Barton enjoyed a long career at the highest level of English football. After breaking into the Man City senior squad in 2002, he went on to play for teams such as Newcastle, QPR, Burnley, and Rangers. He retired in 2018 after his second spell at Burnley. The 43-year-old then went into management, coaching Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers, but has not been in the dugout since 2023.