Michael Eamon Hughes (born 2 August 1971) is a Northern Irish football manager, former footballer, who is a majority shareholder and co-owner of NIFL Premiership side Carrick Rangers. As a player, he was an attacking midfielder who notably played top flight football for Manchester City, West Ham United, Wimbledon and Crystal Palace, including numerous seasons in the Premier League. He also played in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg and in the Football League for Birmingham City and Coventry City, having initially began his career in Northern Ireland with Carrick Rangers. He finished his career with non-league side St Neots Town. He was capped 71 times by Northern Ireland, scoring five times. Since retirement, Hughes has returned to Carrick Rangers as first team manager, he has also worked as the clubs chief executive and currently co-owns the club. Club career Hughes' career began with Carrick Rangers, before moving to Manchester City as a trainee. In August 1992, he moved to RC Strasbourg for a fee of £450,000. During his four years at Strasbourg, Hughes spent two years on loan to West Ham United. It was during the first of these two loan spells that Hughes would have a say in the outcome of the 1994–95 FA Premier League season. West Ham United were playing at home to Manchester United on the last day of the season. Manchester United's rivals for the title were Blackburn Rovers, who lost against Liverpool on the same day. That meant that had Manchester United beaten West Ham United, they would win the league. However Hughes put West Ham United ahead in the first half and despite a second half equaliser from Brian McClair, West Ham United held out to hand the title to Blackburn Rovers. West Ham United In July 1996, Hughes made the move to West Ham United permanent. In the process, he became the first British player to change clubs for free on a Bosman ruling. The following season Joe Kinnear took Hughes to Wimbledon in a £1.6 million deal. Wimbledon Hughes became embroiled in a contract dispute between Birmingham City and Wimbledon in 2002. In March 2002, Hughes played three matches for Birmingham on loan, but was injured before the club won promotion to the Premier League and a permanent switch fell through. Wimbledon then refused to take him back. The ensuing dispute over who held his registration continued for over a year and