Luke Young (footballer, born 1979)

Luke Paul Young (born 19 July 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Luke Young
Young lining up for Aston Villa in 2008
Personal information
Full name Luke Paul Young[1]
Date of birth (1979-07-19) 19 July 1979[1]
Place of birth Harlow, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Tottenham Hotspur 58 (0)
2001–2007 Charlton Athletic 187 (4)
2007–2008 Middlesbrough 35 (1)
2008–2011 Aston Villa 75 (2)
2011–2014 Queens Park Rangers 24 (2)
Total 379 (9)
National team
1998 England U18 5 (0)
1999–2002 England U21 16 (1)
2005 England 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Young began his career at Tottenham Hotspur in 1997, before moving to Charlton Athletic in 2001, where he spent six seasons. He then had stints at Middlesbrough and Aston Villa before moving to Queens Park Rangers in 2011. He played 379 career league matches, and all but one of them in the Premier League. Young represented the English national team on seven occasions in 2005.

Early life

Young was born in Harlow, Essex,[1] and has an older brother, Neil Young, who was also a professional footballer and most notably played for Bournemouth. During Neil's testimonial match, he captained the Bournemouth team and brother Luke captained the opponents Charlton Athletic. The final score was a 5–2 win for Charlton.[2]

Luke's 17-year-old half-brother, Andre Young, was found dead on 12 August 2009 whilst on holiday in Malia, Crete, after sustaining head injuries. Young said at the time: "He was a tremendous and talented person and a diligent student and this is such a waste of a promising life."[3] In November 2011, British authorities recorded an open verdict on the cause of death.[4]

Luke's youngest brother, Jake Young, played for West Ham United's academy as a midfielder.[5]

Club career

Tottenham Hotspur

Young started his career with Tottenham Hotspur's youth system and signed a professional contract on 3 July 1997.[1] George Graham gave him his first-team debut on 28 November 1998, playing the full 90 minutes of a 2–1 loss at West Ham, alongside Sol Campbell in the centre of defence. He hit a 25-yard volley which was saved by Shaka Hislop.[6] Young made appearances in the 1998–99 League Cup, but was an unused substitute for the final at Wembley Stadium, which Tottenham won 1–0 against Leicester City on 21 March 1999.[7][8] He was also present in the team's run through the rounds of the FA Cup, in which they lost after extra time to Newcastle United in the semi-finals.[9]

Charlton Athletic

Young transferred to Charlton Athletic on 25 July 2001 on a four-year contract for an initial £3 million fee, adding £250,000 at the end of each of the first four seasons in which Charlton remained in the Premier League.[10] He made his debut on 18 August 2001, in a 2–1 home loss to Everton.[11] In his first season at the Valley, he played alongside Mark Fish, Jorge Costa and Jonathan Fortune in a defence whose last names combined to 'Young Fish Cost a Fortune'.[12]

On 25 August 2004, Young scored the first goal of his career, assisted by Dennis Rommedahl to conclude a 3–0 home win over Aston Villa.[13] He followed this on 18 September 2004 when he exploited an error by goalkeeper Maik Taylor to open a 1–1 draw at Birmingham City.[14] In the spring of 2005, he was voted Player of the Year by the Charlton fans.[15]

Before Alan Curbishley left Charlton, Young had handed in a transfer request, since he and Curbishley had not got on. After Curbishley left, Young withdrew his transfer request, but after Iain Dowie was appointed manager he reinstated it, citing the club not offering him a new contract even though he only had a year left on his existing contract. On 2 June 2006, Young was offered a new three-year deal at the Valley.[16] On 19 July 2006, Young signed a new four-year contract at Charlton.[17] However, Charlton finished 19th in the Premier League in the 2006–07 season, and were relegated into the Championship. Young requested a transfer, which was accepted.

Middlesbrough
Young playing for Middlesbrough in 2008

Young was signed by Premier League club Middlesbrough for a £2.5 million fee on a four-year contract in July 2007.[18] He made his debut for Middlesbrough against Newcastle. His first goal for Middlesbrough, a long-distance drive into the top corner, came against his former club Tottenham at the Riverside Stadium in a Premier League match on 3 November 2007, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw.[19]

Aston Villa

On 7 August 2008, Aston Villa signed Young for a fee that could reach £6 million,[20] on a three-year contract. Young made his Villa debut in their opening day Premier League fixture against Manchester City, which they won 4–2. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 home victory over Blackburn Rovers, finding the net from close range on the second attempt, an important equaliser on the stroke of half-time.[21] After some solid performances at right back in the early part of 2008–09, Young became a fans' favourite amongst the Villa supporters. A long-term injury to first-choice left back Wilfred Bouma meant that Young switched to the left side of defence to cover Bouma's absence during 2008–09.

In 2009–10, Young did not play as much first-team football as he did in the previous season, which was partly because Martin O'Neill preferred to play Carlos Cuéllar at right back. In July 2010, Liverpool and Villa agreed a fee of £2.5 million for Young, but he turned down the offer.[22] He later revealed why he turned down the chance to move to Liverpool, saying he "had more chance of getting in the first team at Villa than I did getting in the first team at Liverpool" and "I just had the underlying feeling that I was going there as kind of a back-up for left back and right back".[23]

Young was a regular in the starting line-up at the beginning of 2010–11 and scored his second goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Everton on 29 August 2010.

Queens Park Rangers

On 27 August 2011, Young joined Premier League club Queens Park Rangers on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[24] He scored his first goal for the club on 19 November in QPR's 3–2 win against Stoke City, but went on to suffer an injury later in the same match.

After featuring regularly in the R's defence in his first season, his second season saw a change, with Mark Hughes freezing him out of the Premier League squad for the 2012–13 season.[25] With Hughes' dismissal in November 2012, new manager Harry Redknapp suggested that Young may still have a future at the club.[26] However, he failed to recover from an injury in time to be included in the 25-man squad submitted on 1 February 2013, raising doubts about his future.[27]

Young made his first league appearance for QPR for almost two years against Blackburn on 8 April 2014.[28] He was released by QPR at the end of 2013–14.[29]

International career

In May 2005, Young was called up for the first time to the England team for their tour of the United States, after the injury withdrawal of Gary Neville.[30] He made his debut on 28 May against the United States in Chicago, as a substitute for Andy Johnson with 14 minutes to play of the 2–1 win.[31] Due to another Neville injury, his first full appearance in an England shirt came on 3 September 2005, when he played the full 90 minutes in the World Cup qualifying match against Wales, which England won 1–0.[32]

Young was put on standby for Sven-Göran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad, but withdrew with an ankle injury and was replaced by Michael Dawson.[33] On 21 March 2007, Steve McClaren drafted Young into the England team for the qualifiers against Israel and Andorra because of injuries to Micah Richards and Jonathan Woodgate.[34]

In total Young played for his country seven times, his final cap coming against Argentina in November 2005. He was also called up by Fabio Capello, but he did not play for him either. His final appearance in an England squad was for the friendly against Spain in February 2009.[35]

On 11 November 2009, it emerged that Young had, in February 2009, made his unavailability for future international duties known to The Football Association on personal grounds. This retirement from international football was made public when Young rejected an offer to reverse his decision following the injury of Glen Johnson before a match against Brazil.[36]

Career statistics

Club
Young playing for Charlton Athletic in 2004
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tottenham Hotspur 1998–99[7] Premier League 1505020—220
1999–2000[37] Premier League 20020103[lower-alpha 1]0260
2000–01[38] Premier League 2304010—280
Total 5801104030760
Charlton Athletic 2001–02[39] Premier League 3401030—380
2002–03[40] Premier League 3202000—340
2003–04[41] Premier League 2400010—250
2004–05[42] Premier League 3623020—412
2005–06[43] Premier League 3213030—381
2006–07[44] Premier League 2910030—321
Total 187490120—2084
Middlesbrough 2007–08[45] Premier League 3515020—421
Aston Villa 2008–09[46] Premier League 34120007[lower-alpha 1]0431
2009–10[47] Premier League 160301000200
2010–11[48] Premier League 231001000241
2011–12[49] Premier League 20—00—20
Total 752502070892
Queens Park Rangers 2011–12[49] Premier League 23230——262
2012–13[50] Premier League 000000—00
2013–14[51] Championship 1000000010
Total 242300000272
Career total 37993302001004429
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England[52] 200570
Total70

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur

Aston Villa

Individual

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 450. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. "Footballer's brother found dead". BBC Essex. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  4. Tsolakidou, Stella (5 November 2011). "Open Verdict on Teenager's Death in Crete". Greek Reporter. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. "Exclusive: Saffron Walden sign QPR defender's brother". Saffron Walden Reporter. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  6. Cox, Gerry (28 November 1998). "Sinclair's twin strikes put Hammers second". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  7. "Games played by Luke Young in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  8. "Nielsen nicks it for Spurs". BBC News. 22 March 1999. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  9. "Shearer puts Newcastle in final". BBC Sport. 11 April 1999. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  10. "Young checks in at Charlton". BBC Sport. 25 July 2001. Retrieved 25 July 2001.
  11. "Everton edge out Charlton". BBC Sport. 18 August 2001. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  12. Davies, Hunter (2 April 2007). "You've got to laugh". New Statesman. London. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  13. "Charlton 3–0 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  14. "Birmingham 1–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 18 September 2004. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  15. "Charlton players of the year". Charlton Athletic F.C. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  16. "Charlton offer Young fresh deal". BBC Sport. 2 June 2006. Retrieved 2 June 2006.
  17. "Young signs new Charlton contract". BBC Sport. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2006.
  18. "Young makes Middlesbrough switch". BBC Sport. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  19. Lyon, Sam (3 November 2007). "Middlesbrough 1–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  20. "Gibson: Why we agreed to £6m deal". Middlesbrough F.C. 9 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  21. McIntyre, David (29 October 2008). "Aston Villa 3–2 Blackburn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  22. James, Stuart (29 July 2010). "Liverpool fail to complete the signing of Aston Villa's Luke Young". The Guardian. London.
  23. "Why Luke Young snubbed Liverpool". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 5 October 2010.
  24. "Luke Young joins QPR from Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  25. Stammers, Steve (25 August 2012). "Queens Park Rangers force out five players – Jay Bothroyd, Luke Young, DJ Campbell, Rob Hulse and Tommy Smith". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  26. "Boss hints Young may have future at QPR". West London Sport. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  27. "QPR player's career threatened by injury". Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle. 1 February 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  28. "Blackburn Rovers 2–0 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  29. "QPR: Andrew Johnson and Aaron Hughes head summer clear-out". BBC Sport. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  30. "England call Young in for Neville". BBC Sport. 21 May 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  31. "USA v England as it happened". BBC Sport. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  32. "Cole fires lacklustre England home". ABC. 3 September 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  33. "Dawson gets England standby call". BBC Sport. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  34. "McClaren drafts Young into squad". The Guardian. 21 March 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  35. "Luke Young". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin, Glen Isherwood & Peter Young. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  36. "Luke Young rejects England chance to focus on Aston Villa". The Guardian. London. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  37. "Games played by Luke Young in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  38. "Games played by Luke Young in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  39. "Games played by Luke Young in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  40. "Games played by Luke Young in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  41. "Games played by Luke Young in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  42. "Games played by Luke Young in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  43. "Games played by Luke Young in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  44. "Games played by Luke Young in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  45. "Games played by Luke Young in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  46. "Games played by Luke Young in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  47. "Games played by Luke Young in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  48. "Games played by Luke Young in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  49. "Games played by Luke Young in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  50. "Games played by Luke Young in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  51. "Games played by Luke Young in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  52. "Young, Luke". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  53. McNulty, Phil (28 February 2010). "Aston Villa 1–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
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