Theo Walcott
| File:Theowalcott.jpg | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Theodore Walcott | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
| Number | 32 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 62006 | |||
Theodore "Theo" Walcott (born March 16, 1989 in West London[1]) is an English footballer who currently plays for Arsenal, having signed there from Southampton on January 20, 2006. He is a member of the England
squad, despite never having played a first-team game for Arsenal.
Walcott is of Barbadian descent via his paternal grandparents.
Early career
Walcott grew up in Newbury, Berkshire and played for local side A.F.C. Newbury in his youth. His most memorable game there was in 2000, when Newbury's Under-11 side beat Down Grange Albion 4-2 in the Peter Houseman League Cup Final. Walcott also scored over 100 goals in his one and only season for AFC Newbury, before leaving for Southampton.
Southampton
In the 2004-05 season, he starred in the Southampton youth side that reached the FA Youth Cup final against Ipswich Town. In addition, he became the youngest ever person to play in the Southampton reserve team, aged just 15 years and 175 days, when he came off the bench against Watford in September 2004. However, he did not play in the Premier League, as Southampton were relegated at the end of the 2004-05 season to the Championship. Despite having not yet played in the first team, in the summer of 2005, Nike agreed a sponsorship deal with Walcott.[2]
Before the start of the 2005-06 season, Walcott linked up with the first team's tour of Scotland, just two weeks after signing a full-time contract with Southampton. The striker then went on to become the youngest-ever player to play for the Southampton first team when he made his first team debut aged just 16 years and 143 days, after coming on as a substitute in Southampton's 0-0 draw at home to Wolves in the Football League Championship.
Walcott made his full first team debut away to Leeds United on 18 October 2005, scoring his first senior goal in the same game. He continued his scoring spree four days later away at Millwall before scoring again on his full home debut against Stoke City the following Saturday. His rapid rise to fame also led him to be named amongst the top three finalists for the prestigious BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award on 11 December 2005.
Arsenal
His performances soon attracted attention from the British media, who saw him as one of the most promising young English footballers of his time. There was speculation that Walcott would move to the Premiership and media reports linked him with some of the league's top clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United , as well as rumours circulating in Europe about interest from Real Madrid, A.C. Milan and Juventus. After much tabloid speculation, Walcott signed for Arsenal on January 20, 2006 for an initial fee of £5m, rising to a possible £12m[3] based on appearances for club and country, making him the most expensive 16-year-old in the history of British football.[4]
Walcott has yet to make his first team debut for Arsenal, though he was an unused substitute on February 4, 2006 against Birmingham City. Two days later, Walcott was named in the England Under-19 squad for the very first time, for a match against Slovakia. On February 7, 2006 Walcott made his debut for Arsenal reserves in a game against Portsmouth reserves at Havant; he scored, but Arsenal lost 3-2. Walcott was then named in an 18-man squad to face Real Madrid in a Champions League second round first-leg tie at the Bernabéu on 21 February 2006.
On 28 February 2006 Walcott was included in the England Under-19 squad alongside Arsenal team mate Kerrea Gilbert to face Slovakia in a friendly at Sixfields Stadium. England won 3-0 on the night with Walcott scoring on his U19 international debut, with an 80th minute penalty kick. His original kick was saved, but the referee ordered the penalty to be retaken and Walcott scored on his second attempt.
On March 16 2006, Walcott's 17th birthday, he finally signed a professional contract worth a reported £1 million a year, which lasts until summer 2008 and includes provisions to extend it.[5]
World Cup 2006
Walcott was a shock inclusion in Sven-Göran Eriksson's preliminary England squad for the 2006 World Cup when it was announced on May 8, 2006. With first-choice strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen both recovering from injury, Walcott was selected over established Premiership strikers such as Darren Bent (the top English goalscorer in the Premiership in the 2005-06 season) and England squad regular Jermain Defoe.[6]
Should Walcott make his international debut before 5 July 2006, he would become England's youngest-ever player (Rooney currently holds the record of 17 years and 111 days old, against Australia in February 2003). This is all despite the fact that Walcott has not played a single Premiership game or represented England above Under-19 level. He is also the youngest player to be selected for the 2006 World Cup by any country.
Eriksson's decision to include Walcott in the preliminary squad was made despite never having seen him play a professional match. The decision is generally regarded as the most surprising in what was seen as a surprisingly uncharacteristic set of selections, and has received mix reactions, some regarding it as a unnecessary risk when England have more established strikers such as Defoe and Bent, while others praise Eriksson for his willingness to "try something new".
Quotations
"Theo's pace is extraordinary. I'd be surprised if he'd make a splash running on water. Tremendous prospect." Harry Redknapp
"He's better than me at that age." Wayne Rooney
"I don't think the whole World Cup can rely on Theo Walcott but he can certainly come on and make a difference - and why not start him in a game or two? He is an interesting weapon because he can play wide and centrally. Then, once he is in front of the defender, nobody can catch him. He is a fantastic prospect." Arsene Wenger
References
- ^ Whizzkid Walcott shoots for World Cup glory, Telegraph.co.uk, May 9, 2006
- ^ Jeremy Wilson, Walcott spoilt for choice as Saints do their sums, Guardian.co.uk, January 10, 2006
- ^ Walcott Goes, SaintsFC.co.uk, January 20, 2006
- ^ Arsenal complete Walcott transfer, BBC.co.uk, January 20, 2006
- ^ Henry has nose for a good deal at Arsenal, Timesonline.co.uk, March 17, 2006
- ^ Theo Walcott makes England World Cup 2006 Squad, Theo-Walcott.org.uk, May 8, 2006
External links
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