Danny Collins Bio Send To Friend  

The defender, who first blossomed under the tutelage of Roy Keane at Sunderland, was signed by Stoke on Sept 1, 2009 for a fee of £2.75m.

The left-back had helped the Black Cats win promotion from the Championship in 2006-07 and then won the Supporters Association Player of the Year award after making the most appearances, 36, for the club as they stayed in the Premier League, but found his options limited under Steve Bruce.

Still, it has been a meteoric rise for a player who was in the Conference in April 2004.

Collins began his career with Chester City. He was released as a youngster but after a spell with Buckley Town he was offered the chance to return to the Deva Stadium.

He spent time on loan at Vauxhall Motors in the 2002-03 campaign, who enjoyed a fine run to the Third Round of the FA Cup, but became a regular on his return to Chester, helping the club to the Conference play-offs where they lost out to Doncaster Rovers on penalties in the semi-finals.

During his time at Chester, boss Mark Wright converted him from a midfielder to a defender and Collins came of age in 2003-04 as Chester returned to the Football League by winning the Conference title.

And his performances in League Two early in the 2004-05 season had the scouts watching. Sunderland, Everton and Sheffield United were all said to be interested but it was Sunderland who paid £140,000 in October.

Collins went on to play an important squad role as the Black Cats won the Championship title in 2004-05 and he also made his full international debut for Wales.

After a enduring mixed fortunes at Sunderland under Mick McCarthy, promotion to and then relegation from the Premiership with a record low of points, he did well under Roy Keane but was unable to seal his first-team place under Steve Bruce and chose to move on.