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Nico Yennaris

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Nico Yennaris
Personal information
Full name Nicholas Harry Yennaris[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-24) 24 May 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Leytonstone, England
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, full back
Team information
Current team
 Brentford
Number 8
Youth career
2001–2011 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 Arsenal 1 (0)
2012 → Notts County (loan) 2 (0)
2013–2014 → Bournemouth (loan) 0 (0)
2014– Brentford 42 (3)
2015 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 14 (1)
International career
2009 England U17 2 (0)
2010 England U18 1 (0)
2010–2012 England U19 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:37, 14 August 2016 (UTC)

Nicholas Harry "Nico" Yennaris (born 24 May 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for Brentford as a defensive midfielder. He began his career in the academy at Premier League side Arsenal and has been described as a "rugged, all action defensive player, with a positive, winning mentality".[2] He won 10 caps for England between U17 and U19 level.

Club career

Arsenal

Early career

Yennaris was born in Leytonstone, London. His father's family is of Cypriot origin and his mother's is of Chinese origin.[3] He joined the Arsenal Academy in May 2001 at age seven and progressed through the ranks.[4] He began his career as a striker and was moved back into a central midfield position,[5] before being moved to full back.[6] Injuries in 2008 halted his progress and the club were planning to release him just weeks before he signed two-year scholarship deal in 2009.[2] Yennaris won his first silverware with the club when he captained the U18 side to the 2009–10 Premier Academy League title.[7] Yennaris signed his first professional contract in July 2010,[8] but missed much of the 2010–11 season with a long-standing ankle problem.[2]

Professional debut

Yennaris received his first call up to the senior squad for a League Cup third round tie versus Shrewsbury Town on 29 September 2011 and was an unused substitute during the 3–1 win.[9] His first team debut came on 25 October 2011 in the following round versus Bolton Wanderers, playing the full 90 minutes of the 2–1 win.[9] After signing a new contract,[10] Yennaris made his first FA Cup appearance on 9 January 2012, coming on as a 33rd-minute substitute for the injured Francis Coquelin at right back, as Arsenal beat Leeds United 1–0 in the third round.[11] He made his Premier League league debut two weeks later, coming off the bench to replace Johan Djourou at half time of a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United.[11] Yennaris made three first team appearances during the 2011–12 season.[11]

After signing a contract extension in the summer of 2012,[12] Yennaris made his only appearance of the 2012–13 season in a 6–1 League Cup third round win over Coventry City,[13] playing the full 90 minutes and assisting Theo Walcott for Arsenal's fourth goal.[14] He received his only call up to the first team of the 2013–14 season for a 2–0 League Cup fourth round defeat to Chelsea on 29 October 2013.[15] In the final year of his contract,[16] Yennaris departed Arsenal on 27 January 2014,[4] having made only four senior appearances for the club.[17]

Notts County (loan)

On 23 March 2012, Yennaris joined League One side Notts County on an emergency loan for the remainder of the 2011–12 season. He made his debut with a start in a 0–0 draw with Scunthorpe United the following day.[18] He made just one further appearance and returned to Arsenal early through injury.[11]

Bournemouth (loan)

Yennaris joined Championship club Bournemouth on 28 November 2013, on loan until 2 January 2014.[19] He was an unused substitute on three occasions and failed to make an appearance for the club.[17]

Brentford

Injury struggles (2014–2015)

On 27 January 2014, Yennaris joined League One side Brentford for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[4] He made his debut in a 1–1 draw at Shrewsbury Town on 1 February,[20] but was replaced by Adam Forshaw after suffering a dead leg on 50 minutes.[21] After returning to fitness,[22] he made sporadic appearances through to the end of a successful season for the Bees,[20] securing automatic promotion to the Championship after a 1–0 victory over Preston North End on 18 April.[23] Though he made only eight appearances during the second half of the 2013–14 season,[20] Yennaris received a League One runners-up medal after the final game of the season against Stevenage.[24]

Yennaris made his first appearance of the 2014–15 season in a League Cup first round match versus Dagenham & Redbridge on 12 August 2014, lasting just 20 minutes before suffering a back injury.[25] After recovering and then suffering a thigh injury in September,[26][27] Yennaris had to wait until 3 January 2015 to make his second appearance of the season, which came in a 2–0 FA Cup third round defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, replacing Alan Judge after 88 minutes.[28] A suspension incurred by Jake Bidwell in mid-February looked to have secured an opening for Yennaris at left back, but he managed just one appearance in a 3–0 defeat to Charlton Athletic, before being dropped in favour of left midfielder Stuart Dallas.[29] He spent the remainder of the campaign away on loan and finished the 2014–15 season with just three appearances.[28]

Move into midfield (2015–)

Yennaris made his first appearance of the 2015–16 season in the League Cup first round versus Oxford United on 11 August 2015,[30] starting in central midfield, but was forced off with a dead leg after 53 minutes of the 4–0 defeat.[31] After returning to fitness, injury to regular right back Maxime Colin saw interim manager Lee Carsley bring Yennaris back to the team in early October and he held onto his place through to late-December, when Colin returned from injury.[32][33] A shortage of midfielders and injury to Maxime Colin saw Yennaris regain his place in the team in mid-February 2016,[33] with new head coach Dean Smith utilising him as a defensive midfielder and describing Yennaris as "a revelation" in the position.[34] He signed a new three-year contract on 16 February and after over two years at the club without scoring a goal,[35] Yennaris scored in wins over Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers in early April.[33] He finished the season with 33 appearances.[33]

Despite some injury troubles during 2016–17 pre-season,[36] Yennaris was fit enough for a place on the bench versus Huddersfield Town on the opening day and after coming on for Josh McEachran in the second half, he scored his third Brentford goal on 77 minutes, which proved to be a consolation in a 2–1 defeat.[37]

Wycombe Wanderers (loan)

On 27 February, Yennaris and Brentford teammate Sam Saunders joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on a one-month loan,[38] which was later extended until the end of the 2014–15 season.[39][40] He showed his versatility, playing in central midfield,[41] right back and centre back for the team.[42][43] He scored the first senior goal of his career in Wycombe's 3–2 final-day win over Northampton Town,[28] which confirmed a fourth-place finish and qualification for the end-of-season playoffs.[44] Yennaris' season ended in heartbreak after a shootout defeat to Southend United in the playoff final.[45] He returned to Brentford after the match, having made 17 appearances and scored one goal for the Chairboys.[17]

International career

Yennaris represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level.[46] He made two appearances in the U17s' successful 2009 Nordic Tournament campaign.[46] His solitary U18 cap came with a starting appearance in a 3–0 friendly win over Poland on 16 November 2010, playing alongside Arsenal teammate Chuks Aneke.[46] Yennaris played in six friendlies for the U19s in late 2011 and early 2012, which were scheduled after the team received a bye to the elite round of the 2012 European U19 Championship qualifying. The friendly matches included three appearances at the 2011 Limoges Tournament,[47] which England won.[48] Yennaris is also eligible to represent China and Cyprus at international level.[3]

Personal life

Yennaris is a lifelong Arsenal supporter and was a mascot for a match at Highbury versus Coventry City on 16 September 2000.[49][50]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 August 2016.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2011–12[11] Premier League 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
2012–13[13] 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2013–14[20] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
Notts County (loan) 2011–12[11] League One 2 0 — — — 2 0
Bournemouth (loan) 2012–13[13] Championship 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Brentford 2013–14[20] League One 8 0 — — — 8 0
2014–15[28] Championship 1 0 1 0 1 0 — 3 0
2015–16[33] 31 2 1 0 1 0 — 33 2
2016–17[51] 2 1 0 0 1 0 — 3 1
Total 42 3 2 0 3 0 — 47 3
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2014–15[28] League Two 14 1 — — 3[a] 0 17 1
Career total 53 4 3 0 5 0 3 0 64 4
  1. ^ Appearances in Football League play-offs

Honours

Club

Arsenal

Brentford

National

England U19

England U17

  • Nordic Tournament: 2009[46]

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Barry Hugman's Footballers - Nico Yennaris". Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Nico Yennaris battles back from the brink to be the next off the Arsenal production line | Jamie Sanderson | Independent Editor's choice Blogs". Blogs.independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Young Guns: Nico Yennaris | News Archive | News". Arsenal.com. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "Brentford Sign Arsenal'S Nico Yennaris". Brentfordfc.co.uk. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  5. ^ "This website is currently unavailable". Cyprusfooty.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  6. ^ "News | League 1 | League 1 news | Arsenal's Nico Yennaris moves to Brentford". The Football League. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Arsenal Youth 5 : Nottingham Forest Youth 3". Arsenal.com. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Yennaris signs contract extension with Club | News Archive | News". Arsenal.com. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Nicholas Yennaris Player Profile - ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Nico Yennaris pens Arsenal contract extension". Espn Fc. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Nicholas Yennaris | Football Stats | Arsenal | Season 2011/2012". Soccer Base. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Yennaris signs new contract extension | News Archive | News". Arsenal.com. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Nicholas Yennaris – Football Stats – Brentford – Season 2012/2013 – Soccer Base". Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  14. ^ "BBC Sport – Arsenal 6–1 Coventry". BBC Sport.
  15. ^ "Nicholas Yennaris Player Profile - ESPN FC". www.espnfc.com. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Why Nico Yennaris should be the long term replacement of Bacary Sagna". Sportskeeda. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "Nicholas Yennaris | Football Stats | Arsenal | Age 20". Soccer Base. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  18. ^ "BBC Sport – Scunthorpe 0–0 Notts County". BBC Sport.
  19. ^ "BBC Sport – Nico Yennaris: AFC Bournemouth sign Arsenal defender". Bbc.co.uk. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Nicholas Yennaris – Football Stats – Brentford – Season 2013/2014 – Soccer Base".
  21. ^ "Bees to assess Yennaris". Sporting Life. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  22. ^ Matt Lewis. "Brentford boss explains defensive changes". getwestlondon.
  23. ^ "BBC Sport – Brentford 1–0 Preston North End". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ Official Brentford Pictures. "Brentford FC – 03 May 2014 – Stevenage – Home – officialbfcpics.co.uk".
  25. ^ Chris Wickham. "Brentford Manager Mark Warburton reacts to 6–6 draw with Dagenham and Redbridge in Capital One Cup".
  26. ^ Jacob Murtagh. "Brentford defender struggling for Middlesbrough trip". getwestlondon.
  27. ^ "Brentford FC on Twitter". Twitter.
  28. ^ a b c d e "Nico Yennaris - Football Stats - Brentford - Season 2014/2015 - Soccer Base". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Nicholas Yennaris". espnfc.com. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  30. ^ FC, Brentford. "Matchday Centre: Oxford United". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  31. ^ Moore, Tom. "Brentford to find out extent of Andreas Bjelland's injury". Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  32. ^ "Maxime Colin speaks after returning from injury lay-off". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  33. ^ a b c d e "Nico Yennaris | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2015/2016 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  34. ^ Moore, Tom (6 May 2016). "Dean Smith offers outline of Brentford's summer transfer plans". getwestlondon. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  35. ^ Wickham, Chris. "Former Arsenal youngster Nico Yennaris signs contract extension at Griffin Park until summer 2019". www.brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  36. ^ Moore, Tom (26 July 2016). "Brentford boss Dean Smith gives injury update after Peterborough friendly". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  37. ^ "Huddersfield Town 2-1 Brentford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  38. ^ Matt Lewis (27 February 2015). "Wycombe Wanderers tie up loan deals for Brentford pair". getwestlondon. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  39. ^ Chris Wickham. "Brentford pair Sam Saunders and Nico Yennaris extend Wycombe Wanderers loan until the end of the season". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  40. ^ Chris Wickham. "Brentford pair Sam Saunders and Nico Yennaris extend Wycombe Wanderers loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  41. ^ "BBC Sport - Wycombe Wanderers 2-2 Stevenage". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  42. ^ a b Chris Wickham. "Brentford defender Nico Yennaris named in Football League Team of the Week appearing on loan for Wycombe Wanderers". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  43. ^ Greg Styles. "Late winner dents Blues' promotion hopes". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  44. ^ Statto Organisation Ltd. "Wycombe Wanderers Table on Saturday 2nd May 2015 - Statto.com". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  45. ^ "Southend United 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers (7-6 pens)". BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  46. ^ a b c d "Nicholas Yennaris profile". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  47. ^ a b "England Matches - Under-19's 2010-20". englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  48. ^ a b Neil Jones (12 October 2011). "Liverpool FC trio enjoy England U19s Limoges tournament success". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  49. ^ "Nico Yennaris... from mascot to player | Latest News | Junior Gunners". Arsenal.com. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  50. ^ "Nico Yennaris: Former Arsenal mascot in line to make debut for Gunners | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  51. ^ "Nico Yennaris | Football Stats | Brentford | Season 2016/2017 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  52. ^ "Football Club History Database - Brentford". fchd.info. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
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