Mark Wright : Centre Half (1991-1998)Date of Birth: 01-08-1963
Birthplace: Dorchester
Debut : 17th August 1991 v Oldham Athletic (H) Football League Division One: won 2-1
1st team games: 210
1st team goals: 7
Other clubs: Oxford United, Southampton and Derby County, Southport (manager), Oxford United (manager)
International caps while with Liverpool: 5 (England)
International goals while with Liverpool:
Honours with Liverpool: FA Cup 1992
PROFILE
Stylish England international Mark Wright was signed by Graeme Souness from Derby County for �2.2 million in the summer of 1991, and was soon joined at Anfield by Rams team-mate Dean Saunders.
With Alan Hansen retired, Glenn Hysen soon to go and Gary Gillespie moving on to Celtic, Liverpool were desperate for a centre half of quality, and after his courageous display's for England in the 1990 World Cup Wright fitted the bill perfectly.
Having made his Reds debut in the 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic at Anfield in August 1991, disaster came in his second game when he limped off after an hour in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester City at Maine Road. This was to be the start of many niggling injuries in his first season at Anfield but he did bounce back in style.
With Ronnie Whelan injured, Souness made Wright captain and his proudest moment came when he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 1992 after Liverpool defeated Sunderland 2-0.
However, that high was followed by a series of despairing lows with loss of form and injury problems set in. Wright lost the captaincy the following season and lost his place to the Dane Torben Piechnik.
More problems arose when Souness left Anfield and Roy Evans took sole charge. In the summer of 1994 Wright, along with Julian Dicks were relegated to the reserves after a 4-1 pre-season defeat at Bolton with Evans criticising the pair for attitude problems.
When Evans then signed John Scales and Phil Babb the writing looked to be on the wall for Wright but you can't keep a good man down and, in true three lions bravery, the England star bounced back to the team.
An Achilles problem and a knot of scar tissue higher up his leg was restricting Wright's progress and in a move of desperation he turned to blind physiotherapist Norman Collins for treatment. Collins was well known in the business for quick recovery and sure enough sorted out Wright's problem and the player was back in training.
Free of injury Wright worked harder than ever and was rewarded with a first team recall as a replacement for the injured Scales in March 1995 against Manchester United at Anfield. His performance that day signalled that Wright was back in business and a man of the match display saw Liverpool beat their fierce rivals 2-0.
Although he wasn't included in the 13 for the Coca Cola Cup win at Wembley in 1995, Wright was back the following season and with Scales moving to Tottenham he was back in his favoured position in a back three, playing 41 matches in the campaign.
A good leader and talker at the back, Wright was comfortable at bringing the ball out of defence and setting up attacks. He also chipped in with some memorable goals including a blistering drive against Queens Park Rangers in February 1996, and a header that gave the Reds brief hope against Paris St Germain in the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final defeat.
Wright left Anfield in 1998 after retiring due to injury and pursued a career in management. His first post arrived fairly locally as manager of Conference side Southport for the 2000-2001 season and he did a fine job, steering the Haig Avenue outfit to a finishing position in the top five.
However, following a disagreement with the Southport chairman of whether the club should go professional or not Wright left, but was quickly back in football being appointed manager of his old club Oxford United.
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