#9 Peter Crouch Country: England Height: 2.00 m6-7 Birthdate: 30/01/1981 Position: Forward Weight: 75 kg165 lbs Birthplace: Macclesfield, England Team: Tottenham Hotspur League: Premier League

Bio

A tall centre-forward with decent ability with the ball at his feet, Peter Crouch has defied his critics to become a big success in the Premier League. Less adept in the air than expected given his 6ft 7in frame, the centre-forward's unpredictability is his greatest strength, leaving defenders in constant doubt as to what he is going to do next. Let go by Tottenham Hotspur in 2000, Crouch had spells at QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Norwich City – the latter on loan – before joining Southampton in 2004. Used as the front man in the Saints side by manager Harry Redknapp, he scored 16 goals in 33 games in the 2004/2005 season, earning a call-up to the England squad and a seven million pounds move to Liverpool. Despite being a fans' favourite, Crouch never really established himself at Anfield, and it was little surprise when Rafa Benitez sold him to Portsmouth in 2008. A revelation on the south coast under former mentor Redknapp, he followed the manager to Spurs in July 2009 where he has played a major part in the club's successful 2009/2010 season. Booed by England fans in just his second game for England, Crouch has gone from being a joke figure in the international set-up to a cult hero, and his record of better than a goal every other game – despite often being used as a late substitute – far exceeds any of his colleagues in the squad. A useful weapon off the bench, the 29-year-old is unlikely to start too many games in South Africa.

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