Gary Breen

Date of birth12 December 1973
Place of birthHendon
NationalityIrish
Weight76 kg
Height1.88 m
PositionDefender

Breen faced the prospect of performing on football's greatest stage with the experience of, after being released by Charlton Athletic as a youngster, starting his senior career in the humble surroundings of Maidstone United.

Via Gillingham, Peterborough United and Birmingham City, he arrived in the Premiership with a £2.4million move to Coventry City in February 1997.

Later a regular figure in the Republic's defence, rather like coach Mick McCarthy, he is a solid, reliable centre-back.

Breen made his mark at the 2002 World Cup finals with the crucial second goal in the final Group E game - the 3-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia.

Breen teamed up with his former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy when he joined Sunderland in a two-year deal in August 2003. This was extended to June 2006 in December 2004.

He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2006 with a two-year contract.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Charlton Athletic 01 Jul 1990 06 Mar 1991
Maidstone United 06 Mar 1991 02 Jul 1992
Gillingham 02 Jul 1992 05 Aug 1994
Peterborough United 05 Aug 1994 09 Feb 1996
Birmingham City 09 Feb 1996 01 Feb 1997
Coventry City 01 Feb 1997 30 Jun 2002
West Ham United 29 Jul 2002 30 Jun 2003
Sunderland 04 Aug 2003 30 Jun 2006
Wolverhampton Wanderers 20 Jul 2006 30 Jun 2008
Barnet 01 Dec 2008 30 Jun 2010

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1995-96 Peterborough United League Cup 2
1996-97 Coventry City Premier League 8
1
1997-98 Coventry City FA Cup 5
1997-98 Coventry City League Cup 3
1
1997-98 Coventry City Premier League 30
1
1
1
1998-99 Coventry City FA Cup 1
1
1998-99 Coventry City League Cup 2
1998-99 Coventry City Premier League 21
4
3
1999-00 Coventry City FA Cup 3
1
1999-00 Coventry City League Cup 1
1999-00 Coventry City Premier League 20
1
2
2000-01 Coventry City FA Cup 2
1
2000-01 Coventry City League Cup 2
2
2000-01 Coventry City Premier League 29
2
1
8
2001-02 Coventry City FA Cup 1
1
2001-02 Coventry City League Cup 2
2001-02 Coventry City League Division 1 30
8
2002-03 West Ham United FA Cup 2
2002-03 West Ham United League Cup 2
2002-03 West Ham United Premier League 9
5
1
2003-04 Sunderland FA Cup 4
2003-04 Sunderland League Division 1 32
4
5
2003-04 Sunderland League Division 1 Play-Offs 2
1
2004-05 Sunderland League Championship 40
2
5
1
2004-05 Sunderland League Cup 1
2005-06 Sunderland FA Cup 1
2005-06 Sunderland Premier League 33
2
1
9
1
2006-07 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 3
2006-07 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Championship 40
1
7
1
2006-07 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Championship Play-Offs 2
2007-08 Wolverhampton Wanderers FA Cup 1
2007-08 Wolverhampton Wanderers League Championship 18
1
3
2008-09 Barnet League Two 22
2
2009-10 Barnet FA Cup 1
2009-10 Barnet League Two 25
2


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
20 Sep 1995 Aston Villa v Peterborough United L 6-0 League Cup 2nd round 1st leg
03 Oct 1995 Peterborough United v Aston Villa D 1-1
Agg: 1-7
League Cup 2nd round 2nd leg


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1992-93 Republic of Ireland UEFA Under-21 1
1994-95 Republic of Ireland UEFA Under-21 5
1995-96 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
1
1
1995-96 Republic of Ireland UEFA Under-21 3
1995-96 Republic of Ireland US Cup 1
1996-97 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 4
1997-98 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 1
1
1997-98 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 3
1
1998-99 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
1998-99 Republic of Ireland UEFA European Championship 3
1
1999-00 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
1999-00 Republic of Ireland UEFA European Championship 6
1
1999-00 Republic of Ireland US Nike Cup 3
2000-01 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 6
1
2000-01 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 1
2001-02 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 7
1
2001-02 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 1
1
2002-03 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 3
2002-03 Republic of Ireland UEFA European Championship 6
2003-04 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 2
2003-04 Republic of Ireland UEFA European Championship 2
2004-05 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 1
1
2005-06 Republic of Ireland International Friendly 1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
13 Oct 1992 Denmark v Republic of Ireland L 3-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 3
06 Sep 1994 Latvia v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
15 Nov 1994 England v Republic of Ireland L 1-0 UEFA Under-21 Group 6
27 Mar 1995 Republic of Ireland v England L 0-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 6
25 Apr 1995 Republic of Ireland v Portugal D 1-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
10 Jun 1995 Republic of Ireland v Austria W 3-0 UEFA U21 Group 6
05 Sep 1995 Austria v Republic of Ireland L 1-0 UEFA U21 Group 6
10 Oct 1995 Republic of Ireland v Latvia W 1-0 UEFA U21 Group 6
14 Nov 1995 Portugal v Republic of Ireland L 3-1 UEFA U21 Group 6
29 May 1996 Republic of Ireland v Portugal L 0-1 International Friendly
02 Jun 1996 Republic of Ireland v Croatia D 2-2 International Friendly
04 Jun 1996 Netherlands v Republic of Ireland L 3-1 International Friendly
09 Jun 1996 USA v Republic of Ireland L 2-1 US Cup
12 Jun 1996 Mexico v Republic of Ireland D 2-2 US CUP
15 Jun 1996 Republic of Ireland v Bolivia W 3-0 US CUP
31 Aug 1996 Liechtenstein v Republic of Ireland W 0-5 FIFA World Cup Group 8
09 Oct 1996 Republic of Ireland v North Macedonia W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Group 8
10 Nov 1996 Republic of Ireland v Iceland D 0-0 FIFA World Cup Group 8
02 Apr 1997 North Macedonia v Republic of Ireland L 3-2 FIFA World Cup Group 8
10 Sep 1997 Lithuania v Republic of Ireland W 1-2 FIFA World Cup Group 8
11 Oct 1997 Republic of Ireland v Romania D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Group 8
25 Mar 1998 Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland L 2-1 International Friendly
22 Apr 1998 Republic of Ireland v Argentina L 0-2 International Friendly
23 May 1998 Republic of Ireland v Mexico D 0-0 International Friendly
14 Oct 1998 Republic of Ireland v Malta W 5-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
18 Nov 1998 Yugoslavia v Republic of Ireland L 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
10 Feb 1999 Republic of Ireland v Paraguay W 2-0 International Friendly
28 Apr 1999 Republic of Ireland v Sweden W 2-0 International Friendly
09 Jun 1999 Republic of Ireland v North Macedonia W 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
01 Sep 1999 Republic of Ireland v Yugoslavia W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
04 Sep 1999 Croatia v Republic of Ireland L 1-0 UEFA European Championship Group 8
08 Sep 1999 Malta v Republic of Ireland W 2-3 UEFA European Championship Group 8
09 Oct 1999 North Macedonia v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 8
13 Nov 1999 Republic of Ireland v Turkey D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Play-off 1st leg
17 Nov 1999 Turkey v Republic of Ireland D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Play-off 2nd leg
26 Apr 2000 Republic of Ireland v Greece L 0-1 International Friendly
30 May 2000 Republic of Ireland v Scotland L 1-2 International Friendly
04 Jun 2000 Republic of Ireland v Mexico D 2-2 US NIKE CUP
06 Jun 2000 USA v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 US NIKE CUP
11 Jun 2000 Republic of Ireland v South Africa W 2-1 US NIKE CUP
02 Sep 2000 Netherlands v Republic of Ireland D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
07 Oct 2000 Portugal v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
11 Oct 2000 Republic of Ireland v Estonia W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
15 Nov 2000 Republic of Ireland v Finland W 3-0 International Friendly
24 Mar 2001 Cyprus v Republic of Ireland W 0-4 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
28 Mar 2001 Andorra v Republic of Ireland W 0-3 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
25 Apr 2001 Republic of Ireland v Andorra W 3-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
06 Oct 2001 Republic of Ireland v Cyprus W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Europe group 2
10 Nov 2001 Republic of Ireland v Iran W 2-0 FIFA World Cup Europe v Asia play-off
15 Nov 2001 Iran v Republic of Ireland L 1-0 FIFA World Cup Europe v Asia play-off
13 Feb 2002 Republic of Ireland v Russia W 2-0 International Friendly
17 Apr 2002 Republic of Ireland v USA W 2-1 International Friendly
01 Jun 2002 Republic of Ireland v Cameroon D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group E
05 Jun 2002 Germany v Republic of Ireland D 1-1 FIFA World Cup Finals group E
11 Jun 2002 Saudi Arabia v Republic of Ireland W 0-3 FIFA World Cup Finals group E
16 Jun 2002 Spain v Republic of Ireland L 1-1 (2-3) FIFA World Cup Finals 2nd round
21 Aug 2002 Finland v Republic of Ireland W 0-3 International Friendly
07 Sep 2002 Russia v Republic of Ireland L 4-2 UEFA European Championship Group 10
16 Oct 2002 Republic of Ireland v Switzerland L 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 10
12 Feb 2003 Scotland v Republic of Ireland W 0-2 International Friendly
29 Mar 2003 Georgia v Republic of Ireland W 1-2 UEFA European Championship Group 10
02 Apr 2003 Albania v Republic of Ireland D 0-0 UEFA European Championship Group 10
30 Apr 2003 Republic of Ireland v Norway W 1-0 International Friendly
07 Jun 2003 Republic of Ireland v Albania W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 10
11 Jun 2003 Republic of Ireland v Georgia W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 10
19 Aug 2003 Republic of Ireland v Australia W 2-1 International Friendly
06 Sep 2003 Republic of Ireland v Russia D 1-1 UEFA European Championship Group 10
09 Sep 2003 Republic of Ireland v Turkey D 2-2 International Friendly
11 Oct 2003 Switzerland v Republic of Ireland L 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 10
18 Aug 2004 Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria D 1-1 International Friendly
16 Nov 2004 Republic of Ireland v Croatia W 1-0 International Friendly
24 May 2006 Republic of Ireland v Chile L 0-1 International Friendly


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.