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MICHAEL BRIDGES
Personal Stats
DOB: 10th May 1978
Birthplace: North Shields
Height: 6'1"
Profile
Michael became United's record signing when he arrived in a £5M move from Sunderland, two weeks before the 1999/2000 season and he quickly established himself as the fans favourite with a superb start to his career at Elland Road, including scoring a hat-trick in only his second appearance for Leeds.
Bridges went on to notch over 20 goals in his first full season in a white shirt, a fantastic achievement for a youngster playing his first full year in the Premiership and in Europe.
The England U-21 international became David O'Leary's fourth 1999 close season signing, as he continued to build a talented and young squad, that he hopes will develop into one of the major forces in European football over the next decade.
The on off transfer was finally completed when the Wearsiders accepted Leeds' bid and allowed Bridges to travel to Elland Road, where he wasted little time in accepting personal terms on a five year contract.
Leeds had looked destined to miss out on the race for Bridges' signature, when former Leeds boss George Graham had a similar bid accepted by Sunderland, but the striker then failed to agree to the move, saying " a move to London is not right for me at this time."
Two weeks later, the Wearsiders agreed to let Bridges move to Elland Road and the deal was quickly completed.
" I am delighted to be joining Leeds and am really looking forward to David O'Leary guiding my career from here," said Michael at the time.
"I cannot wait to pull the white shirt on for the first time. There is a right time to join a football club and I suspect that most players would agree that this is a great time to join Leeds.
" I have joined Leeds because I believe they are assembling the best group of young players in the country and I can see us challenging for honours now and for years to come," he added.
How true Michael, who then went on to clinch a place in the England U-21 squad for the European Championships in summer 2000.
Career Stats:
Squad No. 8
Position: Striker
Date Signed: 24th July 1999
Signed from: Sunderland
Transfer fee: £5M
International Honours: England, U-21
Previous Clubs: Sunderland
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