Editing Robbie Savage (section)

==Club career==

===Early career===
Born in [[Wrexham]], Savage started his playing career with local sides [[Brickfield Rangers F.C.|Brickfield Rangers]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WDW8f5hJWwcC&q=lex+xi&pg=PT14|title=Savage!: The Robbie Savage Autobiography|isbn=9781907195631|last1=Self|first1=Janine|last2=Savage|first2=Robbie|date=18 January 2011}}</ref> and [[Lex XI F.C.|Lex XI]].<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/sport/18607568.brymbo-chirk-queens-park-gresford-athletic-great-welsh-national-football-league-memories-come-flooding-back/|title=Looking back on 75 years of the Welsh National Football League|website=The Leader}}</ref> When he finished school, he joined [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] as a trainee and originally played as a striker. He played in the [[FA Youth Cup]] winning team of 1992, and was later given a professional contract, but never played a first-team game for the club and signed for [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/sport/robbie_savage.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103070356/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/sport/robbie_savage.shtml |archive-date=3 January 2009 |title=Robbie Savage |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

He switched into midfield early in his time at Crewe and proved himself as a competent young player, helping them reach the [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]] play-offs in his first two seasons at the club; a remarkable feat for a newly promoted club who had only played at this level twice in the previous 30 years. Crewe then made it third time lucky by sealing promotion via the [[1997 Football League Second Division play-off Final|play-offs in 1997]]. It was the first time that Crewe had reached the second tier of the [[English football league system]], but shortly after helping Crewe win promotion, Savage handed in a transfer request to manager [[Dario Gradi]].

===Leicester City===
[[File:Robbie Savage.jpg|thumb|Savage playing for [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]], his first season with the club.]] Savage was transferred to [[Premier League]] side [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] managed by [[Martin O'Neill]], for a fee of £400,000, in July 1997. Savage spent five years at Leicester, where he made his name as a reliable, competitive and fiery midfielder. In 1999, Leicester reached the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] final against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. In a controversial incident, Savage made a poor tackle on Tottenham's [[Justin Edinburgh]] who retaliated by swinging his arm out. Contact was minimal, but Savage fell to the ground. Edinburgh was sent off for raising his arms, and although Tottenham went on to win the final, many Spurs fans still hold a grudge against Savage for the incident to this day. However, a year later Savage reached the League Cup final again, this time winning 2–1 against [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]].

===Birmingham City===
When Leicester were relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2001–02 season he transferred to newly promoted [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] for a fee of £1.25&nbsp;million, signing a three-year contract.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Savage completes Blues move|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2011266.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 May 2002|access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> He won the club's Player of the Year award in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~381742,00.html |title=Sav honoured with top award |publisher=Birmingham City FC |date=9 May 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330000027/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~381742,00.html |archive-date=30 March 2012}}</ref> At the beginning of January 2005 he submitted a written request for a transfer, allegedly wishing to be nearer his ailing parents in [[Wrexham]]. On 19 January, he completed a move to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] for a fee of £3&nbsp;million, having scored 11 goals in 82 league games for Birmingham.

===Blackburn Rovers===
In his first five months as a Blackburn player, Savage helped his new club to Premier League safety and reached the FA Cup Semi-final, a 3–0 loss to Arsenal in his homeland's [[Millennium Stadium]].

In March, Savage called an end to his international career after new manager [[John Toshack]] dropped him for a World Cup 2006 qualifying game against Austria.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4347199.stm |title=Savage announces Wales retirement |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 March 2005 |access-date=8 January 2008}}</ref> His feud with Toshack and the Welsh FA continued long into the 2005–06 season as Savage insisted he retired from international football only because Toshack told him he was not good enough to play for Wales.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4347821.stm |title=Savage launches attack on Toshack |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 March 2005 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

In [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]], Savage was a regular performer for Blackburn, making 42 appearances and scoring once,<ref name=DerbyProfile>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10270~5753,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101184601/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10270~5753%2C00.html |archive-date= 1 January 2011 |title=Profiles: Robbie Savage |publisher=Derby County FC |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> against former club Birmingham.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4906896.stm |title=Birmingham 2–1 Blackburn |publisher=BBC |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=24 October 2009 }}</ref> The following season, he scored against [[FC Red Bull Salzburg|Salzburg]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5341296.stm |title=SV Salzburg 2–2 Blackburn |publisher=BBC |date=14 September 2006 |access-date=29 October 2013 |first=Chris |last=Bevan }}</ref> and [[Wisła Kraków]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6050946.stm |title=Wisla Krakow 1–2 Blackburn |publisher=BBC |date=19 October 2006 |access-date=29 October 2013 |first=John |last=May }}</ref> in Rovers' UEFA Cup campaign, but his season was cut short by a broken leg in January, which kept him out for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6293089.stm |title=Savage suffers broken leg agony |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 January 2007 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

During the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08 season]], Savage endured further problems with his knee, suffering a knock in the 2–1 win at Spurs after being caught by [[Robbie Keane]]. Surgery was required which kept him out of the starting lineup for six weeks. Following the return of [[Steven Reid]] to the Rovers starting lineup and some good form by [[David Dunn]], he found it harder to get into the starting XI. Savage was well liked by the Blackburn fans and was given a standing ovation by a near capacity ground by the Rovers fans when he returned with Derby.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/blackburn-3-1-derby-727061 |title=Blackburn 3–1 Derby |work=Daily Mirror |date=4 May 2008 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

It was revealed by then Sunderland manager Roy Keane in his 2014 autobiography, that he had been given permission by Blackburn to sign Savage during the end of his time at Blackburn; however he was put off by Savage's "[[Whassup?|wazzupp]]" voicemail, with Keane describing his thoughts after hearing this as "I can't be fucking signing that".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/07/roy-keane-abba-robbie-savage-ellis-short-pablo-counago|title=Roy Keane: 10 more gems, including Abba, Robbie Savage and Cork men|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=7 October 2014|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

===Derby County===
[[File:Robbie Savage.png|thumb|Savage playing for Derby against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] season]]
On 9 January 2008, Savage joined [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] for a fee of £1.5&nbsp;million on a two-and-a-half-year contract,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7166114.stm |title=Savage completes switch to Derby |date=9 January 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> and later revealed that he had taken a pay cut to join Derby in his search for first-team football and had rejected a move to [[Sunderland F.C.|Sunderland]] because he felt Derby had wanted him more.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7166114.stm |title=Savage delighted after Derby move |date=9 January 2008|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> As the number 8 shirt, which he had worn at previous clubs, was already allocated to then-captain [[Matthew Oakley]], he took the number 44 shirt because the numbers add up to 8.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132267&command=displayContent&sourceNode=128309&contentPK=19508428&folderPk=55124&pNodeId=124562 |title=The numbers add up for Savage |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |date=10 January 2008 |access-date=17 January 2008}}{{dead link|date=June 2016}}</ref> He was appointed the new Derby captain after Oakley was sold to Leicester, and he skippered the Derby side in his first match, a 1–0 home defeat to [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7172806.stm |title=Derby 0–1 Wigan |date=12 January 2008|publisher=BBC Sport |first=David |last=McIntyre}}</ref>

Rumours of Savage leaving Derby came in July 2008 when he missed out on every pre-season match. In August, Leicester City chairman [[Milan Mandaric]] declared an interest in Savage, which was dismissed by Derby.<ref name="Rams dismiss Foxes' Savage claims">{{cite news |title=Rams dismiss Foxes' Savage claims |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7544511.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 August 2008 |access-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> [[Paul Jewell]] repeatedly left Savage out of the team, after Derby's poor start to the 2008–2009 season,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/ROBBIE-LET-PROVE/story-11556676-detail/story.html |title=local sport derby county savage |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714232756/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/ROBBIE-LET-PROVE/story-11556676-detail/story.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> and he was replaced as captain by [[Alan Stubbs]]. Stubbs was forced to retire shortly into the new season through injury, but Savage was not considered for the role due to not being in the first team, and the armband went to [[Paul Connolly (footballer)|Paul Connolly]].

After failing to break back into the first team, Savage was sent out on loan in October to Brighton for a month to keep match fit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7638068.stm|title=Brighton capture Savage on loan |access-date=2 October 2008|date=29 October 2013|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He would later reveal one year later, in a build-up to a match between Leicester and Derby County, that he had tried to secure a loan deal to the [[Walkers Stadium]] (Leicester had declared an interest in him months earlier). Savage even telephoned club ambassador [[Alan Birchenall]] and former teammate [[Paul Dickov]] to put in a good word with manager [[Nigel Pearson]]. Pearson, however, "said no", despite Derby offering to pay "90 or 95 per-cent" of Savage's wages.<ref name="Robbie Savage wanted to return to Leicester City">{{cite news|title=Robbie Savage wanted to return to Leicester City |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Robbie-Savage-wanted-return-Leicester-City/story-12093396-detail/story.html |work=Leicester Mercury |date=15 October 2009 |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163429/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Robbie-Savage-wanted-return-Leicester-City/story-12093396-detail/story.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> Following Jewell's resignation as Derby manager, Savage found himself brought back into first team contention by new manager [[Nigel Clough]], who made him first choice in central midfield. Savage scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss to [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on 27 February 2009.<ref name="news_BBCS">{{cite news |title=Doncaster 2–1 Derby |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7899729.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2009 |access-date=18 January 2020 }}</ref>

Savage signed a one-year extension to his Derby contract with the club on 10 August 2009 to take him through to the end of the 2010–11 season. The next day, he was named in the [[Football League Championship|Championship]] Team of the Week for his performance in the opening day victory over [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]].<ref name="savagetotw">{{cite web|title=Team of the Week (10/08/2009) |publisher=The Football League |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/22/3c/0,,10794~146466,00.pdf |date=11 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007134410/http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/22/3c/0%2C%2C10794~146466%2C00.pdf |archive-date= 7 October 2009 }}</ref> Later that month, Savage was renamed as Captain of Derby County, replacing Paul Connolly, who manager Nigel Clough wanted to "concentrate on his own game".<ref>{{cite news|title=Switch of skipper will aid Connolly |url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Switch-skipper-aid-Connolly/story-11641378-detail/story.html |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |date=19 August 2009 |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018114211/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Switch-skipper-aid-Connolly/story-11641378-detail/story.html |archive-date=18 October 2014 }}</ref> In response, Savage said that: "I did not deserve the captaincy when I first came to the club. I was handed it from the first day and I shouldn't have been. It was too much pressure for me and I had a nightmare. I let it get to me. I think I'm ready for it now. I feel more comfortable with it now."<ref>{{cite news|title=Sav: Now I'm ready for role of captain |url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Sav-m-ready-role-captain/story-11642316-detail/story.html |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |date=21 August 2009 |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003028/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Sav-m-ready-role-captain/story-11642316-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> Derby struggled once again during the season, not achieving safety until the 44th fixture, but the season was a personal success for Savage as he appeared in all but one of Derby's 51 league and cup fixtures during the campaign, the match which he missed being due to suspension, starting 49 of them. He also scored twice; a free kick against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in a 4–2 home defeat and a volley at [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in a 1–1 draw. He also won the club's own [[Player of the Year]] award<ref name="AwardsNight">{{cite news |title=Robbie Savage named Derby County player of the year |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/robbie-savage-named-derby-county-1926607 |website=Wales Online |date=30 April 2010 }}</ref> but lost out on the [[Derby County F.C.#The Jack Stamps Trophy (Player of the Year)|fan's award]] to [[Shaun Barker]].<ref name="BarkerPOTY ">{{cite web|url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10270~2040161,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006020640/http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10270~2040161%2C00.html |archive-date= 6 October 2010 |title=Top Award for Barker |publisher=Derby County FC |date=1 May 2010 |access-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Savage again started in the Derby first XI in the 2010–11 season in a new 4–2–3–1 formation around new signing [[James Bailey (footballer)|James Bailey]], though Derby got off to a poor start winning just one of their opening seven league games, with Savage's form making fans question the justification for his place in the team and his status as skipper.<ref name="reality">{{cite news |title=Ramsweek 38 – Reality |url=http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/derbycounty/news/9339/ramsweek-38-reality |website=fansnetwork |date=20 September 2010 }}</ref> He made his 100th appearance for the club in a 2–2 draw against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] before he was dropped to the bench for a 1–1 draw at [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], the first game he had played no part in for Derby (barring unavailability for selection) since [[Nigel Clough]]'s arrival as manager in January 2009.

Savage played in goal for Derby on 11 March 2010, when [[Stephen Bywater]] was taken off with a back injury against [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]. He let in two goals during his 45 minutes in the Derby goal.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sandy |last=Macaskill |title=Robbie Savage shines in goal for Derby County against Reading |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/derby-county/7420192/Robbie-Savage-shines-in-goal-for-Derby-County-against-Reading.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=United Kingdom |date=11 March 2010 |access-date=21 November 2014 }}</ref>

On 16 October 2010, Savage played his 600th career match in a 3–0 victory on [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], scoring an injury-time penalty to seal the win.<ref name="600games">{{cite news |first=John |last=Arnfield |title=Derby 3–0 Preston: Spot-on Robbie Savage hits 600 club games |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/derby-3-0-preston-spot-on-robbie-1693455 |work=The People |date=16 October 2010 }}</ref> In January 2011, Savage revealed that he was considering leaving the club for a move to [[Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS)|Vancouver Whitecaps]], Savage stating: "One thing is for sure, I will be leaving Derby County at the end of the season, if not before, even if they offer me a new contract. My time is up here. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Derby and I want to walk away with my head held high".<ref name=savageleave>{{cite news|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Savage-ponders-Vancouver-s-offer-MLS/story-11601976-detail/story.html |title=Savage ponders Vancouver's offer to move to MLS |date=13 January 2011 |work=thisisderbyshire |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222032326/http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Savage-ponders-Vancouver-s-offer-MLS/story-11601976-detail/story.html |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref> One fan responded by telephoning Savage during an interview on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] and telling him to "leave the club now" and "take young Mr. Clough with him".<ref name=savageleavenow>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00d8068|title=Derby fan tells Savage to leave the club now|date=13 January 2011 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Savage eventually rejected the move, stating it was too big a move for his family.<ref name=savagestays>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9359949.stm |title=Savage turns down Vancouver move |date=23 January 2011 |website=BBC Sport }}</ref> On 31 January 2011, Savage announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season to concentrate on his growing media career.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9383048.stm |title=Robbie Savage to end playing career at end of season |date=31 January 2011 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref> In his last two games, a home loss against [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] and an away defeat at [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], he was met with a round of applause and a standing ovation from both sets of supporters.

===Stockport Town===
On 24 November 2019, Savage came out of retirement to join [[Stockport Town F.C.|Stockport Town]] of the [[North West Counties Football League|North West Counties League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robbie Savage signs for Stockport Town in 10th tier |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 November 2019 |access-date=24 November 2019 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50538921}}</ref> He made his league debut for the club the following evening, as an 80th-minute substitute in a 3–2 victory over [[FC Oswestry Town]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50553284|title=Robbie Savage makes Stockport Town debut after eight years out of football|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 November 2019|access-date=1 October 2021}}</ref> That was his only appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nwcfl.com/clubpage.php?id=789 |title=Stockport Town: Squad details |publisher=North West Counties Football League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409073959/https://www.nwcfl.com/clubpage.php?id=789 |archive-date=9 April 2020}} Select Squad tab for appearances and goals.</ref>