Jeff Eckhardt

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Jeffrey Edward Eckhardt (born 7 October 1965 in Sheffield, England) is a former English professional footballer and manager. He played as a defender, mainly as a centre-back, and was known for his commitment and footballing skill. He later worked as a manager.

Club career
- Youth and early years: Eckhardt grew up supporting Sheffield United and joined their youth system (1981–1984). He earned a two-year pro deal and played for the first team (1984–1987), making 74 league appearances and scoring 2 goals.
- Fulham (1987–1994): He joined Fulham for £50,000 and became a key player, making 249 league appearances and scoring 25 goals. Eckhardt was captain and showed versatility, occasionally playing in midfield and even as a forward. After a six-year spell, Fulham were relegated in 1994.
- Stockport County (1994–1996): He moved to Stockport, making 62 league appearances and scoring 7 goals, helping the club win promotion to the First Division. He even earned a hat-trick in a match against Lincoln City and once played as goalkeeper after an injury to their keeper.
- Cardiff City (1996–2001): Eckhardt joined Cardiff, recording 138 league appearances and 14 goals. He scored on his debut in a 1–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Newport County (2001–2004): He then played for Newport County, making 118 league appearances and scoring 15 goals. He was joint top scorer and won the club’s player of the season, helping Newport gain promotion to the Conference South. He left the club in 2004.
- Later career: He had a brief spell with Merthyr Tydfil (2004–2006), a loan back to Newport County in 2005, a short time with Gloucester City (2006), and finished his playing career with Risca United (2007–2009) as player-manager. By the end of his career, Eckhardt had made more than 800 appearances in all competitions.

Managerial career
- Merthyr Tydfil: Eckhardt briefly served as co-manager in 2006 for six weeks.
- Risca United: He became player-manager of Risca United in January 2007 and held the role during his time there.

Overall
Jeff Eckhardt is a respected figure in English football, noted for his longevity, leadership, and adaptability across multiple teams and roles.