Lee Carsley
Ireland, 2 caps
The hard working midfield player was signed by Gordon Strachan for £2.5 million in December 2000 as City struggled against relegation from the Premier League but failed to spark a revival. The follically challenged hard man won his reputation at Derby County before a £3.3 million move to Blackburn from where City signed him. After relegation Lee was always going to be coveted by top flight clubs and in February 2002 he joined Everton for £1.95 million. A popular player at Goodison Park he perfected the midfield anchor-man role.
After seven seasons with Everton he signed for home-town club Birmingham City and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League but suffered an injury hit season after promotion with Blues. Despite his Birmingham accent he won 40 caps for the Republic of Ireland by virtue of his Irish grandmother. He re-joined City for the 2010-11 season and was made club captain by Aidy Boothroyd. He retired from playing attention the end of the season but began his coaching career by taking charge of City's Under 18 team. He twice stepped up into the caretaker manager role for City before leaving for a role with former teammate David Weir at Sheffield United. Coaching roles followed at Brentford, England U19's, the Manchester City Academy and Birmingham City.
In September 2020 he was appointed head coach of England U20's before moving on to the U21's, he was a huge success in this role winning the European Under-21 Championship in 2023. In August 2024 he stepped up as interim manager of the full England team for 6 games after the departure of Gareth Southgate. He returned to the U21 role after the appointment ment of Thomas Tuchel. He was thought to be on Doug King's shortlist for the role of City's head coach after the departure before the club appointed Frank Lampard.
Penalties (2 - both scored)
2000-01
20 January 2001 v Everton H, Premier League, scored (keeper Thomas Myhre)
2001-02
11 September 2001 v Peterborough United A, Worthington Cup 2nd Round, shootout scored (keeper Mark Tyler)
