Robbie Savage

Robert William Savage is a well-known media personality and former footballer. He was renowned for his hard-working and aggressive playing-style. He notched up two decades playing for the Wales national team, as well as a host of other Premier League giants and remains in the top 50 most capped Premier League players of all-time. He has since gone on to gain a considerable following for his football punditry. Savage's style as a midfield player was all-action and energetic, and he regularly collected yellow cards, and for a while held the dubious distinction of being awarded the most yellow cards of any Premiership player in the league's history - 89, although he has now been overtaken. He was born in Wrexham in October 1974 to Colin and Valerie Savage and attended Ysgol Bryn Alyn in Gwersyllt, until he completed his GCSE studies in July 1991. Even during these early years football was always on Robbie's mind and upon leaving school the young Welsh talent joined Manchester United as an apprentice. He began his career playing for Manchester United's youth team in 1991 and went on to make over 600 appearances for Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Crewe Alexandra and Brighton and Hove Albion. In his last two games, he was met with a round of applause and a standing ovation from both sets of supporters. Off the pitch Robbie is also carving a name for himself as one of Britain's favourite pundits and recently won The Sony DAB Rising Star Award for his work on BBC Radio 5 Live's 606 programme. His honest and forthright opinions can also be read weekly in his Daily Mirror column and Zoo magazine, as well as being heard in his regular appearances on both TV and radio for the BBC. He has 2 sons with his wife Sarah. His father was diagnosed with Pick's disease, a dementia-type illness, when he was in his mid-50s, and died in 2012. His book Savage! The Robbie Savage Autobiography was released in August 2011. Savage took part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering Ola Jordan. The show broadcast on 22 October saw Savage perform a dramatic knee-slide towards the camera, which resulted in a broken nose. Savage left the competition on 4 December 2011, and as such was placed 6th. He also appeared on the ITV2 comedy show Celebrity Juice in 8 March 2012. He is represented by leading celebrity endorsement company Useful Talent, based in London, England.