Wayne Bridge

Senior career

1998–2003 Southampton

2003–2009 Chelsea

2006 → Fulham (loan)

2009–2013 Manchester City

2011 → West Ham United (loan)

2012 → Sunderland (loan)

2012–2013 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)

2013–2014 Reading

National team

2002–2009 England

Overview

Wayne debuted in Southampton in 1998, after some years of great performance in Southampton Academy, Southampton's youth organization, where they develop young footballers to become professional players. After many years of showing his great skill and qualities, he was bought by Chelsea F.C., where he had some of his best moments, specially in the UEFA Champions League, he scored the decisive winning goal against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the 2003-04 season.

It was at Chelsea F.C. where he met John Terry , who after a couple of years became one of his best friends. Nowadays they've broken up their friends relationship, as it was alleged that Chelsea's captain had an affair with Wayne's wife, which costed John Terry the loss of England's capitancy for the FIFA World Cup.

During his time with Southampton, all Bridge's managers predicted full international honours. He was soon making regular appearances for the England's under 21 team, and the managers' prophecy was realised when Sven-Göran Eriksson gave him his first full cap against Netherlands on 13 February 2002. He quickly proved himself, and appeared twice as a substitute in the 2002 World Cup, although he did not appear at all in Euro 2004, with Ashley Cole being preferred.

During the qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, he was given the role of playing in England's problematic left midfield role, but he lost this to his Chelsea team mate Joe Cole when he was injured. He returned to the England team for a friendly against Argentina in November 2005, covering for the injured Cole at left back and winning his 21st cap.

He played in the Euro 2008 qualifier match against Estonia on 6 June 2007, which England won 3–0, with Bridge assisting Joe Cole's goal with a long throw into the box.

Bridge's final appearance for England was against Brazil on 14 November 2009. On 25 February 2010, Bridge announced his permanent withdrawal from international duty following allegations regarding former England captain John Terry and Bridge's former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.