Michael Ball (footballer)

[3] He played his first senior match in April 1997 as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur, and made his first start a week later at West Ham United.

His first Old Firm match ended in controversy when he swore at Rangers manager Dick Advocaat after being substituted, resulting in a £10,000 fine.

[7] In December 2001, after his eleventh Rangers appearance, he suffered medial ligament damage which kept him sidelined for 18 months, including the entire 2002–03 season.

Upon his return to fitness he regained his place in the team, becoming a first-team regular in the 2003–04 season, scoring his first league goal against Dundee.

[citation needed] In the 2005 close season, Rangers wished to remove the higher earners from their wage bill, so Ball moved to Dutch Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £500,000, signing a two-year contract.

[citation needed] He joined Manchester City on 31 January 2007 after impressing on a week-long trial, on a six-month contract for a nominal fee.

He made his debut ten days later against Portsmouth, and scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup fifth-round match against Preston North End on 18 February.

[citation needed] At the end of January 2009 Ball had a knee operation on his left patella tendon, which kept him out of action for nine months.

[17] Ball made three appearances for Leicester, all in the League Cup, and left the club on 24 January 2012 after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.