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Daniel Mills

[Player Picture]

 

Personalia:
Born: 18/5 1977
Birthplace: Norwich
Nationality: England (18/0)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Position: Right Back
Playing Record:
   
League
FAC
LC
Season: Club: Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1994-1998 Norwich City 66 0 2 0 5 1
1998-1999 Charlton Athletics 45 3 1 0 3 0
1999-2004 Leeds United 101 3 7 0 4 1
2003-2004 Middlesbrough (loan) 28 0 2 0 7 0
2004-2005 Manchester City 32 0 1 0 2 0
2005-2006 Manchester City 18 1 0 0 0 0
2006-2007 Manchester City 1 0 0 0 0 0
2006 Hull City (loan) 9 0 0 0 0 0
2007-2008 Manchester City 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 Charlton Athletics 19 0 0 0 0 0
2008 Derby County 2 0 1 0 0 0
2008-2009 Manchester City 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total:   421

7

14 0 21 2

A former combative, yet versatile defender, Danny was a product of Norwich City's School of Excellence and made his league debut on August 13, 1995 against Luton Town in a 3-1 win at Kenilworth Road. Having made 71 league appearances, a clash of personality with City boss Mike Walker signalled the end of his Canaries career and he moved to divisional rivals Charlton Athletic for £250,000 in March 1998. Having helped the club attain Premiership status via that epic play-off final against Sunderland that season, Danny could not help The Addicks from making an immediate return to the Nationwide League and he was soon snapped up by Leeds United in a £4.5million deal in the summer of 1999. Danny's performances have also elevated him onto the international stage with England and he gained eighteen full caps to add to his under-21 and youth honours.

Danny arrived at Eastlands in July 2004 on a free transfer from Leeds. The prospect of playing in tandem with Shaun Wright-Phillips was a topic Mills was happy to discuss just minutes after penning his five-year deal, though he stopped short of issuing an England challenge. "Shaun is fantastic," enthused Mills. "His athletic ability is second to none. He is very good on the ball. He has a hunger and desire and I imagine that, all being well, he is going to have a very, very big and bright future. Whether I can help get him in the England side who knows, that's out of our hands. All I can hope is that we form a decent partnership and I am sure that we will. We get on well with each other and we will work hard for each other and for the team."

After a couple of seasons with the Blues where he more or less cemented his place in the team, injuries and a dip in form saw him replaced by Sun Jihai and the emerging talent of Nedum Onouha and Micah Richards. Having been offered a high wage, long term contract by Kevin Keegan back in 2004 meant that Dannys future was financially secured, but as a footballer the right back faded and he was soon the forgotten man at Eastlands. Danny only managed one more game as a substitute for City and never started for the club during the last three years of his contract. Loan spells at Hull, Charlton and Derby led to nothing as his high wages was beyond what these clubs could offer. In the end the former England international decided to sit out his contract and collect the money which of course is a sad story in itself, but an even worse legacy for the Manager who put his fate in the player.

To the fans Danny will not be remembered as the combative and versatile defender he once was, but as a lazy and greedy person that only wanted his pay check and never wanted to battle for his career as a footballer.


Provided by: Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no