David Healy (footballer)

David Healy (footballer)

David Jonathan Healy, MBE (born 5 August 1979) is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for League One side Bury. He is the all-time leading scorer for Northern Ireland with 36 goals, and also holds the record for the highest scoring tally during a UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign with 13.

He began his career as a youth player at Manchester United in 1995, turning professional in 1999, but signed for Preston North End two years later after a short loan spell. He spent three years with Preston, maintaining a healthy goals to games ratio, before transferring to Leeds United in 2004. After three years to Leeds he moved on to Fulham for a season, before settling at Sunderland in 2008. He moved north to Scotland to play for Rangers in January 2011. He helped the club to the SPL title in 2010–11 and also played in the 2011 League Cup final victory, before departing when the club entered liquidation towards the end of the 2011–12 season. He joined Bury in August 2012. In addition to these clubs he has also played for Port Vale, Norwich City, Ipswich Town, and Doncaster Rovers on loan.

Before representing his country at a senior level, he also played for both the U21 team and the B team.