Born: Wegberg, West Germany, 26 September 1972
Position: Centre back
Nationality: Welsh
International caps: 5
International goals: 0
Signed: 26 November 1997 from Southampton (£250,000)
Fulham debut: Fulham 1-1 Brentford, 2 December 1997
Fulham appearances: 41
Fulham goals: 2
Honours: Division Two champions (1998-99); Division One champions (2000-01).
Sold: 22 February 2002 to Luton Town (free transfer)
Welsh centre back Alain Neilson was another big money signing made by Ray Wilkins shortly after the former England captain had replaced Micky Adams in the Craven Cottage hotseat. The experienced defender made just 41 appearances in five years on the banks of the River Thames, with his first-team chances restricted by the quality of the partnership between schoolboy friends Chris Coleman and Kit Symons at the heart of the Fulham defence. Nevertheless, the Welsh international played a key part in the club’s rapid rise through the lower divisions before he left for Luton Town on a free transfer in February 2002.
