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David Healey

 

  
 

David Healy (born August 5, 1979 in Killyleagh) is a professional footballer who has scored a record 32 international goals for Northern Ireland. He plays his club football for Fulham of the English Premier League.

Healy was raised in Killyleagh. He played for the local youth side and for Down Academy High School in Downpatrick before being signed by Manchester United in the late 1990s. Healy made only three substitute appearances for the Manchester United first team before being loaned to Port Vale in 1999-00, appearing in 16 matches and scoring 3 goals.

Healy joined Preston North End in 2000. In 2000-01, He scored 10 goals in 26 games and 10 more in 49 games in 2001-02. He got half that tally in 2002-03 in 28 games. David joined Norwich City on a month's loan on Thursday January 30, 2003 by Nigel Worthington. However, in 2003-04, he returned to Preston and netted 15 times in 42 matches.

Healy joined Leeds United on the October 29, 2004, quickly becoming a fan favourite. In his first season at Leeds, he was the club's joint top scorer alongside Brian Deane with seven goals. He followed this by finishing joint top scorer in the 2005-06 season with Rob Hulse on 14 goals and then finished the following 2006-07 season as top scorer with 10 goals. He left for Fulham after the 2006-07 season because of Leeds United's relegation from the Championship after the club entered administration.

Healy reunited with ex Northern Ireland boss and current Fulham Boss; Lawrie Sanchez on the 13th July 2007 from cash strapped Leeds United for an undisclosed fee, reportedly around £1.5m  He scored his first goal for Fulham in a Pre-Season friendly against South China in the Asia Trophy, with a low diving header. In his first match for Fulham in the Premiership, Healy repaid Sanchez' faith in him with a goal against Arsenal after 50 seconds play after a Jens Lehmann mistake. His second match against Bolton also had Healy scoring a goal which made him joint top goalscorer in the Premiership. Healy also scored in a home Carling Cup clash against Bolton Wanderers, Fulham lost 2-1.

 

 International Career

On 7 September 2005, Healy scored the winning goal against England at Windsor Park in a 1-0 victory

On 6 September 2006, Healy became the first man since Colin Clarke to score a hat-trick for Northern Ireland and the first since George Best to achieve this feat in Belfast when they defeated Spain 3-2 in a historic victory for the side.

Healy followed this feat with the winner against Latvia on 11 October  He then became the first ever player to score two hat-tricks for Northern Ireland, in a game against Liechtenstein.

Against Sweden on 28 March 2007 he scored twice in a 2-1 win.

Healy scored another 2 goals against Liechtenstein on the 22 August 2007, followed by a penalty away to Iceland, 12 September 2007, putting his total of goals to 12 in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. He is currently top goal scorer in the qualifiers, having equalled Davor Šuker's record of 12 goals in the Euro qualifying series.

Healy is one of the most popular players ever to don a Northern Ireland shirt, on account of his goalscoring exploits (better than Shearer, Klinsmann et al on goals to games) and his humility and appreciation of his fans.

 

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