Robert Huth Bio Send To Friend  

Dogged by injures, Huth's career has struggled to live up to his potential, but he remains a dominant defender when fit.

The giant stopper was snapped up by Chelsea from the youth system at German club Union Berlin but struggled to impress at Stamford Bridge; although he made his debut for the Blues in the last game of the 2001-02 season, as a 17-year-old and was highly regarded by former boss Claudio Ranieri

Welcomed fully into the first team squad for the 2003-04 season, he looked far from comfortable in the bright lights of the Premiership and he was often kept on the bench.

The lack of first team opportunities saw the player linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2004-05 season. He was strongly linked with a return to Germany with Bayern Munich but opted to remain in London. The Berlin-born centre-back was often culpable for goals and his shaky displayed for Germany at the Confederations Cup in June 2005 saw the end of his Chelsea career.

Huth headed to Middlesbrough at the start of the 2006-07 season, but the fact that he initially failed a medical held many clues. He had to wait to make his debut in a shock Carling Cup defeat at home to Notts County. And his fitness problems meant it was mid-October before he first appeared in the Premiership.

However, after a disappointing first season at the club, the departure of Jonathan Woodgate meant Huth rose to prominence alongside David Wheater and began to show signs that he would repay some of his £6m transfer fee.

Three solid seasons amounted to 50 appearances for the club and, when they were relegated in 2008-09 he was made captain. However, he moved to Stoke that summer for a reported fee of around £12m with team-mate Tuncay.