Michael Appleton

Michael Appleton

Personal information
Full name	Michael Antony Appleton
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	West Bromwich Albion (caretaker manager)

Michael Antony Appleton (born 4 December 1975 in Salford) is a retired English footballer who played as a midfielder until his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury. He is now the caretaker manager at West Bromwich Albion, one of the teams he had served as a player, after manager Roberto Di Matteo was placed on gardening leave. He also played as a professional for Manchester United, Lincoln City, Grimsby Town and Preston North End.

Playing career

Manchester United

Appleton attended Seedley Primary School and Buile Hill Secondary School, both in Salford. He represented the football teams of both schools, playing as a striker until the age of "12 or 13" before switching to midfield. A lifelong Manchester United fan, Appleton progressed through the club's youth system before earning a professional contact in 1994. In 1995–96 Appleton was loaned out to Lincoln City for a month to get first team experience, playing four Division Three matches and one match in the Football League Trophy, before returning to Old Trafford.

In October 1996, Appleton made his Manchester United début in the 2–1 League Cup victory versus Swindon Town. Appleton's second and last game for the Red Devils was the 2–0 defeat at Filbert Street against Leicester City. During his time at Manchester United he was issued with the number 29 shirt.

In January 1997, Appleton joined Grimsby Town on a two month loan from United, scoring three goals in 10 league matches for the Mariners against Swindon Town, Barnsley and United's Manchester rivals; Manchester City. He returned to United in March 1997. When it became apparent that Manchester United were moving for striker Erik Nevland, Appleton approached Alex Ferguson explaining that if the transfer were to go through, he would be leaving the club, citing a serious argument with the player three years previously when the two met on holiday in Crete.

Preston North End

In the 1997–98 pre-season, Appleton joined Preston North End for a (then) club record fee of £500,000. In his 3½ years at Deepdale, Appleton played 145 first team games, scoring 15 goals. He also played an important part in The Lilywhites promotion to Division One in 2000 as Division Two champions.

West Bromwich Albion

In January 2001, Appleton moved from Preston to West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £750,000, signing a 3½ year contract. He made his début in a 2–1 victory versus Sheffield United, picking up a yellow card, and went on to play an important part in The Baggies' play-off chase, although they ultimately lost to Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals. At the start of the 2001–02 season, Appleton was a regular in the first team, but on 19 November 2001, Appleton tore posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, after an accidental training ground collision with team mate Des Lyttle. He was initially expected to be out for the rest of the season. With West Brom getting promoted to the Premier League, Appleton had to wait until February 2003 for his return to football, 28 minutes into a reserve team match against former club Manchester United. In November 2003, at the age of 27, Appleton was forced to retire, after losing his two year battle against injury. West Brom manager Gary Megson described Appleton's retirement as "One of the saddest days I've had as a manager, Football can't afford to be losing a player of his ilk."

Appleton, who played his last first-team game of football in a 1–0 win at Birmingham City on 7 November 2001, made a total of 38 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.

In June 2009, Appleton was appointed first-team coach at WBA. After the board placed Roberto Di Matteo on gardening leave on 6 February, 2011, Appleton was placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs.

Injury damages court case

In June 2005, Appleton announced that he was going to sue the surgeon that he believed had ended his career early. The surgeon's name was not announced, and the case was set to start in early 2007. In June West Bromwich Albion Football Club began a £1,000,000 compensation claim against knee specialist Medhet Mohammed El-Safety, the surgeon who operated on Appleton, who West Brom described as "negligent". It was said if West Bromwich Albion had won the case, it could result in many similar cases, the appeal court was told. Mr Appleton's case against Mr El-Safety was heard by a high court judge in Manchester, with evidence provided by Appleton's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former team mates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, Manchester United's captain. Appleton won his case but had to wait to hear how much money he would receive for his damages.

"I am relieved finally to have received judgment and to be able to put this chapter of my life behind me"

Michael Appleton

On 23 March 2007, Appleton was awarded £1.5 million in damages for his injury as Mr El-Safty had admitted he wrongly operated on him. It was said that he could have earned £500,000 a year in the Premiership and the High Court also commented that his career could have lasted until 2009.

Coaching career

"Having had my playing career taken away from me prematurely, I am all the more determined now to make a success of my coaching career"

Michael Appleton

Appleton is West Brom's academy and reserve team manager as well as a temporary caretaker manager following the departure of Roberto Di Matteo in February. He hopes that his early end to his playing career means that he can become a successful football manager.

Personal life

Appleton is the father of two children.

Honours

As a player

Preston North End

• Second Division
  • Winner (1): 1999–2000

West Bromwich Albion

• First Division
  • Runner-up (1): 2001–02

External links

• BBC Sport profile
• Michael Appleton at Soccerbase
• Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive Profile