Ricardo Gardner, born on September 25, 1978 in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, is a professional football player. As of 2008, he plays as a left defender or midfielder for Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League. During his school days, he played for Wolmer's Boys' High School and dominated the local high school football leagues. He acquired a legendary status and to date is considered to be one of the greatest high school football players in Jamaica.
Nicknamed “Bibi”, Ricardo Gardner shot to prominence following his impressive performance in the 1998 World Cup in France, when he assisted in the first ever World Cup goal for Jamaica. Owing to his formidable abilities, Ricardo Gardner is a renowned player for the Jamaican national football team and captains the team whenever he plays. Ricardo Gardner has been with the national team since 1998 and, as of August 2008, has made 58 appearances and scored 4 goals for his nation.
Ricardo Gardner made his debut in football with the Harbour View (Football Club) F.C, a Jamaican football team, for which he played as a starter when he was just 14 years old. He played his first professional match for Harbour View F.C in Kingston, Jamaica and debuted for Rene Simoes' international team in 1996.
After a commendable performance in the 1998 World Cup, Ricardo Gardner paved his way to be signed by Bolton Wanderers on August 1, 1998. In September of that year, he made his maiden appearance for Bolton against West Bromwich Albion, an English professional football club. He took the world of football by surprise when he played for 25 minutes and scored the winning goal in the 88th minute of the game. In 2006, Ricardo Gardner helped the Bolton Wanderers beat the Arsenal Football Club 1-0. His impressive performance led him to be nominated as the ‘Player of the Round’ along with Colchester’s Neil Danns, Birmingham’s DJ Campbell, Stoke’s Ed de Goey and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand. Ricardo Gardner outlasted the final five nominees, won 37 percent of the total 15,000 votes and became the first Barclays Premiership player to clinch the ‘Player of the Round’ title for the FA Cup fourth round. Along with the title, he also received an engraved silver salver, a VIP seat at the 2006 FA Cup Final and an Umbro kit worth £1,000 for a local school, club or organization.
On winning the title, Ricardo Gardner joined other winners, including Nuneaton's Gez Murphy, Doncaster's Dave Mulligan, Northwich's Paul Brayson (who won the award twice), Eastbourne's Stuart Tuck, Leamington's Alex Rodman and Gosport Borough's Jamie Laidlaw in the 2006 season's ‘Team of the FA Cup’.
When he is not playing football, Ricardo Gardner is involved in dancehall music and spends time promoting his record label, Heart of Love Productions. Ricardo Gardner has signed to extend his contract with the Bolton Wanderers and is likely to stay with the club for another three years.
