BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Quinton Fortune (born 21 May 1977) is a South African former footballer who has represented a number of European clubs including Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Bolton Wanderers. Fortune has earned 46 caps for South Africa, including playing in the 1998 and the 2002 World Cups. He most recently played for Doncaster Rovers, but failed to earn an extension to his contract when it expired in January 2010.
Club career
Fortune left South Africa at the age of 14 and moved to England where he played for the Tottenham Hotspur junior team (whilst attending Forest School), but never made a senior appearance for the club. After having trouble obtaining a work permit, Fortune moved to Spain, where he played for Atlético Madrid.
Manchester United purchased him from Atlético Madrid on 1 August 1999. He made his first appearance for the club on 30 August 1999, against Newcastle United. Fortune was initially brought to United as cover for Ryan Giggs, and was thought of primarily as an attacking left-sided midfielder. Fortune, however, proved himself a capable and dedicated performer in a number of positions. It was Fortune's strength as a defender, rather than his qualities as an attacker, that Alex Ferguson depended most on, and Fortune was often deployed as a central midfielder or as a left-back.
Despite playing in three Premiership winning seasons (1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2002–03), Fortune never played the required 10 games to earn a winner's medal, making 6, 7 and 9 appearances respectively.[1] He did however receive a Premier League winner's medal from United that had been left at the club by a former player.[2] After being used mostly in a squad rotation basis for his career at Manchester United, he was released by the club ahead of the 2006–07 campaign. In total, Fortune made 126 appearances for United, scoring 10 goals.[1]
After a successful trial, he joined Bolton Wanderers for the 2006–07 season and made the left back position his own for the club's opening games. However, the former United player was injured against Arsenal and appeared for Bolton later only in their cup game against Doncaster Rovers prior to being released and later joining Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland on trial.
In September 2008, he joined Sheffield United on trial. On 6 October 2008, Serie B club Brescia confirmed to have reached an agreement with Fortune;[3] the transfer was finalised on 23 October, with Fortune signing a one-year contract with the Rondinelle.[4]
On 2 February 2009, Tubize signed Fortune on a free transfer,[5] although he was released by Tubize at the end of the 2008–09 season.
On 4 August 2009, he signed a short term deal at Doncaster Rovers.[6] He scored his first Rovers goal against Ipswich Town on 19 September 2009.[7] He was sent off in a 2–2 draw against Scunthorpe United. Fortune was not offered an extension to his deal at the club and was released on 4 February 2010.[8]
Retirement
As of 2012, Fortune has returned to Manchester United. He trains with their reserve team whilst working on his coaching badges, which he aims to complete in 2013.[9][10]
Honours
Anti-violence work
Fortune has worked as a model for an anti-domestic violence group called Tender as part of their "Don't Kick Off campaign". This campaign ran through the 2010 FIFA World Cupto stop men from using football as an excuse for violence against women.[11]
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