 Davies training withBolton Wanderers in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Cyril Davies[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1977-03-26)26 March 1977 (age 47)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sheffield United | |||
| –1993 | Chesterfield | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1997 | Chesterfield | 129 | (22) |
| 1997–1998 | Southampton | 25 | (9) |
| 1998–1999 | Blackburn Rovers | 23 | (1) |
| 1999–2003 | Southampton | 82 | (10) |
| 2002 | →Millwall (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| 2003–2013 | Bolton Wanderers | 351 | (74) |
| 2013–2015 | Preston North End | 70 | (4) |
| Total | 689 | (123) | |
| International career | |||
| 1994–1995 | England U18 | 8 | (0) |
| 1997–2000 | England U21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2010 | England | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2017–2018 | Southport | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Kevin Cyril Davies (born 26 March 1977) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as astriker forChesterfield,Southampton,Blackburn Rovers,Millwall,Bolton Wanderers andPreston North End. He managedSouthport in the 2017–18 season, before his contract was terminated on 30 April 2018.
Davies originally made his name as a vital part of the Chesterfield team which reached the semi-finals of theFA Cup in 1997. He left Chesterfield at the end of that season, having made 148 appearances for the club and joinedPremier League club Southampton in May 1997. He only spent one season at Southampton, making 30 appearances, before he joined Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in a club-record £7.5 million deal. Once again, he spent a single season at the club, making 29 appearances, before rejoining Southampton in 1999. In his second spell at the club, he made 95 appearances, also spending part of 2002 onloan toFirst Division club Millwall, where he made nine appearances. Released by Southampton at the end of the2002–03 season, he joined Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. He was made Boltonteam captain in January 2009, but began to fall out of favour at Bolton towards the end of the2012–13 season, and the club decided against renewing his contract. Davies made 407 appearances for Bolton, scoring 85 goals, then played two seasons at Preston North End before retiring.
He made three appearances for theEngland under-21 team between 1997 and 2000. At the age of 33, Davies made his international debut, and only appearance, forEngland againstMontenegro in a 0–0 draw on 12 October 2010, coming on as a second-halfsubstitute.
Born inSheffield, South Yorkshire,[1] Davies played as a schoolboy with his boyhood clubSheffield United, but was released at the age of 15.[2] He was taken on trial atChesterfield[3] and served his traineeship with the club.[1] Davies broke into the club's first team after several months.[3] He became Chesterfield's second youngest ever first-team player when he appeared againstWest Ham United in aLeague Cup tie, aged only 16, on 22 September 1993.[4][5] He signed his first professional contract with the club in April 1994.[1]
Generally, Davies' goalscoring form at Chesterfield was unspectacular, playing mostly wide in midfield and scoring his best total of 11 goals in the1994–95 promotion season from theThird Division via the play-offs.[6] In his final season atSaltergate he managed a mere three goals from 34Second Division matches but made a major contribution to the Spireites' best-everFA Cup run, including ahat-trick atBurnden Park in a fourth round tie againstBolton Wanderers and an earlier strike againstScarborough in the 2nd round.[7] Despite his relative lack of goals, his skilful play was still attracting attention fromPremier League andFirst Division clubs during his contribution to Chesterfield's FA Cup exploits, which culminated in a semi-final replay defeat againstMiddlesbrough.[8]
At Chesterfield, although very well-built and strong for a teenager, he was known for his skill and intelligence, and it was these qualities that attracted the attention of Southampton managerGraeme Souness.[9]
Davies moved toSouthampton in May 1997 and, in his first spell with them, scored nine league goals, one of which was a notable solo goal in a 2–0 win againstEverton atGoodison Park.[10] He also scored the lone goals in historic 1–0 wins againstManchester United[11] andChelsea,[12] and the equaliser in a 1–1 draw withLiverpool.[13]
Blackburn Rovers signed him for £7.5 million in July 1998, ten times what Southampton had paid for him a year earlier and also a club record.[14] Chesterfield received no more money from the switch, having failed to negotiate a sell-on clause.[citation needed] As part of the deal,James Beattie went the other way.[15] However, Davies scored just one league goal, the winner in a victory overCharlton Athletic, in 21 appearances for the club.[16] He scored a further goal in the FA Cup, also against Charlton Athletic, and played aUEFA Cup match that season.[17] At the end of the campaign, Blackburn were relegated a year after finishing sixth in the league and a mere four years afterwinning the league.[18]
Southampton re-signed their former striker in exchange forEgil Østenstad in August 1999.[19] Davies’s form wasn't as impressive as his previous spell, and he managed only 10 league goals in 82 appearances.[6] For the2002–03 season Davies went onloan toMillwall in the First Division, where he played nine times, scoring three goals.[20][21]
In summer 2003, he joined Bolton having been released by Southampton.[22] In a season where he rediscovered his best form, he scored ten times and started every league match.[23] He ended the season by winning the club's Player of the Year award and scored a consolation goal for his team in the2004 League Cup Final against Middlesbrough at theMillennium Stadium.[24]
Davies is frequently cited as being the player in the Premier League that commits the most fouls, committing more offences than any other Premier League player in for three consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2007.[citation needed] In the 2003–04 and 2007–08 seasons, Davies was slightly better behaved, committing the second highest number of fouls per season.[citation needed] In his Bolton career Davies has committed over 1,000 fouls, more than any other Premier League player in the competition's history.[25][26] At the same time Davies has also featured near the top of the list of most fouled players.[27]
During a post-match interview with the BBC after a match againstArsenal in January 2009, during which he had been accused of deliberately trying to injureGaël Clichy in a challenge, he replied that some Arsenal players tried to "con the referee". He added"A few of them let out a big scream, which is a bit embarrassing because it is a man's game ... in my eyes that is cheating the referee ... you just have to get on with the game."[28] On 10 September 2011, he received his 100th yellow card in the Premier League for a foul on Manchester United'sPatrice Evra and when he received another booking againstWigan Athletic on 11 February 2012, he became the joint holder of the record for most yellow cards in Premier League history, alongsideLee Bowyer.[citation needed]Paul Scholes has equaled his Premier League yellow card record andGareth Barry has surpassed this record.[citation needed]
On 8 November 2007, Davies scored a goal away toBayern Munich at theAllianz Arena. Davies's late effort earned Bolton a crucial away point from the 2–2 draw in the UEFA Cup group stage.[29]
On 12 April 2008, Davies scored his 100th career goal in a 1–0 win over West Ham at theReebok Stadium, despite dislocating a finger during the match and having it placed back into its socket allowing him to play on.[30]
On Saturday 3 May 2008, he made his return from a broken hand to help Bolton retain their Premier League status.[31]
Over the summer of 2008,Hull City tried to sign Kevin Davies from Bolton, but the club turned down their offer.[32] Davies then signed a new contract with Bolton would keep him at the club until 2011.[33]
On 31 January 2009, Davies became captain of Bolton following the sale ofKevin Nolan toNewcastle United.[3] The same day, Davies' first match as captain saw him score two goals in Bolton's 3–2 victory overTottenham Hotspur as well as equalling his record for goals in a Premier League season.[34] In the following match, at home against West Ham, he scored his 50th goal for Bolton, and his 10th of the season.[35]
In August 2009, Davies stated that he would like to stay at Bolton for the rest of his career.[36] On 13 March 2010, Davies scored the first penalty of his career, netting the second from the spot in a 4–0 home win over Wigan.[37]
Davies set a Premier League records for the most fouls in a season in 2009–10, committing 120 such offences.[38] In the 2010–11 season he went on to break his own record with 121 fouls.[39]
Davies was relegated with Bolton at the end of the 2011–12 season, but shortly after, he signed a new one-year deal with the club and assured the fans he would stay to get Bolton back to the Premier League.[40] He made his 400th appearance for the club atWatford on 2 February 2013.[41]
On 26 March 2013, Bolton announced that they would not be offering Davies a new contract, which would make that season his final for the club.[42] Following this announcement, Davies played no further matches that season, being initially dropped to the bench before eventually being left out of match day squads completely, with reserve-team strikers being preferred instead.[43]
On 10 July 2013, Davies signed a two-year contract withLeague One clubPreston North End.[44][45] He made his league debut for Preston on 3 August in a 0–0 draw againstWolverhampton Wanderers, and drew praise from his manager for his performance.[46] His first goal for Preston was a penalty in a 2–1 win overOldham Athletic on 9 September 2013.[47] He went on to score the only goal in a 1–0 win overWycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup on 9 December 2013.[48]
On 7 February 2015, he scored his 150th career goal and his first of the season, heading inPaul Gallagher's cross to win a home match againstCoventry City.[49] He played 22 minutes as a substitute for hat-trick scorerJermaine Beckford on 24 May as Preston won 4–0 in theplay-off final againstSwindon Town atWembley Stadium.[50]
On 4 September 2015, Davies announced his retirement from football after 22 years in the game.[51]
Davies was asked near the end of the 2009–10 season if he was eligible to play forScotland. Davies is, to his own knowledge, ineligible to represent Scotland, but further explained he would reject any call-up to the Scottish or Welsh teams even if it was possible.[52]
At the age of 33, Davies was called up to the England squad for the first time in his career for theUEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match againstMontenegro on 12 October 2010.[53] He made his debut as a 69th-minute substitute forPeter Crouch and received ayellow card.[54] At 33 years and 200 days, he became the oldest England debutant since the 38-year-oldLeslie Compton in 1950.[55]
Davies was known for his bustling, physical playing style; he has committed morefouls than any other player in the history of the Premier League, although conversely he is also one of the most fouled.[3] He was more of a "goal architect" than a goalscorer.[56]
Davies was appointed manager ofNational League North clubSouthport on 18 October 2017 on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[57]
On 30 April 2018Southport announced that Davies had been released from his managerial duties.[58]
He is the half brother of fellow footballerJamie Jackson.[59][60]
In July 2020 Davies set up KCD Management, a FootballAgency.[61]
He is married to Emma Davies.[62]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Chesterfield | 1993–94[5] | Third Division | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 28 | 4 |
| 1994–95[63] | Third Division | 41 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[b] | 1 | 49 | 13 | |
| 1995–96[64] | Second Division | 30 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 38 | 6 | |
| 1996–97[65] | Second Division | 34 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 7 | |
| Total | 129 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 158 | 30 | ||
| Southampton | 1997–98[66] | Premier League | 25 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | — | 30 | 12 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1998–99[67] | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 27 | 2 |
| 1999–2000[68] | First Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
| Southampton | 1999–2000[68] | Premier League | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 6 | |
| 2000–01[69] | Premier League | 27 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02[70] | Premier League | 23 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 27 | 3 | ||
| 2002–03[71] | Premier League | 9 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 2 | |||
| Total | 82 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | 95 | 13 | |||
| Millwall (loan) | 2002–03[71] | First Division | 9 | 3 | — | — | — | 9 | 3 | |||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2003–04[72] | Premier League | 38 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 43 | 10 | |
| 2004–05[73] | Premier League | 35 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 9 | ||
| 2005–06[74] | Premier League | 37 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5[c] | 0 | 47 | 8 | |
| 2006–07[75] | Premier League | 30 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 33 | 9 | ||
| 2007–08[76] | Premier League | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[c] | 1 | 41 | 4 | |
| 2008–09[77] | Premier League | 38 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 12 | ||
| 2009–10[78] | Premier League | 37 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 42 | 9 | ||
| 2010–11[79] | Premier League | 38 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 45 | 10 | ||
| 2011–12[80] | Premier League | 31 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 8 | ||
| 2012–13[81] | Championship | 35 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 38 | 6 | ||
| Total | 351 | 74 | 25 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 407 | 85 | ||
| Preston North End | 2013–14[82] | League One | 38 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 46 | 5 |
| 2014–15[83] | League One | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[e] | 0 | 44 | 1 | |
| Total | 70 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 90 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 689 | 123 | 55 | 19 | 43 | 7 | 31 | 2 | 818 | 151 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England[84] | 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Southport | 18 October 2017 | 30 April 2018 | 31 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 029.0 | [57][85] |
| Total | 31 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 029.0 | — | ||
Chesterfield
Southampton
Bolton Wanderers
Preston North End
Individual
