Paul Andrew Parker (born West Ham, London, 4 April 1964) is a retired English footballer with QPR and Manchester United who was a crucial player at the 1990 World Cup with England. West Ham is a district in the London Borough of Newham, in east London, England, located east of Charing Cross. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football club, based in Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football

Parker, a central defender, started his career with Fulham before joining QPR, where he made his name as a nippy and incisive defender, even though he lacked the height normally associated with his position. In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Fulham Football Club is an English football team based in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. His prowess was noticed by England coach Bobby Robson who, establishing he could also play at right back, gave him his international debut against Albania in 1989. Sir Robert William Robson Kt CBE (born 18 February 1933 commonly known as Sir Bobby Robson (ˈbɒbi ˈrɒbsən is a former international football The Albania national football team is the national football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania.

Parker continued to play centrally for his club while deputising for the first-choice Gary Stevens on the right side of defence for country. Michael Gary Stevens (born in Barrow-in-Furness, England, 27 March 1963) is a retired English footballer who shot to fame He was selected as Stevens' back-up for the 1990 World Cup in Italy but, with Stevens putting in a disappointing display in the opening 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland, Parker was put in the team, just five caps into his career. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in international football.

He stayed there, playing comfortably behind Chris Waddle as England progressed through their group and as far as the semi-finals, where they met West Germany. Christopher Roland Waddle (born 14 December 1960 in Felling, Tyne and Wear, England) is an English former professional The German national football team (Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft From 1950 to 1990 the team was also informally called West Germany in English as since Here two incidents would define Parker's career.

With the score at 0-0, the Germans won a free kick just outside the England penalty area early in the second half and as the ball was tapped to Andreas Brehme, Parker sprinted from the defensive wall to try to block the shot. Andreas "Andy" Brehme (born 9 November 1960) is a German football coach and former football defender. Instead, it clipped off him at such an angle that the ball looped high into the air and swirled round and over goalkeeper Peter Shilton and into the net. Peter Leslie Shilton, OBE (born Leicester, England, 18 September 1949) is a former football goalkeeper who holds the The goal was credited to Brehme, but Parker managed to make amends with fewer than ten minutes to play.

Collecting the ball down the right flank, he looked up and sent a high and dangerous ball towards Gary Lineker. Gary Winston Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960 in Leicester) is a former English international football Striker who scored The German defenders got in each other's way and Lineker found room to score with a far post shot. The game ended 1-1 and England departed on penalties. Stevens was recalled for the meaningless third-place play off match against Italy and Parker (who came on as a sub in that game) emerged from the tournament as one of England's many successes. The Italian national football team is controlled by the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC and represents Italy in international football competition

That said, it did not help him curry favour with Robson's replacement as England coach, Graham Taylor, who chose Arsenal's Lee Dixon several times over the next few months, including all bar one of the qualifiers for Euro 92. Graham Taylor OBE (born 15 September 1944 Worksop, Nottinghamshire) is a football manager and a former player Lee Michael Dixon (born 17 March 1964 in Manchester, England) is a former English professional footballer who formed part of the highly-respected The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was hosted by Sweden. Parker, Dixon, Stevens and Rob Jones were all injured for the tournament itself in Sweden, so Taylor had to pick a central defender to play at right back (without the luxury of having another centre-cum-right back like Parker at his disposal) and England were dismissed at the group stage. Robert Marc Jones (born November 5, 1971 in Wrexham, Wales) is a Welsh born former England international footballer "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation.

During this period, Parker was sold by QPR to Manchester United for two million pounds in August 1991, and he made his debut (now as a specialist right back) against Notts County the same month. Notts County Football Club is a football club based in Nottingham, England, and the oldest of all the clubs that are now professional Unfortunately, Parker's five-year career at Old Trafford was blighted frequently by injury and as the club began to dominate the English game under Alex Ferguson, Parker struggled to maintain his fitness. Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE, (born 31 December 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager

He won a League Cup winners medal in 1992, a Premiership title medal a year later, and another Premiership title medal and the FA Cup a further year on. The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The last two years though saw Parker's inability to stay fit coupled with the emergence of Gary Neville, who ultimately replaced Parker at right back for both club and country. Gary Alexander Neville (born February 18, 1975 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English football player

Parker missed out on almost 18 months of international football but in October 1993 he was called up by Taylor for a vital qualifier for the 1994 World Cup against the Netherlands in Rotterdam. The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in the United States from June 17 to July 17 1994 The Netherlands national football team is the national football team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of England lost 2-0 and Parker's hope of reaching a second World Cup were gone.

When Terry Venables took over as England coach in 1994, he called up Parker for his first game in charge - a 1-0 win over Denmark at Wembley but then looked at other right backs before installing Neville as his first choice the following year. Terence Frederick 'Terry' Venables (born 6 January 1943 in Dagenham, London often referred to as ' El Tel', is an English football manager The Denmark national football team is controlled by the Danish Football Association and has represented the country of Denmark in international football original Wembley Stadium was a football Stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the Parker's England career, which had reached such a high four years earlier, was over after just 19 appearances.

Parker missed most of the 1994-95 season through injury, and despite regaining his fitness for the 1995-96, he could not displace the brilliant young Gary Neville, and was freed at the end of the campaign. Gary Alexander Neville (born February 18, 1975 in Bury, Greater Manchester) is an English football player Although United won a (then) unique second double, he did not play in enough Premier League games for a title medal, and did not feature in the FA Cup Final squad. The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs The 1996 FA Cup final was the 51st to be held at Wembley Stadium after the Second World War and was held between two of the biggest rivals in English Football

Parker then signed for Derby County, who had just been promoted to the Premier League, but could not win a regular first team place and signed for Sheffield United in early November. Derby County Football Club is a professional football club based at Pride Park Stadium in Derby England. Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Later in the 1996-97 season, he played several games for Chelsea during an injury crisis at Stamford Bridge, although he did not feature in the FA Cup Final triumph that ended Chelsea's 26-year trophy drought. Stamford Bridge is a football Stadium on the border of Fulham and Chelsea, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that The 1997 FA Cup Final took place on 17 May 1997 at Wembley Stadium and was won by Chelsea with a 2&ndash0 victory over Middlesbrough

After retiring from playing, he served as the manager of Chelmsford City F.C. and Welling United F.C.

Parker is now employed as an ambassador for the Blue Square Premier League - the highest division of non-league football. Chelmsford City Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Chelmsford Essex Welling United Football Club are an English football club based in Welling in the London Borough of Bexley. Conference National (currently named the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons is the top division of the Football Conference.

Paul has ventured into media punditry and from August will be the lead co-commentator on Setanta Sports exclusively live Conference National coverage. Setanta Sports (sɛˈtantə is a sports broadcaster based in Ireland, operating 12 channels in 24 countries Conference National (currently named the Blue Square Premier for sponsorship reasons is the top division of the Football Conference.