Kenny Miller

Kenny Miller

Born: December 23, 1979
Age: 44
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Biography

Kenneth "Kenny" Miller (born 23 December 1979) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Championship club Rangers. Miller is one of only five post-war players to have played for both Rangers and Celtic. He is known as a versatile and pacy striker who is skilled with headers and can play as a supporting or centre-forward.

Miller began his career at Hibernian before moving on to Rangers then to the English First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he won his first career honour, the 2003 First Division play-off final. After five seasons with Wolverhampton, Miller returned to Scotland, signing for the other side of the Old Firm - Celtic. He finished his only full season at Celtic with SPL and Scottish Cup winners medals.

After one season with Derby County, he returned to Scotland to play for Rangers. Miller won back to back SPL titles, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup in two full seasons with Rangers. He moved to Turkish club Bursaspor in January 2011, but returned to the UK later that year, signing for Cardiff City. After one season with Cardiff, Miller played in Major League Soccer for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He returned to Rangers in June 2014.

Miller was a regular Scotland international player from his debut in 2001 until his retirement in 2013. He often played as an isolated lone striker, scoring 18 goals in 69 appearances.

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Club career

Hibernian

Miller grew up in Musselburgh and got his big break when he signed for local side Hibernian, and he made his debut against Motherwell in the 1997-98 season. A loan spell at Stenhousemuir saw Miller score five doubles—10 goals—in 13 league and Scottish Cup games, before he returned to Hibernian to establish himself as a regular player. Highlights of his four years at the club included being the club's top scorer in season 1999-2000 and receiving the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2000.

Rangers (first spell)

Miller signed for Rangers at a cost of £2 million on 26 June 2000. He made his debut in a 4-1 win over FBK Kaunas on 26 July during a Champions League qualifier. His first goal came on 5 August 2000 during a league match away to Kilmarnock, scoring the third in a 4-2 win.

Three months later, Miller netted five goals (a Scottish Premier League record) during a 7-1 win against St Mirren. More goals followed against AS Monaco and Aberdeen and helped him to a tally of ten goals from just fourteen games. However, chances became limited thereafter and as the season came to a close he netted only once more, against Brechin City in the Scottish Cup. Miller had made a total of 38 appearances and scored 11 goals for Rangers.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In September 2001, Miller went to Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-month loan, scoring against Gillingham and Walsall. However, after just five appearances, Miller broke his collarbone in a fall. In December 2001, Wolves secured him on a permanent transfer at a cost of £3 million, on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

In 2002-03 Miller found himself back in the Wolves starting 11, but he had only managed six goals in 19 starts. However, during the final six months of the season he scored 18 goals in his final 24 appearances of that campaign, including in the play-off final that saw the club win promotion.

In the 2003-04 season, Miller started off in the physiotherapy room; it was not until October that he made his first Premier League start. He played in a 4-5-1 formation for the following few months, situated in a right-wing role. This led to frustration on Miller's part, and his only goals up until January came in the League Cup, against Burnley, and a double against Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup on 13 January. The following Saturday, Wolves beat Manchester United 1-0 with Miller scoring the winner in the 65th minute. Miller then grabbed a last minute equaliser against Liverpool the following Wednesday. Despite starting many games from then on in a striker's role, those were Miller's only Premier League goals and Wolves were relegated at the end of the season.

In the summer of 2004, Miller handed in a transfer request over lack of first team opportunities. Despite having a tense relationship with the Wolves manager, Dave Jones, he started the 2004-05 season in good form for the club scoring seven goals in his first 10 games at Wolves. The appointment of Glenn Hoddle signalled a new start for Miller, and he formed a successful partnership with Carl Cort, ending the 2004-05 season with 20 goals.

In summer 2005, his form attracted the attention of the newly promoted Premier League team Sunderland, but Wolves rejected their £1m and £1.2m offers and Miller began the new season as a Wolves player. Despite only playing in his natural position on few occasions, Miller still ended the season as top scorer, with 12 goals - the third time in Wolves' last three Championship campaigns. Miller played 191 games for Wolves and scored 63 goals during his five years with the club.

Celtic

When Miller's contract expired at the end of that season, he transferred to Celtic for free under the Bosman ruling. He signed a pre-contract agreement in January after refusing to sign a new deal at Wolves a month earlier. Miller became only the third player since World War II to have played for both sides of the Old Firm - following Alfie Conn and Maurice Johnston.

Miller was handed the number 9 jersey upon his arrival at Celtic. He endured a difficult start at the club, getting sent off in a pre-season friendly with D.C. United and failing to score in his first nine games. He finally netted his first goal, against Old Firm rivals and former employers Rangers at Celtic Park in September 2006. He proceeded to score in Celtic's 1-0 UEFA Champions League win against Copenhagen from the penalty spot and netted two in the 3-0 win over Benfica. By scoring in the 2006-07 Champions League, Miller became the first player to score goals in the Champions League proper for both Rangers and Celtic. However, he ended the season with only four league goals. He did play in the Scottish Cup final, before being substituted because of an injury. Despite hints from the player himself that he would leave to get more first-team opportunities, Miller vowed to stay at the club and fight for his place at the club. Miller scored his first goal in his first appearance of the 2007-08 season in a 4-1 victory over Falkirk and added to his collection the following week with a brace against Aberdeen. He netted 11 goals in total for the club in 46 appearances.

Derby County

Miller signed a three-year deal with newly promoted Premier League club Derby County on 31 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee, later confirmed by Derby County manager Paul Jewell to be close to £2.25m.

Miller started well at his new club, scoring in his first two home matches, including the winner on his league debut for the Rams against Newcastle United in a 1-0 win on 17 September, a strike which won the club's Goal of the Season award. However, following this initial success Miller netted just twice in his next 28 league fixtures.

After less than seven months at the club and with Derby looking likely candidates for relegation, Miller expressed a desire to move - with a return to Rangers a possible destination, though Rams manager Jewell insisted any move would have to be financially fair for Derby.

Rangers (second spell)

A fee of £2 million was agreed between Rangers and Derby allowing Miller to enter into discussions about a transfer back to Ibrox on 10 June 2008. The deal was completed on 13 June. Miller's return to Ibrox means he is the only player in the modern era to cross the Old Firm divide twice, and only the second in history, the first being Tom Dunbar in the 1890s.

Miller made his second debut for the club on 30 July 2008 in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas, who he played during his first Rangers debut. He netted a brace in the first Old Firm game of the season on 31 August 2008. He followed this up with a further two goals against former employers Hibernian at Easter Road a month later. Miller played in the League Cup Final in March 2009 but Rangers lost the match 2-0 to Celtic after extra time. However he won a league winners medal with Rangers on the final day of the season and followed it up with a Scottish Cup winners medal.

Miller had an injury-ridden start to the 2009-10 season, but gave a Man of the Match performance in the first Old Firm game of the season, scoring both of Rangers' goals in a 2-1 win. In March 2010, he scored the winning goal in the League Cup Final against St Mirren, after Rangers had been reduced to nine men.

Miller was handed the number 9 shirt after Kris Boyd moved to Middlesbrough. He scored his second Rangers hat-trick against former club Hibernian on 22 August 2010; his first was when he scored five against St Mirren in November 2000. Miller claimed to be in "the form of his career" after notching up ten goals in the first six league matches of the 2010-11 season. Miller scored twice in the first Old Firm derby of the season.

Miller had scored 22 goals by early January, when Rangers accepted an offer of £700,000 from Birmingham City. A lower offer by Turkish club Bursaspor was later agreed, however. Miller had scored for Rangers against Bursaspor earlier that season in the UEFA Champions League. Despite leaving Rangers during the middle of the season, he finished the season as top goalscorer in the SPL.

Bursaspor

On 21 January 2011, Miller officially signed for Bursaspor for £400,000 on a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for the Turkish side two days later in a goalless draw with Konyaspor when he played the last 25 minutes after replacing Pablo Batalla. Kenny scored on his first start for Bursaspor in a 2-0 win over Galatasaray. He followed this up with a further two goals in his next game against Sivasspor, netting an 88th-minute winner. Miller scored five goals in 15 appearances for the club.

Miller failed to settle in Turkey, however, and he asked Bursaspor to consider selling him. Bursaspor then accepted an offer from Cardiff City. Rangers also made an offer for Miller, but this was rejected by Bursaspor.

Cardiff City

Miller signed for Cardiff City on 26 July 2011, for a reported transfer fee of £870,000. Miller scored his first goal in the 91st minute of his debut match against West Ham United in the season opener. Miller returned to the score sheet, on 28 September, with a brace in a 2-1 win over Southampton. However, Miller suffered a groin injury in 10 minutes the following game against Hull City, which kept him out of two Scotland games and two Championship matches, where Cardiff only gained a point. On 19 October, manager Malky Mackay confirmed that Miller was fit and ready to make a return against Barnsley. Miller did return this match and scored the opener, but only lasted 30 minutes in the match after suffering a head injury. Miller scored in 1-0 victories against Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest in December. Cardiff reached the 2012 Football League Cup Final, but Miller missed a chance to score late in extra time. He then missed his penalty kick as Cardiff lost to Liverpool in a penalty shootout. He struggled for form later in the 2011-12 season, scoring only once in 22 appearances.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Miller signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer on 16 July 2012. Six days later, he made his debut in a 2-1 home win over the San Jose Earthquakes, playing the last 12 minutes in place of Darren Mattocks. He scored his first goal for the Whitecaps on 25 August 2012 against the Portland Timbers in a 2-1 loss. He signed an extension in July 2013 to take him through June 2014 with the club.

On 4 May 2014 the two sides mutually agreed to terminate the remaining two months in his contract.

Rangers (third spell)

On 4 June 2014, Miller signed for Rangers on a one-year deal. He made his third debut against Hibernian in a Challenge Cup tie on 5 August and scored his first goal since his return to the club on 30 August versus Queen of the South. Miller signed another one-year deal with Rangers in mid-2015. On 2 January 2016 Miller became Rangers' oldest ever player to score a hat-trick after scoring three goals against Dumbarton.

International career

Miller made his international debut, under the management of Craig Brown, on 25 April 2001. He was an 80th-minute substitute for Scott Booth during a 1-1 friendly match against Poland. He had to wait nearly two years for his second appearance when he was selected for a Euro 2004 qualifier by the then manager Berti Vogts in March 2003. Miller started the match at home to Iceland and scored within the first ten minutes to give Scotland the lead.

From then until his international retirement in 2013, Miller was almost always first-choice, playing either on his own or as part of a two-man attack. He scored goals in important games against several teams, including Germany and Ukraine. In 2005, Miller scored four goals in three internationals, against Austria, Italy, and Norway.

Miller won his 50th cap for Scotland in a 1-0 defeat against Czech Republic in October 2010. He captained the team for the first time, and scored, against Northern Ireland on 9 February 2011. Miller continued to represent Scotland after moving to Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He scored in the 3-2 defeat against England in August 2013, which meant that Miller had scored 18 goals in 69 appearances for Scotland. Miller retired from international football soon after the England match, with Scotland manager Gordon Strachan stating that Miller wanted to prolong his club career.

Career statistics

Club

As of 18 March 2016
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hibernian 1997-98 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Stenhousemuir 1998-99 11 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 13 10
Stenhousemuir 1998-1999 11 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 13 10
Hibernian 1998-99 7 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 1
1999-00 31 11 5 1 2 1 0 0 38 13
Hibernian 1998-2000 45 12 5 1 3 1 0 0 53 14
Rangers 2000-01 27 8 3 1 1 1 4 1 35 11
2001-02 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Rangers (1st spell) 2000-2001 30 8 3 1 1 1 4 1 38 11
Wolves 2001-02 22 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 23 2
2002-03 43 19 4 3 2 1 3 1 52 24
2003-04 25 2 3 2 2 1 0 0 30 5
2004-05 44 19 2 0 1 1 0 0 47 20
2005-06 35 10 2 0 2 2 0 0 39 12
Wolves 2001-2006 167 52 12 5 7 5 5 1 191 63
Celtic 2006-07 31 4 4 1 1 0 8 3 44 8
2007-08 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Celtic 2006-2007 33 7 4 1 1 0 8 3 46 11
Derby County 2007-08 30 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 33 6
Derby County 2007-2008 30 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 33 6
Rangers 2008-09 30 10 5 3 1 0 2 0 38 13
2009-10 33 18 6 2 1 1 5 0 45 21
2010-11 18 21 0 0 1 0 6 1 25 22
Rangers (2nd spell) 2008-2011 81 49 11 5 3 1 13 1 108 56
Bursaspor 2010-11 15 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 5
Bursaspor 2010-2011 15 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 5
Cardiff City 2011-12 43 10 0 0 5 1 2 0 50 11
Cardiff City 2011-2012 43 10 0 0 5 1 2 0 50 11
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2012 9 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 3
2013 21 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 22 8
2014 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2012-2014 43 13 0 0 0 0 2 0 45 13
Rangers 2014-15 33 8 4 0 3 0 3 1 43 9
2015-16 26 12 1 0 2 1 2 3 31 16
Rangers (3rd spell) 2014- 59 20 5 0 5 1 5 4 74 25
Career Total 551 182 44 17 25 10 38 9 666 225

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first


Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 29 March 2003 Hampden Park, Glasgow Iceland 1-0 2-1 Euro 2004 qualification
2 7 June 2003 Hampden Park, Glasgow Germany 1-1 1-1 Euro 2004 qualification
3 17 August 2005 Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadion, Graz Austria 1-0 2-2 Friendly
4 3 September 2005 Hampden Park, Glasgow Italy 1-0 1-1 2006 World Cup qualification
5 7 September 2005 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo Norway 1-0 2-1 2006 World Cup qualification
6 7 September 2005 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo Norway 2-0 2-1 2006 World Cup qualification
7 1 March 2006 Hampden Park, Glasgow Switzerland 1-2 1-3 Friendly
8 2 September 2006 Celtic Park, Glasgow Faroe Islands 4-0 6-0 Euro 2008 qualification
9 6 September 2006 Darius and Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas Lithuania 2-0 2-1 Euro 2008 qualification
10 13 October 2007 Hampden Park, Glasgow Ukraine 1-0 3-1 Euro 2008 qualification
11 26 March 2008 Hampden Park, Glasgow Croatia 1-1 1-1 Friendly
12 7 September 2010 Hampden Park, Glasgow Liechtenstein 1-1 2-1 Euro 2012 qualification
13 9 February 2011 Aviva Stadium, Dublin Northern Ireland 1-0 3-0 2011 Nations Cup
14 25 May 2011 Aviva Stadium, Dublin Wales 2-1 3-1 2011 Nations Cup
15 3 September 2011 Hampden Park, Glasgow Czech Republic 1-0 2-2 Euro 2012 qualification
16 11 November 2011 Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Larnaca Cyprus 1-0 2-1 Friendly
17 11 September 2012 Hampden Park, Glasgow Macedonia 1-1 1-1 2014 World Cup Qualification
18 14 August 2013 Wembley Stadium, London England 2-1 2-3 Friendly

Honours

Club

Wolverhampton Wanderers

  • Football League First Division play-off winners (1): 2002-03 (promotion to first tier)

Celtic

  • Scottish Premier League (1): 2006-07
  • Scottish Cup (1): 2006-07

Rangers

  • Scottish Premier League (3): 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
  • Scottish Championship (1): 2015-16 (second tier)
  • Scottish Cup (1): 2008-09
  • Scottish League Cup (1): 2009-10
  • Scottish Challenge Cup (1): 2015-16

Individual

  • Scottish Premier League Golden Boot 2010-11
  • Scottish Premier League Player of the Month (3): April 2010, August 2010, September 2010
  • SPFA Young Player of the Year: 1999-00
  • Scotland national football team roll of honour : 2010

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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