Jason Steele (footballer)

Jason Sean Steele (born 18 August 1990, Newton Aycliffe) is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Middlesbrough. A product of Middlesbrough's famed youth academy, he has represented England at all youth levels, as well as appearing for the Great Britain Olympic Team.

Club career

Middlesbrough

Steele, a goalkeeper, came through Middlesbrough's youth academy. In May 2009, Steele signed a new three-year contract with Middlesbrough, which was his first professional deal.^[2] Danny Coyne was signed during Middlesbrough's first season in the Championship in the 2009/10 season, instead of promoting Steele to a permanent senior squad member. Steele was sent out on loan to Northampton Town in February 2010, to gain first team experience. He was impressive during his stint at Northampton, keeping four clean sheets in thirteen games.

2010–11 Breakthrough season

Thanks to his impressive stint at Northampton, Steele was handed his first competitive start for Middlesbrough's in a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield in the League Cup, on 10 August 2010.^[3] He made his league debut away to Leicester City on 14 August 2010 and capped it with a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. With the sale of Brad Jones to Liverpool, Steele went on to establish himself as Middlesbroughs first choice keeper, ahead of Danny Coyne. In November 2010, after impressive performances in the Championship, Steele was linked with a January move to Arsenal.^[4] In December 2010, he signed a new contract with Middlesbrough up to 2015, despite speculation about his future.^[5] Due to a side muscle injury he picked up against Reading in March 2011, Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith was brought in to cover for Steele. Despite impressive performances from Smith, Steele regained his first team spot for the last two games of the 2010/11 campaign, in which he kept clean sheets in both games against Cardiff and Doncaster.

2011–12 season

In the 2011–12 season he fully established himself as Middlesbrough's first choice keeper by being awarded the number 1 shirt under Tony Mowbray, which made him the youngest first choice goalkeeper in the Championship. Despite Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme being brought in on loan at the start of the season, due to a broken wrist for Steele, Steele quickly regained his first team place. Steele went on to win the young player of the year award for the 2011–12 season.

2012–13 season

He started the 2012–13 season well, putting in man of the match performances in games against Ipswich Town(in which he got an assist), Watford and Brighton. He continued his good form into 2013, saving a penalty against Blackpool when the score was at 3–2, Middlesbrough went on to win the match 4–2.^[6] Steele's impressive form during the 2012/13 season, as well as his form in the previous season, was rewarded when he was named the North East Football Writers' young player of the year on 24 February 2013.^[7] Steele finished the season been the only player to have played in every minute of Middlesbroughs league campaign. Steele also won both the young player, and player of the season awards which was picked by both his teammates and staff at the club.^[8]

Career statistics

As of 10 June 2013^[9]

International career

England Under-16s, 17s and 19s

Steele has competed for the England under-16s, England under-17s and now for the England under-19s. He joined the under-19s in September 2007, a month after his 17th birthday. In July 2009, Steele competed as starting goalkeeper for England under-19s in the Under-19 European Championships, in Ukraine.^[10] Against hosts, Ukraine, Steele captained the team.^[11]

England Under-21s

Steele made his first under-21s appearance in November 2010, in a friendly against Germany. It was a game to forget for Steele however, as he was sent off after 58 minutes after a dive from Boris Vukcevic, having only just come on at half time.^[12] His second appearance for the under-21s came almost 2 years later on 10 September 2012, in a European Under-21 Championship qualifying game against Norway, in which he kept a clean sheet with a solid performance in a 1–0 win.^[13] On 13 November 2012, Steele kept a clean sheet against Northern Ireland in a friendly, having come on as a second half substitute for Ben Amos.

He was again called up to the England U21 side in 2013 for their friendly against the Sweden U21 team on 5 February. During his time with the squad, Steele trained with the senior England team, as well as the U21's.^[14]

He was called into the 23 man squad for the 2013 UEFA Euro U21 championships.^[15] Steele made one appearance during the tournament, playing in a 1–0 defeat to Isreals U21s in England's last group game.

Great Britain

On 2 July 2012, Steele was named in Team GB's football team for the 2012 Olympics. He started in the line up in a friendly against Brazil before the 2012 Olympics which resulted in a 2–0 defeat. He was the only member of Team GB's squad not to get onto the pitch during the tournament itself, with Jack Butland keeping him out.

Honours

Individual

• Middlesbrough Young Player of the Season Award (2): 2011/12, 2012/13
• North East Football Writers' young player of the year (1): 2013
• Middlesbrough Player of the Season Award (1): 2012/13

References

External links

• Jason Steele player profile at ntfc.co.uk
• Jason Steele career stats at Soccerbase

v t e Great Britain men's football squad – 2012 Summer Olympics 1 Butland 2 Taylor 3 Bertrand 4 Rose 5 Caulker 6 Dawson 7 Cleverley 8 Allen 9 Sturridge 10 Bellamy 11 Giggs (c) 12 Tomkins 13 Cork 14 Richards 15 Ramsey 16 Sinclair 17 Sordell 18 Steele Coach: Pearce