Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu
Personal information
Full namePelly Ruddock Mpanzu[1]
Date of birth17 July 1993
Place of birthHendon, London
Playing positionDefender, midfielder[2]
Club information
Current team
Luton Town
Number17
Youth career
2009–2011Boreham Wood
2011–2012West Ham United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011Boreham Wood13(0)
2012–2014West Ham United0(0)
2013→ Luton Town (loan)4(0)
2014–Luton Town28(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:15, 18 October 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (born 17 July 1993)[3] is an English footballer who plays for Luton Town. He primarily plays as a central midfielder, but is also able to play as a defender. He bears the name "Mpanzu" on the back of his shirt.

Club career

Born in London, Ruddock Mpanzu started in the youth team for Boreham Wood before moving to West Ham United in December 2011.[4][5][6] He was a member of the West Ham team which won the Ciutat de Barcelona Trophy against Espanyol in September 2013 and made his first team debut on 29 October 2013 in the League Cup in a 2–0 away win against Burnley.[7][8] West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce said of his debut, "This was their big chance. Three players, all defenders, Pelly Ruddock, Dan Potts and Leo Chambers, can feel very proud of themselves, what they've done.[9]

On 28 November 2013, Ruddock Mpanzu signed on loan for Conference Premier side Luton Town until 4 January 2014.[10] He made his Luton debut in central defence two days later in a 0–0 draw with Staines Town in the FA Trophy and was named man of the match in the replay, which Luton won 2–0, while playing in central midfield.[11] He played in central midfield for five further games, all victories, before being recalled back to West Ham's squad on 30 December 2013 due to his parent club's injury crisis.[12]

After impressing in his seven games for Luton, manager John Still revealed that he was actively looking to bring Ruddock Mpanzu back to Kenilworth Road.[12] On 28 January 2014, Ruddock Mpanzu signed permanently for Luton on a two-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, in a transfer described as a "major coup".[13] He scored his first goal for the club in a 7–0 win over Hereford United on 15 February 2014 and his second, a "scorching half-volley",[14] two months later in a 2–1 win at Dartford.[15][14] He played 21 league games for the club over the 2013–14 season as Luton won the Conference Premier title and promotion to League Two.[16] Ruddock Mpanzu said that his decision to leave West Ham and drop down the divisions had been "the right choice"[17] as he had a winners' medal to justify it.[17]

Style of play

Ruddock Mpanzu has been described as a "powerful"[18] box-to-box midfielder with "endless energy".[19][2] Ruddock Mpanzu has stated that central midfield is his natural position, but that he is able to play as a centre-back.[2]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 October 2014
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2013–14[20] Premier League 0000100010
Luton Town (loan) 2013–14[21] Conference Premier 4000—3[lower-alpha 1]070
Luton Town 2013–14[20] Conference Premier 17200—00172
2014–15 League Two 121001000131
Total 333001030373
Career total 333002030383
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy.

Honours

Luton Town

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Squad Lists 2013/14 are revealed". Premier League. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ruddock adapting to defensive role". WHUFC. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Pelly Ruddock". ESPN. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Boreham Wood youngster earns professional deal at West Ham United". www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "P. Ruddock". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ruddock adapting to defensive role". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "RCD Espanyol 0–1 West Ham United". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Burnley 0 v 2 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Allardyce praises West Ham youngsters". ESPN. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "West Ham United youngsters Blair Turgott and Pelly Ruddock have joined Colchester United and Luton Town on loan". Epping Guardian. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  11. ↑ "Goals from Parry and Whalley see Luton remove stubborn Staines". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 3 December 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Hatters may look to bring someone else in on loan or resurrect deal in the future as Mpanzu is recalled by Hammers". Bedford Today. 30 December 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  13. ↑ "Pelly eyes promotion after returning to Luton". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 28 January 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Hatters stun Dartford with late fightback". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 1 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Luton 7–0 Hereford". BBC Sport. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Luton Town win Conference Premier and Football League spot". BBC Sport. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Pelly's move from Hammers pays off with winners medal". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 23 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "'Crazy' Mpanzu decision can't halt defiant Hatters' march to the title". Bedford Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 26 March 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Hatters rated against Wrexham". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd.). 16 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Games played by Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu in 2013/14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  21. ↑ Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
    "Games played by Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu in 2013/14". Soccerbase. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
    "Keeper Turner excels as 10-man Staines hold Hatters to goalless FA Trophy draw". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 30 November 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
    "Goals from Parry and Whalley see Luton remove stubborn Staines". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 3 December 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
    "Impressive Hatters knock out holders Wrexham". Luton Today (Johnston Publishing Ltd). 13 December 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2014.

External links

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu career statistics at Soccerbase