.jpg) Lescott playing forWest Bromwich Albion in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joleon Patrick Lescott[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-08-16)16 August 1982 (age 43)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Centre-back[3] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2006 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 212 | (13) |
| 2006–2009 | Everton | 113 | (14) |
| 2009–2014 | Manchester City | 107 | (7) |
| 2014–2015 | West Bromwich Albion | 36 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | Aston Villa | 30 | (1) |
| 2016 | AEK Athens | 4 | (0) |
| 2017 | Sunderland | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 504 | (36) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000 | England U17 | 1 | (0) |
| 2001 | England U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2002 | England U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | England U21 | 2 | (0) |
| 2007 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| 2007–2013 | England | 26 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Joleon Patrick Lescott (born 16 August 1982) is an English former professionalfootballer, coach and sports pundit. He works as an interim coach with theEngland senior team and plays in the Baller League for Deportrio.
As a player he was acentre-back and was a graduate of theWolverhampton Wanderers youth academy. He made his first-team debut with Wolves in 2000 and he was named the supporters' Young Player of the Year two years running. He was a regular player as the club won promotion to thePremier League in 2003, but missed the following relegation season through injury. He was named in theChampionship team of the year for the2005–06 season, and subsequently moved to Premier League clubEverton for a total of £5 million in August 2006. He was voted Player's Player of the Season by his teammates in the following two seasons. Lescott moved toManchester City in August 2009 for a reported £22 million and spent five seasons at the club, winning two league titles, anFA Cup and aLeague Cup. After his release in 2014, he joinedWest Bromwich Albion on a free transfer andAston Villa a year later.
Internationally, Lescott representedEngland at various youth levels before making his senior debut in 2007 againstEstonia in theUEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers. He represented the country atUEFA Euro 2012, scoring England's first goal of the tournament in their opening match, a 1–1 draw againstFrance.
Lescott was born inBirmingham, West Midlands[3] and grew up in theQuinton area of the city, where he attended theFour Dwellings High School.[4] When he was five years old, Lescott was struck by a car outside his primary school, suffering severe head injuries leaving scarring on his forehead and hairline.[5]
His first-team debut forWolverhampton Wanderers came as a 17-year-old in the2000–01 season againstSheffield Wednesday atMolineux on 13 August 2000.[6] At the end of his first season, Lescott was named the Supporters' Young Player of the Year by the Wolves fans; an award he also won in the subsequent2001–02 season.[7]
Lescott started to become a regular fixture in the Wolves team.[citation needed] During the2002–03 season he missed only one league match and played in each of the club'sFA Cup fixtures.[citation needed] He was a member of the team that beatSheffield United 3–0 at theMillennium Stadium in the2003 First Division play-off final to win promotion to thePremier League for the2003–04 season.[8]
Despite Wolves gaining promotion, Lescott was unable to participate in the 2003–04 season due to knee surgery, preventing him from competing in the Premier League.[9] Wolves were subsequently relegated and, upon completing his rehabilitation, Lescott returned to compete in the Championship.[citation needed]
In October 2005, Lescott agreed a two-and-a-half-year extension to his contract at Wolves.[citation needed] At the conclusion of the2005–06 season, he was named in theChampionshipPFA Team of the Year.[10]
Lescott was sold toEverton at the start of the2006–07 season for an immediate payment of £2 million, followed by a further £2 million paid in instalments and a final £1 million contingent on appearances.[11] The transfer was slightly delayed as Everton asked for extra medical checks to be taken on Lescott's knee following the reconstruction of the joint earlier in his career.[citation needed] Lescott made his Everton debut in August 2006 during a victory overWatford and his first start of the season away toTottenham Hotspur, afterAlan Stubbs injured his groin in the previous match againstBlackburn Rovers.[12] The match was Everton's first victory atWhite Hart Lane in two decades, and Lescott was named man of the match.[citation needed] Lescott started again in the next match, the 204thMerseyside derby, a 3–0 victory for Everton.[citation needed] Lescott's first Everton goal came in a 1–1 draw againstAston Villa atVilla Park on 2 April 2007.[citation needed] Lescott was voted the Players' Player of the Season for 2006–07 by his teammates.[13] He also finished second behindMikel Arteta in the Fans' Player of the Season.[citation needed]
The start of the2007–08 season saw Lescott score three goals in the first eight matches of the season.[citation needed] He did not quite manage to continue scoring at that rate, but he ended the campaign with 10 goals in all competitions and the highest shot-to-goal ratio in the Premier League: 42.1%.[14]
At the end of season awards, Lescott was voted Everton's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season.[13] Prior to the final home match of the season against Newcastle, on 11 May 2008, Lescott was also awarded the Player of the Year award by the Everton Disabled Supporters Association. The EDSA labelled Lescott"Mr Consistency" for his performances over the 2007–08 season. He is also only the second Everton player to have ever been awarded the honour twice.[15]
The start of the 2007–08 season saw Lescott move to the left-back position afterJoseph Yobo andPhil Jagielka's successful partnership at the centre of Everton's defence provided managerDavid Moyes with a selection dilemma.[citation needed] On 7 December 2008, Lescott played superbly against Aston Villa scoring two goals, even though Everton lost 3–2.[16]
On 25 January 2009, Lescott scored Everton's only goal – a close-range header – in the FA Cup fourth round meeting withLiverpool.[citation needed] The match ended as a 1–1 draw,[17] but Everton went through by scoring the replay's only goal in extra-time on 4 February.[citation needed] Lescott played for Everton in the2009 FA Cup Final atWembley Stadium on 30 May, resulting in a 2–1 defeat toChelsea.[18]
Following the end of the 2008–09 season,Manchester City attempted to sign Lescott, but Everton publicly rejected two offers.[19] On 11 August 2009, Lescott submitted a formal written transfer request, which was immediately rejected by Everton.[20] Manager David Moyes refused a request from Lescott to be taken out of the squad for the first home match of the season, a 6–1 defeat to Arsenal.[citation needed] Lescott received a mixed reaction from Evertonians when the teams were announced on the PA system.[21]
The ongoing saga finally came to an end when Lescott moved to Manchester City for a fee speculated to be £22 million[22][23] with Lescott signing a five-year contract with the club on 25 August 2009.[24] Lescott made his debut for City on 27 August in a 2–0 League Cup away victory overCrystal Palace[25] and scored his first City goal in a 2–2 draw withFulham on 25 October 2009.[26] Lescott's first season and a half proved to be a frustrating time for the defender with him struggling to find the form he had shown at Everton, along with picking up a number of injuries, which included re-injuring his knee after hyper-extending it in a 3–3 away draw withBolton Wanderers.[citation needed]Roberto Mancini replacedMark Hughes as manager in December 2009 and preferred Lescott after his return from injury toKolo Touré to partner the fast improvingVincent Kompany for a few months which in this time, including an impressive 4–2 win over Chelsea atStamford Bridge in March 2010.[citation needed] With Lescott finally showing good form he would once again find himself frustrated after picking up another niggling injury, which would see him struggle to get back into the team in his preferred central defensive role for the foreseeable future.[citation needed]
On 28 December 2010, Lescott scored a header, City's first of the season, in the 4–0 victory over Aston Villa at theCity of Manchester Stadium, but during the January 2011 transfer window, with Lescott making few first-team appearances during the first half of the2010–11 season, there was speculation that he would be moving back to Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, Roberto Mancini however continually insisted that Lescott was a part of his plans.[citation needed] In February 2011, Kolo Touré was suspended for failing adrug test, this would represent a huge opportunity for Lescott who was reinstalled as the partner of Kompany in central defence.[citation needed] Lescott went from strength to strength as the two formed a formidable defensive partnership.[citation needed] On 17 April 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes againstManchester United in the 1–0 FA Cup semi-final victory at Wembley Stadium as City reached their first major-final since1981.[citation needed] On 25 April, eight days after that win over their rivals, Lescott partnered Kompany again in an important match against Blackburn Rovers atEwood Park and completing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 win, also making his 30th appearance of the season for City in the process.[27][28] Lescott was part of the Manchester City team that won the FA Cup, beatingStoke City 1–0 inthe final at Wembley Stadium and ending a 35-year wait for a major trophy in the process.[29] He would also score two more headers in the final two matches of the season, in a 3–0 win against Stoke City three days later and also against Bolton Wanderers in a 2–0 win, as City ended the season in third position and qualified for theUEFA Champions League for the first time.[citation needed]
On 7 August 2011, in the2011 FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, Lescott scored in a 3–2 loss against Manchester United.[30] This would prove to be City's last defeat on English soil until a 2–1 defeat by Chelsea on 12 December.[citation needed] During this time, Lescott firmly established himself as a vital part of the team in defence as City recorded 5–1 and 6–1 away victories over Tottenham and Manchester United respectively, in which Lescott started both and assisted a goal in the victory over United.[citation needed] Lescott scored an own goal in a 1–1 draw with Liverpool atAnfield in November but continued to show strong form throughout the season.[citation needed] Lescott also made his Champions League debut againstNapoli, though City failed to progress past the group stages.[citation needed] On 22 January 2012, Lescott scored a goal in a 3–2 win against Tottenham, giving City a 2–0 lead at the time.[31] He was an unused substitute as City were beaten 1–0 byWigan Athletic in the2013 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 11 May.[32]
In 2014, Lescott was reportedly offered the chance to leave Manchester City with clubs such asWest Ham being linked as prospective destinations, and a deal being agreed at one point.[33] However, Lescott turned down a move to "win trophies" before seeing what happened at the end of the season.[34] Lescott fulfilled his wishes, winning theLeague Cup[35] and the2013–14 Premier League.[2]
On 24 May 2014, Lescott was released by City.[36]
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Lescott signed forWest Bromwich Albion on 20 June 2014 on afree transfer, signing a two-year contract with the option of a further year.[37] He was the first signing for the club byAlan Irvine, with whom he had previously worked at Everton, and he also knew his assistantRob Kelly from Wolves.[37] He scored his first goal in a 3–2 defeat againstQueens Park Rangers.[38] Following sixclean sheets in only ten matches under newmanagerTony Pulis, Lescott was praised by the fans with some calling for a call-up back into theEngland squad.[39]
On 1 September 2015, Lescott signed for fellow Premier League club Aston Villa.[40]In December 2008, Lescott had been revealed as a Villa fan when he put two past Villa for Everton and still lost the match.[41] When signing for Villa, Lescott confirmed to theBirmingham Mail he has been an Aston Villa fan from a young age.[42]
Lescott made his debut twelve days later, playing the entirety of a 3–2 loss away toLeicester City.[citation needed] On 5 December, he scored his first goal for Villa, finishingJordan Veretout's corner kick to open a 1–1 draw atSouthampton.[43] Lescott scored again forThe Villans when another of his headers was fumbled byWayne Hennessey in what proved to be the only goal in a 1–0 win over Crystal Palace on 12 January 2016, just the team's second win of the 2015–16 season and first of 20 matches, and their first clean sheet since 8 November.[44][45] On 6 February 2016, Lescott was on the score sheet again in a 2–0 victory overNorwich City, his header finding its way pastDeclan Rudd fromCarles Gil's corner.[46]
Eight days later, after last-placed Villa lost 0–6 at home to Liverpool, Lescott drew the ire of fans when hetweeted a picture of a luxury car. He later claimed that this was an accident when his mobile was in his pocket, and apologised for the performance.[47] In a season that ended with relegation, Lescott's performances, efforts and attitude were criticised by the fans and press.[48][49][50]
In April 2016, Lescott again angered fans with controversial comments following the club's confirmed relegation to the Championship after losing to Manchester United.[51] He described the relegation as "a weight off the shoulders" and that they "can give these fans what they deserve – some performances".[51]
On 29 August 2016, Lescott joinedSuper League Greece clubAEK Athens on a two-year contract.[52] The 34-year-old defender suffered a detached cartilage in his knee while cycling in his apartment. The injury ruled Lescott out for the remainder of the season. The player refused to get help from the team's doctors and insisted on completing his rehabilitation in the UK. AEK Athens did not agree to the player's wishes and additional demands, which resulted in his contract being terminated on 14 November 2016 by mutual consent.[53]
On 24 January 2017,Sunderland signed Lescott on a short-term contract until the end of the season.[54] His departure was confirmed on 9 June 2017.[55]
On 27 November 2020, three years after Lescott's retirement, SpanishTercera División sideRacing Murcia announced they had signed Lescott to play in theirCopa del Rey match againstLevante.[56] Lescott later announced that he had not agreed to officially sign when the club announced the signing and was still only in preliminary discussions.[57]
Lescott has represented England at under-18, under-20,under-21 andB levels.[citation needed] After his first season for Everton, Lescott made his England B debut againstAlbania atBurnley'sTurf Moor on 25 May 2007, he replacedReading'sNicky Shorey in the 74th minute.[58]
On 3 September 2007, Lescott received a call-up to Steve McClaren'sEngland squad for theUEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers withIsrael andRussia.[59] Lescott made his international senior debut againstEstonia on 13 October 2007 – replacing Rio Ferdinand at half-time – with England winning 3–0.[citation needed] His second cap – and first start – was the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, which England lost 2–1.[citation needed]
Lescott made his first England appearance under the management ofFabio Capello on 26 March 2008 in a friendly match againstFrance, coming on as asubstitute at half time for the captainJohn Terry.[citation needed] He made two appearances inqualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but injury prevented him from being part of the squad for the finals.[60] Lescott was a regular member of the England squad during qualification forUEFA Euro 2012 and was named in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the tournament.[61] On 11 June 2012, he scored his first international goal for England with a header against France in England's opening match of UEFA Euro 2012.[62]
On 31 August 2021, Lescott was appointed toLee Carsley's coaching team with the England U21s.[63]
On 23 August 2024, Lescott was named as part of Carsley's interim backroom team with the England senior team followingGareth Southgate's departure the month before.[64]
Born in England, Lescott is of Kittitian descent.[citation needed] In April 2012, Lescott, his brotherAaron Lescott, and now retired defenderJordan Stewart launched a fashion line of high end designer clothes called "The Lescott Stewart Collection."[65]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1999–2000[66] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | ="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01[6] | First Division | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 2 | |||
| 2001–02[67] | First Division | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 46 | 5 | ||
| 2002–03[68] | First Division | 44 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | 52 | 1 | ||
| 2003–04[69] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2004–05[70] | Championship | 41 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 4 | |||
| 2005–06[71] | Championship | 46 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 1 | |||
| Total | 212 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 235 | 13 | ||
| Everton | 2006–07[72] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08[73] | Premier League | 38 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10[d] | 2 | — | 54 | 10 | ||
| 2008–09[74] | Premier League | 36 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 46 | 5 | ||
| 2009–10[75] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 113 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 17 | ||
| Manchester City | 2009–10[75] | Premier League | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| 2010–11[76] | Premier League | 22 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7[e] | 0 | — | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2011–12[77] | Premier League | 31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[f] | 0 | 1[g] | 1 | 42 | 3 | |
| 2012–13[78] | Premier League | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[h] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2013–14[79] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4[h] | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| Total | 107 | 7 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 160 | 9 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2014–15[80] | Premier League | 34 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 1 | ||
| 2015–16[81] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 1 | ||
| Aston Villa | 2015–16[81] | Premier League | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17[82] | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| AEK Athens | 2016–17[83] | Super League Greece | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Sunderland | 2016–17[82] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 504 | 36 | 42 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 614 | 41 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2007 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 June 2012 | Donbas Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine | 17 |  France | 1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2012 | [85] |
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton
Manchester City
Individual
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Lescott has had a shocker ... Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Kieran Richardson and Gabriel Agbonlahor are experienced players who have simply let the club down.
Joleon Lescott, a Villa fan (allegedly), captained our club again at the weekend, a catastrophic signing both on and off the pitch. I'm aware I don't see what goes on at Bodymoor Heath every day (if anything) but you seem more interested in arguing with and insulting the fans than doing your job on the pitch. I wish you were as fast as that car you tweeted out.
Brad Guzan, Joleon Lescott and Leandro Bacuna have been among several members of the squad increasingly targeted by supporters as Villa have slid toward the Championship.
