Wes Brown

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Wes Brown
Personal information
Full name Wesley Michael Brown
Date of birth 13 October 1979 (1979-10-13) (age 28)
Place of birth    Manchester, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Playing position Centre Back/Right Back
Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 6
Youth clubs
1992–1996 Manchester United
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1996– Manchester United 198 (2)   
National team2
1999– England 017 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 19:32, 11 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 19:50, 28 May 2008 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)
This article is about Wesley Brown the football player. For the First African-American to graduate from the Naval Academy, see Wesley A. Brown

Wesley "Wes" Michael Brown (born 13 October 1979 in Longsight, Manchester) is an English football player who plays as a defender for Manchester United.

Contents

[edit] Club career

Brown began his serious football career as a schoolboy playing for the Burnage High School and Fletcher Moss Rangers a Greater Manchester youth side, and was a former student of the FA School of Excellence at Lilleshall, as well as spending time at Manchester United's football Academy, which he joined at the age of 12.[2] Brown showed talent and maturity at an early age, signing full professional terms with boyhood club Manchester United on 4 November 1996 at the age of 17. (His younger brother, Reece, signed for the club at the age of just nine[3])

Brown went on to success with the reserve and youth sides, winning the FA Youth Cup and a Lancashire Division One medal with the reserves. He also added a Denzil Haroun Young Player of the Year award to his collection.

On 4 May 1998, Brown made his full first team Premiership debut against Leeds United, coming on as a substitute. His breakthrough would occur the next year, the 1998-99 season, where he made several first-team appearances at right-back as well as his more natural position of centre-back. He forged a promising defensive partnership with Jaap Stam at the heart of United's defence. The season could not have gone any better for Brown, as United captured the legendary treble. Tipped to be United's next big defender,[citation needed] Brown suffered the first of what would be a string of injures while training for the 1999-2000 campaign. His strong comeback the following year prompted praise from all corners, with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson making waves by proclaiming Brown to be Manchester United's most talented defender.[4]

A fine 2000-01 campaign was followed by another solid year in 2001-02. His reputation grew even greater during the 2002-03 season, but again, his performances were marred by injury. Brown tore a knee ligament on the final day of the season, and did not return until midway through the 2003-04 season. Brown finished the season in good form, notably giving an imperious, man-of-the-match performance in the FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal. It was after this fine display that Ferguson re-iterated his belief that Brown is "the best natural defender" in England.[5] Respected pundit Alan Hansen concurred, calling Brown "a class act". Despite this, Brown was not able to translate his form into a place in the England Euro 2004 squad.

On 18th April 2008, Wes signed a new five year contract along with fellow defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Michael Carrick which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2013 and which would end any transfer speculation.

[edit] International career

Brown was given a place on the England 2002 FIFA World Cup squad.

Wes Brown performed consistently well in the 2005-2006 season which led to his recall to the England squad for the friendly game against Uruguay. Although he played no part in this fixture he hoped to make it into the final England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he was not selected.

He was once again recalled to the England squad by coach Steve McClaren, and played in defeat of Andorra in the 2008 European Cup qualifiers on 2 September, partnering John Terry at the heart of the England defence, in place of injured Manchester United team mate Rio Ferdinand. He replaced Terry in a friendly against Brazil on 1 June 2007, however he slipped up with his first touch of the ball, and nearly scored an own goal.

Fabio Capello has named him as a starter in both of his games in charge of the England team so far, against Switzerland[6] and France[7].

[edit] Honours

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wes Brown profile. Sky Sports. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
  2. ^ Brown upsets Fergie. Sky Sports (2006-02-22). Retrieved on 2008-02-22.
  3. ^ http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/30/30806_united_sign_up_brown_junior.html
  4. ^ Wes Brown, Manchester United. TheFA.com (2006-02-01). Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  5. ^ Scott the Red (2007-09-22). The Best Natural Defender In England. The Republik of Mancunia. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7229823.stm
  7. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7313427.stm

[edit] External links

v • d • e
England squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Seaman • 2 Mills • 3 A. Cole • 4 Sinclair • 5 Ferdinand • 6 Campbell • 7 Beckham • 8 Scholes • 9 Fowler • 10 Owen • 11 Heskey • 12 Brown • 13 Martyn • 14 Bridge • 15 Keown • 16 Southgate • 17 Sheringham • 18 Hargreaves • 19 J. Cole • 20 Vassell • 21 Butt • 22 James • 23 Dyer • Coach: Eriksson
 Flag of England
v • d • e
Manchester United F.C. – current squad

1 van der Sar • 2 Neville • 3 Evra • 4 Hargreaves • 5 Ferdinand • 6 Brown • 7 Ronaldo • 8 Anderson • 9 Saha • 10 Rooney • 11 Giggs • 12 Foster • 13 Park • 15 Vidić • 16 Carrick • 17 Nani • 18 Scholes • 21 Dong • 22 O'Shea • 23 J. Evans • 24 Fletcher • 27 Silvestre • 29 Kuszczak • 32 Tévez • 33 Eagles • 38 Heaton • 47 Welbeck • Manager: Ferguson