Gavin McCann Bio Send To Friend  

Midfielder Gavin McCann joined Bolton Wanderers from Aston Villa in June 2007 for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £1million.

Speaking about his new signing Bolton manager Sammy Lee praised McCann's as possessing 'quality in abundance'.

Former Sunderland player McCann had one year left of his deal with Villa and Martin O'Neill had indicated he would be offered a new contract. However after losing his starting place at Villa to Craig Gardner, McCann felt there was no guarantee of first team football and therefore opted for a move to Bolton.

McCann joined Villa from the Black Cats in the summer of 2003 and was one of then-Villa manager David O'Leary's first signings. The Irishman described McCann as 'an unsung hero', and praised his no-nonsense approach and tough tackling.

Under O'Neill's regime at Villa Park McCann was a first-team regular and was one of club's better players, but a dip in form led to academy graduate Gardner's run in the team.

McCann signed for Sunderland from Everton in November 1998 for £500,000 and swiftly forced his way into the first-team reckoning, scoring a number of important goals from midfield.

His skill, passing ability and his possession of the ever-elusive left foot brought him to the attention of Sven Goran Eriksson who selected him for the squad that faced Spain in February.

McCann made his international debut in the second half of the experimental friendly which England won 3-0. But he did not add to that first cap and fell out of the reckoning in Eriksson's England plans.

After Sunderland's relegation from the Premiership in 2003 the player was destined to move on, and was linked with a return to Everton where he began his career as a trainee and made five first team appearances.

He finally opted for Villa and signed for the Midlands club in July 2003 for a fee of £2.25million.

McCann became a regular at Bolton during 2007/8 and scored his first goal for the club at Middlesbrough in April 2008.