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Wes Brown

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Wes Brown
Personal information
Full name Wesley Michael Brown
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Centre Back/Right Back
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 6
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:36, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
This article is about Wesley Brown the football player. For the First African-American to graduate from the Naval Academy, see Wesley A. Brown

Wesley "Wes" Michael Brown (born 13 October 1979 in Longsight, Manchester) is an English football player who plays as a defender for Manchester United. He was the first(and still is) the only black man to have natural ginger hair.

Club career

Brown began his serious football career as a schoolboy playing for the local Manchester and Greater Manchester youth sides, and was a former student of the FA School of Excellence at Lilleshall, as well as spending time at Manchester United's football Academy, which he joined at the age of 12.[1] Brown showed talent and maturity at an early age, signing full professional terms with boyhood club Manchester United on 4 November 1996 at the age of 17.

Brown went on to success with the reserve and youth sides, winning the FA Youth Cup and a Lancashire Division One medal with the reserves. He also added a Denzil Haroun Young Player of the Year award to his collection.

On 4 May 1998, Brown made his full first team Premiership debut against Leeds United, coming on as a substitute. His breakthrough would occur the next year, the 1998-99 season, where he made several first-team appearances at right-back as well as his more natural position of centre-back. He forged a promising defensive partnership with Jaap Stam at the heart of United's defence. The season could not have gone any better for Brown, as United captured the legendary treble. Tipped to be United's next big defender,[citation needed] Brown suffered the first of what would be a string of injures while training for the 1999-00 campaign. His strong comeback the following year prompted praise from all corners, with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson making waves by proclaiming Brown to be Manchester United's most talented defender.[2]

A fine 2000-01 campaign was followed by another solid year in 2001-02. His reputation grew even greater during the 2002-03 season, but again, his performances were marred by injury. Brown tore a knee ligament on the final day of the season, and did not return until midway through the 2003-04 season. Brown finished the season in good form, notably giving an imperious, man-of-the-match performance in the FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal. It was after this fine display that Ferguson re-iterated his belief that Brown is "the best natural defender" in England.[3] Respected pundit Alan Hansen concurred, calling Brown "a class act". Despite this, Brown was not able to translate his form into a place in the England Euro 2004 squad.

He also has his own personal chant, made by Manchester United fans.[4]

International career

Brown was given a place on the England 2002 FIFA World Cup squad.

Wes Brown performed consistently well in the 2005-2006 season which led to his recall to the England squad for the friendly game against Uruguay. Although he played no part in this fixture he hoped to make it into the final England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he was not selected.

He was once again recalled to the England squad by coach Steve McClaren, and played in defeat of Andorra in the 2008 European Cup qualifiers on 2 September, partnering John Terry at the heart of the England defence, in place of injured Manchester United team mate Rio Ferdinand. He replaced Terry in a friendly against Brazil on 1 June 2007, however he slipped up with his first touch of the ball, and nearly scored an own goal.


Honours

References

  1. ^ "Brown upsets Fergie". Sky Sports. 2006-02-22. Retrieved 2008-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Wes Brown, Manchester United". TheFA.com. 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2008-01-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Scott the Red (2007-09-22). "The Best Natural Defender In England". The Republik of Mancunia. Retrieved 2008-01-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ We've Got Wesley Brown, m-u-f-c.com
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