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Gareth Barry is widely considered one of the finest talents of the Premier League era
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No other player has made more Premier League appearances than the no-fuss midfielder
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His lengthy career at the top has resulted in considerable wealth
Born in Hastings on 23rd February 1981, Gareth Barry is a widely respected former footballer whose career spanned three different decades, the vast majority of which was spent plying his trade at the highest level.
Indeed, by the time the midfielder hung up his boots in 2020, he proudly held the record for making the most appearances in the Premier League.
His steady marshalling of centre-circles gained him the nickname of ‘Mr Reliable’ and subsequently Barry came to epitomize the kind of player hugely appreciated by his club’s fanbase but under-valued elsewhere.
In truth he was one of the finest midfielders England has produced in the Premier League era.
Beginning his long footballing journey as a trainee at Brighton he was head-hunted by Aston Villa as a teen, going on to make the bulk of his top-flight appearances in the Midlands over an 12-year period.
At Manchester City he won trophies then later, as he gained veteran status, Barry finally gained the widespread respect his ability warranted as he played out his final seasons at Everton and West Brom, as reliable as ever.
How Much Is Gareth Barry Worth?
Such longevity doesn’t only bring a player admiration and records in modern times. It also makes them seriously wealthy.
With 20 of his 22 years spent as a regular starter in the lucrative realms of the Premier League, Barry’s estimated fortune lies just north of £10m, much of which is derived from excelling for a sustained period at the top of the English game.
A drawn-out contract negotiation at Villa in the mid-2000s saw his earnings eventually soar, as his employers were keen to fend off interested parties.
Two years later, Manchester City swooped, instantly doubling his weekly wage to £100,000 a week. It was at City where Barry won his only league title and many Premier League predictions tip them to repeat that feat this season.
Gaining international recognition with England early in his career ensured his profile rose substantially and by becoming a household name his earning power would have also greatly increased.
Factor in too, a boot deal with Adidas and many years of highly rewarding bonuses and it’s fair to surmise that Barry was set for life at a young age, thereafter only getting richer.
Though his earnings dipped to £61,000-a-week on joining Everton he was significantly compensated at the tail-end of his career with a bumper signing-on fee from West Brom with Barry a free agent.
Gareth Barry House
There is no better illustration of the player’s considerable wealth than his former home, that was put on the market in 2018 for £4.5m.
Set in 30 acres of Cheshire land, the seven-bedroomed mansion contained the obligatory, spacious games room that all successful sportsman have as well as a tennis court outside and numerous stables.
There was additionally a home cinema and indoor swimming pool and even a 3,500-square-foot former aircraft hangar on the grounds, used to house Barry’s collection of cars.
With no sale forthcoming the property was reduced in value to £3.6m three years later.
Gareth Barry Achievements
Starting out as a left-back for Villa, Barry was soon brought inside to the midfield berth he is now so associated with and there he consistently displayed attributes that made him one of the best ‘holders’ in recent years.
He was calm in possession, a master at linking up play via a varied range of passing while without the ball the player handed the captain’s armband in his early twenties by the Midlands giant was tough but fair in the tackle.
Still, over a decade at Villa Park brought only an Intertoto Cup medal to his trophy cabinet but that all changed when Manchester City came calling in 2009.
At a club very much in the ascendancy, Barry secured a Premier League title in 2012 while lifting the FA Cup a season earlier.
Personal merits include winning a Player of the Year award at Everton after putting in a series of vintage performances at Goodison throughout 2015/16 but, as already stated, what most impresses about Gareth Barry is his astonishing longevity.
After surpassing Ryan Giggs in making the most Premier League appearances, the too-often under-rated midfielder ultimately racked up 653 outings for Villa, City, Everton and the Baggies.
Those of us who indulge in football betting online treasure a player such as Barry because we know where we stand with him. He was after all, Mister Reliable.
Gareth Barry England
Barry represented his country at various youth levels before receiving his international bow courtesy of Kevin Keegan in 2000.
Then a marauding full-back his opportunities were limited due to the prominence of Ashley Cole but several years later, after reimagining himself as a central midfielder many further caps followed, including appearances at a Euro tournament and the ill-fated 2010 World Cup that saw England fall at the first.
Our sports betting odds suggest the Three Lions will fare much better in Qatar this year.
In total, Barry played 53 times for his country, scoring three goals, with a particular highlight coming against Egypt in 2009 when he was made captain.
Gareth Barry Family
In 2007, Barry married his childhood sweetheart Louise in a low-key wedding that typified their approach to celebrity.
Neither have an online presence of any note and both value their privacy with Barry’s guarded nature once leading his manager John Gregory at the time to claim he had a ‘perfect poker face’.
The player has however previously gone on record, stating how supportive his wife has been, attending games and being his rock during a tough period early in their marriage when the Villa faithful publicly deemed him a ‘Judas’ for leaving their club.
The pair went on to have two children, a son Oscar and daughter Freya with Oscar a promising footballer himself, hoping to make the grade at Walsall.
Who is to say the Premier League odds in the near future won’t again include the probability of a Barry to score or be cautioned.
Regarding his wider family, Barry was the youngest of four brothers but tragically the close-knit clan endured an awful loss in 2018 when his older sibling Marc was killed in a traffic accident.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 23rd March 2022
