Phil Bardsley: Man United defender Profile & Stats
Facebook X (Twitter) Blue Sky MUFCINFO.COM Instagram Account Munich Air Disaster MUFC Higher Lower by Player Goals
MUFC Logo

 

Portrait of Phil Bardsley

Phil Bardsley

Position: defender

Scotland Scotland flag

PWDLFA

HAN P W D L F A Diff Win%
H 10 6 2 2 24 10 +14 60.00
A 8 5 1 2 16 10 +6 62.50
TOTALS 18 11 3 4 40 20 +20 61.11

Name: Phillip "Phil" Bardsley
Birthdate: 28-06-1985
Age: 40
Birthplace: Salford, England
Height: 5' 11" (1.80m)
Weight: 11st 8lbs (73.48kg)
Years at Club: 2003-2008
Signing Info: Signed Trainee: 01/07/2001
Previous Clubs: Royal Antwerp (loan), Burnley (loan), Glasgow Rangers (loan), Aston Villa (loan), Sheffield United (loan)
Debut: 03/12/2003 v West Bromwich Albion 0-2 (A) (League Cup 4th Round)
Farewell: Transferred to Sunderland, 22/01/2008, £?
Passed Away:

Biography

Phil Bardsley is a Scottish footballer known for his tenacity and versatility as a right-back during his career. He came through the Manchester United academy, earning a reputation as a tough defender with a strong work ethic. While his first-team opportunities at Manchester United were limited due to competition from established players, Bardsley enjoyed a long career in the Premier League, particularly with Sunderland and Stoke City.

Early Career and Rise at Manchester United
Bardsley joined Manchester United's youth system at a young age, progressing through the ranks and making his senior debut for the club in 2003. As a product of United's academy, he was highly regarded for his tough tackling, physicality, and commitment on the pitch. However, with competition from first-team defenders like Gary Neville and Wes Brown, Bardsley found it difficult to establish himself as a regular in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Loan Spells and Development
During his time at Manchester United, Bardsley was sent on multiple loan spells to gain first-team experience. These loan moves included stints at Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa, and Sheffield United. His performances during these loan spells earned him praise, particularly for his defensive qualities and versatility to play across the backline.

Career at Manchester United (2003-2008)
Bardsley made a total of 18 appearances for Manchester United's first team, often playing as a right-back. While he didn't become a regular starter at Old Trafford, he was valued for his versatility and defensive strength whenever he was called upon. Bardsley was part of the squad during United's 2005–06 League Cup campaign, which ended in a victory, though he did not feature in the final.

Move to Sunderland and Premier League Career
In 2008, Bardsley left Manchester United to sign for Sunderland, where he enjoyed a successful spell in the Premier League. His performances for Sunderland solidified his reputation as a tough and reliable defender, and he became a fan favorite due to his hard work and leadership at the back.

Key Achievements at Sunderland:
Consistent Premier League Performer: Bardsley made over 170 appearances for Sunderland, contributing both defensively and offensively, with occasional important goals from distance.
Sunderland Player of the Year (2010–11): Bardsley's consistent performances earned him the Sunderland Player of the Year award for the 2010–11 season.
After leaving Sunderland in 2014, Bardsley moved to Stoke City, where he continued to be a regular fixture in the Premier League, known for his no-nonsense defending and experience.

Later Career and Return to Burnley
In 2017, Bardsley signed for Burnley, marking a return to the club where he had a loan spell earlier in his career. At Burnley, Bardsley played a key role in the club's solid defensive setup under manager Sean Dyche, contributing to the team's ability to stay competitive in the Premier League.

International Career with Scotland
Though born in Salford, England, Bardsley was eligible to represent Scotland through his family heritage. He earned 13 caps for the Scotland national team, debuting in 2010. His hard-tackling and committed style of play made him a valuable option for Scotland during his international career.

Playing Style: Tough, Committed, and Versatile
Bardsley was known for his tough-tackling, physicality, and defensive reliability. He was a no-nonsense defender who wasn't afraid to put in a hard challenge and was often tasked with marking dangerous wingers. His versatility allowed him to play as a right-back or left-back, providing valuable cover for his teams across the defense.

Legacy
Phil Bardsley may not have broken through as a regular at Manchester United, but he forged a successful career as a dependable and hard-working defender in the Premier League. His longevity in the English top flight, particularly with Sunderland and Stoke City, showcased his consistency and commitment. He remains a respected figure for his dedication and professionalism on the pitch.

Summary
Phil Bardsley is a versatile and tough-tackling full-back who started his career at Manchester United before going on to have a successful Premier League career with Sunderland and Stoke City. Known for his no-nonsense defending and work ethic, Bardsley made over 170 appearances for Sunderland and was named the club's Player of the Year in 2010–11. He also earned 13 caps for Scotland during his international career.
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-cont Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Apps
No Season League Goals League Apps LC Goals LC Apps FAC Goals FAC Apps CS Goals CS Apps EC Goals EC Apps Europa Goals Europa Apps SC Goals SC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps IC Goals IC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps Season
Goals		 Season
Apps
1. 2003-2004 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2. 2005-2006 0 8 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
3. 2007-2008 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 8 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

MUFC Player Goals MUFC Player Appearances MUFC Player Opponent Manager MUFC Player Club Manager
No Opponent Goals Appearances
Player has never scored for club.
No Opponent Appearances Goals
1. West Bromwich Albion 2 0
2. Fulham 2 0
3. Burton Albion 2 0
4. Northampton Town 1 0
5. Debreceni Vsc 1 0
6. Blackburn Rovers 1 0
7. Benfica 1 0
8. Sunderland 1 0
9. Lille 1 0
10. Tottenham Hotspur 1 0
11. Barnet 1 0
12. Middlesbrough 1 0
13. Charlton Athletic 1 0
14. Wigan Athletic 1 0
15. Coventry City 1 0
No Opponent Manager No
1. Coleman, Chris 2
2. Clough, Nigel 2
3. Megson, Gary 1
4. Calderwood, Colin 1
5. Supka, Attila 1
6. Hughes, Mark 1
7. Koeman, Ronald 1
8. McCarthy, Mick 1
9. Puel, Claude 1
10. Jol, Martin 1
11. Fairclough, Paul 1
12. McClaren, Steve 1
13. Curbishley, Alan 1
14. Robson, Bryan 1
15. Jewell, Paul 1
16. Dowie, Iain 1
No MUFC Managers Count
1. Ferguson, Alex 18
Stadiums Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
No Stadium Count
1. Old Trafford 10
2. Craven Cottage 1
3. Ferenc Puskas Stadium 1
4. Pirelli Stadium 1
5. Riverside Stadium 1
6. Sixfields Stadium 1
7. Stadium of Light, Sunderland 1
8. The Hawthorns 1
9. The Valley 1
No Competition Count
1. Premiership 8
2. League Cup 4
3. European Cup 3
4. FA Cup 3
No Opponent Count
1. West Bromwich Albion 2
2. Fulham 2
3. Burton Albion 2
4. Northampton Town 1
5. Debreceni Vsc 1
6. Blackburn Rovers 1
7. Benfica 1
8. Sunderland 1
9. Lille 1
10. Tottenham Hotspur 1
11. Barnet 1
12. Middlesbrough 1
13. Charlton Athletic 1
14. Wigan Athletic 1
15. Coventry City 1
No Opponent Nationality Count
1. England 15
2. Hungary 1
3. Portugal 1
4. France 1
Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000 Cup Finals
No Date Opponent Competition Own Goals
Player has never scored an own goal against the club.
No Date Opponent WDL F-A Competition
Player never featured in a Cup Final.
Penalties scored for Manchester United Manchester United Hat-Tricks
No Date Opponents Competition Penaltys
Player has never scored a penalty for the club.
No Date Opponent Competition Goals
Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.
 
Red Cards  
No Date Opponent Competition
Player has never been sent off during a match.
 

All Matches played
No Date Comp Opponent WDL F-A HAN Goal!! Scorers Opponent scorers
1. 03-12-2003 LC West Bromwich Albion L 0-2 A 0 Bernt Haas 6', Scott Dobie 56'
2. 25-01-2004 FAC Northampton Town W 3-0 A 0 Mikael Silvestre 34', Chris Hargreaves 47' (o.g.), Diego Forlan 68'
3. 24-08-2005 EC/UCL Debreceni Vsc W 3-0 A 0 Gabriel Heinze 20', 61', Kieran Richardson 65'
4. 24-09-2005 PL Blackburn Rovers L 1-2 H 0 Ruud van Nistelrooy 67' Morten Gamst Pedersen 33', 81'
5. 27-09-2005 EC/UCL Benfica W 2-1 H 0 Ryan Giggs 39', Ruud van Nistelrooy 85' Simao 59'
6. 01-10-2005 PL Fulham W 3-2 A 0 Ruud van Nistelrooy 16' (pen), 44', Wayne Rooney 17' Collins John 2', Claus Jensen 27'
7. 15-10-2005 PL Sunderland W 3-1 A 0 Wayne Rooney 40', Ruud van Nistelrooy 76', Giuseppe Rossi 87' Stephen Elliott 82'
8. 18-10-2005 EC/UCL Lille D 0-0 H 0
9. 22-10-2005 PL Tottenham Hotspur D 1-1 H 0 Mikael Silvestre 7' Jermaine Jenas 72'
10. 26-10-2005 LC Barnet W 4-1 H 0 Liam Miller 4', Kieran Richardson 19', Giuseppe Rossi 51', Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 89' Dean Sinclair 74'
11. 29-10-2005 PL Middlesbrough L 1-4 A 0 Cristiano Ronaldo 90'+4 Gaizka Mendieta 2', 76', Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 25', Ayegbeni Yakubu 45'+5 (pen)
12. 19-11-2005 PL Charlton Athletic W 3-1 A 0 Alan Smith 37', Ruud van Nistelrooy 70', 85' Darren Ambrose 65'
13. 30-11-2005 LC West Bromwich Albion W 3-1 H 0 Cristiano Ronaldo 12' (pen), Louis Saha 16', John O'Shea 56' Nathan Ellington 77'
14. 14-12-2005 PL Wigan Athletic W 4-0 H 0 Rio Ferdinand 30', Wayne Rooney 35', 55', Ruud van Nistelrooy 70' (pen)
15. 08-01-2006 FAC Burton Albion D 0-0 A 0
16. 18-01-2006 FAC Burton Albion W 5-0 H 0 Louis Saha 7', Giuseppe Rossi 23', 90'+1, Kieran Richardson 52', Ryan Giggs 68'
17. 04-02-2006 PL Fulham W 4-2 H 0 Carlos Bocanegra 6' (o.g.), Cristiano Ronaldo 14', 86', Louis Saha 23' Brian McBride 22', Heidar Helguson 37'
18. 26-09-2007 LC Coventry City L 0-2 H 0 Michael Mifsud 27', 70'
 

About this site

 West Cumbria Reds Branch Flag  
MUFCINFO.com is not an official Manchester United website.
All pages are designed, maintained and copyright © Mark Graham.
Email: mufcinfo@sky.com