#1 - Craig Gordon

By The Black Cats
December 15 2008

pp - 1 - craig gordon

Position: Goalkeeper

DOB: 31 December 1982

Born: Edinburgh

Height: 193cm

The Scottish international goalkeeper enjoyed a promising first season with the Black Cats after joining the club in a record deal.

Sunderland smashed the British transfer record for a goalkeeper with the signing of Hearts shot-stopper Gordon, who signed a five-year contract with the Wearsiders after joining the club in a deal worth up to £9m – also a club record transfer for Sunderland.

Although Gordon kept a clean sheet on his debut, he struggled to adapt at first and after Sunderland’s 7-1 hiding at Everton in November, the Scot was rested by Keane for three games.

However, it appeared to do the ‘keeper the world of good, as he enjoyed a consistent second-half to the season, keeping four clean sheets in 21 games as Sunderland bagged the points needed to stay up.

Gordon, who had been Hearts’ captain, became their first-choice ‘keeper in the 2003-04 season after several match-winning performances, including a stunning display in a UEFA Cup tie at Bordeaux.

He won his first international cap, playing for Scotland against Trinidad and Tobago (which included his Sunderland team-mates Carlos Edwards and Kenwyne Jones) at Hibernian’s Easter Road in May 2004, Scotland winning the game 4-1 (Stern John scoring for T&T).

Gordon signed a full professional contract in 1999 and became a star prospect in the youth and Under-21s sides, playing his part in the Youth Cup Final victory over Rangers in May 2000.

He was loaned to Cowdenbeath in September 2001, but was recalled in December after an injury to Antti Niemi. He then made his competitive debut in October 2002, against Livingston, and was on the bench for the remainder of the season.

The confident and athletic ‘keeper took over from Tepi Moilanen in October ‘03 and became a worthy winner of the Bank of Scotland Young Player of the Season award after helping Hearts to claim third place in the SPL.

Gordon has gained further European and international experience over the last two years and quickly became one of the most sought-after players during the 2007 summer transfer window.

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