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Wright made his debut for Ipswich
at the age of 17. He has the ideal height of a goalkeeper, 6ft 2in, and
believed to be the England number one.
His career was on a high in 2001 when Arsenal offered him a chance to
join them. He had by then played 298 league and cup games for his home
town club and been capped by England.
The move to Arsenal came at a time when the club had David Seaman as
their first choice and then 23 year old player was looked up on as a
future replacement for the England number 1.
The move never made Wright any good, despite being part of a team that
won the Premier League. He played a total of 22 games for Arsenal but
never felt he was first choice.
After just one season it was clear that Wright would try his luck with
Everton. Everton had another England international in their ranks. Nigel
Martyn was the next "old boy" contender to overlive Richard Wright.
Wright was firstly prefered in front of Nigel Martyn, but after a
serious knee injury Wright had to accept the fact that he was only 2nd
choice at Goodison Park.
Martyn left the club, but it was clear that manager David Moyes never
really trusted Wright and he signed Trevor Howard from Manchester United.
The USA international never gave Wright an oppertunity to challenge him,
with great performances and steady goalkeeping.
Wright stayed at Everton from 2002 to 2007 and played 60 league games
during his time at the club. He was released and picked up by West Ham,
to be a cover for another England international, Robert Green.
After two years at West Ham and a short loan spell at Southampton it was
time for Wright to return to Ipswich. His first reunion season (08-09)
at Portman Road was great and he was voted player of the year by the
Ipswich fans.
Wright (32) had returned, done well, but injury problems were in the
air. A new knee problem appeared and Wright spent 4 months on the
sidelines. Roy Keane had taken over as manager and it was clear that he
would give his confidence to other players.
Wright was released by Ipswich at the end of this season, and his future
could again be as a cover for the first choice or even become a totally
forgotten third choice at one of the big clubs.
Man City was reported to show an interest for Wright, but with both Hart
and Given still at Eastlands it would be a life in total darkness and
just a cover.
Several goalkeepers with a past in the Premier League has at the end of
their careers decided to cash in as covers at top clubs instead of
playing first team football at a lower level.
The story of Richard Wright will never be the one we all thought when he
fist entered the international schene in the start of this century.
Instead of being a first choice goalkeeper he has, for most of his
career, been a cover for another England international.
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