Murphy made his first-team debut for Crewe as a 16-year-old on 7 December 1993, coming on as a substitute in a 3–2 away win over Bradford City in the Football League Trophy.[8] He scored on his home debut, with the winner in a 4–3 home win against Preston North End in the league.[8] Murphy generally played as a deep-lying forward for Crewe, scoring several spectacular long range and set piece goals. While at Gresty Road, Murphy formed a prolific partnership with striker Dele Adebola.[citation needed]
Murphy signed for Premier League club Liverpool in 1997 for an initial fee of £1.5 million. He made his debut as a substitute on the opening day of the 1997–98 season in a draw with Wimbledon. However, he did not break into the team immediately and, after making just one league appearance for the club during the following season, he returned to Crewe on loan, during which he helped save his old club from relegation. After the loan period ended, he went on to become a regular at Liverpool.[citation needed]
Though naturally a central midfielder, Murphy often played as a wide midfielder due to competition for places, particularly from Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann. Murphy's career at Liverpool included a cup double in 2001 (FA Cup and UEFA Cup), a Premier League second-place finish in 2002, and the League Cup in 2003. During the 2001–02 season, when he established himself as a key member of the side, Liverpool's assistant manager Phil Thompson praised Murphy, citing his versatility and describing him as 'probably the most tactically aware player that we have.'[10] Although the 2002–03 season was overall a disappointing one for Liverpool, with the club dropping to fifth in the table, Murphy had a fine individual campaign which saw him score 12 goals and be voted the supporters' player of the season.[citation needed] He also started the 2003 League Cup final as Liverpool beat Manchester United, having missed the 2001 final due to injury.[11][12]
He developed a habit of scoring the deciding goal in 1–0 wins away to Manchester United, a feat he achieved three times in four seasons (2000–01,[13] 2001–02[14] and 2003–04).[15]
Charlton Athletic
Murphy signed for Charlton Athletic in August 2004 on a four-year contract for a fee of £2.5 million.[16] In his first season at Charlton, Murphy struggled to recapture the form that he had shown at Liverpool. However, in the first three months of the 2005–06 season he emerged as a viable option for England once more, and also won the Premier League Player of the Month award for September, scoring several goals along the way.[citation needed]
Tottenham Hotspur
On 31 January 2006, Murphy signed for Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of £2 million.[17] He appeared only fleetingly in the remaining games of the season.[citation needed]
Murphy scored his first Tottenham goal in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 1 October 2006 after only 39 seconds of the game.[18] He was unable to establish himself as a regular at Tottenham, but made clear later that despite reports in the media, there was no disagreement between him and Jol.[19]
Fulham took over Murphy's Tottenham contract on 31 August 2007.[20] He cemented himself as a regular starter, kept his place in the team throughout the season and scored six goals in 43 matches. One goal, a rare header scored on 11 May 2008, gave Fulham a 1–0 win away at Portsmouth and ensured their Premier League survival.[21] Following the match, Murphy highlighted manager Roy Hodgson's "key role" in the team's avoiding relegation.[22] Murphy signed a new one-year contract, with an option for a further year, at the end of the season,[23] and was appointed club captain for the 2008–09 season.[24]
On 9 November 2008, Murphy scored his 100th goal at club level with a penalty kick, as Fulham beat Newcastle United 2–1.[25] Murphy scored another penalty as, for the first time in 45 years, Fulham beat title-chasing Manchester United at home.[26]
The year's option on Murphy's contract was taken up during the season,[27] but in August 2009, amid reported interest from clubs including Birmingham City and Stoke City,[28] he signed another extension, until June 2011.[29] Murphy missed two months in the early part of the season with a knee ligament problem,[30] but went on to captain Fulham to their first European final. They eliminated opponents including Juventus, defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk, Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg, and Hamburger SV to reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League final. Ahead of the semi-final, Murphy said that just reaching the final "would be one of the greatest achievements of our history".[31] Fulham lost 2–1 to Atlético Madrid to a goal scored just four minutes from the end of extra time.[32]
The 2010–11 season started without Hodgson, who left for Liverpool, and was replaced by Mark Hughes. In October, Murphy made a controversial comment about managers responsible for dangerous tackles made by players.[33] His comment was supported by some,[34] but received heavy criticisms from other managers.[35] In response to these criticisms, Murphy said his comments "were blown out of all proportion".[36] In late-January 2011, Murphy signed another contract extension to keep him as Fulham until June 2012.[37] Just one day after signing a new contract, Murphy scored his first goal of the season and then another, as Fulham beat his former club Tottenham 4–0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.[38] Murphy was praised by Manager Mark Hughes for helping the club turn things around and avoid relegation.[39]
Ahead of the 2011–12 season, Murphy believed he could play a major role and declared himself "fitter than ever".[40] After making forty-nine appearances and scoring seven times in all competitions, he was released by Fulham at the end of the season as he and Martin Jol, who had replaced Hodgson's successor, Hughes, could not agree on a contract extension.[41] In his last season at Fulham, Murphy created more goalscoring chances than any other player in the top-flight.[42]
On 25 June 2012, Murphy signed for Championship club Blackburn Rovers on a two-year contract.[43] He said that he moved to Blackburn to play regularly and that it was the right time to leave Fulham.[44] He scored his first goal for Blackburn in a 2–2 draw with Huddersfield Town on 6 November 2012.[45] In March 2013, Murphy was succeeded as Blackburn captain by Scott Dann.[46] On 1 July, Murphy had his contract terminated by mutual consent despite being willing to stay at the club for another season.[47][48] While at the club, Murphy was praised by manager Gary Bowyer for his assistance during Bowyer's management career at Blackburn.[49]
International career
Murphy scored on his debut for the England national under-18 team on 24 July 1994, in a 3–3 draw away to Norway in a friendly, which he entered as a substitute.[50] He made his first start two days later in a 3–2 home win over the same opposition in another friendly.[50] He finished his under-18 career with seven appearances and five goals from 1994 to 1995.[50]
Murphy was part of the England under-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia, and made his debut at that level when starting England's first match at the tournament, a 2–1 win over the Ivory Coast on 18 June 1997.[51] He scored a hat-trick two days later in England's next match, a 5–0 win over the United Arab Emirates.[51] All four of Murphy's appearances for the under-20s came at this tournament, in which England were eliminated on 26 June after losing 2–1 to Argentina in the round of 16.[51]
Murphy played nine times for the England senior team and scored one goal between 2001 and 2003.[53] He made his debut on 10 November 2001 as a 58th-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to Sweden in a friendly.[54] He scored his only goal on 17 April 2002 in a 4–0 home victory over Paraguay in a friendly with a deflected shot.[53][55] Murphy was called up to England's squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan as a replacement for the injured Steven Gerrard, but had to withdraw after he suffered a foot injury.[56]
Post-playing career
On 18 August 2013, Murphy appeared as a pundit on the BBC programme Match of the Day.[57] He announced his retirement as a player on 10 October, with the intention of continuing his media work and completing his coaching badges.[58] He established a career as a pundit on the UK radio station Talksport.[59]
In 2024, Murphy revealed that after his football career had ended he had struggled with no longer having football in his life and had turned to cocaine and cannabis to help him cope, at one point becoming addicted to cocaine.[62]
Career statistics
Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
