Eric Dier

Eric Dier

Dier playing for England U19 in 2012
Personal information
Full nameEric Jeremy Edgar Dier[1]
Date of birth15 January 1994
Place of birthCheltenham, England
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number15
Youth career
2003–2012Sporting CP
2011→ Everton (loan)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2012–2014Sporting CP B16(2)
2012–2014Sporting CP26(1)
2014–Tottenham Hotspur24(2)
National team‡
2011England U181(0)
2012–2013England U198(0)
2013England U204(0)
2013–England U219(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:46, 25 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:20, 14 October 2014 (UTC)

Eric Jeremy Edgar Dier (born 15 January 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur as a centre back or a right back.

Having moved to Portugal as a child, he began his career in the academy of Sporting CP, and broke into its B-team and eventually its first team following a loan to Everton. In August 2014, he transferred to Tottenham for £4 million.

Despite interest from Portugal, Dier opted to represent England in international football, and has done so up to under-21 level.

Club career

Early career

Born in Cheltenham, Dier moved to Portugal from England when he was ten years old when his mother was offered a catering job working in Portugal at the 2004 European Championships.[3] His footballing ability was spotted by his school's (International Preparatory School) P.E. teacher Miguel Silva, who referred him to Sporting scouts.[4] In 2010, his parents returned to England while Dier remained in Portugal, living at Sporting CP's academy.[5] He is the grandson of Ted Croker (former Secretary of the Football Association and President of Cheltenham Town) and great nephew of Peter Croker who both played professionally for Charlton Athletic. His father, Jeremy is a former professional tennis player.[6] Dier signed professional terms with Sporting in April 2010. The Portuguese club beat Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur,[7] and the team Dier supported as a child, Manchester United,[2] to his signature. Sporting also sold 50% economic rights of the player to a third-party owner, "Quality Football Ireland Limited".[8] Sporting bought back Dier in February 2012 by selling 50% rights of Filipe Chaby.

Everton (loan)

In January 2011, Dier agreed to join Everton on a short-term loan until 30 June. Sporting CP's official website stated that the loan was "an opportunity for the athlete to grow in a more competitive and demanding environment".[9][10] Dier represented Everton U18s ten times during his loan spell and won the 2010-11 U18 Premier League with the side.[11]

Sporting B

On 26 August 2012, Dier made his debut with Sporting B in a 2012–13 Segunda Liga 1–3 away win against Atlético replacing Diego Rubio (77th minute).[12] On 4 November 2012, Dier scored his first senior goal with a direct free kick against Benfica B in a 1–3 away win in the Segunda Liga.[13]

Sporting

On 11 November 2012, Dier was called to play for the first team in a 2012–13 Primeira Liga 1–0 home win against S.C. Braga assisting in the only goal.[14][15] On 26 November 2012, he scored his first goal for Sporting's first squad in a 2–2 away draw against Moreirense F.C. in the league.[16]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 2 August 2014, Dier signed a five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur in a £4 million transfer.[17][18] He made his competitive debut for the club on the first day of the Premier League season away to West Ham United on 16 August, and scored the only goal of the game in injury time to secure a 1-0 win.[19] Eight days later in his second match, his White Hart Lane debut, he headed in a corner from Erik Lamela in an eventual 4–0 win over promoted side Queens Park Rangers.[20] Dier started on 1 March 2015 as Tottenham lost the League Cup Final to Chelsea at Wembley.[21]

International career

Dier had been approached by the Portuguese Football Federation to play for Portugal in the future but could only do so once he turned 18.[5] He had been involved in a high profile England national football team kit promotion for sportswear manufacturers Umbro and his appearance in the campaign caused the British newspaper Daily Mail to question why the Football Association had not contacted him with a view for playing in their youth national teams.[4][5] Upon his signing for Everton, an FA spokesman said "Our intention will be to select him for the youth squad in the coming weeks" referring to the 2011 edition of the under-17 international Algarve Tournament.[22]

Dier earned his first England call-up in November 2011 when U18s head coach Noel Blake picked him for a game against Slovakia.[23] He played the full 90 minutes in the 1–1 draw on 16 November 2011.[24]

On 28 May 2013, he was named in manager Peter Taylor's 21-man squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[25] He made his debut on 16 June, in a 3–0 win in a warm-up game against Uruguay.[26]

He made his debut for the England under-21s on 13 August 2013, in a 6–0 win against Scotland.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 April 2015.[28][29]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sporting CP B 2012–13 7200000072
2013–14 9000000090
Total 162000000162
Sporting CP 2012–13 141001000151
2013–14 120003000150
Total 261004000301
Tottenham Hotspur 2014–15 242103040322
Total 242103040322
Career total 665107040785

    References

    1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2011 and 31/07/2011" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Overend, Jonathan (14 October 2010). "Given a Sporting chance". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
    3. ↑ "Tottenham: Eric Dier joins Spurs from Sporting on five-year deal". BBC Sport. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kay, Alex (20 January 2011). "Eric Dier was called up by Umbro to star with Rooney & Co in this shoot. He is the rising star of Sporting Lisbon... so why haven't the FA been in touch?". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Wright, Chris (22 October 2010). "Sporting youngster helps to launch new Umbro England". algarveresident. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
    6. ↑ "Sky Sports Scout – Eric Dier". SkySports.com. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
    7. ↑ Brown, Nigel (8 April 2010). "Sporting beat off competition to sign English wonderkid". Sport.co.uk. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
    8. ↑ "Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol SAD publishes the Report and Financial Statements for the 1H2010/2011" (PDF). Sporting CP (in Portuguese). 28 February 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
    9. ↑ "Eric Dier emprestado" (in Portuguese). Sporting.pt. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
    10. ↑ Griffiths, Darren (21 January 2011). "Teenager joins academy". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
    11. ↑ http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/evertons-u18-premier-league-champions-7169857
    12. ↑ "Atlético 1–3 Sporting B" (in Portuguese). LPFP. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    13. ↑ "Benfica B-Sporting B, 1–3" (in Portuguese). Record. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    14. ↑ "Sporting 1–0 Braga" (in Portuguese). LPFP. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
    15. ↑ "Sporting 1–0 SC Braga" (in Portuguese). Zerozero. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
    16. ↑ "Moreirense 2–2 Sporting" (in Portuguese). LPFP. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
    17. ↑ "Transfer news: Eric Dier completes move to Spurs on five-year deal". Sky Sports. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
    18. ↑ "Spurs sign Eric Dier from Sporting". ESPN FC. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
    19. ↑ Rose, Gary (16 August 2014). "West Ham 0-1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
    20. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (24 August 2014). "Tottenham give Harry Redknapp unhappy homecoming with QPR defeat". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
    21. ↑ McNulty, Phil (1 March 2015). "Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
    22. ↑ Winter, Henry (20 January 2011). "Everton sign Sporting Lisbon youngster Eric Dier on loan as England close in on his services". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 21 January 2011.
    23. ↑ "Eric Dier". TheFA.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    24. ↑ "SLOVAKIA vs ENGLAND". TheFA.com. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    25. ↑ "Final squad named". TheFA.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    26. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (16 June 2013). "Training win for Three Lions". TheFA.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    27. ↑ "England Under-21s thrash Scotland 6–0 in friendly". BBC Sport. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
    28. ↑ Eric Dier career statistics at Soccerbase
    29. ↑ Soccerway profile

    External links