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PETER CROUCH
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| Position:
Striker
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| Date of Birth:
30/01/1981
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| Height:
6'7
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| Weight:
12st 6
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| 1st team games:
135
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| 1st team goals:
42
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| International caps:
28
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| International goals:
14
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| Former clubs:
Tottenham, QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich, Southampton
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| Birth Place:
Macclesfield
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England striker Peter Crouch is a proven goalscorer who joined the Rafalution in the summer of 2005.
At 6ft 7in, he's one of the tallest players in the game, though his touch remains a key attribute. Perhaps an unlikely hero, it's fair to say Crouch had to work hard to earn a dream move to Merseyside aged 24.
It all started at Tottenham Hotspur, though he never broke into the first team at White Hart Lane. His time there was punctuated by loan spells at non-league Dulwich Hamlet and Swedish part-timers IFK Hassleholm.
In July 2000, Crouch was sold to Queens Park Rangers, where he quickly set about proving his worth with a tally of 10 goals in a year.
This wasn't enough to prevent his new side being relegated to Division Two, however, and the cash-strapped Londoners were forced to sell their star striker to Portsmouth.
Again the move was a success, with 18 goals in 37 starts earning arguably his first big break - a transfer to the Premiership.
Aston Villa, who'd just appointed Graham Taylor as manager, was the destination. Crouch signed on the dotted line in March 2002 and scored on his debut against Newcastle United to help repay some of his £5million fee. However, the following season saw him struggle to hold down a regular place.
He was loaned to Norwich City from September to December 2003, during which time he scored four goals. The east coast outfit went on to win the Championship and recognised Crouch's contribution by awarding him a title-winner's medal.
In July 2004, unable to establish himself at Villa Park, the beanpole forward joined Southampton for a fee of about £2million - and the goals once again started to come.
Sixteen hits in 33 appearances, including one against Rafa's Reds, prompted Sven Goran Eriksson to bring him into the England squad for a tour of the United States. Having already represented the under-20s and under-21s, he made his senior international debut against Columbia in May 2005.
Despite his prolificacy, Southampton were relegated in 2004-05, meaning yet another transfer was a must if he was to remain in Sven's plans. His destination this time was Merseyside, with Rafa Benitez agreeing a fee in the region of £7million.
The deal was finalised on July 20, 2005 and Crouch had to wait just six days for his debut in a Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas.
The Anfield faithful soon realised they had more than a target man on their hands, with the striker displaying a neat touch and intelligent hold up play. It didn't take long for the Kop to devise the humourous "He's big, he's red, his feet stick out the bed" chant.
However, despite some impressive performances, the new arrival had to wait four months and 19 games for his first goal. Even then, his duck-breaker against Wigan on December 3 had to go to the dubious goals panel after taking two deflections.
From there the goals started to flow, including the winner in a fifth round FA Cup tie against Manchester United. The Reds went on to win the competition in Cardiff, with Crouch getting the assist for Liverpool's second against West Ham.
Meanwhile, the Anfield number 15 was establishing himself as an England regular. He scored his first international goal in a friendly against Uruguay on March 1, 2006. Bizarrely, the match saw him wear 12 on his back but 21 on his shorts.
Crouch was named in the 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. On May 30 he scored in a warm-up game against Hungary and celebrated with his much-publicised robot dance. Four days later he bagged a hat-trick against Jamaica despite fluffing a penalty.
With Wayne Rooney injured, the Liverpool man partnered Michael Owen in the World Cup opener against Paraguay. He kept his place for the follow up versus Trinidad and Tobago, during which he hit his first competitive international goal. Crouch made two further substitute appearances in the competition.
The start of the 2006-07 season saw him head the winner in the Community Shield triumph over Chelsea, while under new coach Steve McClaren he became the first England player to score 10 in a calendar year thanks to braces against Greece and Andorra.
In September 2006 Crouch scored perhaps his best ever goal, a stunning scissor kick at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League. It was a trick he would repeat just a few months later against Bolton Wanderers.
A broken nose sustained versus Sheffield United interrupted his second season on Merseyside, though he did go on to net his first club hat-trick against Arsenal in March 2007; one with his left foot, one with his right and another with his head.
Crouch was named as a substitute in the 2007 Champions League final in Athens, coming on for Javier Mascherano with 12 minutes to go. Sadly, his introduction wasn't enough to spark another incredible comeback.
There was further heartache the following November when he was part of the England side that failed to reach Euro 2008. The striker looked to have spared a nation's blushes when he equalised against Croatia at Wembley. All Steve McClaren's side needed to do was hold on - but they couldn't.
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