Cardiff City
Mark Delaney (footballer) played for which team from 1998 to 1999?
Mark Delaney ( footballer ) Mark Anthony Delaney ( born 13 May 1976 ) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played for Carmarthen Town , Cardiff City and Aston Villa as a right back . He is also a former member of the Welsh national team , gaining 36 caps during his career . In doing so , he became the first player to progress from the Cymru Premier to the senior national side . Early life . Delaney was raised in Goodwick , Pembrokeshire by his parents Mike and Angelina . He is of Italian descent , with his maternal grandparents having moved to Wales after World War II . He attended Ysgol Bro Gwaun ( located in Fishguard ) . He is a fluent Welsh speaker . Club career . As a youngster , Delaney played in the youth system at Manchester United but was released after he was deemed too small . After playing for local amateur side Goodwick United , Delaney joined League of Wales side Carmarthen Town in 1996 , later becoming club captain at 20 years of age . He was spotted by Cardiff City manager Frank Burrows and joined the club on 1 June 1998 on a free transfer . He made 40 appearances in all competitions for Cardiff , scoring once in the FA Cup against Chester City on 14 November 1998 , between his purchase and his sale to Aston Villa eight months later on 9 March 1999 for £500,000 . Delaney had been travelling to an away match with Cardiff against Brighton & Hove Albion when he was informed of the transfer by manager Frank Burrows on their arrival . Aston Villa . The day after his transfer was completed , Delaneys father drove him to Birmingham and he traveled with the first-team for their match against Derby County . One month later , Delaney was handed his Premier League debut by manager John Gregory , replacing Steve Stone in the final ten minutes of a 3–1 victory over Nottingham Forest on 24 April 1999 . He made just one further appearance for the club during the final matches of the 1998–99 season , during a 1–0 defeat to Arsenal . After a full pre-season with Villa , Gregory promoted Delaney to first choice right-back ahead of Steve Watson at the start of the following season . Delaney credits Gregory with improving his performances during his early career with Villa , Gregory singling out Delaney during his seventh appearance for the side , describing him as playing like a tart during the half-time team talk . Delaney went on to score the only goal of the game in the second half of the match as his side defeated Watford 1–0 . During his first season at Villa Park , the club finished in sixth place in the league , reached the semi-final of the League Cup and the final of the FA Cup , Delaney playing the full match as Villa lost 1–0 to Chelsea . He made 193 first appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions , with two goals coming against Watford on 24 August 1999 and Everton on 26 December 2005 . He has also gained 36 international caps with the Wales national team . Delaneys Aston Villa career was tempered with knee injuries , which he attributes to his willingness to fly into tackles as a youngster hoping to impress . Delaney traveled to see noted American knee specialist Dr . Richard Steadman in an attempt to end the injuries , but was informed by the surgeon that it was unlikely that Delaney would return to playing football following extensive surgery . Delaney was out of contract at Aston Villa in summer 2007 and was hoping to impress Martin ONeill enough to win a new contract . However , on 15 August 2007 , he announced his retirement from football due to the above injury problems . Coaching career . On 5 September 2007 , Delaney stated he is hoping to go into coaching , and in December 2007 , Delaney rejoined Aston Villa as a youth coach . In 2015 , Delaney was named head coach of the Aston Villa F.C . Under-23s squad . On 8 January 2021 , Aston Villa were forced to name a squad full of academy players for an FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Villas Bodymoor Heath Training Ground . First team coach Dean Smith was unable to attend as he had to self-isolate , so Delaney acted as first team coach for that game . Aston Villa lost the game 4-1 , but were praised for the performance of their young , inexperienced side . Honours . - Aston Villa - UEFA Intertoto Cup : 2001