| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Year of birth | 1985 |
| County FA | Northumberland FA |
| First Premier League Match | 21 August 2010: Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers |
Profile
At only 25 years of age, Michael Oliver became the youngest referee in Barclays Premier League history when he took charge of Birmingham City’s clash with Blackburn Rovers in August 2010, and he has remained a top-flight official ever since.
Oliver’s rapid rise up the Football League ladder culminated in being added to the Select Group of referees for the 2010/11 season. Prior to his time in the Barclays Premier League, Oliver was a Football League referee for three years after learning his trade with four years at non-league level.
In 2012, his quick progress was rewarded as he was elevated to the FIFA list of referees, making him now eligible to take charge of fixtures in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, as well as European internationals.
Oliver, whose father Clive was a former Football League referee, was in charge of the 2014 Community Shield match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Wembley.
