Danny Murphy (footballer, born 1977)
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Daniel Ben Murphy (born 18 March 1977) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Murphy began his career with Crewe Alexandra in 1993 before moving to Liverpool in 1997. With Liverpool, he won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. After brief spells at Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur he joined Fulham, which he helped reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League final, and ended his career at Blackburn Rovers. He served as captain at his last two clubs.
Murphy made nine appearances for the England national team from his debut in 2001, scoring once.
Club career
Early life and career
Daniel Ben Murphy<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was born on 18 March 1977<ref name="PremProfile"/> in Chester, Cheshire.<ref name="Hugman">Template:Hugman</ref> He started his career as a trainee at Crewe Alexandra.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy praised the role of Crewe manager Dario Gradi in his footballing education, considering him as his mentor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2016, as the United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal erupted, Murphy also strongly defended Gradi's reputation.<ref name="Collomosse-24Nov2016">Template:Cite news</ref>
Murphy made his first-team debut for Crewe as a 16-year-old on 7 December 1993, coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 away win over Bradford City in the Football League Trophy.<ref name="ENFA"/> He scored on his home debut, with the winner in a 4–3 home win against Preston North End in the league.<ref name="ENFA"/> Murphy generally played as a deep-lying forward for Crewe, scoring several spectacular long range and set piece goals. While at Gresty Road, Murphy formed a prolific partnership with striker Dele Adebola.Template:Citation needed
Murphy helped Crewe earn promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time since 1896, as Crewe finished third in the Second Division, before going on to beat Brentford 1–0 at Wembley Stadium in the 1997 play-off final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Liverpool
Murphy signed for Premier League club Liverpool in 1997 for an initial fee of £1.5 million. He made his debut as a substitute on the opening day of the 1997–98 season in a draw with Wimbledon. However, he did not break into the team immediately and, after making just one league appearance for the club during the following season, he returned to Crewe on loan, during which he helped save his old club from relegation. After the loan period ended, he went on to become a regular at Liverpool.Template:Citation needed
Though naturally a central midfielder, Murphy often played as a wide midfielder due to competition for places, particularly from Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann. Murphy's career at Liverpool included a cup treble in 2001 (FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup), a Premier League second-place finish in 2002, and the League Cup in 2003. During the 2001–02 season, when he established himself as a key member of the side, Liverpool's assistant manager Phil Thompson praised Murphy, citing his versatility and describing him as 'probably the most tactically aware player that we have.'<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although the 2002–03 season was overall a disappointing one for Liverpool, with the club dropping to fifth in the table, Murphy had a fine individual campaign which saw him score 12 goals and be voted the supporters' player of the season.Template:Citation needed He also started the 2003 League Cup final as Liverpool beat Manchester United, having missed the 2001 final due to injury.<ref name="2003LeagueCupFinal">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He developed a habit of scoring the deciding goal in 1–0 wins away to Manchester United, a feat he achieved three times in four seasons (2000–01,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 2001–02<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and 2003–04).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Charlton Athletic
Murphy signed for Charlton Athletic in August 2004 on a four-year contract for a fee of £2.5 million.<ref name="Charlton secure Murphy deal">Template:Cite news</ref> In his first season at Charlton, Murphy struggled to recapture the form that he had shown at Liverpool. However, in the first three months of the 2005–06 season he emerged as a viable option for England once more, and also won the Premier League Player of the Month award for September, scoring several goals along the way.Template:Citation needed
Tottenham Hotspur
On 31 January 2006, Murphy signed for Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £2 million.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He appeared only fleetingly in the remaining games of the season.Template:Citation needed
Murphy scored his first Tottenham goal in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 1 October 2006 after only 39 seconds of the game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was unable to establish himself as a regular at Tottenham, but made clear later that despite reports in the media, there was no disagreement between him and Jol.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Fulham
Fulham took over Murphy's Tottenham contract on 31 August 2007.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He cemented himself as a regular starter, kept his place in the team throughout the season and scored six goals in 43 matches. One goal, a rare header scored on 11 May 2008, gave Fulham a 1–0 win away at Portsmouth and ensured their Premier League survival.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the match, Murphy highlighted manager Roy Hodgson's "key role" in the team's avoiding relegation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy signed a new one-year contract, with an option for a further year, at the end of the season,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was appointed club captain for the 2008–09 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 9 November 2008, Murphy scored his 100th goal at club level with a penalty kick, as Fulham beat Newcastle United 2–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy scored another penalty as, for the first time in 45 years, Fulham beat title-chasing Manchester United at home.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The year's option on Murphy's contract was taken up during the season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in August 2009, amid reported interest from clubs including Birmingham City and Stoke City,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he signed another extension, until June 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Murphy missed two months in the early part of the season with a knee ligament problem,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but went on to captain Fulham to their first European final. They eliminated opponents including Juventus, defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk, Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg, and Hamburger SV to reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League final. Ahead of the semi-final, Murphy said that just reaching the final "would be one of the greatest achievements of our history".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fulham lost 2–1 to Atlético Madrid to a goal scored just four minutes from the end of extra time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The 2010–11 season started without Hodgson, who left for Liverpool, and was replaced by Mark Hughes. In October, Murphy made a controversial comment about managers responsible for dangerous tackles made by players.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His comment was supported by some,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but received heavy criticisms from other managers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response to these criticisms, Murphy said his comments "were blown out of all proportion".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In late-January 2011, Murphy signed another contract extension to keep him as Fulham until June 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Just one day after signing a new contract, Murphy scored his first goal of the season and then another, as Fulham beat his former club Tottenham 4–0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy was praised by Manager Mark Hughes for helping the club turn things around and avoid relegation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Murphy believed he could play a major role and declared himself "fitter than ever".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After making forty-nine appearances and scoring seven times in all competitions, he was released by Fulham at the end of the season as he and Martin Jol, who had replaced Hodgson's successor, Hughes, could not agree on a contract extension.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his last season at Fulham, Murphy created more goalscoring chances than any other player in the top-flight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Blackburn Rovers
On 25 June 2012, Murphy signed for Championship club Blackburn Rovers on a two-year contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He said that he moved to Blackburn to play regularly and that it was the right time to leave Fulham.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored his first goal for Blackburn in a 2–2 draw with Huddersfield Town on 6 November 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2013, Murphy was succeeded as Blackburn captain by Scott Dann.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 1 July, Murphy had his contract terminated by mutual consent despite being willing to stay at the club for another season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While at the club, Murphy was praised by manager Gary Bowyer for his assistance during Bowyer's management career at Blackburn.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
International career
Murphy scored on his debut for the England national under-18 team on 24 July 1994, in a 3–3 draw away to Norway in a friendly, which he entered as a substitute.<ref name="EnglandU18">Template:Cite web</ref> He made his first start two days later in a 3–2 home win over the same opposition in another friendly.<ref name="EnglandU18"/> He finished his under-18 career with seven appearances and five goals from 1994 to 1995.<ref name="EnglandU18"/>
Murphy was part of the England under-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia, and made his debut at that level when starting England's first match at the tournament, a 2–1 win over the Ivory Coast on 18 June 1997.<ref name="EnglandU20">Template:Cite web</ref> He scored a hat-trick two days later in England's next match, a 5–0 win over the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="EnglandU20"/> All four of Murphy's appearances for the under-20s came at this tournament, in which England were eliminated on 26 June after losing 2–1 to Argentina in the round of 16.<ref name="EnglandU20"/>
Murphy made his debut for the England under-21 team on 9 September 1997 with a start in a 1–0 home win over Moldova in 1998 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.<ref name="EnglandU21">Template:Cite web</ref> He was in the squad for the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, playing in all three of England's matches as they were eliminated in the group stage.<ref name="EnglandU21"/> He made five appearances for the under-21s from 1997 to 2000.<ref name="EnglandU21"/>
Murphy played nine times for the England senior team and scored one goal between 2001 and 2003.<ref name="wfnat"/> He made his debut on 10 November 2001 as a 58th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Sweden in a friendly.<ref>Template:Cite news
Template:Cite web</ref> He scored his only goal on 17 April 2002 in a 4–0 home victory over Paraguay in a friendly with a deflected shot.<ref name="wfnat"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy was called up to England's squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan as a replacement for the injured Steven Gerrard, but had to withdraw after he suffered a foot injury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Post-playing career
On 18 August 2013, Murphy appeared as a pundit on the BBC programme Match of the Day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He announced his retirement as a player on 10 October, with the intention of continuing his media work and completing his coaching badges.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He established a career as a pundit on the UK radio station Talksport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Murphy is the nephew of former footballers Paul Futcher, Graham Futcher and Ron Futcher, and is the cousin of Ben Futcher.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Murphy married actress Joanna Taylor in 2004. They have two children. The couple separated in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2024, Murphy revealed that after his football career had ended he had struggled with no longer having football in his life and had turned to cocaine and cannabis to help him cope, at one point becoming addicted to cocaine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crewe Alexandra | 1993–94<ref name="ENFA">Template:Cite web</ref> | Third Division | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2Template:Efn | 1 | 14 | 3 | |
| 1994–95<ref name="ENFA"/> | Second Division | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5Template:Efn | 0 | 41 | 5 | ||
| 1995–96<ref name="ENFA"/> | Second Division | 42 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 4Template:Efn | 1 | 53 | 12 | ||
| 1996–97<ref name="ENFA"/> | Second Division | 45 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 6Template:Efn | 2 | 57 | 15 | ||
| Total | 134 | 27 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — | 17 | 4 | 165 | 35 | |||
| Liverpool | 1997–98<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| 1998–99<ref name="sb9899">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 1999–2000<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 23 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — | — | 27 | 6 | |||
| 2000–01<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10Template:Efn | 1 | — | 47 | 10 | ||
| 2001–02<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 36 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15Template:Efn | 2 | 2Template:Efn | 0 | 56 | 8 | |
| 2002–03<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 36 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 12Template:Efn | 2 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 56 | 12 | |
| 2003–04<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 31 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7Template:Efn | 0 | — | 42 | 8 | ||
| Total | 170 | 25 | 15 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 249 | 44 | ||
| Crewe Alexandra (loan) | 1998–99<ref name="sb9899"/> | First Division | 16 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Charlton Athletic | 2004–05<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 43 | 5 | ||
| 2005–06<ref name="sb0506">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 5 | |||
| Total | 56 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 64 | 10 | ||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2005–06<ref name="sb0506"/> | Premier League | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| 2006–07<ref name="ENFA"/> | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3Template:Efn | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||
| Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 1 | |||
| Fulham | 2007–08<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 6 | ||
| 2008–09<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 44 | 7 | |||
| 2009–10<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 25 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13Template:Efn | 2 | — | 41 | 7 | ||
| 2010–11<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 | |||
| 2011–12<ref name="ENFA"/> | Premier League | 36 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11Template:Efn | 3 | — | 49 | 6 | ||
| Total | 169 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 5 | — | 211 | 28 | |||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2012–13<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 33 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 600 | 79 | 42 | 14 | 35 | 14 | 72 | 10 | 20 | 4 | 769 | 121 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 1 | |
- England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Murphy goal<ref name="wfnat"/>
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 April 2002 | Anfield, Liverpool, England | 3 | Template:Fb | 2–0 | 4–0 | Friendly | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Honours
Crewe Alexandra
- Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1993–94<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Football League Second Division play-offs: 1997<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Liverpool
- FA Cup: 2000–01<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Football League Cup: 2002–03<ref name="2003LeagueCupFinal"/>
- FA Charity Shield: 2001<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- UEFA Cup: 2000–01<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- UEFA Super Cup: 2001<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Fulham
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2009–10<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 1996–97 Second Division<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Liverpool Player of the Season: 2002–03<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Premier League Player of the Month: November 2001, September 2005<ref name="PremProfile">Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
- Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website
- Template:FIFA player
- Template:UEFA player
- Pages with broken file links
- 1977 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Chester
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Charlton Athletic F.C. players
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. players
- Fulham F.C. players
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Premier League players
- UEFA Europa League–winning players
- England men's youth international footballers
- England men's under-21 international footballers
- England men's international footballers
- English football commentators
- Futcher family