Leon Best

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Leon Best
Personal information
Full name Leon Julian Brendan Best[1]
Date of birth 19 September 1986 (1986-09-19) (age 25)
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 20
Youth career
2002–2004 Notts County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2007 Southampton 15 (4)
2004–2005 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 5 (0)
2005 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2 (1)
2006 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 11 (1)
2006 → Bournemouth (loan) 15 (3)
2006–2007 → Yeovil Town (loan) 15 (10)
2007–2010 Coventry City 92 (19)
2010– Newcastle United 42 (10)
National team‡
2008 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
2009– Republic of Ireland 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 February 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 March 2011

Leon Julian Brendan Best (born 19 September 1986) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League team Newcastle United and the Republic of Ireland national football team. Best represented Ireland at under-21 level and won his first full international cap against Nigeria on 29 May 2009.

Best had a youth career at Notts County. His first professional club was then Premier League club Southampton. He has also played for Coventry City. He moved to Newcastle in 2010.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Southampton

As a young player, Best started his career at Notts County before being signed as a trainee by then Premier League club Southampton. He made his professional debut against Newcastle United on his 18th birthday in 2004. A loan spell at Queens Park Rangers followed later in the 2004–05 season.

He was a member of Southampton's youth team that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2005, losing on aggregate to Ipswich Town.

Best also had two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday in the 2005-06 season, scoring his first professional goal and Wednesday's first of the season on 9 August 2005 at Hillsborough against Hull City. The first loan spell was cut short in the same match when Best broke his foot and returned to St. Mary's after only 5 days in Sheffield. After recovering with Southampton, Best then returned to Hillsborough at the end of the January transfer window (though there was also speculation he would go to Crystal Palace) where he remained until the end of the season, scoring Wednesday's last goal of the season at Derby County on 30 April 2006.

On 3 August 2006 Best joined Football League One club Bournemouth on a month-long loan deal with an option to extend his stay.[3] He returned to Southampton at the end of October at the end of the maximum 3 month loan spell, having made 15 league appearances, scoring 3 goals.

On 23 November 2006, he joined his team-mate Martin Cranie on loan to Yeovil Town until 22 February 2007.[4]

After his successful loan spells, Best returned to play an important role in guiding Southampton to the Championship play-offs, where the Saints faced Derby County. He came on as a substitute in the first leg at St Marys, but could not prevent Southampton losing 2–1, with Derby striker Steve Howard scoring both of the goals for the away side.

In the deciding second leg, with a visit to the new Wembley Stadium awaiting the winners, Best started for Saints up front alongside prolific on-loan striker Marek Saganowski, and played a vital role in many of the attacks that Southampton delivered in their search for goals. In one move, Best showed superb ball control and vision to release Jhon Viáfara, who scored the goal that made the score on the night 2–1 to Southampton (3–3 on aggregate, and Viafara's second goal of the night). However, an unfortunate own goal from Best himself put Derby back in front, and although Southampton sent the game into extra time with a late goal from Polish and former Derby striker Grzegorz Rasiak, Southampton lost 4–3 in a penalty shootout, with Best missing the opening penalty, sending the ball wide of the goalkeeper Stephen Bywater's left post.

[edit] Coventry City

On 5 July 2007, he joined Coventry City[5] for a fee of £650,000 decided by a tribunal,[6] with the fee increasing were Coventry to gain promotion to the Premiership by 2010. Following a cheekbone fracture at the end of 2008, Best took his place in the team wearing a protective mask. His return led him scoring three goals in successive matches and consequently gaining a reputation for wearing a "Besty" mask, even after he had recovered from his injury and earning the nickname "Zorro".[7] His distinctive mask became somewhat of a talisman for Coventry City fans, many of whom took to wearing similar masks in the stands as a tribute to Best.[8] On 3 October 2009 he was named Coca-Cola Championship Player of the Month for September.

[edit] Newcastle United

He signed for Newcastle United on 1 February 2010 for an undisclosed fee on a three and a half year contract.[9][10] Best made his debut against Cardiff City at St James' Park on 5 February 2010. Best failed to make an impact in his first season at Newcastle as he failed to find a goal and was put behind on form strike duo Andy Carroll and Peter Løvenkrands.

Best netted his first goal for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly against Carlisle United on 17 July 2010,[11] followed by his second goal for the club in the pre-season Sir Bobby Robson tribute match against PSV Eindhoven on 31 July 2010.[12] However Best then received a cruciate injury during pre-season causing him to miss the first few months of the 2010–11 season.[citation needed]

He was back in light training by the end of September and was on the bench for Newcastle's 1–1 draw with Chelsea on 28 November, but did not make an appearance. He made his comeback in Newcastle's 1–0 victory against Wigan Athletic on 2 January 2011, appearing as a late substitute for Shola Ameobi.[13] Best made his first Premier League start for Newcastle in a home 5–0 win against West Ham United on 5 January 2011, scoring a hat-trick in the process, his first league goals for the club.[14] He was injured prior to the Stoke away game on 19 March and was ruled out until the end of the season. However, Best had amassed a very impressive 6 goals in 10 starts and was touted by manager Alan Pardew as the next Newcastle forward to wear the famed No.9 shirt.[citation needed]

On 28 August 2011, he scored two goals against Fulham to give Newcastle a 2–1 victory followed by the equalizer in the 1–1 draw with Aston Villa, extending the Magpies unbeaten run to eight games in the Premier League.

Best ended a run of 12 games without a goal by scoring the winner in Newcastle's 1-0 win over Q.P.R..[15]

[edit] International career

Best qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his mother, who is from Bluebell, Dublin. He also lived in Dublin from the age of seven for a number of years as a child, playing for Lourdes Celtic before returning to Nottingham.[16]

Having already represented the Republic of Ireland firstly at under-17 level in 2002 and later at under-21 level in May 2009, Best was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the first time for the games against Nigeria and then the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.[17] He made his debut on the 29 May against Nigeria in a match that finished in a 1–1 draw.[18]

[edit] Career statistics

As of 5 February 2012[19]
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Southampton 2004–05 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 0
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2004–05 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2005–06 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Southampton 2005–06 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2005–06 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1
A.F.C. Bournemouth (loan) 2006–07 15 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 17 3
Yeovil Town (loan) 2006–07 15 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 10
Southampton 2006–07 9 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 11 4
Coventry City 2007–08 34 8 3 0 3 1 0 0 40 9
2008–09 31 2 4 2 0 0 0 0 35 4
2009–10 27 9 2 1 0 0 0 0 29 10
Newcastle United 2009–10 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
2010–11 11 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 6
2011–12 18 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 21 4
Total 197 48 12 3 7 1 3 0 219 52

:A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League Trophy and play-offs.

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

Newcastle United

[edit] Individual

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". premierleague.com (Premier League). 2010-09-01. http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2142220,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-01. 
  2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~30174,00.html. Retrieved 23 April 2011. 
  3. ^ "Cherries sign Best and Ainsworth". bbc.co.uk. 3 August 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/5240104.stm. Retrieved 3 August 2006. 
  4. ^ "The loan arranger". saintsfc.co.uk. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=7772. Retrieved 24 November 2006. [dead link]
  5. ^ "Simply the Best". ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk. http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~1066792,00.html. Retrieved 5 July 2007. 
  6. ^ "Best fee set". www.saintsfc.co.uk. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=9045. Retrieved 26 September 2007. [dead link]
  7. ^ MacAskill, Sandy (7 March 2009). "Leon Best aims to be masked marvel for Coventry against Chelsea in FA Cup". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/championship/coventry/4949413/Leon-Best-aims-to-be-masked-marvel-for-Coventry-against-Chelsea-in-FA-Cup.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010. [dead link]
  8. ^ FA Cup coverage. ITV 7 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Leon Best profile". Newcastle United FC. 1 February 2010. http://www.nufc.co.uk/page/Teams/PlayerProfile/0,,10278~30174,00.html. Retrieved 2 January 2011. 
  10. ^ "Newcastle sign striker Leon Best from Coventry". BBC Sport. 1 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8491629.stm. Retrieved 1 February 2010. 
  11. ^ "Carlisle United 0 Newcastle United 3". Newcastle United FC. 17 July 2010. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100715/carlisle-united-0-newcastle-united-3_2240137_2092899. Retrieved 17 July 2010. 
  12. ^ "NUFC 2-PSV 2". Newcastle United FC. 31 July 2010. http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20100731/nufc-2-psv-2_2240137_2107338. Retrieved 31 July 2010. 
  13. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (2 January 2011). "Wigan 0 – 1 Newcastle". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9324998.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2011. 
  14. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (5 January 2011). "Newcastle 5 – 0 West Ham". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9331257.stm. Retrieved 5 January 2011. 
  15. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/16459089.stm
  16. ^ Irish Mail on Sunday, 6 February 2011.
  17. ^ "Lawrence handed Republic call-up". BBC Sport. 18 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8056130.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2009. 
  18. ^ McCaig, Alvin (29 May 2009). "Rep of Ireland 1 – 1 Nigeria". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8074830.stm. Retrieved 5 January 2011. 
  19. ^ "Leon Best Career Stats". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=38733. Retrieved 8 January 2011. 

[edit] External links

Newcastle United F.C. – current squad
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