Richard Stearman

Richard James Michael Stearman (born 19 August 1987) is an English former professional footballer who is first team coach at Swansea City. He was a versatile defender, being able to play in any defensive slot although primarily a centre half or right-back. He spent majority of his career at Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

His career started at Leicester City, joining the academy in 1998, before turning professional in 2004, making his senior debut in the same year. He then joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008, where he would stay for seven years, with a loan spell at Ipswich Town in 2013.

He joined Fulham in 2015, staying there until 2017, he also had a loan spell back at Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 2016–17 season. Stearman then joined Sheffield United in 2017, in January 2020 after being released by United, Stearman joined Huddersfield Town where he stayed until June 2021. In August 2021 Stearman joined Derby County where he would stay for two years before being released in May 2023. In August 2023 Stearman joined Solihull Moors and was released in May 2024.

Stearman was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, and raised in Leicestershire. He joined the Leicester City youth academy in 1998 having been spotted playing for his local side Harborough Town. Equally adept at playing at right-back or centre-back, he signed his first professional contract in 2004, shortly after having won Leicester's Young Player of the Year award in 2003–04.

Stearman made his senior debut, aged 17, on 30 October 2004 in a goalless draw at Cardiff City. He scored his first senior goal in Leicester's 3–1 home victory over Millwall on 2 April 2005 and finished his first season with eight appearances. He became a first team regular in 2005–06, and attracted a bid from Sunderland, rejected by then-manager Rob Kelly, who said he was unwilling to part with one of his players he considered a hot prospect. He remained with the club for two more seasons, and won both Player of the Year and Player's Player of the Year awards in 2007–08.

After Leicester were relegated to League One, Stearman signed for Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 June 2008 in a four-year deal. He made his debut for Wolves in a 2–2 draw at Plymouth Argyle on 9 August 2008. Towards the latter end of 2008 saw Stearman partnering England under-21s teammate Michael Mancienne in defence. On 3 May, he scored his first goal for the club, an injury time winner against Doncaster Rovers, and received a championship winners medal. Stearman was also named in the PFA 2009 Championship team of the year alongside Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, voted for by his fellow professionals.

With regular right back Kevin Foley out injured, Stearman had an extended run in the starting eleven early in their Premier League return in 2009–10, during which he scored his first and only top flight goal, against Hull City. He featured throughout the first half of the season, but after being sent off against Wigan in January 2011 he made only one further substitute appearance during the campaign.

Stearman started 27 Premier League games – primarily replacing Jody Craddock at centre back – during the following season as the club avoided relegation on the final day. He made another 28 starts during the 2011–12 season despite suffering a broken wrist, but the team were ultimately relegated back to the Championship