captained the club into the premier league by winning the first division play-offs in 2000. he captained the club to a fifth-place finish and qualification for the uefa cup in their first season in the premier league in 2001. though ipswich were relegated in 2002 he stayed with the club after he turned down a £4 million move to aston villa. his spell at ipswich is remembered for the consistency he showed, after playing 223 consecutive games and only missing one league match (due to international duty) in the six years he was at portman road.