Once a left-back, Gareth Barry has carved out a productive career as a defensive midfielder. Although ignored by one former England manager in Sven-Göran Eriksson, he featured regularly during Fabio Capello's reign and won his 50th cap in November 2011. He spent over a decade with Aston Villa FC before joining Manchester City FC in 2009.

• Born on the south coast of England in Hastings, he played youth football for local club Brighton & Hove Albion FC but was bought by Villa at 16; made his Premier League debut on May 2 1998 against Sheffield Wednesday FC.

• Also made his European debut as a 17-year-old – against Strømsgodset IF in the first round of the 1998/99 UEFA Cup – and was an England international at 19, making his bow in a Wembley friendly against Ukraine on 31 May 2000 and winning a place in Kevin Keegan's squad for UEFA EURO 2000.

• A regular figure for Villa over the next few seasons, he developed his game under four different managers – John Gregory, Graham Taylor, David O'Leary and Martin O’Neill – and served as club captain; made 441 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 52 goals, but failed to win a trophy.

• After a dalliance with Liverpool FC in the summer of 2008, he joined Manchester City 12 months later, signing a five-year contract; went on to win his first major honour, the FA Cup in 2011, appear for the first time in the UEFA Champions League and help Roberto Mancini's side to the English title in May 2012. 

• A regular in England's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, he made three appearances at the finals in South Africa; was retained by Capello for the UEFA EURO 2012 competition and played six times, all in the starting XI.