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Michael Oakes
Michael Christian Oakes (born 30 October 1973) is an English football coach and former professional footballer.
As a player he was a goalkeeper from 1991 until 2008. He notably played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers and in the Football League for Scarborough and Cardiff City. He also had minor loan spells whilst with Villa at Bromsgrove Rovers, Gloucester City, Scarborough and Tranmere Rovers. He also won seven England Under-21 caps during his spell at Villa Park.
Since retirement Oakes has worked as a goalkeeping coach for both Wrexham and Walsall.
Oakes began his career in Aston Villa's youth system. He played nineteen games for Gloucester City in 1992–93 and then had a loan spell at Scarborough in 1994 playing one league game. He finally got his chance to appear in Villa's first team at the start of the 1996–97 season. He made his debut on 17 August 1996 in a 2–1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, aged 22, deputising for the injured Mark Bosnich. On 26 December 1998, he incorrectly received a red card from referee Dermot Gallagher after he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area, although replays showed he had not. Gallagher later admitted he made a "genuine error of judgment", Due to the incident, manager John Gregory became a proponent of video replays to be used in the sport.
Bosnich's injury record, and speculation he would be leaving to join Manchester United, gave Oakes opportunities over the next three seasons and he amassed 60 appearances in total for the club. However, after the club recruited David James following Bosnich's departure in 1999, Oakes requested a move.[citation needed]
Oakes made the short journey to First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1999 for £500,000, and soon ousted long-serving Mike Stowell as number one at Molineux. He remained as the first-team goalkeeper until September 2002, when he suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by rookie Matt Murray. Oakes was honoured with a medal during the 2003 Football League First Division playoff final/play-off success against Sheffield United at the Millennium Stadium in May 2003.[citation needed]
However, the fortunes of the two keepers turned in August 2003, when Murray sustained a back injury, and Oakes stepped into the breach for Wanderers' inaugural Premier League campaign. He performed admirably in what was a tough season, but was controversially replaced by new signing Paul Jones in January 2004.[citation needed]
Oakes regained his place in October 2004, post-relegation, but lost his place through injury in October 2005, to Stefan Postma. Although Postma was later released, Murray's return to fitness meant that Oakes continued as deputy in 2006–07. He was given a free transfer in May 2007 after 220 appearances in total. Upon his release, Oakes drew praise from his former colleague Murray, stating that "I learned a lot from him and he has always been very supportive of me. Whoever signs him is going to have a top keeper."
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Michael Oakes
Michael Christian Oakes (born 30 October 1973) is an English football coach and former professional footballer.
As a player he was a goalkeeper from 1991 until 2008. He notably played in the Premier League for Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers and in the Football League for Scarborough and Cardiff City. He also had minor loan spells whilst with Villa at Bromsgrove Rovers, Gloucester City, Scarborough and Tranmere Rovers. He also won seven England Under-21 caps during his spell at Villa Park.
Since retirement Oakes has worked as a goalkeeping coach for both Wrexham and Walsall.
Oakes began his career in Aston Villa's youth system. He played nineteen games for Gloucester City in 1992–93 and then had a loan spell at Scarborough in 1994 playing one league game. He finally got his chance to appear in Villa's first team at the start of the 1996–97 season. He made his debut on 17 August 1996 in a 2–1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, aged 22, deputising for the injured Mark Bosnich. On 26 December 1998, he incorrectly received a red card from referee Dermot Gallagher after he was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area, although replays showed he had not. Gallagher later admitted he made a "genuine error of judgment", Due to the incident, manager John Gregory became a proponent of video replays to be used in the sport.
Bosnich's injury record, and speculation he would be leaving to join Manchester United, gave Oakes opportunities over the next three seasons and he amassed 60 appearances in total for the club. However, after the club recruited David James following Bosnich's departure in 1999, Oakes requested a move.[citation needed]
Oakes made the short journey to First Division club Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 1999 for £500,000, and soon ousted long-serving Mike Stowell as number one at Molineux. He remained as the first-team goalkeeper until September 2002, when he suffered a shoulder injury and was replaced by rookie Matt Murray. Oakes was honoured with a medal during the 2003 Football League First Division playoff final/play-off success against Sheffield United at the Millennium Stadium in May 2003.[citation needed]
However, the fortunes of the two keepers turned in August 2003, when Murray sustained a back injury, and Oakes stepped into the breach for Wanderers' inaugural Premier League campaign. He performed admirably in what was a tough season, but was controversially replaced by new signing Paul Jones in January 2004.[citation needed]
Oakes regained his place in October 2004, post-relegation, but lost his place through injury in October 2005, to Stefan Postma. Although Postma was later released, Murray's return to fitness meant that Oakes continued as deputy in 2006–07. He was given a free transfer in May 2007 after 220 appearances in total. Upon his release, Oakes drew praise from his former colleague Murray, stating that "I learned a lot from him and he has always been very supportive of me. Whoever signs him is going to have a top keeper."