Ricardo Fuller

Last updated 29th, September, 2008

Ricardo Dwayne Fuller (born October 31, 1979, Kingston, Jamaica) is a striker for Stoke City and Jamaica.

Fuller started his career with Jamaican side Tivoli Gardens, before securing a move to Crystal Palace, who paid £1m for his services in February 2001.

Persistent knee problems affected his spell in south London – he only played eight games – but a loan move to Scottish Premier League side Hearts saw him shine, with eight goals in 27 appearances. Ricardo was signed by Preston North End for £500,000 in 2002, and although his knee problems continued, he still managed to score 27 goals in 58 appearances – including 19 in the 2003/2004 campaign.

Ricardo Fuller was snapped up by Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp in 2004 on a pay-as-you-play contract, although he only played one match before following Redknapp along the south coast to Southampton the next season.

Ricardo failed to impress and was sent out on loan to Ipswich Town, which saw Fuller play four times, score two goals and receive a red card.

However, the loan spell at Portman Road rejuvenated Fuller and he scored six goals in six games on his return to Southampton. Ricardo Fuller was signed by Stoke City manager Tony Pulis in August 2006 for a fee in the region of £500,000.

His goalscoring ability shone through in his first season at the Britannia Stadium, but his disciplinary problems were highlighted by two red cards – against Coventry City and Luton Town – along with 10 bookings.

However, he scored 11 goals as Stoke City finished just outside the Championship play-off places.

Fuller shoots Stoke City to promotion

The 2007-08 season was Fuller’s most successful for the club as he scored 15 goals to finish joint top scorer with Liam Lawrence as Stoke City secured promotion to the Premier League on the final day of the season with a 0-0 draw against Leicester City at the Britannia Stadium.

He bagged a hat-trick against Stoke’s local rivals West Brom after scoring two goals in the game before to help Stoke City beat Blackpool 3-2, and also penned a new contract to keep him at Stoke City until 2011.

Fuller also scooped the goal of the season award after his fine solo run and finish sealed a 4-2 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers during the promotion run-in.

Ricardo Fuller also had the distinction of scoring Stoke City’s first-ever goal in the Premier League, but it was only a consolation as the Potters lost 3-1 at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2008/2009 season.

However, his next goalscoring contribution secured a more positive result as he found the net in the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium – Stoke City’s first win in the Premier League.

That strike won Fuller the Match of the Day ‘goal of the month’ award for August. A goal in the 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth was followed by the first in arguably Stoke City’s finest moment in the Premier League – a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Ricardo Fuller continued his excellent goalscoring form with the winner against Sunderland as Tony Pulis’ side made a bright start to life in the top flight.

Fuller has also made 37 appearances for Jamaica, scoring five goals, and featured for his country in a 6-0 defeat by England, at Old Trafford, in 2006.