a 1–1 away draw.[38]
On 1 September 2014, transfer deadline day, Murray moved to Championship clubReading on loan until 1 January 2015.[39] He scored twice in his debut match in a 3–0 win over Fulham.[40] Murray scored eight goals in 18 league games for Reading, ending on 26 December with a brace in a 2–2 draw at Brighton where he opened the scoring after 39 seconds.[41]
At the end of January 2015, Murray signed a contract extension with Palace until 2017.[42] On 28 February, he scored twice and was sent off for two bookings as Palace won 3–1 away to West Ham United.[43] Murray opened the scoring as Palace defeated reigning Premier League championsManchester City 2–1 on 6 April.[44] Murray continued his goalscoring form by giving Palace a 1–0 lead in their 4–1 win atSunderland on 11 April.[45] Eight days later, Murray was selected in theFootball Manager Team of the Decade at theFootball League Awards.[46] On 16 May againstLiverpool, inSteven Gerrard's final match atAnfield, Murray's penalty was saved bySimon Mignolet but he hit in the rebound to confirm a 3–1 victory.[47]
On 7 August 2015, Crystal Palace rejected a £3 million bid for Murray from Premier League rivalsAFC Bournemouth.[48] On 1 September, an improved bid of £4 million was accepted, and Murray joined the club on a three-year deal.[49] He scored his first goal for Bournemouth on 3 October in a 1–1 draw with Watford, a fellow newly promoted team, but had a penalty saved late on.[50] He scored a consolation goal in the following match, a 5–1 loss at Manchester City.[51] In December, he scored a late headed goal to clinch a win against reigning championsChelsea atStamford Bridge.[52]
On 3 July 2016, Murray returned to Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan.[53] His second debut for the Sussex side came on 6 August away toDerby County, while his first goal in his second spell came at home toNottingham Forest six days later; he scored his second in the same match as Albion won 3–0.[54] Brighton repeated that scoreline atFalmer Stadium four days later againstRotherham United, and Murray was again on the scoresheet.[54] On 29 October, Murray scored a hat-trick against Norwich City at Falmer as the Seagulls secured a 5–0 win,[55] and on 18 November he scored his 150th career League goal in a 1–1 draw withAston Villa.[56]
On 31 January 2017, Murray re-signed permanently for Brighton & Hove Albion on a deal until June 2019. He had scored 15 goals in 28 appearances while on loan to the club in the first half of the season.[57] He contributed 8 more league goals in the remainder of the season, including the opening goal in a 2–1 home win againstWigan Athletic on 17 April that sealed Brighton's promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.[54][58]
Newly promoted Brighton made a positive start to their inaugural Premier League season, sitting in 8th place after eleven games. An unbeaten run of four games from mid-October coincided with Murray hitting a good run of form, with the striker scoring four goals in the three games preceding the November international break. His scoring run began with two against West Ham United in a 3–0 away win, and he followed it up with goals againstSouthampton at home and Swansea City away, earning Brighton four points.[59] On 8 January 2018, Murray scored the winning goal in Brighton's 2–1 victory over arch rivals and former club Crystal Palace to eliminate them from theFA Cup at the third-round stage.[60] After impressive form scoring 5 in his last 6 games in the run up toEngland's friendlies in March many fans believed that Murray and Albion captain Lewis Dunk should have been called for the first time, however he and Dunk were overlooked byGareth Southgate. Murray took the omission with humour and posted a picture on Twitter of him and Dunk with their hands on their heads in disbelief – taken in a previous match – with a caption of laughing emojis.[61]
On 1 September 2018 Murray scored twice to take Brighton from 2–0 down to draw 2–2 with Fulham.[62] His 100th goal for Albion, the only goal of the match at home toWolverhampton Wanderers on 27 October, made him just the second man – afterTommy Cook with 123 – to reach that milestone.[63] In October after being linked with the England set up again after a run of decent form Murray played down the England talk but would welcome a call-up, however he was not selected in the upcoming squad and from then on the England talk evaporated.[64] Murray signed a one-year contract extension on 13 November that runs to the summer of 2020.[65] After 9 games without scoring, on 29 January 2019 Murray scored another two goals against Fulham in a 4–2 away defeat. This time Fulham came back from 2 goals behind, and won.[66] On 6 February 2019 Murray scored another two goals this time coming off the bench in a fourth round FA Cup replay againstWest Bromwich Albion where his goals put Brighton 2–1 and 3–1 up in the 3–1 victory.[67] On 9 March 2019 Murray scored his 100th league goal for the Seagulls at his former club and bitter rivals Crystal Palace in a 2–1 away victory. This win meant Brighton won the double over Palace.[68]
Murray scored his first goal of the2019–20 season in a 2–1 away win overBristol Rovers in theEFL Cup on 27 August.[69] His first league goal didn't come until 1 February 2020, scoring Brighton's third and the last of the goals in the 3–3 draw at West Ham.[70] In April 2020, Murray alongside captain Lewis Dunk were in pay cuts talks as a result of the impact ofCOVID-19 with Murray stating, "It's bringing the club together even more" describing the talks with the board as "very positive" and an "eye-opener."[71] Murray only scored one league goal in Brighton's third year in the top flight starting 7 of his 23 appearances in which he also provided one assist.[72] Although Murray had a frustrating season he was still well trusted and remained popular amongst the fans.[73]
On 1 September 2020, Murray signed forChampionship clubWatford on a one-year loan deal.[74] 10 days later he made his debut inWatford's opening game of the season coming on as a sub in a 1–0 home win overMiddlesbrough.[75]On 30 January 2021, Murray was recalled by Brighton, following a significant lack of game time.[76]
After making 6 appearances on loan at Watford, Murray returned to Brighton and 2 days after his return it was announced that he had signed forNottingham Forest.[77] Murray scored a total of 111 goals in 287 appearances across both of his spells at the club, helping Brighton achieve promotion from League One to the Premier League and to the2018–19 FA Cup semi final.[78][79] He sits in second place inBrighton's all time top goalscorers list 12 goals behindTommy Cook from 1921 to 1929.
On 1 February 2021, Murray signed a permanent deal with Championship side Nottingham Forest until the end of the season on a free transfer, once again linking up with former Brighton managerChris Hughton and playersAnthony Knockaert andGaëtan Bong.[80] He made his debut a day later coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute for goalscorerLewis Grabban in a 2–1 away win overCoventry City.[81] Murray made his first start for Forest 4 days later, scoring his first goals for the club with a brace in a 3–0 away win at league strugglers Wycombe Wanderers, in a match where former Brighton teammate Knockaert also scored with another former Brighton teammate Bong assisting Murray's first goal.[82] He managed 2 goals in his 16 league appearances for Forest.
On 31 May 2021, Murray announced his retirement with immediate effect via social media at the age of 37, thanking "clubs, players and fans I've come across on this life changing journey".[83]Murray achieved 202 goals in 560 league appearances (including his spell in the United States), also scoring 37 times in 148Premier League matches.
In August 2019, Murray appeared onA Question of Sport, where he was teamed up with team captain and former cricketerPhil Tufnell and snooker playerMark Selby. He asked to call up former teammateBruno during his team's loss in the long running game show.[84][85]
He has appeared as a pundit on several broadcasters coverage of football includingSky Sports.[86]
Murray has appeared as a commentating pundit and as a panellist on the 72+ EFL show onBBC Radio 5 Live and also covered 5 Live's Brighton Premier League fixture at home toTottenham Hotspur on 31 January 2021, this coming one day before he leftThe Seagulls to sign for Nottingham Forest.[87][88] He has also made appearances on sport based radio stationTalksport.[89]
On 24 January 2018, Murray and his wife Stacey were arrested on suspicion of tax fraud totalling £1.1 million.[90][91] In April 2019, HMRC announced that they had concluded their criminal investigation and no charges had been brought.[92]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wilmington Hammerheads | 2004[5] | USL Pro Soccer League | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||
| Barrow | 2004–05[6] | Conference North | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 1 | 7 | 7 | |
| Carlisle United | 2004–05[93] | Conference National | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2005–06[94] | League Two | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[e] | 1 | 34 | 4 | |
| 2006–07[95] | League One | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 58 | 6 | ||
| Stockport County (loan) | 2006–07[95] | League Two | 11 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 3 | ||
| Rochdale | 2006–07[95] | League Two | 31 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 33 | 16 | |
| 2007–08[96] | League Two | 23 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1[e] | 0 | 27 | 10 | |
| Total | 54 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 26 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2007–08[96] | League One | 21 | 9 | — | — | — | 21 | 9 | |||
| 2008–09[15] | League One | 23 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1[e] | 0 | 28 | 12 | |
| 2009–10[97] | League One | 32 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 37 | 14 | |
| 2010–11[98] | League One | 42 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 50 | 22 | |
| Total | 118 | 54 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 136 | 57 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2011–12[26] | Championship | 37 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 43 | 7 | |
| 2012–13[99] | Championship | 42 | 30 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 45 | 31 | |
| 2013–14[100] | Premier League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15[101] | Premier League | 17 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 7 | ||
| 2015–16[102] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | |||
| Total | 112 | 44 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 125 | 47 | ||
| Reading (loan) | 2014–15[101] | Championship | 18 | 8 | — | — | — | 18 | 8 | |||
| AFC Bournemouth | 2015–16[102] | Premier League | 19 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 4 | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2016–17[54] | Championship | 45 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 47 | 23 | |
| 2017–18[103] | Premier League | 35 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 14 | ||
| 2018–19[104] | Premier League | 38 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 42 | 15 | ||
| 2019–20[105] | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| Total | 141 | 49 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 151 | 54 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion combined total | 259 | 103 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 287 | 111 | ||
| Watford (loan) | 2020–21[106] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 2020–21[106] | Championship | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | 16 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 560 | 202 | 29 | 8 | 19 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 624 | 217 | ||
Carlisle United
Crystal Palace
Brighton & Hove Albion
Individual
HMRC said: 'The criminal investigation relating to a couple arrested in January 2018 has concluded and neither have been charged with any criminal offence.'
