Stewart Downing

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stewart Downing

Downing training with Liverpool in 2011
Personal information
Full nameStewart Downing[1]
Date of birth (1984-07-22) 22 July 1984[1]
Place of birthMiddlesbrough, England
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Playing positionWinger/Left back
Club information
Current clubWest Ham United
Number23
Youth career
2001Middlesbrough
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2001–2009Middlesbrough181(17)
2003→ Sunderland (loan)7(3)
2009–2011Aston Villa63(9)
2011–2013Liverpool65(3)
2013–West Ham United16(0)
National team‡
2004–2005England U218(0)
2007England B1(2)
2005–England34(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:27, 21 January 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 14 January 2014 (UTC)

Stewart Downing (born 22 July 1984) is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United and the England national team. He has played most of his career as a winger, where he operates predominantly on the left-hand side but has recently also played in the left back position.[2] Downing has previously played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Sunderland, and has won the Football League Cup twice in his career.

Club career

Middlesbrough

Downing was born in Middlesbrough.[1] He was a graduate of the Middlesbrough Academy.

Downing playing for Middlesbrough in 2008

His debut came on 24 April 2002 in a FA Premier League game away at Ipswich Town. He was limited to just three appearances during that season, plus a further three the following season despite scoring his first senior goal in a 4–1 League Cup victory over Brentford. He was sent out on loan to Sunderland in 2003 in order to gain experience. His first-team chances at Middlesbrough were limited due to the form of Bolo Zenden in the left-midfield slot. Downing's career began to take-off when he was recalled from his loan during an injury crisis and was pushed into the first-team.

The 2004–05 season saw Downing make forty-nine appearances, scoring six goals, as well as providing numerous assists. In a UEFA Cup match against Lazio in November 2004, both Downing and Zenden were in the starting line-up. Though Zenden scored both goals in the 2–0 victory, Downing drew praise for his performance down the left. Such performances that season saw him called up to Sven Göran Eriksson's England squad in February 2005 for a friendly against the Netherlands.[3]

A knee injury saw Downing sidelined for five months at the end of 2005,[4] though he returned to play his part in the run to the 2006 UEFA Cup Final, including three assists in the 4–2 (4–3 agg) victory over Steaua Bucharest in the semi-final second leg.[5]

On 26 February 2008, Downing signed a new five-year contract, keeping him signed on at Middlesbrough until summer 2013.[6] With the departure of Mark Schwarzer in May 2008, Downing became Middlesbrough's second longest serving player after Brad Jones.

The 2008–09 season was a mixed one for Downing. Middlesbrough had their best start to the season in six years which saw them climb to 8th in the table, however, a terrible winless run which started in November 2008 saw them fall into the relegation zone. On 5 January 2009, he handed in a written transfer request expressing his desire to leave the club but the request was turned down on the same day.[7] In the penultimate match of the season, he sustained a foot injury after a challenge from Stiliyan Petrov in a home game against Aston Villa in May, which needed an operation, ruling him out for at least four months.[8] After spending the whole of the second half of the season in the relegation zone, Middlesbrough were relegated on the final day after they lost 2–1 away at West Ham United.[9] Downing, having started every league game, except the last match, ended the season with no league goals, having only scored two against West Ham United in the FA Cup.[10][11]

Aston Villa

Downing playing for Aston Villa in 2010

Following Middlesbrough's relegation, Downing signed a four-year contract with Aston Villa, becoming Martin O'Neill's first signing of the 2009 Summer transfer window for a fee of £10 million with an extra £2 million to be paid depending on appearances.[12] On 7 November 2009, O'Neill announced that Downing had returned to full training following his injury against Villa while playing for Middlesbrough during the 2008–09 season. Downing made his Aston Villa début coming on as a 69th minute substitute for Steve Sidwell in the away game versus Burnley.[13] He scored his first goal for Villa in the League Cup fourth round tie against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 1 December 2009.[14]

Downing's return to action saw him returning to his preferred left wing role, with James Milner moving to central midfield for Villa. Downing played in Villa's first win at Old Trafford against Manchester United since 1983 on 12 December 2009 in their 1–0 victory over the Red Devils. Downing then went on to score his first and second league goal for Villa in their 5–2 win against Burnley on 2 February 2010. His second season with Aston Villa had been a much improved one, he scored the first Premier League goal of the season against West Ham United at Villa Park on 14 August in a 3–0 win.[15] His next goal came against Stoke City with a curling header on 13 September. Against Aston Villa's rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park, he scored his third goal of the season from a Marc Albrighton cross. In the League Cup game versus Burnley, he scored an extra-time winner to send Villa through to the next round. On 10 November he scored his fifth of the season against Blackpool which saw Villa win the match 3–2. On 21 November 2010, Downing started and played the full 90 minutes against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in a 2–0 defeat. He netted his sixth of the season against Villa rival's West Brom. On 26 February, Downing scored against Blackburn Rovers at Villa Park in a match which Villa went on to win 4–1. In the final game of the season, Downing scored his eighth against Liverpool at Villa Park with the result ending 1–0. At the end of the 2010–11 season Downing made 44 appearances and scored 8 goals in all competitions. Downing was the subject of speculation over the summer, with Liverpool showing interest in the winger. On 6 July, Liverpool tabled a bid of £15 million for Downing but this was rejected by Villa, who said they would not let Downing go for less than £20m.[16] New Villa boss Alex McLeish then stated that Downing was not for sale and he would not be leaving Villa in the summer.[17] However, on 13 July 2011, a fee was agreed between Aston Villa and Liverpool for the transfer of Downing.[18]

Liverpool

Downing playing for Liverpool in 2011

Downing completed his move to Liverpool on 15 July 2011, for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £20 million.[19] On Saturday 13 August 2011, Downing made his debut in Liverpool's first game of the 2011–12 Premier League, in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland at Anfield, playing the full 90 minutes. On Saturday 20 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Arsenal in a 2–0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.[20] On 6 January 2012, Downing scored his first goal for Liverpool against Oldham Athletic at Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup.[21] On 26 February he won the League Cup with Liverpool, scoring his penalty in the shoot-out and winning the Alan Hardaker Trophy as Man of the Match.[22] On 18 March 2012 he scored the winner in a 2–1 victory over Stoke City in the FA Cup quarter-final, securing a second Wembley visit for Liverpool in the semi-finals in what was described as "his most telling Liverpool contribution" so far.[23] He also became the first player in seven years to miss three consecutive penalty kicks in the Premier League.[citation needed] He finished the Premier League season with no goals and no assists.[citation needed]

Downing scored the winner in Liverpool's first competitive game of the 2012–13 season, a left foot shot in a Europa League match against Gomel.[24] On 30 August 2012, Downing was deployed as a left-back against Hearts. He scored the winning and only goal against Anzhi Makhachkala at Anfield in the Europa League. After the game he was praised by manager Brendan Rodgers saying "It's been a tough time but he's a good guy. He's had a rough ride but he's an important member of our team."[25] On 22 December, he made his first league assist and scored his first league goal in a 4–0 win against Fulham.[26] He scored his second league goal for the club on 2 March 2013, opening the scoring in a 4–0 win away to Wigan Athletic, with a header from a Philippe Coutinho cross.[27] In Liverpool's next game Downing scored the equalizer against Tottenham Hotspur, in a 3–2 home victory for Liverpool.[28] This marked Downing's fifth goal in all competitions and his last goal for Liverpool. He scored seven goals in 91 games in all competitions before leaving Liverpool in August 2013.[29]

West Ham United

On 13 August 2013, Downing signed a four-year contract with West Ham United for an officially undisclosed fee which was reported to be in the region of £5m.[30][31] He made his debut for the club, coming on as a substitute for Matt Jarvis in the 2–0 home win against Cardiff City at Upton Park on the opening day of the 2013–14 season on 17 August 2013.[32]

International career

Downing was first called up as a 19-year-old for the 2003 UEFA European U-19 Championship. With seven Under-21 caps to his credit, Downing made his England debut on 9 February 2005 in a home friendly, played at Villa Park against the Netherlands, replacing Shaun Wright-Phillips in the second half.[33]

Downing's international career took a setback in May 2005 when he was injured during a training session with England on their tour of the United States, keeping him out of action until 2006. Downing was included in the England World Cup squad in May 2006 by Sven-Göran Eriksson,[34] primarily as a back-up for Joe Cole, and came on as a second half substitute in England's victorious opening game against Paraguay.[35] He was brought on once again in the match against Trinidad and Tobago, when England scored two goals in the last ten minutes.[36]

On 16 August 2006, Downing made his first start for England, as Greece were beaten by 4–0, with Downing involved in three of the goals.[37] He started the subsequent three Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Andorra and the Republic of Macedonia. Downing hoped to have proven many of his critics wrong after Fabio Capello became the third successive England manager to give him an England cap, on 26 March 2008 in a 1–0 friendly defeat to France.[38] He was also called up (alongside Middlesbrough teammate David Wheater) for Capello's friendlies against United States and Trinidad and Tobago, where he received the nod ahead of Ashley Young. His performance justified his selection by contributing with the first two goals and won praise from the press who had previously slated his inclusion in the squad.[39] A few months after Capello took charge of England, the Italian boss stated that he had been most impressed by Downing.[40][41] He was chosen again by Capello to replace Aaron Lennon for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on 12 October 2010.[42] During his second season with Aston Villa, Downing began to feature regularly for England under Capello.

After his transfer to Liverpool, he featured in the two qualifying matches at the start of the season, a 3–0 win against Bulgaria, and a 1–0 win against Wales in which he provided the assist for the only goal of the game scored by former Aston Villa team mate Ashley Young.[43] He also came on at half-time to replace Theo Walcott in the 1–0 win against Spain and started the following game against Sweden which England also won 1–0.[44][45] On 16 May 2012, new England manager Roy Hodgson named Downing in his 23-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2012 tournament.[46] He started in a 1–0 win away to Norway on 26 May, which was Hodgson's first game in charge of England.[47]

Career statistics

Club

As of 21 January 2014[48]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2001–02 Middlesbrough Premier League 300000000–300
2002–03 200000110–310
2003–04 2001200200–2401
Sunderland First Division 731–––731
Sunderland Total 731–––731
2004–05 Middlesbrough Premier League 3551120020091048611
2005–06 12145000009042618
2006–07 3427805000–42212
2007–08 3895510200–45105
2008–09 3703523100–4326
Middlesbrough Total 1811731273880018142342243
2009–10 Aston Villa Premier League 2521604411–3536
2010–11 38793002101004489
Aston Villa Total 63910904621100791115
2011–12 Liverpool Premier League 3600622400–4622
2012–13 293520120012234559
Liverpool Total 6535823600122391711
2013–14 West Ham United Premier League 1601100300–1901
West Ham United Total 16011003000002001
Career Total 332324745515243131374324371

International

As of 26 May 2012[49]
YearAppsGoalsAssists
2005100
2006800
2007702
2008500
2009201
2010000
2011904
2012200
Total3407

Honours

Club

Middlesbrough
Liverpool

Individual

  • Alan Hardaker Trophy (1): 2012
  • Aston Villa Player of the Season Award (1): 2011
  • Middlesbrough Player of the Season Award (2): 2005, 2008[50]
  • Middlesbrough Young Player of the Season Award (1): 2004[50]

Personal life

Downing has been involved in several charitable and community projects outside his playing career. He supports the nationwide No Messin' campaign, along with freestyler Colin Nell and boxer Amir Khan, warning youngsters against playing on railway lines. Downing held a charity dinner with special guest boxer Ricky Hatton to raise funds for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle Upon Tyne in February 2008.[51] The hospital had cared for Vicky, Stewart's sister, who died of leukaemia in 1993 at the age of 4. The honorary position of president of Middlesbrough Futsal Club was bestowed on Downing in December 2007. During his spare time Downing has DJ-ed at several nightclubs in Middlesbrough[52] while also playing sets in Ibiza among other places.[53]

Downing's former agent Ian Elliott was arrested by Cleveland Police in September 2008 after he was reported to the police by the player himself after he had concerns "regarding the way his and his company's affairs [had] been handled". He told Middlesbrough about his concerns some time earlier and the club advised him to involve lawyers and accountants to investigate, while The FA acted as liaison between the police and the club.[54]

Downing was arrested on suspicion of assault early in the morning of 8 January 2012, after an alleged confrontation with a former girlfriend. However, he was subsequently released without charge when it was proved that Downing was not in the Cross Keys pub in Yarm, Teesside, at the time of the assault.[55]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0. 
  2. ↑ Jamie Jackson and Stuart James. "Downing may have to play left-back if he wants to stay at Liverpool | Football". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  3. ↑ "England call up Johnson & Downing". BBC Sport. 5 February 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  4. ↑ "World Cup scouting – Stewart Downing". BBC Sport. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  5. ↑ "M'brough 4–2 S B'chrst (agg 4–3)". BBC Sport. 27 April 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  6. ↑ "Downing signs new Boro contract". BBC Sport. 26 February 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  7. ↑ "Boro determined to keep Downing". BBC Sport. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2009. 
  8. ↑ Stewart Downing to undergo foot surgery
  9. ↑ "West Ham 2-1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  10. ↑ "West Ham 1-1 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Middlesbrough 2-0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  12. ↑ "Boro won't splash Downing cash". The Evening Gazette. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 
  13. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (21 November 2009). "Burnley 1–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 
  14. ↑ "Portsmouth 2–4 Aston Villa". BBC. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 
  15. ↑ "Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Liverpool fail in Downing bid". Sky Sports. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  17. ↑ "McLeish – Downing not for sale". Sky Sports. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  18. ↑ "Reds agree Downing fee". Liverpool FC. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011. 
  19. ↑ "Reds seal Downing deal – Liverpool FC". Liverpoolfc.tv. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  20. ↑ "Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1". Daily Telegraph. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011. 
  21. ↑ "Liverpool 5–1 Oldham" BBC Sport. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  22. ↑ "League-Cup winning Liverpool winger Stewart Downing hails "brilliant" Cardiff City" Goal.com. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  23. ↑ "Liverpool 2-1 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 August 2013. 
  24. ↑ "Brendan's Gomel pride". Liverpool FC. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  25. ↑ "Liverpool's Stewart Downing acclaimed by Brendan Rodgers". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012. 
  26. ↑ "Liverpool 4–0 Fulham" BBC Sport. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  27. ↑ "Wigan 0–4 Liverpool" BBC Sport. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  28. ↑ "Liverpool 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2 match report: No Bale out this time as Suarez forces Spurs to pay the penalty". The Independent. 
  29. ↑ "Soccerbase — Stuart Downing". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  30. ↑ "Hammers capture Downing". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  31. ↑ "Stewart Downing: West Ham sign Liverpool's England winger". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  32. ↑ "Allardyce hails Downing's debut cameo as Hammers see off Cardiff". www.london24.com. Retrieved 18 August 2013. 
  33. ↑ "England 0–0 Holland". BBC Sport. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  34. ↑ "Walcott & Lennon in England squad". BBC Sport. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  35. ↑ "England 1–0 Paraguay". BBC Sport. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  36. ↑ "England 2–0 Trinidad and Tobago". BBC Sport. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  37. ↑ "England 4–0 Greece". BBC Sport. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  38. ↑ "France 1–0 England". BBC Sport. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  39. ↑ "Opinion: Why Stewart Downing offers a great World Cup route". 2 June 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  40. ↑ "Capello praises Boro star Downing". Evening Gazette. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  41. ↑ "Capello Impressed By Downing". Vitalfootball.co.uk. 10 June 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  42. ↑ "Downing to replace Lennon for Montenegro". Aston Villa FC. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010. 
  43. ↑ "England close on Euro 2012 place with win against Wales" BBC Sport. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  44. ↑ "England 1–0 Spain" 12 November 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  45. ↑ "England 1–0 Sweden" BBC Sport. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  46. ↑ "England Euro 2012 squad: Ruddy, Carroll and Defoe in, Ferdinand out" BBC Sport. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  47. ↑ "Norway 0–1 England – Euro 2012 warm-up friendly" BBC Sport. 26 May 2012.
  48. ↑ "Stewart Downing Football Stats" Soccerbase. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  49. ↑ "Stewart Downing". National Football Teams. Retrieved 3 June 2012. 
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 "Middlesbrough F.C. Player of the Year – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia". En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  51. ↑
  52. ↑ "Stewart Downing wants to put Sunderland in a spin". Daily Mirror (UK). 6 April 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  53. ↑ "Stewart Downing in 10 facts – Liverpool FC". Liverpoolfc.tv. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  54. ↑ "Downing's former agent arrested". BBC Sport. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2008. 
  55. ↑ "Liverpool's Stewart Downing will not face charges following arrest". The Guardian. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2012. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stewart Downing.
West Ham United F.C. – current squad
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.