33 Facts About Stern John

Stern John, CM was born on 30 October 1976 and is a Trinidadian football manager and former player who is currently managing Saint Lucia.

Stern John previously played for a number of American and English football clubs that included Columbus Crew, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Derby County, Sunderland, Southampton, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town.

Stern John played on the Trinidad and Tobago cricket youth national team until age 16, when he switched to playing soccer full-time.

Stern John moved to the United States in 1995 to attend New Jersey's Mercer County Community College.

Stern John had been recruited in Trinidad by the college's head coach, Charlie Inverso, who had previously sought international talent.

Stern John led the Mercer County Vikings to the 1995 NJCAA soccer championship and scored 27 goals, including one in the final against Yavapai College.

Stern John made his professional debut for the Carolina Dynamo of the A-League, the second division of US club soccer, in April 1997 while on loan from the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.

Stern John was traded to the New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers for Jamie Wellington a month later, having not scored a goal in five appearances for Carolina.

Stern John was invited by the New England Revolution to their 1998 preseason camp, but was not retained after his trial.

Stern John ended his rookie MLS season as the league scoring champion with 26 goals in 27 matches and a place in the MLS Best XI.

Stern John was the first MLS player to score three hat-tricks in a single season, including 16 goals in a span of 12 matches.

Stern John scored 18 goals in the 1999 season, tied for the league's scoring leaderboard, and attracted interest from European clubs but declined a mid-season transfer.

Stern John ended his MLS career with 44 goals in 55 matches.

At Birmingham, Stern John scored nine goals in 60 Premier League appearances in two full seasons and was effective with his hold up play and had some memorable moments in the blue shirt of Birmingham, such as his turn and finish away at West Ham in 2002; his last minute equaliser at Villa Park in the Birmingham derby; and his last minute goal away at Millwall which put Birmingham through to the Playoff Final in 2002.

Stern John then scored one of the penalties in the play-off final shootout to help them get promoted to the Premier League.

On 29 January 2007, Stern John was transferred to Sunderland for an undisclosed fee.

On 29 August 2007, Stern John moved to Southampton as part of a deal that took his international teammate Kenwyne Jones in the opposite direction.

On 29 July 2009, Stern John signed for Crystal Palace on a year-long deal after turning down an offer to stay at Southampton.

Stern John made his debut on the opening day of the season against Plymouth Argyle, he had to come off after 35 minutes due to an injury.

New Palace manager George Burley had hoped to discuss the player's future at the end of the season, but no discussion occurred, and Stern John left the club.

Stern John did not make an appearance in any competition for the club.

Stern John retired and moved back to his native Trinidad and Tobago after his spell at Solihull Moors.

Stern John came out of retirement a second time in order to join WASA FC of the National Super League of Trinidad and Tobago in January 2014.

Stern John came out of retirement in 2016 when he was appointed as player-coach of Central FC in the TT Pro League.

Stern John made his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago national team on 15 February 1995 against Finland in a friendly at the Queen's Park Oval, scoring one goal on his debut.

Stern John was a vital player for the Soca Warriors and remains the team's all-time leading scorer with 70 goals in 115 caps.

Stern John was the 7th highest international goalscorer at the time of his retirement in 2011.

Stern John was instrumental in helping his country qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and played in all three of his country's World Cup group matches at Germany 2006.

Stern John was named Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Player of the Year in 2002.

Stern John is currently the second most capped Trinidad and Tobago international behind former teammate Angus Eve.

Stern John was the only player to score in 12 consecutive international matches, from 1998 to 1999.

On 9 November 2020, Stern John become the new manager of the Anguilla national team.

On 23 May 2022, the Saint Lucia Football Association announced that Stern John had taken over as head coach of the Saint Lucia national team.