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Steven Reid
Blackburn signed Republic of Ireland internaional Steven Reid from Millwall for £1.8million in July 2003. Despite late interest from Portsmouth, the midfielder chose to move north and signed a four-year deal with the Lancashire club.
He gives Rovers strength in a number of positions; he can play on both flanks, in midfield or at full-back and has an eye for goal.
He started his career at The Lions, making his debut at 17, but his raw talent shone through quickly. After spending much of the 1999/00 season on the bench he burst into the first team the following season and made a tremendous impact on the left wing, scoring some magical goals.
Despite representing England at under-16 level, his awesome form alerted Mick McCarthy and so Reid chose to play for the Republic of Ireland by virtue of a grandparent.
After representing them at under-21 level, he was delighted to receive a late call-up by Irish boss McCarthy for the 2002 World Cup, where he played in all of Ireland's three group games.
After signing for Rovers in July 2003, manager Graeme Souness was delighted to add the star to other summer signings Brett Emerton and Lorenzo Amoruso.
"We've signed Steven and I'm delighted to have him on board.I feel we will be a lot stronger than this time last year," he said.
Reid got off to a flying start when he was sent off in his debut for Rovers, in the 2-2 draw with Bolton in August. His first season as a whole was very stop-start, with suspensions and injuries. Just as the busy Christmas period was about to get underway, he suffered another blow when he picked up a hamstring injury in training and ended up being out of action for three months.
The 2004/05 season proved to be more successful. After he returned from a knee injury in October, Reid was soon back on top form. He played 34 games and scored twice. However, he struggled to break back into the Republic of Ireland international set-up, not playing once for his country.
In 05/06, Reid was finally recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad under new coach Steve Staunton.
On the domestic front, he scored five goals in thirty-nine games and signed a new deal with Rovers which will keep him at the club until 2010.
However, the first season of this new deal proved to be unsuccessful as he missed most of the campaign through a back injury.
Injury kept him out at the start of the 2007/08 campaign too, but he returned in November to play a crucial role in the second half of Rovers' season. However, this was only short-lived and, despite an impressive start, he missed most of the 2008/09 season through injury.
Blackburn signed Republic of Ireland internaional Steven Reid from Millwall for £1.8million in July 2003. Despite late interest from Portsmouth, the midfielder chose to move north and signed a four-year deal with the Lancashire club.
He gives Rovers strength in a number of positions; he can play on both flanks, in midfield or at full-back and has an eye for goal.
He started his career at The Lions, making his debut at 17, but his raw talent shone through quickly. After spending much of the 1999/00 season on the bench he burst into the first team the following season and made a tremendous impact on the left wing, scoring some magical goals.
Despite representing England at under-16 level, his awesome form alerted Mick McCarthy and so Reid chose to play for the Republic of Ireland by virtue of a grandparent.
After representing them at under-21 level, he was delighted to receive a late call-up by Irish boss McCarthy for the 2002 World Cup, where he played in all of Ireland's three group games.
After signing for Rovers in July 2003, manager Graeme Souness was delighted to add the star to other summer signings Brett Emerton and Lorenzo Amoruso.
"We've signed Steven and I'm delighted to have him on board.I feel we will be a lot stronger than this time last year," he said.
Reid got off to a flying start when he was sent off in his debut for Rovers, in the 2-2 draw with Bolton in August. His first season as a whole was very stop-start, with suspensions and injuries. Just as the busy Christmas period was about to get underway, he suffered another blow when he picked up a hamstring injury in training and ended up being out of action for three months.
The 2004/05 season proved to be more successful. After he returned from a knee injury in October, Reid was soon back on top form. He played 34 games and scored twice. However, he struggled to break back into the Republic of Ireland international set-up, not playing once for his country.
In 05/06, Reid was finally recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad under new coach Steve Staunton.
On the domestic front, he scored five goals in thirty-nine games and signed a new deal with Rovers which will keep him at the club until 2010.
However, the first season of this new deal proved to be unsuccessful as he missed most of the campaign through a back injury.
Injury kept him out at the start of the 2007/08 campaign too, but he returned in November to play a crucial role in the second half of Rovers' season. However, this was only short-lived and, despite an impressive start, he missed most of the 2008/09 season through injury.
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