George Friend - TheSportsDB.com

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Name
George Friend

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60%

Born
1987 (37 years old)

Birth Place
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Barnstaple, England

Position
Defender

Status
Retired

Ethnicity

Team Number

Height
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight
82.99

Outfitter

Kit

Side

Agent

Wage Year

Player Manager ID
5133646

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Sport

Soccer

Team
_Retired Soccer

2nd Team

League
_No League Soccer

Creative Commons Artwork
No

Description
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George Andrew Jordan Friend (born 19 October 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender. He is currently Director of Football at Bristol Rovers.
Friend can play as either a centre half or a left back. In the 2012–13 season Friend won Middlesbrough players' player of the season award. The following season Friend won it again along with the Player of the Season award. Friend was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year two years running, following impressive 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons at left-back for Middlesbrough. Friend was named Middlesbrough vice-captain for the 2015–16 season.

Born in Barnstaple, Devon, Friend began his career at then non-League Exeter City as a youth team player, signing a two-year professional contract in March 2006. Able to play left back, centre-back or left-sided midfield, he made his first team debut on 17 April 2006 in a 0–0 draw at Forest Green Rovers.

During his early career, he also had loan spells with Tiverton Town (at the start of the 2005–06 season) and Team Bath (in December 2006). His Exeter career, however, really took off in the 2007–08 season when he was integral to the side that won promotion to the Football League after defeating Cambridge United in the Play-off Final at Wembley Stadium. During that season he became the youngest ever captain in Exeter's history and scored his first goal for the club in a 4–4 draw with Burton Albion on 26 April 2008.

On 23 July 2012, despite interest from Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest, it was announced that Doncaster had agreed a fee with Middlesbrough for Friend. On 30 July, Friend had agreed personal terms and officially signed for Middlesbrough. The fee was reported to be around £100,000.

After completing a successful season, in which Friend became a fan favourite amongst the Middlesbrough crowd because of his great performances. Friend was awarded the Community Player of the Year in his first season at the club, after attending numerous off-field events, as well as the players player of the year award. For the 2013–14 season, Friend was issued the number 3 squad number previously worn by departing defender Andre Bikey. Friend scored his first goal for Boro in a 2–2 draw at Wigan on 25 August. It was his first goal since 2010. Friend scored his second goal for Boro with a 20-yard strike in a 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest on 17 September 2013.

Friend captained a Boro side for the first time in a 2–0 victory against Rotherham United on 11 April 2015.