Birthplace: Southwark

Burnley captured Stoke City defender Leon Cort for a £1.5million fee in January 2009.

The 30 year-old signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Clarets.

The powerful centre-back had been at Stoke since November 2007, initially on loan, before completing a then club record £1.2million move two years ago.

Cort played a key role in Stoke's promotion from the Championship in 2008 and made nine appearances last season to help keep the Potters in the Premier League before slipping down the pecking order this term.

He has also had successful spells with Hull City and Crystal Palace but perhaps the most remarkable statistic of Cort's career is his impressive disciplinary record.

Cort's last booking came in August 2009, but prior to that he had not been booked or sent off since April 2004, a run of over 150 competitive games!

Born in South London, Cort, brother of former Newcastle striker Carl, began his career at non-league side Dulwich Hamlet, before signing professional terms with his local league club Millwall in 1998.

After struggling to establish himself at the New Den, he joined Southend on a free transfer in 2001, earning rave reviews for the Shrimpers, becoming a regular in the side and achieving a remarkable feat of appearing in 130 consecutive league matches during a three-year stay at Roots Hall.

Cort's impressive form brought him to the attention of Hull City, whom he joined in June 2004, where he was an integral figure in the Tiger's promotion to the Championship.

At the end of the 2005/06 season manager Peter Taylor moved to Crystal Palace and made Cort his first signing for £1.25m, giving him a return to his native South London.

He again excelled and became popular with the Palace fans, winning the Player of the Year award in 2007 as he made over 50 appearances for the Eagles.

The following season started poorly at Selhurst Park which led to Peter Taylor's dismissal and Cort was soon on the move to join Stoke City.