Michael Bridges
Michael Bridges was in the same England Under-18s as Michael Owen, and in season 1999-2000 scored 19 goals for Leeds United, who ran third in the English Premier League and made a European Cup semi-final. He would form a potent attacking unit with Alan Smith and Socceroos Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, and was tipped for big things up front for England.
However, serious injury meant years out of the game. There was depression, drinking and big decisions. He left Leeds, had a series of stuttering starts with a host of clubs, before regaining his love of the game in third division as the Hero of Carlisle. Eventually he made his way back into the big show of the EPL (with Hull City) before finishing his career in Australia with A-League clubs Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets.
Today, he’s a rusted-on Novocastrian, an analyst with Optus, SBS and Channel Nine, and a contributor to a podcast called “The GegenPod”.
He talks to Matt Cleary.
Where are you from, Mike?
