Lloyd Sam

Lloyd Sam

Personal information
Full name	Lloyd Ekow Sam
Date of birth	(1984-09-27) 27 September 1984
Place of birth	Leeds, England
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Winger
Club information
Current club	New York Red Bulls
Number	10
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2010	Charlton Athletic	119	(6)
2004	→ Leyton Orient (loan)	10	(0)
2006	→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)	4	(0)
2007	→ Southend United (loan)	2	(0)
2010–2012	Leeds United	35	(2)
2012	→ Notts County (loan)	10	(5)
2012–	New York Red Bulls	27	(5)
National team‡
2005	England U20	1	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:18, 28 October 2013 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:09, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

Lloyd Ekow Sam (born 27 September 1984 in Leeds) is a professional English footballer of Ghanaian heritage, who plays in midfield as a winger who is comfortable playing on either side of the pitch. He plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. As a child, he spent some of his childhood living in Senegal, prior to moving to England. He was called up to the Ghana national football team during the 2009–10 season, but had to pull out of the squad due to injury.^[1]

Club career

In 1998, Sam was asked to attend a trial at Italian side Empoli, with his older brother Andrew. However, neither was successful. When Sam's family returned to London in 1998, he was offered trials at both Wimbledon and Arsenal, but instead re-joined Charlton on Academy terms, after an Arsenal scout asked Micky Beard at Charlton to have a look at him

Charlton Athletic

Sam training with Charlton Athletic in 2010

Sam became a professional in 2003, at the age of 18. His first involvement in a Charlton squad came after the Charlton youth team beat Leeds United. His and Osei Sankofa's impressive form for the youth side resulted in a call up to the first team squad against Arsenal, but it was two years before he made his debut for Charlton against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2004–05 season. Before this, he spent time on loan with Leyton Orient in the Third Division. He later had loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Southend United in the Championship.

After Charlton were relegated from the Premier League following the 2007–08 season, Sam received an opportunity to break into Charlton's first-team. He was assigned the number 18 shirt. He started the season well, scoring his first ever goals against Stockport County in the League cup and Coventry City but was sent-off in October 2007 following a clash with Ian Ashbee of Hull City. Sam and Charlton narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Premier League, after poor end of season form saw them drop out of the play-off positions to 11th place.

Sam suffered relegation with Charlton from The Championship to League One during the 2008-09 season. This was his second relegation with Charlton, having played a minor part in the squad that was relegated from the Premier League in 2006-07.

He narrowly missed out on promotion the following season, when Charlton reached the League One playoff semi-finals, but ended up losing against Swindon Town.

Sam was not offered a new contract by Charlton after they failed to gain an immediate return to the Championship, as they could not afford his wages, which had been set during their final Premier League season in 2006-07 under Iain Dowie.

Leeds United

Sam signed a two-year deal with his hometown club Leeds United on 9 July 2010 on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic. Leeds had finished the 2009–10 season two points ahead of Charlton, and had gained automatic promotion from League One, as runners up. The contract came with an option to extend it further than the initial two years. He made his Leeds debut in the first game of the season against Derby County on 7 August 2010 which ended in a 2–1 defeat, with Sam conceding a penalty on his debut after fouling Tomasz Cywka.

Sam scored his first goal for Leeds in his second appearance, the goal came in the League Cup against Lincoln City. He scored his first league goal in the following match against Nottingham Forest, he also received the man of the match award for his performance. On 21 August 2010 he struck his second league goal and his third goal in all competitions for his new club against Millwall, cancelling out Richard Naylor's early own goal.^[2]

After being an everpresent for Leeds, Sam sustained a minor foot injury, was dropped for the game against Swansea City on 11 September and replaced in the starting lineup by Max Gradel. Sam came on in the same game as a second half substitute for Sanchez Watt.^[3] Sam came back into the starting lineup for the following game against Barnsley.^[4] After being an unused substitute vs Doncaster, Sam returned to the starting lineup against Sheffield United.^[5] However, Sam suffered an ankle injury and was ruled out of a few games for Leeds.^[6] Sam returned to a Leeds squad when he was named on the bench against Coventry City.^[7] Sam made his playing return as a second-half substitute against Hull City.^[8] Sam came on as a second-half substitute against Bristol City, had an impressive impact and helped assist one of Luciano Becchio's goals after David James parried Sam's shot.^[9] Sam again made an impressive impact as a substitute against Crystal Palace helping Leeds earn a 2-1 win.^[10] Sam came on as a substitute against Cardiff City, but picked up a thigh injury 6 minutes after coming on and had to be substituted himself.^[11] Sam was involved in some controversy against Hull City, when he accidentally collided with Liam Rosenior who suffered a neck injury. Hull manager Nigel Pearson called Sam a coward, but Sam claimed the incident was accidental. Rosenior also accepted Sam's apology.^[12][13] After a positive start for Leeds, Sam season was disrupted after picking up various injuries during the course of the season, which ruled him out for large periods.^[14]

After an injury hit 2010–11 season, Sam revealed he had been doing extra work in the gym over the summer period to help strengthen his leg.^[15] After providing several assists in the pre season matches, Sam topped off a fine pre-season with a goal against Newcastle United.^[16] Sam came on as a substitute for Leeds the opening day of the season as they suffered a 3–1 defeat against Southampton.^[17] He made his first start of the season in Leeds' 3–2 win over rivals Bradford City in the League Cup.^[18] Sam made his first appearance in over a month after coming on a substitute against Peterborough United on 22 October.^[19]

On 14 March 2012, Sam went to Notts County on loan until the end of the season.^[20] On 9 April he scored a hat-trick as Notts County beat Yeovil Town 3-1.^[21]

After his two-year deal came to an end, Sam was told by Neil Warnock his contract wouldn't be renewed at the end of the 2011–12 season and that he would be released from the club at the expiry of his contract.^[22] After leaving Leeds, Sam had trials with Portsmouth and New York Red Bulls.^[23][24]

New York Red Bulls

On 16 August 2012 Sam officially joined the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.^[25] Sam appeared in five league matches for the club showing impressive form before being sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Sam was named MLS Player of the Week for his performance on 3 August 2013. During the match Sam had an assist and the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City. ^[26] On the final day of the season Sam scored New York's third goal in a 5-2 victory over Chicago Fire which gave the club its first title the 2013 Supporters' Shield.^[27]

International

Sam has also played for the England U20 team alongside former Leeds team mate Neil Kilkenny. He scored once for the team, against Russia in a match at his then home stadium, The Valley, in 2005.

Despite previously representing England at youth levels. In July 2010 Sam's agent claimed after the 2010 World Cup that Sam was looking to break into the Ghana national team, the country of his parents birth. “Lloyd has enjoyed watching his native Ghana in the World Cup and he would like the opportunity to play at a higher level and grab the attention of the national team manager,” said Eric Walters, Sam’s agent.^[28]

On 28 August 2010, Sam told The Sun newspaper that he was still hoping to earn a cap for the Ghana national team, after receiving a call up for Ghana during the 2009–10 season, but Sam had to pull out of the squad through injury.^[1]

In October 2010, Ghana officials asked the English FA to get written confirmation that Sam would be eligible to play for the Ghana national team and also get official confirmation from FIFA so that Sam's switch to Ghana could be fully confirmed.^[29] On 28 January 2011, Ghana officials revealed they were close to securing Sam's international status for Ghana.^[30][31]

Personal life

His brother, Andrew Sam, currently plays for Dartford. Lloyd Sam is a supporter of Arsenal.

Honours

Club

New York Red Bulls

• MLS Supporters' Shield: 2013

Career statistics

As of 6 March 2012.

USA
Season	Club	Loan	Division	MLS		US Open Cup		MLS Cup Playoffs		CONCACAF		Other		Total		Discipline
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2013	New York Red Bulls		MLS	22	5	2	1	2	0	-	-	-	-	26	6	0	1
2012	New York Red Bulls		MLS	5	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	0	1	0
New York Red Bulls Total				27	5	2	1	2	0	-	-	-		31	6	1	1
England
Season	Club	Loan	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		FL Trophy		Play-offs		Total		Discipline
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2011–12	Notts County	Loan	League One	10	5	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	10	5	2	0
2011–12	Leeds United		Championship	17	0	0	0	2	0	-	-	-	-	19	0	1	0
2010–11	Leeds United		Championship	18	2	1	0	1	1	-	-	-	-	20	3	0	0
Leeds United Total				35	2	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	39	3	1	0
2009–10	Charlton Athletic		League One	43	4	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	47	4	7	0
2008–09			Championship	38	0	3	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	42	0	3	0
2007–08			Championship	28	2	2	0	2	1	-	-	-	-	32	3	5	1
2006–07			Premier League	7	0	1	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	9	0	1	0
2006–07	Southend United	Loan	Championship	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	2	0	0	0
2006–07	Sheffield Wednesday	Loan	Championship	4	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	4	0	2	0
2005–06	Charlton Athletic		Premier League	2	0	0	0	1	0	-	-	-	-	3	0	0	0
2004–05			Premier League	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-	-	1	0	0	0
2003–04	Leyton Orient	Loan	League Two	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	10	0	2	0
Charlton Athletic Total				119	6	7	0	5	1	1	0	2	0	134	7	16	1
Career Total				207	18	10	1	10	2	1	0	2	0	230	21	24	2

References

External links

• MLS Player Profile
• Lloyd Sam career stats at Soccerbase
• transfermarkt.co