Caldwell: Stephen (Steve)

2004-2004 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Stirling: 12-09-1979

Debut v Aston Villa (a): 07-02-2004

6’0” 11st 5lb (2003)

Stephen Caldwell joined Newcastle United in the summer of 1997, along with his younger brother Gary, signing professional forms on 1st August 1998. Whilst Stephen struggled to break the strangle hold of more established centre-backs and get first-team football his brother never did. He was a strong, powerful centre-half who worked his way through the ranks of Newcastle's Youth Academy and Reserve teams during his early years. He broke into the first team at Newcastle in a 1-0 win at Manchester City on 30th September 2000 when he came on as a substitute in a game which marked Alan Shearer's return to goal-scoring exploits. Caldwell went on to make ten appearances in total throughout the season, including four outings as a substitute. His first and only goal in a black and white shirt came when he grabbed the winner in a 4-3 Worthington Cup defeat of Bradford City at St James' Park on 1st November 2000. He had already made progress as an international. He made his Scottish Under-Twenty-One debut against France at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, on 28th March 2000, adding a second cap in a game against the Dutch Under-Twenty-One side in Deventer a month later. Things got better for him little more than a year later. On 25th April 2001, Caldwell made his full Scotland debut in Poland when he came on in the second half to help his country to a 1-1 friendly international draw. His international record shows appearances at the Youth, four caps at Under-Twenty-One, three “B”, and twelve at full international level. During the 2001-2002 season, he spent periods on loan with Blackpool, for a month from 11th October 2001, where he had six League games, and Bradford City, initially for a month from 5th December 2001, but later extended until 11th February 2002, where he had nine League games, but didn't start any games for Newcastle. However, he burst back on to the scene in November 2002, with a goal against Middlesbrough. The 2002-03 season saw him make seventeen appearances for the first team and earn an international recall. On 2nd January 2004, he moved to relegation strugglers Leeds United on loan until the end of the season. He proved to be a strong defender in their hour of need and scored an early goal at Blackburn Rovers, which gave them thoughts of avoiding relegation. However, after Leeds were finally relegated in early May, Caldwell returned to injury-plagued Newcastle for a crucial last few weeks of the season. He had scored once in twenty starts and nine games from the bench in the League and once in three League Cup games and made one start and five substitute appearances in European games while with Newcastle. He was released by the club at the end of the season and signed for neighbours Sunderland on 26th June 2004. After arriving at the Stadium of Light, Caldwell formed a strong partnership with Gary Breen and scored four goals in the Black Cats' Championship winning season in 2004-05, earning him a return to the EPL. He received a bad knee injury early in the following season but remained with Sunderland, where he scored four goals in seventy-six League games which included one game as a sustitute, made one F.A. Cup start and scored once in four starts in the League Cup, until 31st January 2007 when he joined Burnley for £400,000. He was quickly installed as Captain at Turf Moor and went on to score five goals in ninety-nine League starts and five games as a substitute, together with five starts in the F.A. Cup, seven in the League Cup and three in play-off games, before he was released by the club at the end of the 2009-10 season. He trained with Bolton Wanderers before the start of the 2010-11 season, where his former Burnley boss Owen Coyne was in charge. There were several clubs interested in signing him notably Preston North End, his brother Gary's club, Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth, but not Bolton Wanderers. He gained his tenth Scottish cap on 12th August 2009 in a World Cup qualifying game against Norway in Oslo. He joined Wigan Athletic on 20th August 2010 on a Free Transfer. On 16th November 2010 he played a full game for Scotland in their 3-0 win over the Faroe Isles and gained his twelfth Cap on 9th February 2011 in another 3-0 win over Northern Ireland in the Aviva International Tournament in Dublin. He made his debut for Wigan in the Carling Cup Second Round against Hartlepool United at Victoria Park on 24th August 2010 and Wigan ran out 3-0 winners. He had to wait until 16th October 2010 to make his first Premier League appearance for the club and he was instrumental in the team earning a 2-2 draw at St James Park against Newcastle United in a 2-2 draw. He failed to score, but played ten League games, two being as a substitute and also started 2 F.A. Cup ties and three League Cup games. On 7th July 2011, he signed for Birmingham City, on a Free Transfer and a one-year contract. On 6th August 2011 he made his debut for Birmingham, playing a full game in a 1-2 defeat at Derby County. His brother is Gary Caldwell of Wigan Athletic, Newcastle United, Hibernian, Celtic and Scotland fame.