Dion Dublin - Striker / Defender Date of Birth: April 22, 1969 Birthplace: Leicester Nationality: English Height: 1.85m / 6'1" Previous Clubs: Coventry, Manchester United, Cambridge, Norwich, Oakham United Joined Villa: May 13, 1998 Acquisition Price: £5,75 million Debut: November 7, 1998 vs Tottenham (h) Contract expires: Summer 2004

Dion Dublin started his football career with the Canaries in 1988 after having been a trainee of theirs. That is if you disregard his first football club, Oakham United, a Sutton, Ashfield club. Here he played in the Central Midlands league. He was spotted by a Norwich scout and signed for the club at the end of the 1987-88 season. He signed a professional contract right away, but after a short stay at carrow road, he was released on a free transfer to (at the time) fourth division Cambridge.

Cambridge didn't offer him a contract, though. Dublins first years in pro football can't be said to be terrific - far from it. At Cambridge, he played for the reserves until making his first team debut on November 29, 1988 in a cup game against Peterborough. That day proved to be a dramatic u-turn for Dublin's career as he scored in the 2-2 draw. Cambridge manager Chris Turner immediately put Dublin into the first team on a regular basis. He made his league debut on December 13 against Wrexham, coming on as a substitute for George Reilly. His second match - against Peterborough once more - saw Dublin score a hat-trick! For the rest of the season, Dublin was a key player up front for Cambridge.

Next season saw Dublin team up with John Taylor, and Dion scored a total of 15 goals, helping Cambridge as far as the 6th round of the FA Cup. After being 15th in the mid-season, Cambridge managed to reach the playoffs, and after beating Maidstone in the semis, Chesterfield was eliminated in the final, and they moved into Division 3.

Next year was even more fruitful for Dion. 17 goals and another 6th FA Cup round, where they slipped with an honouring 2-1 defeat vs Arsenal.Cambridge even went into the second division playoffs. All good things must come to an end, though. Alex Ferguson of Man Utd had seen enough, and was there to pick up Dublin before the end of the season. £1 million was the transfer fee.

Dublins first full debut saw him score the winner against Southampton, but broke his leg against crystal palace later on that season. Autumn 1993, a new season kicks off. For Dublin, this wasn't to be a happy season. Only 5 appearances, and a £2 million transfer to Coventry at the end of the season.

The 1994-95 season saw Dublin score 16 goals for the Skyblues, and from the on, went downhill. Dublin had some dismal games in the 95-96 season, and was relegated to centre back by manager Gordon Strachan. The latters assessments were correct though, as Dublin scored 4 goals from set pieces and Coventry started an impressive December run. Dublin then ran into a double sending off in concecutive matches, and was handed a seven match ban by the FA. He returned and scored some important goals for Coventry.

The 96-97 season and the 97-98 ditto proved great for Dublin, as he was moved back in front and scored goals continuously. At the start of the 98-99 season, Dublin was wanted by several clubs. Aston Villa emerged winners in the battle for his signature, and signed him in November 98 for 5,75 million pounds, much to the anger of the Coventry board.

At Aston Villa, Dion Dublin made an almost unbelievable impact. Two goals in his debut match against Tottenham on November 7, a hat-trick the match after that vs Southampton and further two against Liverpool the following match. That is seven goals in his first three matches!!!

After the huge initial success, disaster struck just before Christmas 1999. Dion Dublin suddenly lay down on the pitch after a horrific but accidental collision with Gerald Sibon, late in a fixture against Sheffield Wednesday. It turned out that he has broken his neck, a thing that normally either paralyzes people for the remainder of their lives or is fatal. However, quick attention from skilled paramedics and the following months' intense recovery supervised by physio Jim Walker, saw Dublin return as early as March, where he came on against Derby. He succeeded in making another three goals that season, winding up the club's top scorer with 17 goals total and 4 assists. Since then, noone has been able to see that he was once so gravely iunjured.