hiː jˈuːʒuːəli plˈeɪd æz ɐ dᵻfˈɛndɚ, bˌʌt kʊd ˈɔːlsoʊ plˈeɪ ɪn mˈɪdfiːld ɔːɹ æz ɐ swˈiːpɚ, hiː nˈoʊɾəbli plˈeɪd fɔːɹ mˈæntʃɛstɚ sˈɪɾi bᵻtwˌiːn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən ænd tˈuː θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹ wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz ɪnvˈɑːlvd ɪn θɹˈiː pɹəmˈoʊʃənz ænd tˈuː ɹˌɛlᵻɡˈeɪʃənz, plˈeɪɪŋ ɪnðə tˈɑːp θɹˈiː lˈɛvəlz ʌv ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ fˈʊtbɔːl, ɪŋklˈuːdɪŋ θɹˈiː sˈiːzənz æz ɐ pɹəmˈɪɹ lˈiːɡ plˈeɪɚ.
He usually played as a defender, but could also play in midfield or as a sweeper, he notably played for Manchester City between 1997 and 2004 where he was involved in three promotions and two relegations, playing in the top three levels of English football, including three seasons as a Premier League player.