Home > Stuart Pearce

Born in London, he failed a trial at Queens Park Rangers and then rejected an offer from Hull City, instead settling happily into a career in the non-league game while training and working as an electrician.

He then got a surprise offer of a trial from top-flight club Coventry City which he took with relish - making his debut in 1983. Quickly establishing himself as an uncompromising left back who played hard and fair, he was bought by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest two years later.

Stuart spent more than ten years at Forest, most of it as club captain and briefly also as player manager , a caretaker role he held while the club found a long-term boss. He won two League Cups and the Simod Cup, while also scoring from a free kick in the 19911991 like 2002, is a palindromic year. It also has the same calendar as 2002, including Easter on March 31. It is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 2 Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first blac FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup commonly known as the FA Cup is the main "knockout" cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world. As such its presti final, when Forest were ultimately beaten by Tottenham Hotspur.

He made his debut for EnglandThe England national football team is organised under the auspices of The Football Association, the governing body for football in England, and represents the country in international football competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Champions against BrazilThis article is about Brazil, the country. For other article subjects named Brazil see Brazil (disambiguation). The Federative Republic of Brazil Republica Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America. in 19871987 is a common year starting on Thursday. Events January January 1 Nunavut's capital changes it name to Iqaluit from Frobisher Bay. January 3 Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 4 An Amtrak train and, from 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day. onwards, became the first choice left back for his country. He became Forest's most capped player and ended up with 80 international appearances to his name.

In 1990Events January January 3 Former leader of Panama Manuel Noriega surrenders to American forces. January 7 The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public due to safety concerns. January 9 Lt Gen Bazilio Olara Okello The man who led the coup aginst Dr Apo, Stuart had a goal ruled out from a free kick during a World Cup group game against Holland. England progressed to the semi-finals, and Stuart was one of two unfortunate players to miss a penalty in the shoot-out which took place against West Germany after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw. Pearce left the field in tears, though was never blamed for England's defeat as his penalty was saved by the goalkeeper and was on target for the goal, unlike the one which followed from Chris Waddle, which ballooned over the crossbar.

Stuart played in an unsuccessful Euro 92 campaign for England, when they failed to win any of their group games. He again had a goal from a free kick disallowed in a drawn game against France. England's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the USA included a personal nightmare for Stuart, when his underhit back pass allowed San Marino, one of world football's worst teams, to score after just 12 seconds of their qualifier. England still won the game 7-1, but qualification was already impossible.

When Terry Venables became England coach later in 1994, Stuart lost his place to Graeme Le Saux but then regained it after the Blackburn Rovers defender suffered a broken leg. Stuart stayed in the side into the Euro 96 competition, laying his ghosts to rest with a successful penalty in a quarter final shoot-out against Spain, which England won. His forceful, emotional celebration before an ecstatic Wembley crowd became one of English football's most celebrated images. He repeated the feat in the semi-final shoot-out against Germany but once again the Germans emerged victorious.

After the tournament, Stuart joined fellow England penalty missers Chris Waddle and Gareth Southgate (who missed in Euro 96) in a light-hearted commercial for Pizza Hut in which they poked fun at their own misfortunes.

When Nottingham Forest suffered relegation from the Premier League, Stuart left for Newcastle United and reached another FA Cup final, though again he emerged defeated. His England career seemed over with the return to fitness of Le Saux, but he briefly got back in the side at the age of 36 when Kevin Keegan became manager. By now Stuart was playing for West Ham United. He could have won even more caps at this late stage, but then suffered a broken leg.

Stuart's last club was Manchester City, where he spent two seasons as a player-coach , missing a penalty in his final game as a professional footballer, even though goalkeeper Dave Beasant had promised not to attempt a save. Had he scored, Stuart would have achieved 100 career goals. He remains at Manchester City to this day as a coach.

Stuart is married to Liz and is a known devotee of punk rock. Throughout his career, he was given the affectionate nickname of 'Psycho' for his unforgiving style of play. This was initially a tag afforded to him only by Forest fans, though later it was adopted by England supporters too. In a recent TV poll to find England's greatest XI, the public voted overwhelmingly for Stuart Pearce to take the left back spot.