Club captain – versatile, consistent and reliable. Instant hit with Hoops fans and new Republic Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni
Brought to England by Peter Taylor at Leicester, Delaney made eight Premier League performances before following his boss to Hull City for £50,000 in October 2002.
Tried out in midfield and left-back, he finally settled in the centre-half position, where his robust displays won him the 2003/04 Player of the Year award as the Tigers climbed out of the basement division.
With the club on the up, rising into the Championship, Delaney reverted to the left-back position and was rewarded with the club captaincy.
In January 2008, he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with QPR and in May 2008 was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time.