Shaun “The Goat” Goater
Player name in full: Leonardo Shaun Goater
To/from dates: 1998-2003
Number of appearances: Total: 186
Goals scored: 103
Biography:
Born and raised in Bermuda’s capital Hamilton, Goater was scouted by Manchester United and invited to England where he spent a year from 1988 – 1989. From there he went to Rotherham United from 1989 – 1996 making 209 appearances. He then moved to Bristol City which Goater said was the closest to Bermuda he had felt in England.
In the final moments of deadline day in 1998 Goater signed for Manchester City, going on to score 103 goals in 5 years.
He enjoyed two separate promotions, the first in the 1998/99 Second Division play-off under manager Joe Royle and the second in 2001/02 in the First Division being promoted as champions under Kevin Keegan.
Goater was City’s top goalscorer four seasons in a row from 1998-2002. During the 2001/02 season, Goater became the first player since Francis Lee in 1972 to score more than 30 goals in a season.
Notable facts/stories:
The tune Cwm Rhondda was adapted for Shaun, featuring the line “Feed the Goat and He Will Score”, becoming of one the legendary City chants in the process.
Shaun became the fastest substitute in Premier League history to score in February 2003 during a match against Manchester United, when he scored in just 9 seconds.
Shaun scored 2 goals in the final derby at Maine Road, in the famous 3-1 win.
Non-City career (briefly):
After leaving Manchester City Goater moved between five clubs including Reading F.C and Southend United, finally retiring in 2010 at North Village Rams. Goater made 567 professional appearances, scoring 221 goals in his career. Goater also appeared 36 times for Bermuda in International football scoring 32 goals.
Since retiring, Goater is an active voice in football as a pundit on television and radio. He also was Manager of Ilkeston from 2017 and Under-18 coach for Macclesfield Town from 2019.
