Stewart Downing
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| Stewart Downing | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stewart Downing | |
| Date of birth | 22 July 1984 | |
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |
| Playing position | Left Winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Middlesbrough | |
| Number | 19 | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2001– 2003 |
Middlesbrough → Sunderland (loan) |
180 (17) 7 (3) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2004–2005 2006 2005– |
England U21 England B England |
8 (0) 2 (2) 23 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Stewart Downing (born 22 July 1984) is an English football player, who currently plays for Middlesbrough of the Championship and England. A natural left-footer, Downing plays on the left side of midfield in a traditional winger's role.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
[edit] Middlesbrough
Downing grew up in Middlesbrough's Pallister estate and has been with the club he has supported since his school days. He is considered one of the most promising graduates of the Middlesbrough Academy.
His debut came on 24 April 2002 in a 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. His performances that season saw him called up to Sven Göran Eriksson's England squad in February 2005 for a friendly against the the Netherlands.[1]
A knee injury saw Downing sidelined for five months at the end of 2005,[2] 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.[3]
Downing has received criticism from both outsiders and a section of home supporters, as well as being made a scapegoat in England international matches, but retained the backing of the local media and the majority of fans.[4]
On 26 February 2008, Downing signed a new five-year contract, keeping him signed on at Middlesbrough until 2013.[5]
With the departure of Mark Schwarzer in May 2008, Downing is now Middlesbrough's 2nd longest serving player after Brad Jones.
Downing's former agent Ian Elliott was arrested by Cleveland Police on 3 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.[6]
Downing handed in a written transfer request to Middlesbrough on 5 January 2009; the request was turned down on the same day.[7] He sustained a foot injury after a challenge from Stilian Petrov in a home game against Aston Villa in May that year and missed the final games of the season as Middlesbrough were relegated. [8]
[edit] 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.[9]
Downing's international career took a setback in May 2005 when he was injured training with England on their tour of the USA, keeping him out of the game until 2006.
Downing was included in the England World Cup squad in May 2006 by Sven-Göran Eriksson,[10] and came on as a second half substitute in England's victorious opening game against Paraguay.[11] He was brought on once again in the match against Trinidad and Tobago, when England scored two goals in the last ten minutes.[12]
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.[13] He started the subsequent three Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Andorra and the Republic of Macedonia. His performances drew criticism from the press, with many stating that Downing was only being selected due to his friendship with manager Steve McClaren. However Downing hopes 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.[14] He was also called up (alongside Middlesbrough teammate David Wheater) for Capello's friendlies against the USA 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.[15] A few months after Capello took charge of England, the Italian boss stated that he had been most impressed by Downing.[16][17]
[edit] Work in the community
[edit] No Messin'
Stewart supports the nationwide No Messin' campaign, warning youngsters against playing on railway lines. Freestyler Colin Nell and boxer Amir Khan are also involved in the project.
[edit] Middlesbrough Futsal Club
Stewart Downing was given the honorary position of president of Middlesbrough Futsal Club in December 2007. His involvement with the club will mainly be as a public figure in order to raise awareness of the game of futsal in England, particularly in Middlesbrough.
[edit] Charity Night
A special charity dinner with special guest boxer Ricky Hatton was held to raise funds for the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne on February 5th, 2008. [18] The hospital had cared for Vicky, Stewart's sister, who died of leukaemia in 1993 at the age of 4.
[edit] Personal life
Downing's ex-girlfriend Michaela Henderson-Thynne, also from Middlesbrough, was one of the prominent WAGs during the 2006 World Cup. They separated after four years together.[19]
During his spare time Downing often DJs at a few of Middlesbrough's top nightclubs, including Purple Onion. [20]
[edit] Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Middlesbrough F.C. | |||||||||||||
| 2008-09 | 37 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 2007-08 | 38 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 10 | |
| 2006-07 | 34 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 2005-06 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| 2004-05 | 35 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 6 | |
| Sunderland (loan) | 2003-04 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Middlesbrough F.C. | 2003-04 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2002-03 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2001-02 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 188 | 20 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 239 | 25 | |
[edit] References
- ^ "England call up Johnson & Downing". BBC Sport. 2005-02-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4232731.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "World Cup scouting - Stewart Downing". BBC Sport. 2006-03-25. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4838530.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "M'brough 4-2 S B'chrst (agg 4-3)". BBC Sport. 2006-04-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4933504.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ Vickers, Anthony (2008-01-15). "Downing Dream Should Still Be At Boro". Evening Gazette. http://anthonyvickers.boroblogs.co.uk/archives/2008/01/post_16.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Downing signs new Boro contract". BBC Sport. 2008-02-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/7225057.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Downing's former agent arrested". BBC Sport. 2008-09-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/7595912.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Boro determined to keep Downing". BBC Sport. 2009-01-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/7810560.stm. Retrieved on 2009-01-05.
- ^ Stewart Downing to undergo foot surgery
- ^ "England 0-0 Holland". BBC Sport. 2005-02-09. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4246397.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Walcott & Lennon in England squad". BBC Sport. 2006-05-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4983618.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "England 1-0 Paraguay". BBC Sport. 2006-06-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852606.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "England 2-0 Trinidad and Tobago". BBC Sport. 2006-06-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853008.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "England 4-0 Greece". BBC Sport. 2006-08-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4794867.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "France 1-0 England". BBC Sport. 2008-03-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7313427.stm. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Opinion: Why Stewart Downing offers a great World Cup route". 2008-06-02. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/06/02/opinion-why-stewart-downing-offers-a-great-world-cup-route-89520-20592041/. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Capello praises Boro star Downing". 2008-06-10. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/boro-fc/boro-fc-news/2008/06/10/capello-praises-boro-star-downing-84229-21049548/. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Capello Impressed By Downing". Vitalfootball.co.uk. 2008-06-10. http://www.middlesbrough.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=112159. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ http://ts15.gazettelive.co.uk/2007/12/in_memory_of_vicky.html
- ^ "Stewart Ditches His Wag". Mirror.co.uk. 2007-02-10. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_headline=stewart-ditches-his-wag--&method=full&objectid=18601648&siteid=89520-name_page.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
- ^ "Stewart Downing wants to put Sunderland in a spin". 2008-04-06. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/04/26/stewart-downing-wants-to-put-sunderland-in-a-spin-89520-20395481/. Retrieved on 2008-09-03.
[edit] External links
- profile on Middlesbrough official site
- profile at premierleague.com
- profile at thefa.com
- Official Website of Middlesbrough Futsal Club
- Stewart Downing career stats at Soccerbase
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