Biography
Who is Stephen Ward?
Early life and career
Stephen Ward Robert Ward was born in Dublin, Ireland, on August 20, 1985. He grew up in the Portmarnock area, where he attended St Helen's Primary School and Portmarnock Community School. During his youth, he played football for local teams Home Farm and Portmarnock before entering the senior ranks.
In the summer of 2003, he joined the Dublin-based League of Ireland club Bohemians. He initially played as a forward for the club. His debut performance for Bohemians in the FAI Cup against Skerries Town on 15 August 2003 was well-known as he scored twice as a substitute. Over his time with Bohemians, he made 93 appearances and scored 26 times before converting to a left-back position. His performance in Ireland drew attention from English clubs, including Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolverhampton Wanderers years
In January 2007, Stephen signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made an immediate impact, scoring three times in his first six matches and winning the Championship Player of the Month award in February 2007. Although the team missed out on the play-offs that season, he continued to play regularly.
During the 2008–09 season, Stephen transitioned into a makeshift left-back role following an injury to a teammate. He played a key part in the team winning the Championship title and earning promotion to the Premier League. He played over 230 times for the club during his tenure, which included several seasons in the top flight and multiple relegation battles.
Burnley and later clubs
After a loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion during the 2013–14 season, Stephen moved to Burnley in August 2014 on a three-year contract. He spent five seasons at Turf Moor, making 113 appearances for the club. He helped Burnley earn promotion back to the Premier League as champions in the 2015–16 season. He also contributed to the team qualifying for the UEFA Europa League after a successful 2017–18 campaign.
Following his departure from Burnley in 2019, he signed with Stoke City on a one-year deal. He later played for Ipswich Town starting in August 2020, where he made 31 appearances across all competitions. In July 2021, he joined Walsall on a one-year agreement. He announced his official retirement from professional football on 22 April 2022.
International career
Stephen received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team in May 2011. He made his debut on 24 May 2011 against Northern Ireland in a Nations Cup match, scoring the opening goal in a 5–0 win. His competitive debut followed shortly after in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovakia.
He played a significant role in Ireland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2012, scoring a goal against Estonia in the play-off stage. He was selected for the 23-man squad that traveled to Poland and Ukraine for the tournament. Also, he represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016, where the team advanced to the knockout stages before losing to France. He retired from international duty in March 2019.
Birthday and age
Stephen Ward was born on August 20, 1985, which makes Stephen 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Stephen shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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