Leon Cort
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leon Terence Anthony Cort[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 11 September 1979[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bermondsey, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Dulwich Hamlet | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2001 | Millwall | 0 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | → Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2001 | → Stevenage Borough (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Southend United | 137 | (11) |
| 2004–2006 | Hull City | 86 | (10) |
| 2006–2008 | Crystal Palace | 49 | (7) |
| 2007–2008 | → Stoke City (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| 2008–2010 | Stoke City | 30 | (4) |
| 2010–2012 | Burnley | 19 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | → Preston North End (loan) | 13 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | → Charlton Athletic (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Charlton Athletic | 33 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 2011– | Guyana | 6 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:38, 5 May 2014 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Leon Terence Anthony Cort (born 11 September 1979) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender. He is of Guyanese descent and is the younger brother of Carl Cort.
Club career
Southend United
Born in Bermondsey, London,[1] Cort began his career at local non-League side Dulwich Hamlet. He was invited by Mick Beard to trial at Millwall before signing pro-forms with his local league club Millwall in 1998. His career at The New Den never really took off, and after a loan spell at Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage Borough he joined Southend United on a free transfer. While at Southend Cort earned rave reviews and was tipped for greater things.[2] He became a regular in the side, achieving a remarkable feat of appearing in 130 consecutive league matches without missing any through injury or suspension.
Hull City
In May 2004, Cort was offered a new contract at Southend United[3] but soon, Hull City manager Peter Taylor said he would be interested in signing Cort.[4] Cort moved to newly promoted Hull City in the summer of 2004, again on a free transfer.[5] Hull were promoted again that season, to The Championship, and in this division Cort excelled himself as Hull survived comfortably. At the end of the season, Cort signed a two-year extensions.[6] In a game between Hull and Carl's team at the time Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006, Leon scored for Hull and Carl scored for Wolves.
Crystal Palace
At the end of that season manager Peter Taylor departed to Crystal Palace and made Cort his first signing for £1.25m, and gave him a return to his native South London.[7] He again impressed and became popular with the Palace fans, winning the Player of the Year Award in 2007. The following season started poorly for the Eagles and saw Taylor sacked and replaced by Neil Warnock, and Cort soon departed on loan to Stoke City.[8]
Stoke City
Ironically, Cort's last game for Palace was at Selhurst Park against Stoke. Cort's career at the Britannia Stadium began very well, with assured performances featuring a remarkable tally of eight goals in just six months from the defender despite featuring twice in the Premier League since November 2008. However the next season, Cort find himself further down the pecking order as Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye was preferred to be used in central defence.[9]
Burnley
Cort signed for Premier League side Burnley on 27 January 2010 for £1.5 million signing a three-and-a-half-year deal.[10] After appearing on the bench without being used for Burnley, Cort finally made his debut in a 1–1 draw against his former club Stoke City where he made his first start in the Premier League since 2008 when Cort at his former club Stoke. On 6 March 2010, Cort provided his first assist in the Premier League for David Nugent in a 3–1 loss against Arsenal. Following Burnley relegation to Championship after losing 4–0 to Liverpool, Cort believes the Clarets to climb back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.[11]
However, after the Clarets were relegated, he found opportunities limited after reduced of playing time and on 25 November 2010, Cort joined Preston North End on a month long loan. On 27 November 2010, Cort made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Millwall. On 1 January 2011, Cort loan spell at Preston has extended until 23 January.[12]
Charlton Athletic
On 29 August 2011, Cort was once again sent out on loan, this time to Charlton Athletic.[13] Cort made his debut for the club in a 3–2 win over Rochdale on 17 September 2011 as a substitute in the late minute. While at loan at Charlton, Cort made six appearance and didn't get more playing time so he was on the bench without been used due to good central defence performance from Michael Morrison and Matt Taylor. Cort was released by Burnley on 9 January 2012 after not making appearance for the club that season.[14] On 12 January 2012, Cort signed a permanent deal with Charlton.[15] From late March to nearly end of April, Cort able to get more playing time and led the club promoted to the Championship. On 18 August 2012, Cort scored his first league goal for The Addicks, on the opening day of the Championship season, in the 1–1 draw with Birmingham City.[16] On 16 May 2013, Cort signed a one-year contract extension.[17] On 22 May 2014, he was released from Charlton Athletic.[18]
International career
In October 2011, Cort was called up to Guyana for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Barbados and Bermuda.[19]
International goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 11 November 2011 | Providence Stadium, Providence |  Trinidad and Tobago | 2 – 0 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Career statistics
- As of 18 March 2013
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Millwall | 1998–99 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Forest Green Rovers (loan) | 2000–01 | Conference National | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Stevenage Borough (loan) | 2000–01 | Conference National | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Southend United | 2001–02 | Third Division | 45 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 51 | 4 |
| 2002–03 | Third Division | 46 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 52 | 7 | |
| 2003–04 | Third Division | 46 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 58 | 1 | |
| Total | 137 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 161 | 12 | ||
| Hull City | 2004–05 | League One | 44 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 6 |
| 2005–06 | Championship | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 43 | 4 | ||
| Total | 86 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 10 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2006–07 | Championship | 37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 7 | |
| 2007–08 | Championship | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 7 | ||
| Stoke City | 2007–08 | Championship | 33 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 8 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 44 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 53 | 8 | |||
| Burnley | 2009–10 | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | ||
| Preston North End (loan) | 2010–11 | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 2011–12 | League One | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | Championship | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 31 | 2 | ||
| Total | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 2 | ||
| Career totals | 383 | 36 | 22 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 425 | 37 | ||
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
Honours
- Hull City
- Football League One runner-up: 2004–05
- Stoke City
- Football League Championship runner-up: 2007–08
- Charlton Athletic
- Football League One champions: 2011–12
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
- ↑ "Third Division eye catchers". BBC. 1 August 2003. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ↑ "Southend deals for quartet". BBC Sport. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Taylor interested in Cort". BBC. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ↑ "Hull secure Southends Cort". BBC. 8 June 2004. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ↑ "Hull duo sign contract extensions". BBC Sport. 9 May 2005. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Palace snap up Hull defender Cort". BBC. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ↑ "Potters complete Cort loan deal". BBC. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ↑ "Cort prepared to fight for place". BBC Sport. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Cort Joins Burnley In £1.5 Million Deal". Stoke City F.C. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ↑ "Cort – Clarets can bounce back". Sky Sports. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ↑ "Preston extend Cort deal". Sky Sports. 1 January 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
- ↑ "Cort joins on season-long loan". Charlton Athletic F.C. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ↑ "Burnley terminate the contract of defender Leon Cort". BBC Sport. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ↑ "Cort recruited on permanent deal". Charlton Athletic. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ↑ "Birmingham 1–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
- ↑ "Addicks opt to release Haynes". Charlton Athletic. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ↑ "Charlton announce list of released players". Charlton Athletic. 22 May 2014.
- ↑ "Ebbsfleet United striker Ricky Shakes called up for Guyana World Cup squad". Gravesend Messenger. 4 October 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
External links
- Leon Cort player profile at cafc.co.uk
- Leon Cort career statistics at Soccerbase
- Leon Cort at National-Football-Teams.com
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