BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

 27th March 2021......70 YEARS AGO....you work it out!

Cardiff City's Chris Gunter made his full international debut for Wales in May 2007 in a friendly fixture against New Zealand. In 2018 the full-back overtook Neville Southall as the most capped Welshman when making his 93rd appearance for Wales, against China, a total that was helped by a remarkable run of 63 consecutive appearances for his country. On 27th March 2021 - by then he was a 31-year-old Charlton Athletic player - he became the first Welshman to win 100 caps for his country in a friendly against Mexico at the Cardiff City stadium. Sadly the Cardiff stands weren't full of fans to witness that great achievement. The attendance was 0......due to Covid! Aaaarrggh!! Still a record is a record.

Born 21 July 1989, he was capable of playing on both flanks but usually played on his preferred right side. Since 2023, he has been a coach for the Wales national team.

He joined Cardiff City's youth system and was signed by Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur for £4 million in January 2008. Rarely used at Tottenham, he returned to the Championship with Nottinhgham Forest, initially on loan, before joining Reading in 2012. He made 314 appearances for Reading before being released in 2020 and moving to Charlton Athletic and AFC Wimbledon.

Gunter was a Welsh international from Under 17 level and holds the record as the second youngest debutant for the Under 21 team. He made his full international debut in 2007, earning 109 caps in a 15-year international career. He was part of the Wales squad that reached the semi-finals at UEFA Euro 2016, also featuring at Euro 2020 and in the 2022 World Cup squad. In 2017 he was named Welsh Footballer of the Year. He beat Neville Southall's record of 92 caps in 2018, and in 2021 became the first Welshman to earn 100 caps.

 

Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2008	Cardiff City	28	(0)
2008–2009	Tottenham Hotspur	5	(0)
2009	→ Nottingham Forest (loan)	8	(0)
2009–2012	Nottingham Forest	133	(2)
2012–2020	Reading	280	(2)
2020–2022	Charlton Athletic	54	(1)
2022–2023	AFC Wimbledon	31	(0)
Total		539	(5)
International career‡
2005–2006	Wales U17	11	(2)
2006	Wales U19	3	(0)
2006–2007	Wales U21	8	(0)
2007–2022	Wales	109	(0)
Managerial career
2023–2024	Wales (coach)
2024–	Wales U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:39, 9 May 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:46, 21 March 2023 (UTC)