Brown training with Leeds United |
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Michael Robert Brown | ||
Date of birth | 25 January 1977 | ||
Place of birth | Hartlepool, England | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Central midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Leeds United | ||
Number | 8 | ||
Youth career | |||
– | Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter | ||
– | Manchester City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1995–1999 | Manchester City | 92 | (2) |
1997 | → Hartlepool United (loan) | 6 | (1) |
1999 | → Portsmouth (loan) | 4 | (0) |
1999–2004 | Sheffield United | 151 | (28) |
2004–2006 | Tottenham Hotspur | 50 | (2) |
2006–2007 | Fulham | 41 | (0) |
2007–2009 | Wigan Athletic | 58 | (0) |
2009–2011 | Portsmouth | 45 | (4) |
2011– | Leeds United | 10 | (0) |
National team | |||
1996 | England U-21 | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:00, 6 August 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
Michael Robert Brown (born 25 January 1977) is an English footballer who currently plays for Football League Championship club Leeds United.[1] He plays as a central midfielder. Brown has a reputation as a midfield hard man due to his number of red and yellow cards as well as his tough tackling style.[2][3] He is also a former England U-21 international.
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Born in Hartlepool, England, Brown was a product of the Manchester City youth scheme[4] before signing professionally for the club. Brown made his debut for Manchester City in August 1995 against Q.P.R. in which Brown was actually sent off after only 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.[5] Becoming a regular in Manchester's midfield under manager Alan Ball after midfielder Garry Flitcroft had left the club, Brown was also called up to the England Under 21's squad. In 1996 Man City were relegated from the Premier League. After Man City had five managers in a matter of months Brown lost his place in the side and he had two loan spells at his home town club Hartlepool United and Portsmouth.[2][5]
After impressing for Portsmouth on loan against Sheffield United Brown signed in 1999 for Sheffield United where he quickly became one of the star players under the guidance of manager Neil Warnock. He also scored twenty-four midfield goals in the 2002–03 season and won the 'Player of the Year' award as he helped United finish 3rd in Division one.[6][7] Brown was also in the Blades side that famously knocked out Leeds United out of the League Cup with late goals from Phil Jagielka and Peter Ndlovu.[8][9] Sheffield also provided another Cup shock in the same season by knocking out Leeds United again this time out of the FA Cup after a goal from Steve Kabba.[10] Brown and his team mate Phil Jagielka were both linked with moves to Leeds United after knocking them out of the cup competitions, however Sheffield denied that they had received any bids from Leeds.[11] Brown formed a midfield partnership with experienced midfielder Stuart McCall whos defensive role allowed Brown to roam forward.[12]
In 2003 Brown scored a stunning volley to win the steel city derby against Sheffield Wednesday in a 3-1 victory for Sheffield United.[13] After his form helped Sheffield reach the playoff final, Brown had a penalty saved against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2002-03 playoff final. Wolves eventually went on to win the game 3-0 and earn a place in the Premier League.[14][15] The following season Brown was sent off twice in the first 15, manager Neil Warnock confirmed that with Brown out of contract at the end of the season he would be looking to sell Brown to the highest bidder amongst interest from Rangers.[16] In total Brown played 174 times for the Blades.[17]
After impressing at Sheffield as a goal scoring central midfielder, He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in January 2004, making 46 appearances and scoring three goals up until the end of the 2004–05 season. Two of these goals came in the league against Leicester City[18] and Norwich.[19] He also scored in Tottenham's extra time victory over Bolton in the League Cup.[20] Brown's position in midfield for Tottenham was in a much deeper role than his position for Sheffield, and he found himself becoming a more defensive minded midfielder. Although well appreciated by fans for his hard work and honest contribution, the strengthening of the Spurs midfield under Martin Jol threatened Brown's position in the team with signings like Edgar Davids, Hossam Ghaly and Danny Murphy adding competition for places with Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas already at the club.[21]
On 31 January 2006, he left Spurs to join their league rivals Fulham. His time at Craven Cottage got off to a slow start, plagued with injury, but just before the end of 2006, he was handed the captaincy by Chris Coleman, a move that many saw as a surprise and wrong decision, but in his debut as captain he delivered a man of the match performance, winning the Fulham fans over. Brown came under critiscm from the media for a two footed lunge on Manchester United player Ryan Giggs, however as Brown was booked for the incident no further action could be taken.[22][23] This was followed by a great performance against arch-rivals Chelsea. Brown's tackling was also highlighted again after an alleged stamp on Chelsea player Ashley Cole.[24] Referee Mark Halsey decided to take no further punishment on the incident despite media criticism.[25]
With Brown's tackling under strong media scrutiny, Brown was sent off for a strong challenge on Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis.[26][27] He began to play more and more often following his improved performances and never-say-die attitude, and retained captaincy up until the end of the 2006–07 season. However, Lawrie Sanchez was brought in after the departure of Chris Coleman and in the close season, he signed many new players, including Diomansy Kamara, David Healy, Chris Baird, Paul Konchesky, Aaron Hughes, Lee Cook and Steven Davis. With many new signings Brown became surplus to requirements under Sanchez.[28]
His place in the side was no longer just a formality and was made surplus to requirements. After lengthy rumours and eventually negotiations, Brown signed for Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal on 31 July 2007.[29] The manager who signed Brown Chris Hutchings was sacked not long after taking charge and replaced by manager Steve Bruce. Under Bruce, Brown formed midfield partnership's with Lee Cattermole and Wilson Palacios.[30]
On 28 August 2009, he joined fellow Premier League side Portsmouth for a nominal fee after falling out of favour at Wigan under new manager Roberto Martinez.[31] It was his second spell at the club after having a loan spell with them a decade earlier. He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on 18 April 2010.[32] Steven Gerrard elbowed Brown in the face in an off the ball incident in Portsmouth match Vs Liverpool.[33][34] On 11 April 2010, Brown helped Pompey to reach the FA Cup final with a fantastic performance in a 2–0 victory over his former club Tottenham at Wembley.[35] On 15 May 2010, Brown was in the Portsmouth side that lost 1-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup final after a Didier Drogba goal, Portsmouth minutes earlier had missed a penalty after Kevin-Prince Boateng's effort was saved by Peter Cech.[36]
With Portsmouth in serious financial trouble and many players leaving the club, Brown was a constant throughout the side. Although Portsmouth were relegated at the end of the season, Brown opted to stay at Fratton Park. Manager Avram Grant also left the club and was replaced by Steve Cotterill. On 16 October 2010, Brown scored a stunning winner in the 3-2 win over Watford at Fratton Park and remained almost ever-present for Portsmouth throughout the following months, until both he and Pompey teammate Richard Hughes reached the stage where they would both be entitled to new contracts with increased wages which the club could not afford, with Brown on a reported £25,000 a week, if they played another game.[37] Manager Steve Cotterill was disappointed that the clauses prevented him from playing the two players.[38] Wolves were linked with a move for Brown after missing out on Steve Sidwell.[39] Nottingham Forest also showed an interest in signing Brown who had been left in limbo due to the clause situation.[40]
During the 2010-11 season, Brown played 24 times and scored three goals for Portsmouth, with his last game coming on 26 December 2010, as he and Hughes played no further games due to the contract situation.[41][42] In May 2011, it was announced that both players would be among ten players released by Pompey after their contracts expired on 30 June 2011.[43]
Brown was linked with moves to Middlesbrough and QPR over the course of pre-season.[44][45] On 10 July 2011, The Sunday Times reported that Brown was set to join Leeds United.[46]
On 11 July 2011, it was confirmed Michael Brown had signed for Leeds United on a one-year contract with the option of a further year.[47][48][49] He was given the number 8 shirt for the forthcoming season.[50] On the opening day of the season, Brown made his debut for Leeds in the 3–1 defeat against Southampton. After receiving a yellow card, Brown was substituted early in the second half.[51] After missing some games with a calf injury, Brown returned to the Leeds starting lineup against Crystal Palace on 10 September.[52] After a long spell out the side, Brown returned when he came on as a second half substitute against Leicester City on 6 November. [53] Brown came into the Leeds side for his first start since early September on 29th November in Leeds' emphatic 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest.[54] Brown started his second consecutive game against Millwall on 3 December, however he had to be substituted during the first half due to an ankle injury.[55]
Brown was heavily featured in the Battle of Bramall Lane, a game where several Sheffield United players were sent off. He left the field, apparently injured, in a move that raised suspicions of a deliberate attempt to get the match abandoned. This duly occurred when a second Sheffield United player left the pitch injured. However, he subsequently missed the following two games with the same injury.[56] Brown has also been sent off for 3 different clubs in The Premier League.[9] Brown has also been involved in media controversy for some of his tackling, most notably tackles on Ryan Giggs, Ashley Cole and Sean Davis.[57]
In 1996 Brown made his debut for England U-21's against Croatia.[5]
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