David Healy (born August 5, 1979 in Downpatrick) is a professional footballer who holds the current record for goals scored for Northern Ireland with 20.
Raised in Killyleagh, Healy played for the local youth side and school side Down Academy High School in Downpatrick before being signed by Manchester United in the late 1990s. Only able to get three first team appearances (all as a substitute) at United, Healy played on loan with Port Vale in 1999-00, appearing in 16 matches and scoring 3 goals. He then joined Preston North End in 2000, the club for whom Healy would make a name for himself.
In 2000-01, Healy scored 10 times in 26 games. He played in 49 games in 2001-02, again scoring 10 for the season. He got half that tally in 2002-03 in 28 games played. He also scored 2 in 13 games on loan with Norwich City. In 2003-04 back with PNE he netted 15 in 42 matches played.
Healy joined Leeds United on the October 29, 2004, where he is already a fan favourite. He has turned round several games with his substitute appearances, though he is trying not to get a tag of being a super sub. In his first season at Leeds, he scored seven goals, making him the club's top scorer for the season, but has already scored significantly more goals in the 2005-06 season, (sixteen goals as of 23 April 2006).
He scored the opening Leeds United goal of the 2006-07 Championshipship campaign from a penalty in a 1-0 victory over Norwich City on his 27th birthday.
In September 2005, he scored the winning goal against England at Windsor Park in a 1-0 victory to mark perhaps the biggest footballing result for Northern Ireland in the past twenty years, and their first win at home against England since 1927.
David Healy is a certifiable legend of Northern Ireland football. In an era of bad times for Northern Irish football, Healy has been the shinning light. He will be remembered by Northern Ireland fans, as one of the greats.
Healy captained Northern Ireland on his 50th appearance, an away friendly against Finland on Wednesday 16th August 2006 in Helsinki in which he scored his 20th international goal. Northern Ireland won the game 2-1.
Dobar igrac , 3 gola Spanjolcima... Respekt!