Wayne Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wayne Bridge

Bridge with Chelsea in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Wayne Michael Bridge
Date of birth	(1980-08-05) 5 August 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth	Southampton, England
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Youth career
	Olivers Battery
1996–1998	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2003	Southampton	151	(2)
2003–2009	Chelsea	87	(1)
2006	→ Fulham (loan)	12	(0)
2009–2013	Manchester City	42	(0)
2011	→ West Ham United (loan)	15	(0)
2012	→ Sunderland (loan)	8	(0)
2012–2013	→ Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)	37	(3)
2013–2014	Reading	12	(0)
Total		364	(6)
International career
1998–1999	England U18	3	(0)
1999–2001	England U21	8	(0)
2002–2009	England	36	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wayne Michael Bridge (born August 5, 1980) is a former English professional footballer. He played as a left back, a defensive position on the left side of the field.

Wayne Bridge started his career at the Southampton football academy. He made his first team debut in 1998. He played over 150 league games for Southampton. Later, he had a successful career with Chelsea. There, he won three major domestic trophies during his six years at Stamford Bridge.

He also played on loan for Fulham. In 2009, he joined Manchester City. He stayed there for four seasons. However, his last two seasons were spent on loan at West Ham and Sunderland. He also played for Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Championship. Wayne Bridge retired from football in 2014 after playing one season with Reading.

Bridge played 36 times for the England national team between 2002 and 2009. He was chosen for two FIFA World Cup squads and the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament.

Club Football Career

Playing for Southampton

Wayne Bridge was born in Southampton, England. He moved to Stanmore, Winchester when he was young. He went to Oliver's Battery Primary and Kings' School, Winchester. A scout named Micky Adams saw him playing for Olivers Battery F.C. He recommended Bridge to Southampton, who signed him as a trainee in July 1996. He became a professional player in January 1998.

Bridge played his first senior game on August 16, 1998. This was the first day of the 1998–99 season. He came on as a substitute for an injured player. His first full start was on August 22 in a game against Charlton Athletic. Southampton had a tough start to the season. Bridge played many games on the left wing. He later lost his place in the team for a short time. In his first season, he played 15 games from the start and came on as a substitute eight times.

In the next season, Bridge continued to play occasionally. Injuries to other players gave him a chance to play at left-back. He quickly became a regular player in this position. On May 14, 2000, he scored his first goal. It was a powerful free-kick against Wimbledon. This goal helped Wimbledon get relegated from the top league.

In the 2000–01 season, Bridge played every game at left-back. Southampton finished tenth in the Premier League. Bridge was named Southampton's Player of the Year for that season.

Bridge was known for being fast, determined, and skillful. His runs forward were exciting for fans. He played every match until January 18, 2003. He got an injury in a game against Liverpool. This ended his streak of 113 consecutive appearances. This was a Premier League record for an outfield player at the time.

Bigger clubs started to notice Bridge. He eventually joined Chelsea for £7 million in 2003. His last game for Southampton was in the 2003 FA Cup Final. Southampton lost to Arsenal in that match. During his five years at Southampton, he played 173 games and scored two league goals.

Moving to Chelsea

After five years with Southampton, Bridge joined Chelsea in July 2003. He was a regular player at first. A memorable moment was in the Champions League quarter-final in 2003–04. Bridge scored the winning goal against Arsenal in the 88th minute. This sent Chelsea into the semi-finals. It also ended Chelsea's long winless streak against Arsenal. This goal was later voted the goal of the season.

Bridge started the 2004–05 season playing regularly under new manager José Mourinho. However, he got a serious ankle injury in an FA Cup game in February 2005. This injury ended his season. It also meant he missed the League Cup Final. Chelsea won the Premier League that season. Bridge had played enough games (15) to receive a winner's medal.

For the 2005–06 season, Chelsea signed another left-back, Asier del Horno. Bridge had to work hard to get back into the team after his injury. He only played two games for Chelsea that season. These were in domestic cup competitions. Because he wasn't playing much, he joined Fulham on loan in January 2006. This loan helped him secure his place in the 2006 World Cup squad for England. Chelsea won the Premier League again, but Bridge did not get a medal this time. He had not played in any league games for them that season.

Later, Ashley Cole joined Chelsea, who was also an England left-back. Bridge played well at the start of the 2006–07 Premier League season. He helped set up a goal in a 3–0 win against Manchester City. However, manager Mourinho often preferred Ashley Cole. When Cole got injured in early 2007, Bridge became Chelsea's main left-back.

Bridge played in attack for Chelsea in a League Cup semi-final match in 2007. He scored one goal in that game. He finished the 2006–07 season with two cup winner's medals. He played in the League Cup Final against Arsenal, which Chelsea won 2–1. He also played in the FA Cup Final against Manchester United, which Chelsea won 1–0.

Bridge played in his third cup final for Chelsea in 2008. Chelsea lost 2–1 to Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup Final. Bridge was judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Tottenham scored from the penalty kick and went on to win. In the 2008–09 season, Bridge was captain for a League Cup game against Burnley. Chelsea lost that game on penalties.

Time at Manchester City

Bridge refuses to shake John Terry's hand at the start of Manchester City's game against Chelsea on 27 February 2010.

On January 2, 2009, Manchester City announced they had agreed to buy Bridge from Chelsea. The fee was reportedly around £10 million. Bridge signed a four-and-a-half-year contract. He was introduced to Manchester City fans at an FA Cup game. Two weeks later, he made his debut in a 1–0 win against Wigan Athletic. He wore the number 25 shirt. For the 2009–10 season, he changed to the number 3 shirt.

On February 27, 2010, Manchester City beat Chelsea 4–2. Before the match, Bridge was involved in a widely reported incident. He refused to shake hands with Chelsea captain John Terry. This was due to a personal disagreement between them.

Bridge's place as Manchester City's left-back became less certain. This was because new left-backs joined the team. In 2010, Roberto Mancini, the manager, signed Aleksandar Kolarov. In 2011, he signed Gaël Clichy. This meant Bridge was no longer a key player for City. On January 12, 2011, Bridge joined West Ham United on loan. He stayed there until the end of the season. He made his West Ham debut on January 15, 2011. Bridge played 18 games for West Ham during his loan.

Bridge playing for West Ham United.

On January 31, 2012, Bridge joined Sunderland on loan. He stayed there until the end of the 2011–12 season. He made his debut as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Norwich City. He started his first game for Sunderland in a 1–0 win over Liverpool. He also played in an FA Cup quarter-final game.

On July 6, 2012, Bridge joined Brighton & Hove Albion on a season-long loan. He played his first game for Brighton on August 14, 2012. His first goal for Brighton came on August 25, 2012. It was in a 5–1 win against Barnsley. This was his first league goal since 2003.

Bridge played 37 league games for Brighton. He scored three goals. He helped them finish fourth in the league. This meant they qualified for the play-offs. He played in both semi-final games against Crystal Palace. Brighton lost 2–0 on aggregate. At the end of the season, Bridge thanked Brighton manager Gus Poyet. He said Brighton had "revitalised his love for football."

Playing for Reading and Retirement

In June 2013, Bridge signed a one-year contract with Reading. Reading had just been relegated to the Football League Championship. Bridge chose Reading over offers from other clubs.

On May 6, 2014, Reading released Bridge after he played 12 games for them. He then retired from professional football.

International Football Career

While playing for Southampton, Bridge's managers believed he would play for the England national team. He regularly played for the England under-21 team. His dream came true when Sven-Göran Eriksson gave him his first full cap. This was against the Netherlands on February 13, 2002. He quickly proved himself. He played twice as a substitute in the 2002 World Cup. However, he did not play in UEFA Euro 2004. Ashley Cole was preferred for that tournament.

During the qualification for the 2006 World Cup, Bridge played in England's left midfield position. He lost this spot to his Chelsea teammate Joe Cole when he got injured. He returned to the England team for a friendly game against Argentina in November 2005. He covered for the injured Cole at left-back.

Bridge played in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia on June 6, 2007. England won 3–0. Bridge helped set up Joe Cole's goal with a long throw.

Bridge's last game for England was against Brazil on November 14, 2009. On February 25, 2010, Bridge announced he would no longer play for the national team. This decision followed public reports about England captain John Terry and Bridge's former partner.

Boxing Matches

On March 23, 2018, Bridge took part in a charity boxing match. It was against English television personality Spencer Matthews. This was part of BBC's Sport Relief program. Bridge won the match by a unanimous decision after three rounds.

In January 2025, there were reports that Bridge might fight English internet personality KSI in a professional boxing match. This was planned for March 29. Later, KSI announced his original opponent had pulled out. He then had a face-off with Bridge. The two got into a small argument. Two days later, Bridge withdrew from the fight because of comments made by KSI.

Personal Life

Bridge with his son Jaydon

Wayne Bridge was in a relationship with French model Vanessa Perroncel from 2005 to 2009. They had a son together, Jaydon Jean Claude Bridge, born on November 21, 2006.

On April 8, 2013, the Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford announced she was engaged to Bridge. She gave birth to their son, Parker Bridge, on October 18, 2013. The couple got married on July 19, 2014. In January 2015, Sandford announced they were expecting their second child. Their second son, Carter Bridge, was born on August 15, 2015.

Bridge was a contestant on the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2016. He was voted out on December 2. In 2019, he won the first celebrity series of Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins. This involved a tough trek in Chile.

Bridge enjoys playing poker. He has described his playing style as 'kamikaze'.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bridge goal.

List of international goals scored by Wayne Bridge

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 June 2004	City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England	17	Iceland	5–1	6–1	2004 FA Summer Tournament

Football Honours and Awards

Southampton

• FA Cup: Runner-up in 2002-2003

Chelsea

• Premier League: Winner in 2004–05
• FA Cup: Winner in 2006–07
• Football League Cup: Winner in 2006–07; Runner-up in 2007–08

Individual Awards

• PFA Team of the Year: Chosen for the team in 2001–02 Premier League and 2012–13 Championship

See also

In Spanish: Wayne Bridge para niños