Stephen Warnock (born 12 December 1981) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

Stephen Warnock
Warnock playing for Liverpool in 2005
Personal information
Full name Stephen Warnock[1]
Date of birth (1981-12-12) 12 December 1981 (age 42)[1]
Place of birth Ormskirk, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
0000–2002 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Liverpool 40 (1)
2002Bradford City (loan) 12 (1)
2003–2004Coventry City (loan) 44 (3)
2007–2009 Blackburn Rovers 88 (5)
2009–2013 Aston Villa 84 (2)
2012Bolton Wanderers (loan) 15 (0)
2013–2015 Leeds United 64 (3)
2015–2016 Derby County 27 (0)
2016Wigan Athletic (loan) 11 (0)
2016–2017 Wigan Athletic 45 (0)
2017–2018 Burton Albion 14 (1)
2018Bradford City (loan) 13 (0)
Total 457 (16)
International career
1998 England U16 1 (0)
2008–2010 England 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Starting off his career at Liverpool, he went on to also represent Coventry City, Bradford City, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Leeds United, Derby County, Wigan Athletic and Burton Albion during a career that spanned between 2002 and 2018. A full international between 2008 and 2010, he was capped twice by the England national team and was part of the nation's squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

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Liverpool

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Warnock was born in Ormskirk, Lancashire[1] where, in his childhood, he played for Rufford Colts (based at St Bede's RC High School) and also played for St Bede's RC High School.[citation needed] Following his time spent in the Liverpool youth academy and England youth set up, with his first international cap in the under-16s, he had loan spells at Bradford City (where he scored his first career goal against Sheffield Wednesday) and Coventry City.[citation needed]

Warnock made his first-team debut for Liverpool against Grazer AK on 10 August 2004, in the first leg of a UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match.[3]

In May 2005 he missed out on a place in the squad for the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, he was initially named in the squad but due to a mistake was removed by Rafa Benitez from the squad for the final.[4]

In his second season, he was asked to play primarily at left back, in rotation with John Arne Riise.[citation needed] Warnock scored his only goal for Liverpool against Fulham in a 5–1 win on 15 March 2006.[5]

Blackburn Rovers

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In a media speculated swap deal, Blackburn's captain Lucas Neill was reported to being changing clubs with Warnock in both summer 2006 and winter 2007.[6] Eventually Neill joined West Ham United, while on 22 January 2007 Warnock joined Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee believed to be £1.5 million.[7] He made his debut in the FA Cup fourth round in a 4–0 away victory over Luton Town.[8]

On 31 January 2007, he played his first Premier League match for Rovers against Chelsea.[citation needed] He was dismissed for the match after two cautions in the 2–1 victory over Sheffield United on 3 February 2007.[9] Warnock scored his first goal for Blackburn in the 3–0 victory over Portsmouth on 25 February 2007.[9]

On 11 April 2009, before Blackburn Rovers' match against Warnock's former club Liverpool, Stephen presented a flower display displaying the numbers '96' in reference to the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives in the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989. Before the kick off Warnock presented the flowers in front of famous Spion Kop on behalf of Blackburn. This was greeted with chants of 'Stephen Warnock' from the Kop.[10]

Aston Villa

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Warnock during Jamie Carragher's testimonial match in 2010

On 26 August 2009, it was confirmed that Aston Villa were in talks with Blackburn over a possible move for Warnock to the Villa Park club.[11] The next day it was confirmed that Warnock had signed a four-year contract with Villa.[12] He scored his first goal for Villa in the League Cup semi-final second leg victory over former club Blackburn Rovers on 20 January 2010, which ended 6–4 to Aston Villa.[13]

From December 2010 onwards, Warnock was out of favour with Aston Villa manager Gérard Houllier and was forced to play with the reserve team.[citation needed] Warnock was widely expected to leave the club in the summer transfer window, with a number of teams reportedly interested in his signature.[citation needed] However, new manager Alex McLeish stated that he was impressed with Warnock's "phenomenal" attitude, and stated he would be given a clean slate, as with other players excluded by Houllier, all but guaranteeing his place in the squad.[14] On 15 October 2011, Warnock scored his first league goal away at Manchester City.[citation needed] Warnock made 34 appearances for Villa during the 2011–12 season, missing only three Premier League fixtures.[citation needed] During the 2012–13 season under new manager Paul Lambert, Warnock found his chances limited and was made to train with the development squad.[15]

Loan to Bolton Wanderers

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On 21 September 2012, Warnock joined Bolton Wanderers on a three-month loan deal.[16] He was on the bench a day later in their 2–1 win against Sheffield Wednesday and made his debut in their next match, starting at left back in Bolton's 1–0 defeat against Crystal Palace.[citation needed] In his second appearance, at home against Leeds United, Warnock gave away a penalty (which was subsequently scored) as the match finished 2–2.[citation needed] Warnock would play 15 times for Bolton before returning to Villa.[citation needed]

Leeds United

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On transfer deadline day 31 January 2013, Warnock signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Leeds United.[17] He made his Leeds debut on 9 February 2013, playing the whole match in the club's 2–2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.[18] Warnock scored his first goal from the penalty spot for Leeds on 2 March 2013 in a 1–0 win against Millwall.[19] Warnock was named as captain in Brian McDermott's first match in charge on 13 April against Sheffield Wednesday.[20] Before joining Leeds, West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce revealed that Warnock had turned down signing for the Premier League club as Leeds had offered Warnock a longer contract.[21]

In February 2014, in conditions such that, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, "the ferocious wind was man-of-the-match and the rain would have stripped paint", Warnock's free kick from distance was caught by the wind and dropped over the goalkeeper's head to give Leeds a 2–1 win away to Yeovil Town.[22]

Warnock scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against his former club Bolton on 30 August.[23] During the course of the 2014–15 season, Warnock replaced Jason Pearce as the new Leeds captain.[24] Warnock picked up an injury against Derby County on 30 December 2014, which kept Warnock out of the team and he was subsequently replaced at left back by Charlie Taylor, where Taylor came into the starting lineup for Leeds on 4 January 2015 in Leeds' FA Cup 1–0 defeat against Sunderland.[25]

Derby County

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On 15 January 2015, Warnock signed for Derby County for an undisclosed fee.[24]

Wigan Athletic

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Warnock joined Wigan Athletic on a one-year contract on 30 May 2016.[26]

Burton Albion

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On 26 June 2017, Warnock signed for Championship club Burton Albion on a free transfer on a one-year contract.[27] He scored his first goal for Burton in a 2–1 win against Fulham on 16 September 2017.[28]

Bradford City and retirement

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On 26 January 2018, Warnock joined Bradford City on loan for the rest of the 2017–18 season.[29] In April 2018, he announced that he would retire at the end of the season.[30]

International career

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Warnock was capped by the England schools team[1] before making one appearance for the under-16s against Norway on 6 April 1998.[31]

Despite having made relatively few first team appearances for Liverpool, Warnock was called into the senior England squad for the first time on 29 August 2005, due to lack of cover in the squad at left back.[32] He was again called into the squad by England coach Fabio Capello in May 2008 for the friendlies against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.[33] He made his England debut against the latter on 1 June coming on as a substitute for Wayne Bridge in the 84th minute.[34][35]

After impressing with Aston Villa in the early 2009–10 season Warnock received a call up to the international squad once more for a friendly against Egypt.[36] On 11 May 2010, Warnock was named in the 30-man provisional squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[37] On 1 June 2010, he was named in the final 23-man selection by manager Fabio Capello, ahead of other left back Leighton Baines.[38] Due to the widely accepted adeptness of Ashley Cole at left back, Warnock did not feature in any of England's matches during their short-lived run in the World Cup which ended against Germany.[39] On 7 June 2010, he played in a friendly match against Platinum Stars before the tournament.[40] This does not count towards a full cap, as it was not played against a full international side. He made his second and final appearance for England against France in November 2010.[41]

In May 2012, Scotland manager Craig Levein made an approach to Warnock to play for them. Warnock remained eligible for Scotland as his England caps all came in friendly matches.[42]

Media work

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Since his retirement, Warnock has become a regular football pundit on radio and television, covering the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Copa Libertadores, and EFL for the BBC,[43] BT Sport,[44] DAZN,[45] Quest TV,[46] and NBC Sports.[47]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2002–03[48] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003–04[49] Premier League 0 0 0 0
2004–05[50] Premier League 19 0 1 0 4 0 6[a] 0 30 0
2005–06[51] Premier League 20 1 2 0 1 0 7[b] 0 30 1
2006–07[9] Premier League 1 0 0 0 3 0 3[a] 0 7 0
Total 40 1 3 0 8 0 16 0 67 1
Bradford City (loan) 2002–03[48] First Division 12 1 12 1
Coventry City (loan) 2003–04[49] First Division 44 3 3 0 2 0 49 3
Blackburn Rovers 2006–07[9] Premier League 13 1 5 0 2[c] 0 20 1
2007–08[52] Premier League 37 1 0 0 2 0 6[d] 1 45 2
2008–09[53] Premier League 37 3 3 0 3 0 43 3
2009–10[54] Premier League 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 88 5 8 0 5 0 8 1 109 6
Aston Villa 2009–10[54] Premier League 30 0 6 0 5 1 41 1
2010–11[55] Premier League 19 0 0 0 2 0 1[e] 0 22 0
2011–12[56] Premier League 35 2 2 0 1 0 38 2
2012–13[57] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 84 2 8 0 8 2 1 0 101 3
Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2012–13[57] Championship 15 0 15 0
Leeds United 2012–13[57] Championship 16 1 1 0 17 1
2013–14[58] Championship 27 1 0 0 1 0 28 1
2014–15[59] Championship 21 1 0 0 1 0 22 1
Total 64 3 1 0 2 0 67 3
Derby County 2014–15[59] Championship 7 0 1 0 8 0
2015–16[60] Championship 20 0 2 0 0 0 22 0
Total 27 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 30 0
Wigan Athletic (loan) 2015–16[60] League One 11 0 11 0
Wigan Athletic 2016–17[61] Championship 45 0 2 0 1 0 48 0
Total 56 0 2 0 1 0 59 0
Burton Albion 2017–18[62] Championship 14 1 0 0 1 0 15 1
Bradford City (loan) 2017–18[62] League One 13 0 13 0
Career total 457 16 30 0 28 2 25 1 553 19
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, one in FIFA Club World Championship
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, four appearances and one goal in UEFA Cup
  5. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa League

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
England[63] 2008 1 0
2009 0 0
2010 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours

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Liverpool

Aston Villa

Wigan Athletic

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 429. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "FIFA Club World Championship Japan 2005 – Official Rosters". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 December 2005. Archived from the original on 19 December 2005.
  3. ^ "Warnock: It was a horrible moment". Liverpool F.C. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Liverpool icon Rafa Benitez's management was horrid – he had no idea how to talk to us". Liverpool Echo. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Fulham FC".
  6. ^ "Rafa choose Warnock over Neill". thisisanfield.co.uk. September 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Bolton: Stephen Warnock positive ahead of Blackburn return". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Luton Town v Blackburn Rovers, 27 January 2007". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Liverpool career stats for Stephen Warnock". LFChistory. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Warnock latest". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. ^ "Warnock signs". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. ^ "A Villa 6-4 Blackburn (Agg 7-4)". 20 January 2010.
  14. ^ "Warnock impresses". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Lambert unmoved over full-back". Sky Sports. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Warnock Joins Wanderers". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  17. ^ "Villa defender joins the club". Leeds United F.C. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Wolves 2–2 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Leeds 1–0 Millwall". BBC Sport. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday". Leeds United F.C. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  21. ^ "Sam Allardyce's work just wasted after Stephen Warnock snub". Daily Express. London. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  22. ^ Hay, Phil (10 February 2014). "Yeovil Town 1 Leeds United 2: Renewed stability is seen on and off-field". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United F.C. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  24. ^ a b "Leeds United: Defender Cooper looks set to be Whites' new captain". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 17 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  25. ^ "Sunderland 1 Leeds 0". Sky Sports. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Wigan Athletic: Derby's Stephen Warnock to complete move on one-year contract". BBC Sport. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  27. ^ "Stephen Warnock: Burton Albion sign full-back on one-year deal". BBC Sport. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Burton 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  29. ^ "Bradford City: Ryan McGowan, Stephen Warnock and Matty Lund join". BBC Sport. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Stephen Warnock: Former England full-back to retire at end of season". BBC Sport. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Stephen Warnock". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  32. ^ "Warnock joy after England call-up". BBC. 29 August 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Warnock shock at England call-up". BBC Sport. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  34. ^ "Progress pleases Gerrard". The Football Association. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  35. ^ Jim Barrett of West Ham United went off injured eight minutes into his only cap, in 1928, and Brighton's Peter Ward played the same amount of time after coming on in the 85th minute of his only appearance, against Australia in 1980. "TheFA.com Archive". The Football Association. Retrieved 31 August 2009. [dead link]
  36. ^ "Ryan Shawcross named in England squad for Egypt match". BBC. 27 February 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  37. ^ "England's provisional World Cup squad includes Carragher and King". Guardian. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  38. ^ "World Cup 2010: Theo Walcott left out of England squad". BBC. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  39. ^ "TheFA.com Announcement". The Football Association. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  40. ^ McCarra, Kevin (7 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: Fabio Capello's purpose served as England toil". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  41. ^ "England 1 - 2 France". BBC. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  42. ^ "Scotland eye Warnock: Villa defender could be approached by Craig Levein". Sky Sports. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  43. ^ BBC 5 Live Sport [@5liveSport] (22 September 2018). ""I spoke to him and I couldn't believe how positive he is already." @StephenWarnock3 on his former teammate Stephen Darby, who was earlier this week diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. https://t.co/HL02BQQp0a" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ^ Football on BT Sport [@btsportfootball] (2 February 2019). "'I could've gone in and righted the ship, Bruce and Hughes too..' Paul Ince backs himself to have had the same success as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 🔴 Stephen Warnock isn't so sure.. 🤔 #SaturdaySav https://t.co/3gRLMah2Vq" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ DAZN Canada [@DAZN_CA] (5 March 2019). "There's more to come tomorrow. While Spurs and Ajax were securing their progress through to the quarter-finals, @StephenWarnock3 checked in on PSG and Manchester United ahead of their clash in Paris... https://t.co/h39FnLelAZ | #UCL https://t.co/eSyi4OYk8o" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  46. ^ Quest [@QuestTV] (22 April 2019). "Play-offs it is for #LUFC? @ColinMurray and @StephenWarnock3 discuss where it's gone wrong for Marcelo Bielsa's side in the race for automatic promotion Watch this until the end, #NCFC fans 😉 #EFLonQuest @Radebe_Leeds @RITGK @NorwichCityFans @TalkNorwichCity https://t.co/jiv4jsbm3g" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 December 2020 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ Arlo White [@ArloWhite] (15 October 2021). "Sometimes in this job, the story finds you… ⚫️ ⚪️ 🇸🇦 📆 Saturday 🏟 Community Stadium ⏰ 12:30pm ET ⚽️ @BrentfordFC v @ChelseaFC 📺 @NBC 🎙 @LeeDixon2 📆 Sunday 🏟 St James' Park ⏰ 11:30am ET ⚽️ @NUFC v @SpursOfficial 📺 NBCSN 🎙 @StephenWarnock3 (welcome back!) https://twitter.com/arlowhite/status/1449057616106242054" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 March 2022 – via Twitter.
  48. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  50. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  51. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  52. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  53. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  54. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  55. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  56. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  57. ^ a b c "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  58. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  60. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  61. ^ "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  62. ^ a b "Games played by Stephen Warnock in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  63. ^ "Warnock, Stephen". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  64. ^ "Liverpool 3–1 CSKA Moscow (aet)". BBC Sport. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  65. ^ "Sao Paulo 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  66. ^ McNulty, Phil (28 February 2010). "Aston Villa 1–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  67. ^ "S. Warnock: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  68. ^ Turner, Andy (11 May 2004). "Warnock gets your vote". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  69. ^ Ley, John (5 June 2009). "Premier League's best players: How did the clubs vote?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
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