David Carney life and biography

David Raymond Carney (born 30 November 1983 in Sydney) is an Australian soccer player who currently plays as a left back for FC Twente in Holland's Eredivisie and for Australia.

Carney went to Robert Townson Primary School in Campbelltown, New South Wales, along with Australian women's team member Heather Garriock.

At the age of 16, David Carney moved to England after impressing in a trial match and signing for Everton There he played in various youth and reserve teams alongside Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, most notably at the 2002 FA Youth Cup final. After not securing a permanent contract at Everton F.C., he left the club in 2003. David Moyes told Carney upon releasing him "...sometimes you need to take one step back to take another one forward." He had brief stints on month-to-month contracts at Oldham Athletic and Hamilton Academical before electing to return to Australia.

Sydney FC
Carney trialled for newly formed A-League side Sydney FC in March 2005 and was signed to a one year deal after impressing coach Pierre Littbarski. He was an immediate success at the club, scoring twice at the Club World Championship Australian Qualifying Tournament, including the only goal of the final, and again at the Oceania Club Championship to help ensure the club's qualification for the Club World Championship. On 16 December 2005, Carney scored the winning goal against African champions El Ahly to secure Sydney FC 5th place at the tournament.

In the 2005-06 A-League season, Carney was an essential part of Sydney FC's success. He made 24 appearances (22 starts), scoring 6 goals and creating a further 6 assists. His dribbling and occasional goal poaching made Carney a genuine crowd favourite at Sydney FC, earned him the nickname "Super David Carney" or "Super Dave" and attracted the attention of clubs in Europe.

Overseas trials
Carney's initial contract expired at the end of the 2006 season, and after strong rumours linking a move to Romanian club FC Steaua Bucureşti , he was offered trials in Germany at Bundesliga side Mönchengladbach and promoted second division club Alemannia Aachen. Despite scoring twice in a trial match and being offered a deal by Aachen he decided against signing for the club, citing "the language factor" as the main reason for declining the move.

He remained loyal to Sydney FC and re-signed for another season. A shoulder injury required surgery and sidelined him for the early part of the season. He made 14 appearances (12 starts), scoring one goal and providing 2 assists. Carney played in Sydney FC's appearances in the AFC Champions League and his good form was rewarded with selection in the Australian national football team to play a friendly match against Uruguay in Sydney, and in the AFC Asian Cup tournament in Thailand and Malaysia.

Sheffield United
FourFourTwo magazine reported on 29 July 2007 that Carney had left - with his club's leave - for a trial and transfer talks with Football League Championship side Sheffield United, reportedly offering a three-year contract. This was confirmed on the 4 August, for a transfer fee of AU$125,000. He was unveiled as a new signing at Sheffield United before their friendly game with Nottingham Forest alongside fellow Summer signing James Beattie.

Carney played 90 minutes in each of Sheffield United's first two Football League Cup ties, setting up two goals. He made his first starting appearance in the Championship for Sheffield United in a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City on 6 October 2007. Carney was the Blades' stand out player in their League Cup defeat to Premiership contenders Arsenal[citation needed] and has since played a role in their victories against Ipswich, Stoke City, Charlton Athletic and Coventry in the Championship. These performances and his displays in the Australian national team reportedly led to interest from German clubs Bayern Munich, VfL Bochum and Kaiserslautern; and a £2.3 million bid from Belgian champions Anderlech.

Carney steered Sheffield United past Barclays Premier League side Bolton, securing a position in the fourth round of the FA Cup, with the only goal of the third round tie.

Having been rested for the fourth round tie with Manchester City, Carney scored the equaliser for the Blades in their league match against Watford in January 2008 followed by a slick finish for the equaliser at Colchester United in the same week before flying out to Melbourne for Australia's first World Cup qualifier on 6 February.

Since Kevin Blackwell became manager of Sheffield United in February 2008, Carney was “effectively frozen out of the first team". In August 2009, it has been speculated that Blackwell was so eager to leave Carney out of the first team that he named a squad one substitute short, despite Carney recently scoring a cracking goal whilst on international duty.

Norwich City
On 28 January 2009 it was announced that Carney would be joining Norwich City on loan until the end of the season, becoming Bryan Gunn's first signing as Norwich manager. Carney would link up again with new first-team coach Ian Crook, with whom he worked at Sydney FC. Carney made his first appearance for the club coming on as a substitute in the 3–3 away draw to Wolves on the 3 February.

FC Twente
On August 27, It was reported by Sky Sports that Sheffield United agreed to the sale of Carney to Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente. It is reported to be a two year deal with a third year extension option.

Carney is currently in Australia recovering from a shoulder injury which has kept him out for 3 months

International career

Carney made the Australian squad for the trip to Bahrain in February 2006 to play in the Socceroos first ever match in Asia, and made his full début as a second half substitute. Carney played in his second full international against Kuwait in Sydney, Australia in August 2006. Carney played a full game in the Socceroos 3-0 win over Qatar in their first 2010 World Cup qualifier on 6 February 2008.

Carney recently chose to play for Australia in the 2008 Olympic Games, rather than staying in the UK to concentrate on the forthcoming season with Sheffield United, putting a question mark over his future at Bramall Lane.

On the 14th of October 2009, in the Asian Cup qualifier against Oman, Carney came on as a substitute for Harry Kewell in the 80th minute.

2007 Asian Cup

During the Asian Cup championship, Carney was selected to play in the starting line-up for Australia against co-host nation Thailand in the final game of the group matches. Australia won 4-0 and advanced to the quarter finals of the competition, where they faced Japan. Carney played from start to finish in the Asian Cup quarter final, a match that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, and remained the same score after 30 minutes of extra time. Japan won 4-3 after penalties were taken to break the deadlock with Carney striking Australia's third and final penalty goal. During the Asian Cup, David Carney was played at left full back, impressing in both matches. He subsequently played in left back in Australia's 1-0 defeat against Argentina in September 2007. In his next international, against Nigeria in November 2007, Carney scored from 30 yards to give the Socceroos a 1-0 win.

In June 2009, Carney was an impressive figure in the team that beat Bahrain to secure qualification to the World Cup Finals in 2010. He scored the second goal in their 2-0 victory in Sydney and was then rested for the final group game against Japan in Melbourne the following week due to being on a yellow card.

On 12 August 2009, Carney played in the Australian side that comprehensively beat the Republic of Ireland 3-0 in Limerick. Carney scored the third goal of the game with a stunning 35 yard drive into the top corner.

2010 FIFA World Cup

David Carney was selected in the 31 man provisional sqaud back in May for the Socceroos. He has since made the final 23 man squad for the FIFA World Cup. David Carney has found game time for the friendlies against New Zealand and Denmark but failed to make the field for the USA game due to a niggling injury. However, Carney has had to settle for back-up behind the incumbent Scott Chipperfield.

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