Product Code Database
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 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.
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
Back in the Championship, Stearman fell out of favour at Wolves, and in January 2013 he moved on loan to Ipswich Town for the remainder of the current season, where he was reunited with his former Wolves manager Mick McCarthy.
Stearman returned to Wolves' first team in the 2013–14 season, with the team now in League One and under the management of Kenny Jackett. He was a regular in the side that won the League One title and during the summer signing a new contract that was to last until summer 2016. He remained a regular at the heart of Wolves' defence during the 2014–15 season as the club missed the play-offs on goal difference. His performances earned him both Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year Awards.
The following season began with Stearman captaining the team in the absence of the injured Danny Batth but after only four league games, Wolves coach Kenny Jackett confirmed reports that Wolves had accepted an offer from Fulham for Stearman and he would be leaving Molineux. Although officially undisclosed, media reports placed the accepted bid at £2 million. Stearman departed having made a total of 234 appearances (scoring six times) for the club in three different divisions.
On 31 August 2016, less than a year after departing Wolves, he rejoined them on a season-long loan. On 28 January 2017, he scored his only goal on that spell against Liverpool in the FA Cup 4th round, scoring in the first minute of a 2–1 victory.
In July 2024, Stearman announced his retirement from football.
Stearman made his debut in a 2–0 friendly win over the Czech Republic under-21s on 18 November 2008, and a 3–2 defeat to Ecuador on 11 February 2009. Stuart Pearce included him in the squad for the 2009 UEFA U21 championships when centre half and captain Steven Taylor withdrew due to injury.
On 12 March 2011, the Football Association of Ireland confirmed that they had contacted Stearman to play for the Republic of Ireland as he has an Irish people on his mother's side of the family. Irish sources say teammate Kevin Doyle initiated with contact the FAI, who followed up with a call to Stearman. In November 2012, Stephen Hunt declared that Stearman had acquired an Irish passport.
On 26 March 2025, Stearman joined Championship side Swansea City as assistant coach until the end of the season.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| Leicester City | 2004–05 | EFL Championship | 1 |
| 2005–06 | Championship | 4 | |
| 2006–07 | Championship | 3 | |
| 2007–08 | Championship | 3 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2008–09 | Championship | 1 |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 1 | |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 1 | |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | Championship | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | League One | 2 | |
| 2014–15 | Championship | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 0 | |
| Ipswich Town (loan) | 2012–13 | Championship | 0 |
| Fulham | 2015–16 | Championship | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Championship | 0 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 2016–17 | Championship | 1 |
| Sheffield United | 2017–18 | Championship | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Championship | 1 | |
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 1 | |
| Huddersfield Town | 2019–20 | Championship | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Championship | 0 | |
| Derby County | 2021–22 | Championship | 0 |
| 2022–23 | League One | 0 | |
| Solihull Moors | 2023–24 | National League | 0 |
Sheffield United
Solihull Moors
Individual
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