Craig Moore

Craig Andrew Moore (born 12 December 1975) is an Australian former football player who played as a defender. His 2006 FIFA World Cup profile describes him as being "tough-tackling and uncompromising but also calm and composed under pressure."[2]

Craig Moore
Moore in 2008 playing for Queensland Roar
Personal information
Full name Craig Andrew Moore[1]
Date of birth (1975-12-12) 12 December 1975
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre Back
Youth career
1991 North Star
1992–1993 AIS
1993–1994 Rangers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1998 Rangers 73 (4)
1998–1999 Crystal Palace 23 (3)
1999–2005 Rangers 101 (10)
2005 Borussia Mönchengladbach 13 (1)
2005–2007 Newcastle United 31 (0)
2007–2009 Brisbane Roar 62 (3)
2010 Kavala 10 (1)
2010 Brisbane Strikers 0 (0)
Total 314 (22)
National team
1991 Australia U17 8 (0)
1992–1993 Australia U20 24 (0)
1996–2004 Australia U23 11 (1)
1995–2010 Australia 52 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Moore, born and raised in the western Sydney suburb of Doonside, where he attended Crawford Public School and Doonside High while playing for the Doonside Hawks Soccer Club, is best known for his two spells with Scottish Premier Division / Scottish Premier League club Rangers. Having graduated through their youth system, he made 252 appearances for the Glasgow based club from 1993 to 2005, punctuated with a season in England with Crystal Palace in the 1998–99 First Division. In his time at Rangers he became team captain and won numerous domestic league and cup honours, including making 44 appearances and scoring four goals in their 2002–03 Treble-winning season.

After leaving Rangers on a free transfer in January 2005, Moore spent a half-season at German Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, before moving to English Premier League club Newcastle United. Released by Newcastle after an injury hit two seasons, Moore returned to Australia signing with Queensland Roar (later renamed Brisbane Roar) in the Australian A-League, as their captain and Marquee player. After three seasons with the Roar, in January 2010 Moore moved to Greek Super League side AO Kavala, only to leave in March.

In international football, Moore has made over 50 appearances for the Australia national team, including at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups in Germany and South Africa. Having made his debut in 1995, he has been Australian team captain a number of times.

Club career

Rangers

Moore was born in Canterbury, New South Wales and raised in Doonside, New South Wales. He played junior football with Brisbane club North Star after his family relocated north when he was thirteen, before a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport. Moore joined Rangers youth system and became an important player at the centre of Rangers defence up until 2004 over two spells.

Moore spent most of the 1998–99 season at Crystal Palace; despite being regarded as a success in London as the club fought relegation, he returned to Rangers after the South London club defaulted on transfer payments.

Moore was the captain of the "Olyroos", the Australian Olympic Football Team at the 2004 Olympics at Athens, Greece, when they managed to reach the quarter-finals. However, his involvement angered Rangers manager Alex McLeish as it forced him to miss the start of the Scottish league season. As a result, Moore was stripped of the club captaincy and was forced to the fringes of the team.

Moore won twelve major honours with Rangers including five league championships and a domestic treble in 2003.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Moore was given a free transfer and joined Borussia Mönchengladbach on 3 January 2005, where he teamed up with former Rangers manager Dick Advocaat. When Advocaat was sacked after a short time in charge, Moore left the German club after falling out with the club management.[3]

Newcastle United

On 30 July 2005, he signed a two-year deal at Newcastle United to play for the first time in the Premier League.

Moore made his competitive Newcastle United debut on 22 March 2006 against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final, becoming the second Australian to play for the Magpies after Dave Mitchell who had a loan spell at St James' Park in the 1990–91 season. Moore's actual first game came at home to Yeading in which he scored one of five goals. Injuries ruined Moore's Newcastle career, and he only made eight premiership appearances in the 2005–06 season.

Moore was then injured in November 2006 and was ruled out for several months. He returned but struggled to get back into the team, with Peter Ramage, Steven Taylor, and Titus Bramble keeping him out. After Titus Bramble's dip in form, Moore returned to the first team. Moore made 17 premiership appearances in the 2006–07 season.

On 16 May 2007, it was announced that Moore's contract would not be renewed, and he was released by the club. He made 31 appearances for Newcastle.

Brisbane Roar

It was rumoured on 25 July 2007 that Moore had signed with Queensland Roar (now Brisbane Roar), to become the Roar's Marquee signing for the 2007–08 Hyundai A-League Season and the 2008–2009 season.[4][5] This was confirmed with an announcement by Queensland and Moore on 25 July 2007 with Moore signing to be Queensland's marquee player for two years.

Moore's career with the Roar did not start well. He was sent off in the 69th minute in the first game of the season against Adelaide United for a second yellow card. Although Queensland were trailing 2–1 at the time, they came back to level the score at 2–2 and hold on for a draw.[6][7] He scored his first goal for the Roar in their 2008–09 season round four clash with Perth Glory. Queensland went on to win 3–0.

In December 2008, Craig was fined for lodging bets totalling $600 on two matches involving A-League teams with betting exchange Betfair. These matches did not include his own side, and because of this, it was deemed a fine was a satisfactory punishment, with the Roar labelling it as an 'honest mistake'.[8]

Moore left the Roar in December 2009, after falling out with the coach Ange Postecoglou and wanting a move to Europe to increase his chances of 2010 World Cup selection.[9] Following his release, a European club was keen to sign Moore, which turns out to be Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone, where he could rejoin his former teammate Derek McInnes.[10]

Kavala

In January 2010, he moved to Greek side AO Kavala on an eighteen-month contract.[11] He debuted for Kavala on 10 January 2010 in a 1–0 loss against Asteras Tripolis.[12][13][14]

It was reported on 31 March 2010 that his contract with Kavala had been terminated after an off-field incident.[15] Moore later denied there had been an off-field incident, stating he had left over fears that he could experience burnout or serious injury, endangering his 2010 World Cup place, had he stayed at the Greek side, having played 15 games in all, 13 of those in just five weeks, on top of his games at the Roar earlier in the season.[16]

Brisbane Strikers

Moore signed for Queensland State League club Brisbane Strikers to maintain match fitness ahead of the 2010 World Cup, but Football Federation Australia requested his attendance in Socceroos camp just before he was set to make his Strikers debut.[17]

Sydney United

Moore put on the red jersey of Sydney United in a farewell testimonial for former Socceroos and AC Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac in July 2010 against Newcastle Jets.

International career

Moore represented the Socceroos in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored a penalty kick against Croatia in the 39th minute of the game, enabling Australia to progress to the second round. As of 2008, he has made 40 appearances for Australia, scoring three goals. Moore announced his international retirement on 6 February 2008 after Australia's 3–0 win over Qatar in their first FIFA World Cup Qualifier at Telstra Dome. Craig has recently put his hand up for International call ups in September 2008. On 1 October 2008, Australian coach Pim Verbeek announced that Moore was part of the 35-man squad for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

Moore retired from international football after the 2010 World Cup.[18]

Personal life

In November 2008, Moore was diagnosed with, and underwent surgery for, testicular cancer.[19] Six weeks later, he was given the all-clear to resume his playing career.[20]

Career statistics

Club

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1993–94RangersPremier Division10
1994–95212201140273
1995–96111101020151
1996–97231203040321
1997–98100102021151
1998–99Premier League81002010111
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998–99Crystal PalaceFirst Division23310243
Scotland League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Total
1999–00RangersPremier League221312060352
2000–015000002070
2001–02183201051284
2002–03353413070494
2003–04172401050272
2004–053010104090
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2004–05Borussia MönchengladbachBundesliga13110141
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2005–06Newcastle UnitedPremier League801090
2006–071701040220
Australia League Cup League Cup Oceania/Asia Total
2007–08Queensland RoarA-League21020230
2008–0921231243
2009–10151--151
Total Scotland 1741420016042025214
England 483201040553
Germany 13110141
Australia 57351624
Career total 2932128117046042422

International

Source:[21]
Australia national team
YearAppsGoals
199510
199610
199760
199800
199900
200011
2001111
200200
200310
200420
200570
200681
200700
200820
200960
201060
Total523

International goals

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 February 2000Budapest, Hungary Hungary3–0WonFriendly
2.13 November 2001Melbourne, Australia France1–1DrawFriendly
3.22 June 2006Stuttgart, Germany Croatia2–2Draw2006 FIFA World Cup

Honours

Rangers

Newcastle United

Australia

References

  1. Scottish Football League (October 2004). The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2004/05. CRE8. ISBN 0-9548556-0-4.
  2. "Player Profile". fifa.com. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  3. "Moore completes Borussia switch". BBC Sport. 3 January 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  4. "Moore tipped to join Roar". SBS The World Game website. 24 July 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  5. Jon Ritson (25 July 2007). "Moore signs up with Roar". Four-Four-Two Magazine Website. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  6. Sankey, Daniel (25 July 2007). "Moore signs for Roar". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  7. "Moore is Roar marquee". SBS The World Game website. 25 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2007.
  8. "Moore bets, Muscat fined, Brebner banned". theage.com.au. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  9. "Media reports claim defender Craig Moore has quit Brisbane Roar". foxsports.com.au. 31 December 2009. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  10. "Ex-Rangers skipper Craig Moore ponders move to St Johnstone ahead of World Cup". Daily Record. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  11. "Craig Moore makes Kavala move". ESPN. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  12. "Asteras Tripolis vs. Kavala". soccerway.com. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  13. "AO Kavala". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  14. "Craig Moore". soccerway.com. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  15. "Verbeek headache as Moore is 'sacked'". The World Game. 31 March 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  16. "Clubless Moore sets record straight". The World Game. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  17. "Moore Thwarted In Strikers Bid". FTBL. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  18. Hall, Matthew (25 June 2010). "Bresciano vows to kick on". theworldgame.sbs.com.au. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  19. "Craig Moore has surgery for testicular cancer". Times Online. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  20. "Craig Moore to resume playing career after cancer surgery". Times Online. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  21. "Craig Moore". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.