DOMINIC MATTEO

POSITION : DEFENDER CENTRE

BORN: Dumfries, 24.4.74
HONOURS: England Under-21.
OTHER TEAMS: Sunderland (loan).

APPEARANCES : 74

GOALS : 0

INFO :

Matteo was born in Scotland with English parents and Italian grandparents, a cosmopolitan mix although Matteo has chosen to play for England. He was first spotted playing for Birkdale United by Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish while he was watching his son Paul. Matteo joined Liverpool soon afterwards as a trainee.

Graeme Souness gave Matteo his debut on a visit to Manchester City in October 1993, playing him on the left of midfield. He played several games in this position during the season and was a member of Roy Evans first team as Liverpool manager, away to Norwich. The following season he made occasional appearances, usually at left wingback, although he played as a substitute central defender in a couple of matches. Like Harkness before him it seemed that Matteo's versatility was actually working against him as he did not have an established position.

In the 1995/96 season Matteo only made a handful of appearances but these were largely as a central defender, the position in which both Evans and Matteo seemed to think the player's future lay. Their belief was justified at the beginning of the season. Matteo started the season as sweeper and was a star player in their promising start, even earning a call-up to the England squad in September.

PICTURE :

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