Joleon Lescott

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Joleon Lescott
Personal information
Full name	Joleon Patrick Lescott
Date of birth	16 August 1982 (1982-08-16) (age 25)
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Everton
Number	5
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1999–2006 2006–	Wolverhampton Wanderers Everton	212 (13) 076 (10)
National team2
2007–	England U21 England	002 0(0) 005 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:17, 11 May 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 21:21, 26 March 2008 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals)

Joleon Patrick Lescott (born 16 August 1982 in Birmingham, West Midlands) is an English footballer currently playing for English club Everton. He mainly plays in the centre-back position, though he has played in various other positions across the defensive line, in particular left-back. He is the younger brother of Bristol Rovers player Aaron Lescott.

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1.2 Everton F.C. 1.3 England 2 References 3 External links

[edit] Career

[edit] Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Whilst playing youth football for the Grinham Giants in the Quinton Little League, Birmingham, Lescott was spotted by a Wolverhampton Wanderers scout and accepted the offer of joining the club's Centre of Excellence. Despite spending a short spell at Derby County and, at the age of 13, contemplating never going back to football following a year out from the game because he was finding the training and the professionalism too difficult^[1], Lescott signed trainee forms with Wolves in August 1999.

His first-team debut came as a 17 year old in the 2000–01 season against Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux stadium on 13 August 2000. At the end of his first season, Lescott was named the Supporters' Young Player of the Year by the Wolves fans; an award he also won in the subsequent 2001–02 season.

Lescott started to become a regular fixture in the Wolves team. During the 2002–03 season he missed only one league match and played in each of the club's FA Cup fixtures. He was also a member of the team that defeated Sheffield United 3–0 at the Millennium Stadium to win promotion to the FA Premier League for the 2003–04 season. Lescott declared this to be the proudest moment of his career.^{[citation needed]}

Despite Wolves gaining promotion, Lescott was unable to participate in the 2003–04 season due to knee surgery, preventing him from competing in the Premier League. Wolves were subsequently relegated and, upon completing his rehabilitation, Lescott returned to compete in the Championship.

In October 2005, Lescott agreed a two and a half year extension to his contract at Wolves. At the conclusion of the 2005–06 season he was named in the Championship team of the season, voted for by his fellow professionals, and also picked up the Wolves Player of the Year award.

[edit] Everton F.C.

Lescott was sold to Everton at the start of the 2006–07 season for an immediate payment of £2 million, followed by a further £2 million paid in installments and a final £1 million contingent on appearances.^[2] The transfer was slightly delayed as Everton asked for extra medical checks to be taken on Lescott's knee following the reconstruction of the joint earlier in his career. Lescott was Everton's third summer signing after Tim Howard and Andrew Johnson. Everton sold Per Krøldrup in January 2006 and Matteo Ferrari returned to A.S. Roma at the conclusion of his loan making Lescott one of only four senior centre backs at the club.

Lescott made his Everton debut in August 2006 during a victory over Watford and his his first start of the season away to Tottenham Hotspur, as Alan Stubbs had injured his groin in the previous game against Blackburn. The game was Everton's first victory at White Hart Lane in two decades, and Lescott was named man of the match.^{[citation needed]} Lescott started again in the next match, the 204th Merseyside derby, which resulted in a 3-0 victory for Everton. Lescott's first Everton goal came in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park on April 2, 2007. Lescott's successful first season in top flight football was recognised by his team mates who voted him Player's Player of the Season 2006/07.^[3] He also finished a very close second behind Mikel Arteta in the fans Player of the Season.^{[citation needed]} his improved performances have shown spectacular blocks and defensive techniques and a good amount of goals (10 in the 2007/08 season) for a defender. The start of the 2007/08 season saw Lescott score three goals in the first eight games of the season.

Lescott has also just been given the status as the most deadly finisher in the Premier League. Stats for the 2007/08 season have indicated that Lescott has the highest shot to goal ratio in the Premier League, at 42.1%[1]. Interestingly, Lescott's Everton team mate, Yakubu was named the 2nd most deadly finisher with a ratio of 28.3%[2] That deadly ability in front of goal, especially given Lescott's position as a defender, has led to him being given the moniker "goal machine"[3].

On May 8th 2008, at the end of season awards, held at St Georges Hall in Liverpool, Lescott was voted Everton's Player of the Year and Players Player of the Year.[4] Prior to the final home game of the season against Newcastle, on May 11th 2008, Lescott was also awarded the Player of the year award by the Everton Disabled Supporters Association, a tradition in place since 1995. The EDSA labelled Lescott "Mr Consistency" for his performances over the 2007/08 season. He is also only the 2nd Everton player to have ever been awarded the honour twice.[5]

Given Lescott's scarring on his forehead, the result of a childhood accident, police are investigating allegations that Liverpool supporters allegedly chanted 'The Elephant Man, the Elephant Man, Joleon Lescott, the Elephant Man" following Liverpool's 1-0 win on March 30, 2008.^[4]

Following a season (2007/08) being utilised predominantly at left back, Lescott hopes to play at his more natural centre back position going forward.[[6]]

[edit] England

Lescott has represented England at Under-18, Under-20, Under-21 and England B levels. After a fine first season for Everton, Lescott made his England B debut against Albania at Burnley's Turf Moor on May 25 2007, he replaced Reading's Nicky Shorey in the 73rd minute.^[5]

On September 3, 2007, Lescott was handed a long awaited callup to Steve McClaren's England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia.^[6]

Lescott was given his international senior debut against Estonia on October 13 2007 — replacing Rio Ferdinand at half-time — with England winning 3-0. His second cap — and first start — was the Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, which England lost 2-1. On the 16th of November Joleon made his second international start against Austria in a friendly, England won the game 1-0 and Joleon made a composed performance at the heart of defence. His final cap to date came in a 3-2 defeat in the hands of Croatia on November 21 in another Euro 2008 qualifier. This defeat put England out of the qualifiers and unable to qualify.

Lescott made his first England appearance under new manager Fabio Capello on March 26, 2008 in a friendly match against France, coming on as a substitute at half time for former skipper John Terry.

Club Performance

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Everton	2007–08	35	7	1	0	5	0	10	2	51	10
Everton	2006–07	38	2	1	0	3	0	0	0	42	2
Total		73	9	2	0	8	0	10	2	93	12
Wolves	2005–06	46	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	48	1
Wolves	2004–05	41	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	43	4
Wolves	2003-04	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wolves	2002-03	44	1	4	0	1	0	0	0	49	1
Wolves	2001-02	37	2	2	0	5	0	0	0	44	5

[edit] References

• [7]

[edit] External links

• Joleon Lescott career stats at Soccerbase
• Profile on Official Everton Website

v • d • e Everton F.C. – current squad 2 Hibbert • 3 Baines • 4 Yobo • 5 Lescott • 6 Arteta • 7 Van der Meyde • 8 Johnson • 12 Turner • 14 Vaughan • 16 Jagielka • 17 Cahill • 18 Neville • 19 Valente • 20 Pienaar • 21 Osman • 22 Yakubu • 23 Fernandes • 24 Howard • 28 Anichebe • 30 Ruddy • 32 Gosling • 34 Irving • 37 Rodwell • Manager: Moyes