George McCartney is a left-sided defender who came through the ranks at Sunderland after joining them in 1998, making his debut in 2000 in a Carling Cup tie against Luton.
Chiefly a left back, George has also played several games in central defence. Attack minded and with exceptional close control, George forged a great left-side partnership with Julio Arca, and was made captain in 2004-05, when he was voted Player of the Year by the fans as Sunderland won the Championship title.
The following season was spoiled by injury, with George not making an appearance until February. During the summer of 2006 he moved to West Ham where he worked his way into the line-up and was an ever-present in all competitions in 2007-08, scoring a spectacular volley with his right foot against Bolton.
George became Roy Keane's tenth signing in September 2008 when he returned to Sunderland, but injuries have interrupted his second spell on Wearside, although he looks to have overcome these.
George scored on his full Northern Ireland debut against Iceland in 2001, and has now played over 30 times for his country, most recently in the defeat by Serbia in November 2009.
