Joey Barton

At 41 years old, Joey Barton has this physical status:

Joseph Anthony Barton (born 2 September 1982) is an English professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

He made 269 appearances in the Premier League, with 130 for Manchester City.

He is the boss of Fleetwood Town, a League One club. Barton was born and raised in Huyton, Merseyside.

He began his football career with Manchester City in 2002 after being part of the youth department at the University of Manchester.

His playing time in the first team gradually increased over the course of five years, with the club earning more than 150 thousand dollars.

Despite his mockery of some of the team's players, he earned his only cap for the England national team in February 2007.

In July 2007, he joined Newcastle United for a fee of £5.8 million.

He joined Queens Park Rangers in August 2011, from where he was loaned to Marseille in 2012.

He came from a loan spell the previous season and helped QPR earn promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.

However, QPR was relegated again, and Barton was fired at the end of the season.

In 2015, he signed a one-year contract with Burnley, assisting them in winning promotion to the Premier League, but he was forced to join Rangers in May 2016.

He was barred from football after admitting to a Football Association charge relating to betting in April 2017, and commencing his managerial duties with Fleetwood Town in June 2018. Barton's career and life have been marred by several controversies and professional disciplinary issues, and he has been found twice on charges of assault.

During an incident in Liverpool City Centre on May 20, 2008, he was sentenced to six months in jail for common assault and affray.

Barton was sentenced to 74 days in jail for his inception in July 2008.

He received a four-month suspended suspended term for admitting to assault occasioning real bodily harm on former teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training-ground confrontation on May 1, 2007.

This incident effectively ended his Manchester City career.

On the last day of the 2011–12 season, Barton has been charged with violent conduct three times by The Football Association, including assault on Dabo for punching Morten Gamst Pedersen in the stomach and attacking three players.

Early life

Barton, a child from Huyton, Merseyside, is the oldest of four brothers. He and his parents divorced when he was 14 years old, and subsequently lived with his father at his grandmother's house on a separate estate. He has said that his grandmother's influence aided him in escaping a drug-driven youth and attributes his father's work ethic to his father. Joseph, Joseph's son, played football semi-professionally for Northwich Victoria. Barton enjoyed physical education at his school, St Thomas Becket, which he competed in numerous sports and was a good rugby league prospect. He left school with ten GCSEs.

Personal life

Michael Barton's brother was sentenced to life in 2005's racially motivated murder of Anthony Walker. Following the shooting, Joey made a public appeal to his brother to come forward and help with the police probe, as well as a string of calls to Michael, enquiring about his participation in the incident.

Barton became a father on December 28, 2011. Cassius's partner, Georgia McNeil, gave birth to a boy. McNeil's second child, Pietà, was born on June 6, 2014.

He is a friend of boxer Ricky Hatton and has helped him in several of his fights, as well as training with him. He is also a friend of former Oasis band member Noel Gallagher. Barton co-owns 'Crying Thunder,' a race horse named after the Arctic Monkeys' song) with fellow footballer Claudio Pizarro. Morrissey is also known for his admiration for the Manchester band The Smiths, quoting Morrissey as his idol. In Morrissey's "Spent the Day in Bed" music video, Barton appears.

Barton is a member of the Tamsin Gulvin Fund, a charity set up to assist people with alcohol abuse and no budgetary resources. Tony Adams, who had been impressed by Barton's behavior during his time as a volunteer for the Sporting Chance Clinic, recruited him to serve in this capacity. He's part of the 'Get Hooked on Fishing' campaign, which is designed to keep children out of danger by encouraging them to try fishing. He has also participated in a celebrity cricket match for charity to raise money for a new children's rehabilitation unit at a hospital in Manchester. In 2011, he began writing in The Big Issue, a street newspaper sold by the homeless and vulnerably housed. Barton and Robbie Elliott, a former Newcastle United fullback, sponsored a shirt each from Newcastle United's women's team in 2012. Barton sponsored the number seven shirt, the number he wore in the men's department.

Barton is a major Twitter user, with over 2.9 million followers as of December 2021. His eclectic tweets have landed him being compared by the BBC to rival Eric Cantona in his heyday, ranging from Friedrich Nietzsche and George Orwell to Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Morrissey. Some in the media have sluggish, with Paul Hayward, chief sports writer for The Daily Telegraph, writing that Barton "manages to be patronized [by the media] and held up as some sort of exemplar at the same time; he is an expert at tricking us into believing him to veer between the extremes of thinker and thug. Either this is a condemnation of societal hypocrisy or, more likely, a sociopathic tendency." "The issue, I think, is not the belief that Barton is a reformed character," Ellie Mae O'Hagan of The Guardian said, but the fact that one can not be both a philosopher and violent at the same time should be taken as a sign of change... This all boils down to class snobbery, in my opinion. Since Barton is a working-class man who has chosen to play football for a living, it is likely that he has violent tendencies. So when he shows signs of intelligence, it's a sign of change: intelligence is the preserve of the gentlemanly middle-classes.

Barton appeared on the BBC's Question Time discussion show on May 29, 2014, where he said "If I'm somewhere and there were four really ugly girls, I'm not the worst" – and that's all UKIP are." Barton's remarks were dismissed as sexist by an audience member, prompting him to apologise on air.

Barton expressed his views in favour of gay rights in a television show on BBC Three on January 30, 2012, and Justin Fashanu, England's only openly gay footballer, expressed his views in a television interview. "The dearth of any openly gay players in English professional football is "a topic that's very close to my heart," he said, as his uncle is gay. He predicted that there will be an openly gay player "within the next ten years," but that "certain managers... will discriminate against people," and that "more fool them and their inability of social awareness and intelligence" will inform the game, not only change the game, but also change the culture and change the culture and sports's culture and transform the sport and the football clubs where they played at."

Barton said in an article published in The Independent in February 2015, "If I were Prime Minister, I would privatize faith." All federal funds will be withheld from faith. "In any and every way, taxpayers' money will no longer be used to promote faith." He said that the Church of England should be disestablished. He was named an honorary associate of the National Secular Society in April of this year. Barton, a republican, favors abolishing the British monarchy.

Barton was charged in October 2016 with breaching laws governing betting on football matches. The Scottish Football Association accused him of placing 44 bets on matches between 1 July and September 2016. He received a one-match suspension from the Scottish Football Association for breaching the rules of betting on football matches in November 2016. In December 2016, he was charged with misconduct, with the Football Association claiming that he had placed 1,260 bets in the last ten years.

After admitting to a Football Association lawsuit in connection with betting, Barton received an 18-month suspension from football.

Barton was charged in July 2021 with assault by beating a woman at an address in Kew, London. A court heard that Barton had "kicked wife in head" and 'grabbed her by throat' in a booze-soaked row, the trial was postponed to June 23rd due to a late arrival of emails. Barton's defense team was also delayed until October 30th, October 31. Barton's defense team was given a deadline of two weeks to submit the list of witnesses and determine whether or not the suspect will be identified as a defense witness. Barton was unable to obtain a fair trial on October 31, owing to a lack of a fair hearing.

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Club career

Barton aspired to be a professional footballer by joining Everton's youth team, but he played for Liverpool when he was 14 years old. He went through trials at Nottingham Forest but was turned down because he was too young to be a footballer. Barton said that the club's disapproving him made him more determined to be a footballer and that his detractors were wrong. In 1999, he made his first appearance for Manchester City's under-17s squad. In his last year as a trainee, he made his first reserve-team appearance in the 2000–01 season. Barton's future was uncertain, so the club planned to fire him but decided against it and gave him his first professional contract in the close season. He made the switch from the under-19s to regular reserve football over the next two years. In the 2002-03 season, he was drafted into the first-team squad.

Barton would have made his City first team debut against Middlesbrough in November 2002 if he hadn't lost his shirt after leaving it on the bench at halftime. On April 5, 2003, he made his first-team debut against Bolton Wanderers. On Good Friday, his first senior goal was scored 2 weeks later in a 2–0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. He made his first appearance in seven straight starts during the 2002–03 season.

Barton was offered a new one-year deal at the club by manager Kevin Keegan, who joined the club in April 2003. He impressed in his first season with the club. He played in the first team more often during the 2003–04 season and was given a call-up to the England U21 squad for their 2004 European Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Portugal.

Barton received his first red card of his career in gruesome situations: at halftime, his club was 3–0 down, he argued with the referee and was dismissed, but the match was still underway. Despite playing with ten men, Barton's co-operators won by a surprising 4–3 victory in the second half. After not being chosen in the team to play Southampton, Barton left the City of Manchester Stadium in indignation on April 17th. However, he appeared on television during the 2003–04 season, where he made 39 appearances and one goal. His performances wowed the club's fans, and he was rewarded with the Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2003-2004 season.

After "hacking" at an opposition player, Barton sparked a ten-man brawl in a friendly match against Doncaster Rovers on July 25, 2004. Despite signing a new deal on September 22nd, which will keep him at City until 2007, the club considered firing Barton after a drama at their Christmas party in December 2004. Jamie Tandy's eye was caught smoking a lit cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy's eye after he spotted Tandy attempting to set fire to his shirt. Barton later apologised for his behaviour and was fined six weeks' wages (£60,000).

Barton broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car in Liverpool's downtown center at 2 a.m. in May 2005. Barton was kicked home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand after assaulting a 15-year-old Everton supporter who had provoked Barton by verbally insulting him and kicking his shin. Barton was unable to hurt the child any more by teammate Richard Dunne. Barton underwent anger management training under the direction of City boss Stuart Pearce, who was fined £120,000 in club fines. Barton began a seven-day program of behavioral therapy at the Sporting Chance Clinic, a non-profit established to support troubled sportsmen and women in the fall of 2005.

Barton accepted a written transfer request in January 2006, which the club turned down. Barton from Middlesbrough's verbal bid was also turned down the following day, with Stuart Pearce saying that a deal could still be made to keep him at the club. Barton said he had been "a little bit impatient" in making such a demand and that talks on a new deal in City had begun the next week. He was given a new four-year contract, which he signed on July 25th, putting an end to rumors about his future.

After his time at the Sporting Chance Clinic, Barton's behavior seemed to improve. However, Barton's backside to Everton supporters was caught on television cameras on September 30, 2006, following City's injury-time equalizer in a match at Goodison Park. Barton had been mocked by Everton supporters throughout the game, and the act has since been described as "light-hearted" and "inoffensive" by those involved in football. Merseyside Police investigated the incident but reported in October that no further action would be taken, although Barton was fined £2,000 for bringing the game into disrepute and alerting the Football Association of his future conduct.

Barton was involved in a memorable goal celebration in November 2006. Bernardo Corradi ran to the corner flag after scoring for Manchester City against Fulham, followed by teammate Joey Barton. Corradi proceeded to sand "knight" the kneeling Barton and the corner flag. Barton earned his second red card of his career in December 2006 after a late two-footed tackle on Bolton Wanderers player Abdoulaye Faye.

Willie McKay, Barton's agent, said in January 2007 that if any team offered more than £5.5 million to Barton, it would lead to a release clause in his deal, which would mean City will have to invite Barton to talk to the interested team. Everton chief David Moyes was apparently compelled to make an inquiry into Barton's availability, according to reports. "People are attempting to annoy me, but I'm content to remain here."

After an alleged altercation with a taxi driver in Liverpool while heading to his hotel following a match on March 13, 2007, Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault and criminal harm. In May 2008, he was found not guilty of this charge.

Barton spoke out against City's results during the 2006–07 season, naming some of the club's players as "substandard." Following his outspokenness, City's manager Stuart Pearce barred him from speaking to the public.

Following an incident during training during which Barton assaulted his teammate Ousmane Dabo, the team was fined £100,000 and suspended by City until the end of the 2006–07 season. After being struck several times with head injury, including a suspected detached retina, Dabo said he was left unconscious and had to go to the hospital. Dabo requested that the police press charges against Barton be dropped against Barton, and as a result, Barton was arrested and interrogated by Greater Manchester Police. Barton's time in City came to an end thanks to this change. Stuart Pearce's "relationship breakdown" was the primary reason he left the club, according to his later. Barton was arrested in August and was charged with assault later in the year, although he initially denied it. He later changed his plea to guilty, and was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison term, 200 hours of community service, and the payment of £3,000 and Dabo's court costs. The FA charged Barton with violent conduct. Barton pleaded guilty and was banned for six games for six years, with a new six-match ban suspended for two years and fined £25,000.

Barton accepted Newcastle United and West Ham United following a £7 million transfer on June 14, 2007. Manchester City's contract talks had stalled after Barton refused to pay Barton a £300,000 fee, which he was expected to receive if he left the club without submitting a request for transfer. Newcastle United have since raised their initial bid of £5.5 million to £5.8, effectively compensating Manchester City for the £300,000 discrepancy. He said that his desire to win trophies inspired him to make the decision, as well as his admiration for manager Sam Allardyce. Barton made his Newcastle debut against Hartlepool United in a friendly on July 17th. He was banned from six to seven weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot during a friendly match against Carlisle United. In October 2007, he was ruled out for a second month.

Barton made his Premier League debut for Newcastle on October 22, 2007, winning by a 3–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Barton appeared to lift his foot in a match against Sunderland's Dickson Etuhu, causing the News of the World to feature "Ban Him" in his first Tyne-Wear derby. Because match official Martin Atkinson had seen the incident take place during the match, the FA were unable to sue Barton for the incident. FIFA rules state that a retrospective charge for violent conduct can only be brought if the match official did not know the situation. Barton later apologised for the tackle. He called on Newcastle fans to allow the team more time after their abuse of manager Sam Allardyce, describing them as "vicious." He denied it later, saying that his remarks had been misrepresented.

Following an incident that occurred at 5:30 a.m., Barton was arrested on suspicion of assault in Liverpool's Church Street neighborhood. He was released in jail on December 28th after he was convicted of two previous offences whilst on probation; the presiding magistrate observed: "I also have to consider the public's security, which is why you strike out indiscriminately." Barton was seen on CCTV punching a man twenty times, causing him to lose consciousness, and kicking a teenager, breaking some of his teeth. Since pleaded guilty to his involvement in the December 2007 assault, he was sentenced to six months in prison. Nadine Wilson, Barton's cousin, and his brother Andrew Barton both pleaded guilty and received suspended sentences. Barton confessed to being an alcoholic and said he wanted to achieve "complete abstinence" in order to change his behavior. He served 74 days of his prison term after being released on August 28, 2008.

Barton's new sentencing, a four-month suspended term for the earlier assault on Ousmane Dabo at Manchester City, was suspended while serving this sentence. After Newcastle's 3–0 loss to Arsenal on August 30, he returned to action as a second-half replacement six days before his FA hearing. He led Arsenal supporters to a raucous of boos. Barton was involved in a match with Samir Nasri early in the game, for which the referee did not give a foul. The tackle, although difficult, was legal. Nasri deliberately clipped Barton while tracking back, for which he had been fined. Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was involved in an altercation with Nasri and Arsenal captain William Gallas in connection with the incident.

It was a short time for the playing squad, with Barton suspended for six games and a longer suspended six-match suspension for his assault on Dabo. He played 75 minutes in a reserve game and said he wanted to make his image as a role model before returning to action in the Tyne–Wear derby on October 25th. He was booed by Sunderland supporters and had missiles launched at him as he warmed up as Newcastle lost 2–1. Newcastle had not won a match since the season's second match, but Barton scored a penalty in his second match back to lift the team out of the relegation zone without him. Barton threatened to flick Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in the club's next game, but the FA refused to discipline Barton because of the suspended six-match suspension. However, further allegations that Barton made a racial remark to Agbonlahor were sufficient for the FA to reconsider this decision. The allegations were unfounded, and 'professional lip-readers' claimed nothing was racist. Barton was injured in Newcastle's 2–2 draw with Wigan on November 15, 2008, after a tackle by Lee Cattermole. Barton will miss two months as a result of a medial ligament injury, according to later. He played only twice before losing to his old club Manchester City in a 2–1 loss.

Barton was dismissed late in his first appearance in over three months in a 3–0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on a sliding challenge on Xabi Alonso. Barton was ruled out of Newcastle's remaining three games of the season by the red card, with the club in danger of relegation from the Premier League. "I think it would be unfair to speculate about Barton's future, but I'm not positive," Newcastle manager Alan Shearer said. Barton's ban was in effect indefinitely, according to Newcastle United, and Barton was advised to stay away from the club permanently on May 5th. Barton's future at Newcastle United was put into question as a result. Following the match, the club suspension was widely believed to have resulted not directly from the red card, but rather from a dressing room brawl between Shearer and assistant manager Iain Dowie. Shearer said he made a mistake in bringing Barton back to the team and that his tackle was "a coward's tackle," a charge to which Barton denied that he was "the best player at the team" and that Shearer was compelled to play him. Barton was not real, and he was "shit," Shearer said. Shearer, according to Barton, was "a shit boss with shit tactics." Barton called him "a prick" when Dowie intervened. According to reports, Barton was reportedly transferred.

Barton continued to play with Newcastle after being relegated to the Championship, playing six out of Newcastle's first eight league games, but losing 3–1 to Plymouth Argyle on September 19th. He returned to Newcastle in April in April, playing all nine of Newcastle's remaining league fixtures and scoring his only goal of the season after a free kick in a 2-1 victory over Peterborough United.

Barton debuted his new club season in 2010-2011 as a first-team regular, playing against Manchester United on the first day. Barton acted aggressively on 10 November, punching Morten Gamst Pedersen in the chest in a 21-0 loss to Blackburn. He was not suspended during the game because the authorities did not see the incident, but the FA charged Barton with violent conduct after looking into the evidence. Barton apologized, accepted the charge, and was banned for three matches. During Newcastle's 3–1 victory over Liverpool on December 11, 2010, Barton courted uproar once more, displaying veiled homophobic remarks and a lewd gesture at Fernando Torres. Newcastle came from a 4–0 deficit to draw 4–4 on Friday, Barton scored two goals against Arsenal on February 5, 2011. He was involved in a clash with Abou Diaby, which culminated in Diaby's being sent a straight red card. Diaby retaliated by grabbing Barton by the neck and shoving him to the ground, despite his strong resistance to Barton's brutality.

Barton's agent Willie McKay said on May 25th, 2011 that his client will not be signing a new deal at St James' Park after contract negotiations fell off between the club and player. Barton was officially transferred to Newcastle on August 1, 2011, and it was also reported that he could leave for free under his new deal, which was yet to expire. Barton was supposed to leave Newcastle after meeting Kevin Nolan, who had previously worked with West Ham United, but Barton refused to move. After it was decided he could leave the club on a free transfer, Joey Barton also sluggish. Newcastle continues to decline a new deal after he turned down an earlier one, on August 24, 2011, Barton was allowed to talk to QPR. He left Newcastle on August 26th, 2011, thanking the Newcastle people.

Barton was involved in an altercation with Gervinho of Arsenal that resulted in Gervinho's dismissal on his debut a week before he was signed by QPR, resulting in Gervinho's dismissal. Alex Song of Barton was whipped by Alex Song of Barton, for whom Song received a three-match suspension. Barton later said he was on the verge of joining Arsenal, but instead he joined Queens Park Rangers after he was on the verge of leaving Arsenal, but instead, he ended his hopes of a move to the Emirates.

Barton moved to Queens Park Rangers on August 26, 2011, where he began a four-year contract on a free transfer. On his first match with Newcastle, manager Neil Warnock gave the captain's armband. During a 3–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 17, he scored his first goal for QPR. Barton was involved in a physical confrontation with Wolves' Karl Henry following his goal. When Barton was still in Newcastle in August 2010, Henry and Barton had a previous physical confrontation. Barton accused Henry of "trying to hurt people." Barton's behavior was described as "embarrassing," Henry said.

Barton scored the first goal in QPR's match against Norwich City on January 2, 2012, his second for the club. Bradley Johnson, a headbutting Norwich midfielder, was later given a straight red card. QPR went from ten men down to ten men in the match 2–1. Warnock was appointed captain by Mark Hughes in January 2012, Hughes confirmed that Barton would remain captain. Barton's QPR victory over Liverpool by a booed him by QPR supporters who erupted as he was called out just after the hour was over. Barton admitted that his performance was "awful" and the "worst I've ever played in my career," but he also chastised the QPR fans for failing to follow the team in their fight against relegation. He was back in the squad for the home match against Arsenal after being disqualified for the club's next game, an away loss to Sunderland. Barton's third goal for the club came in a 3–0 victory over Swansea on April 11, 2011.

Barton was dismissed in the 55th minute for violent assault after elbowing Carlos Tevez in the chest on the final day of the season, with QPR requiring at least a draw in their match away from Manchester City or for Bolton Wanderers to not win in order to ensure Premier League security. He kicked Sergio Agüero in the back of the knee and charged headbutt Vincent Kompany right away after being given a red card. Barton had to be pulled off the pitch by former teammate Micah Richards as he rowed with Manchester City players and workers and attempted to square off with striker Mario Balotelli. QPR continued to lose two late goals and lose the match 3–2 but managed to avoid relegation owing to Bolton's draw at Stoke City. Barton said after the match that he was trying to "take [one] of their players with me." The FA responded by launching two charges of violent conduct against him for the kick and the attempted head-butt, the first offence involving violent conduct. Barton accepted responsibility for kicking Agüero but denied charges for attempting to headbutt Kompany. In the rumors that he will be fired from the captaincy, fined, released on a free transfer, or have his deal terminated for gross misconduct, QPR also launched an internal investigation into his conduct.

Barton appeared at an FA meeting on May 23rd. Barton was banned for all three charges of violent conduct, and fined £75,000. QPR reported the findings of their internal probe on June 25th. Barton was stripped of the captaincy and fined six weeks' pay, despite the fact that the total bill was estimated to be around £500,000. Barton was also barred from the club's pre-season tour of Asia, and the club announced in a tweet that they had "also reached an understanding with Barton that if he seriously breaches the club's discipline policies again, the club reserves the right to terminate his employment." "My behavior was wrong, and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result," Barton said.

Barton defeated Kilmarnock 4–0 in a friendly match on Sunday, Friday, in 45 minutes for a league Two team Fleetwood Town. After being left out of Queens Park Rangers' tour of Malaysia, he had been training with Fleetwood. Fleetwood tried to sign Barton on a six-month loan, but the offer was rejected by QPR.

Barton was not allocated a squad number by QPR ahead of the 2012–13 Premier League season. Barton's retirement as a factor in the club's poor results and relegation from the Premier League came late in the season. We needed a workhorse midfielder, and we tried to locate Scott Parker. We've lost a true leader."

On August 31, 2012, Barton completed a season-long loan move to Marseille. Barton's twelve-match suspension in French football will be upheld, according to the LFP, limiting Barton to UEFA Europa League football for the first four months of the season. Barton made his club debut on September 20th in a UEFA Europa League tie against Fenerbahçe, a match that ended 2–2. Barton scored his first goal for Marseille on November 8th in a 2–2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, netting directly from a corner kick in the 54th minute.

Barton told ESPN that after the loan period, he would not return to Queens Park Rangers, and that he actually joined the club for money because his partner was expecting a child. Following the remark, he made his league debut against Lille on November 25, 2012. As Marseille defeated Brest 2–1 to remain two points behind leaders Lyon in his third league appearance on December 2nd. Barton had the support for both Souleymane Diawara's and André Ayew's goals.

On May 6, 2013, Barton was given a two-match suspension for describing Thiago Silva of Paris Saint-Germain as a "overweight ladyboy" on Twitter. Barton was punished only for making "inappropriate" remarks, according to Laurent Davenas, the President of the French Football Federation's National Council of Ethics, and he avoided a harsher punishment because of his lawyers' lack of homophobic motives by exposing the committee's participation in the BBC Three documentary on homophobia in football.

Barton returned to QPR for the 2013–14 Championship season. A plastic bottle thrown from the stands during a match at Burnley in October struck Barton on the head. He was dismissed in QPR's 1–0 home loss to Leicester City on December 21, 2013, who received two yellow cards in a flash of fouling and then throwing the ball in protest at Gary Taylor-Fletcher. He started for QPR as they defeated Derby County 1–0 in the 2014 Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on May 24th, a victory that saw the club promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the first attempt.

Barton earned his ninth red card of his career in the 32nd minute of a match against Hull City after darnell Furlong's foul. Following the incident, Chris Ramsey suggested that Barton, who will miss the club's next three home games as a result, will return to anger management training following the incident. Queens Park Rangers announced the release of Barton in the summer of 2015.

Following Barton's release from Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United were apparently secure in signing Barton. David Gold, Barton's co-chairman, announced that the agreement was off after several supporters who were dissatisfied with the prospect of Barton turning out for the Hammers.

Barton joined Burnley in the Championship in August for a one-year deal. He was named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year for the 2015–16 season.

Barton joined Scottish Premiership club Rangers on a two-year deal on May 24th. In Rangers' 2–0 victory over Annan Athletic in the Scottish League Cup on July 19, he made his first appearance for the club as a replacement. Barton was suspended by Rangers for three weeks after a training ground controversies with Andy Halliday in September 2016. Barton's deal with Rangers came to an end on November 10, 2016.

Despite the threat of an FA ban, Barton re-joined Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Sunday; he made his second debut for the club in a goalless draw with Sunderland. Barton returned to action in the 73rd minute on January 14th, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Southampton five minutes later. After admitting to a Football Association lawsuit in connection with betting, Barton was barred from football for 18 months. Barton was released by Burnley on May 23, 2017. Barton's ban was reduced by nearly five months on appeal on July 27.

International career

Barton was a member of the England Under-21 squad in 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers against Macedonia and Portugal, scoring once against Portugal against Portugal.

Barton received his first call-up to the full England squad on February 2nd, 2007, despite his recent criticism of certain members of the England squad for releasing autobiographies following an unimpressive 2006 FIFA World Cup result. Such players had "cashed in" on the national team's lack of success, according to him.

Barton continued to be chastised for his remarks, and Steven Gerrard, one of the players Barton had mocked, thanked him for his honesty. Frank Lampard, who had also published an autobiography following the tournament, had voiced his disapproving of the tournament. Barton made his international debut on February 7, 2007, defeating Lampard in the 78th minute of the 1–0 loss to Spain at Old Trafford.

Managerial career

Barton will take over as the manager of Fleetwood Town in April 2018, following his ban's expiration. When he took over, he stopped playing. On August 4, 2018, AFC Wimbledon defeated him 1–0 home defeat, kicking off his managerial career.

Following a 4–2 away loss to Barnsley, South Yorkshire Police launched an investigation on Monday after Barton reportedly assaulted opposition manager Daniel Stendel in the tunnel. Barton was charged with causing real bodily harm in July 2019, and he was not released until October 9, 2019. He pleaded not guilty. He received the Manager of the Month award two days later. Barton appeared in Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, not guilty of assault occasioning real bodily harm. A provisional trial date was scheduled for 1st June 2020. Barton left the club with immediate effect on January 4th, 2021. He left the club with the team's tenth place in League One. Barton was not found not guilty of attacking Stendel on December 6, 2021.

Barton was named as the head of Bristol Rovers in a relegation battle on February 22, 2021, just two points outside of the relegation zone. His first match was a relegation six-pointer against Wigan Athletic, with Rovers falling to a 2–1 loss in the final minute of second-half stoppage time. Barton was unable to recover his side's fall from the table, and the club was formally relegated on April 24th after a 1–0 loss at Portsmouth that saw the club fall six points off the league's lowest position, with only two games remaining. Relegation had almost confirmed the previous match, with Barton going out in the public to smear his players, as well as the two coaches before him, saying that his team was going down 'with a whimper.'

Barton's Rovers side suffered a 3–1 home loss to Ben Garner's led Swindon Town side on October 2nd. Barton had sluggishly criticized his predecessor, calling him "negligent" before claiming he was able to "spare 15-20 minutes for him after the game" to address the finer points of management. When Barton compared his team's poor results in a 3-1 loss to Newport County to a holocaust, he was chastised by several anti-Semitism campaigners later in October 2021. "Someone gets in for a game," Barton said in a post-match interview, but then a nightmare, an absolute disaster." Barton apologised for his remarks the following week. Barton was nominated for the EFL Manager of the Month award for January 2022, but Forest Green Rovers' Rob Edwards was unable to win after picking up ten points from four matches throughout the month. Rovers soared to the top of the table following their 1–0 victory over Colchester United on March 15, Rovers found themselves in play-off positions for the first time in the season. Barton was named Manager of the Month for March 2022 for his second year in a row, after leading his team to five victories from seven games but not conceding only three goals or aiming for a promotion. Rovers' 7-0 thrashing on the final day over Scunthorpe United's five-goal advantage in order to overthrowrown Northampton Town and advance to third place, sealing promotion on goals scored.

Barton signed a new three-year contract extension on July 1st, 2022, to keep him at the club until 2026.

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