Micky Cummins

Middlesbrough

Cummins began his professional career as a trainee with Middlesbrough in 1996. He made his Premier League debut under Bryan Robson on 16 May 1999, playing the full ninety minutes of a 4–0 defeat to West Ham United at Upton Park. He made his second appearance off the bench on 26 February 2000, in a goalless draw at the Riverside Stadium. He later said "I was just a squad player. I was never treated as a person or an individual".

Port Vale

Cummins joined Brian Horton's Port Vale on a free transfer in March 2000. He scored his first senior goal on 21 March in a 2–1 defeat to Walsall at Vale Park. He played twelve First Division games in 1999–2000, as the "Valiants" were relegated into the Second Division. He was given a two-year contract in the summer. He played a total of 56 games in 2000–01 in league and cup, mainly out of position at right-wing-back, including the 2001 Football League Trophy final 2–1 victory over Brentford at the Millennium Stadium. He scored three goals throughout the campaign, including the opener of the 2–1 victory over Stoke City in the Football League Trophy Northern Section semi-finals. He was utilized mostly at right-back throughout the campaign, before reverting to his more established midfield position. Cummins was a key player for Vale in 2001–02, scoring nine goals in 53 games; the most significant of these nine goals came in a 1–0 win against Potteries derby opponents Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on 10…

Cummins was a squad member in the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and won caps for the Republic of Ireland under-21 side. He also scored two goals at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia; he found the net in a 2–1 win over the United States and a 1–1 draw with China at the group stage held at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar. The Irish were knocked out by eventual winners Argentina at the semi-final stage, and then finished third following a 2–1 win over Ghana.

In July 2014, Cummins was appointed joint reserve and youth team coach at Gateshead, alongside Paul Bryson. On 23 November 2015, Cummins was named co-caretaker manager of Gateshead alongside Ben Clark following the departure of manager Malcolm Crosby. The pair spent just four days in charge before Neil Aspin was named as the club's new manager. He again stepped up to the role as caretaker manager when Aspin departed on 4 October 2017, holding the post until Steve Watson was appointed manager on 10 October. Watson went on to name Cummins as his assistant. Watson again appointed Cummins as his assistant when he took the management role at National League North side York City in January 2019. On 28 October 2021, he was suspended by the club after he was charged by the Football Association concerning 148 bets placed on football matches between January 2015 and March 2019. Steve Watson was sacked two weeks later, leading to Cummings's permanent departure from the York Community Stadium.

Cummins has been described as being "comfortable on the ball" and possessing "good aerial ability". Rotherham teammate Tom Pope said that he was "one of the best I have seen" for his jumping ability and timing in the air. In May 2011, Gateshead manager Ian Bogie stated that Cummins was "a talented player with a physical presence who can also score goals, has a lot of know how... a player who will put his foot in and dictate play." In May 2006, Darlington manager David Hodgson stated that "Michael is one of the most consistent players in League One."