ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

William Robert Flood

William Robert "Willo" Flood is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born on April 10, 1985, in Dublin, Ireland, Flood began his football career at Cherry Orchard, joining the club at the age of seven.

Flood's early years with Cherry Orchard were marked by both success and injury. At the age of 14, he dislocated his patella while playing in an All-Ireland Final, describing it as "very sore". Despite this setback, Flood continued to excel on the pitch, eventually attracting attention from top clubs such as Celtic, Manchester United, and Arsenal.

However, Flood chose to join Manchester City instead, citing their partnership at the time. He was assigned to the academy after facing an injury in his former youth club, which he had his injuries sorted by the Manchester City medical team. This decision proved instrumental in his development as a player, allowing him to continue playing without interruption.

Flood made his debut for Manchester City's first team on September 21, 2004, scoring the first goal of his career in a 7-1 win over Barnsley in the Football League Cup. He went on to make several appearances for the club, including five in all competitions during the 2006 season.

In addition to his work with Manchester City, Flood also had loan spells at Rochdale and Coventry City. During this time, he continued to hone his skills and gain valuable experience playing against top-level opponents.

Flood's international career was marked by success as well. He represented Ireland in various youth tournaments, winning 15 caps for the under-20 and under-21 teams. His performances earned him recognition within the Irish football community, solidifying his reputation as a talented young player.

In later years, Flood went on to play for several other clubs, including Aberdeen, where he won the Scottish League Cup in 2014. Despite facing setbacks and injuries throughout his career, Flood remained committed to his craft, always striving to improve and push himself to new heights.

Career Statistics

* Club appearances:
+ Manchester City:
- First team: 5 appearances
- Reserve team: numerous appearances
+ Rochdale:
- Loan spell: 6 matches
+ Coventry City:
- Loan spell: 12 appearances