 Murphy playing forLeeds United in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luke John Murphy[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-10-21)21 October 1989 (age 36)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Macclesfield, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Macclesfield | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2008 | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2013 | Crewe Alexandra | 161 | (21) |
| 2013–2018 | Leeds United | 103 | (7) |
| 2017–2018 | →Burton Albion (loan) | 57 | (2) |
| 2018–2020 | Bolton Wanderers | 40 | (2) |
| 2020–2022 | Crewe Alexandra | 78 | (1) |
| 2022– | Macclesfield | 55 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:36, 9 May 2024 (UTC) | |||
Luke John Murphy (born 21 October 1989) is an English professionalfootballer who most recently played as amidfielder forNorthern Premier League Division One West sideMacclesfield.
He is a product ofCrewe Alexandra's academy. He was Crewe captain prior to spending five years atLeeds United, with a loan spell atBurton Albion, and then two seasons atBolton Wanderers, before returning to Crewe once again.
Born inMacclesfield,Cheshire,[2] Murphy made his debut forCrewe Alexandra on 13 December 2008 in a 1–0 home win againstSwindon Town.[3] He scored his first goal for Crewe in a 4–1 away win againstHartlepool United on 28 December 2008.[4] His second goal for the club came in a 3–2FA Cup replay loss toMillwall on 13 January 2009.[5] He finished his breakthrough season with 11 appearances as Crewe were relegated fromLeague One. He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season in a 5–3 away loss toAccrington Stanley[6] and scored his second and final goal of the season in a 3–2 away win againstChesterfield on 2 December.[7]
Murphy scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season on 11 September 2010 in a 3–0 win againstBury.[8] He scored again the following game in a 1–1 draw againstBurton Albion.[9] His third goal of the season came in a 5–5 draw away to eventualLeague Two winners Chesterfield.[10] Murphy extended his contract with Crewe in November 2010.
Murphy missed the final month of the 2010–11 season after having a hernia operation. During the 2011–12 pre-season Murphy who had been playing as a right winger was moved into his favoured more central position alongsideAshley Westwood.[11] His 10th league goal for Crewe came in the 2011–12 season, during a 3–2 againstPlymouth Argyle, where he scored two goals.[12] He scored his fifth goal of the 2011–12 season in a 2–0 home win to Accrington.[13] He ended the season with eight goals and helped Crewe secure promotion after beatingCheltenham Town in the2012 League Two play-off final atWembley Stadium, to win promotion back toLeague One.[14]
After the departure ofAshley Westwood toAston Villa, Murphy was appointed as the new Crewe Alexandra Captain in August 2012.[15] In September 2012, Murphy signed a new 2-year deal at Crewe.[16] On 7 April 2013, Murphy scored the first goal in theFootball League Trophy final againstSouthend United, which Crewe went on to win 2–0.[17] In the final match of the 2012–13 season, Murphy led out a Crewe Alexandra side against Walsall in a 2–0 win in which Murphy scored the opening goal for Crewe. The game made history being the first English fixture a side had fielded a team entirely made out of their academy players.[18][19]
Murphy who was the captain of Crewe Alexandra collected the club's Player of the Year award for the 2012–13 season, a season in which he scored nine goals, gained 12 assists and captained Crewe to victory for theFootball League Trophy. Murphy also finished 4th in the voting for the League One player-of-the-season for 2012–13.[20] Murphy was also named in the 2012–13PFA Team of the Year forLeague One.[21] After the season Murphy proclaimed that he was ready to step up to play at a higher level.[22] Murphy was heavily linked with a move to Premier League sideAston Villa to join up with ex-teammateAshley Westwood.[23] On 25 June, Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker revealed he expected Murphy to leave the club for a higher level and that he would go with the club's blessing.[24]
In June 2013, Crewe accepted bids believed to be over £1 million from bothWolverhampton Wanderers andBlackburn Rovers for Murphy.[25][26] Despite this on 1 July, Leeds United confirmed the signing of Murphy on a three-year deal.[27][28][29] Crewe manager,Steve Davis revealed the transfer fee for Murphy was above £1 million.[30] The signing of Murphy was the first time that Leeds had spent over £1 million on a transfer fee since signingRichard Cresswell in 2005.[31]
Murphy made his debut againstBrighton & Hove Albion on 3 August in the first game of the season, he scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner in the game to give Leeds a 2–1 victory.[32] On 12 April 2014, Murphy scored both goals in Leeds' 2–0 victory against Blackpool.[33] On 15 April, Leeds ownerMassimo Cellino revealed after the game that he advised the then Leeds managerBrian McDermott to play Murphy in a more attacking midfield role.[34]
On 1 August 2014, Murphy was assigned the Leeds number seven shirt for the 2014–15 season.[35] On 27 August 2014, Murphy was sent off in the first half againstBradford City to condemn Leeds to a shock 2–1 League Cup defeat against theLeague One opposition.[35] Head coach,Dave Hockaday was sacked the following day.[36]
After a long spell out of favour under new head coachNeil Redfearn Murphy returned to Leeds' starting lineup in theFA Cup 1–0 defeat againstSunderland on 4 January 2015.[37] He started the following league game, a 1–1 draw againstBolton Wanderers on 10 January.[38] He scored in consecutive games for Leeds, firstly helping to earn a point by equalising in a 1–1 draw againstBirmingham City on 17 January.[39] He then scored the winner, with a long range strike, in a 1–0 win againstBournemouth on 20 January.[citation needed] As a result of his rise in form over this period Murphy was subsequently nominated for the January 2015 Championship Player of the Month award.[40] Murphy followed this up with a long range strike in a 2–0 victory against Reading on 10 February.[citation needed]
On 2 May 2015, Murphy was one of five players nominated for the Fans Player of the Year Award at Leeds United's official end of 2014–15 season awards ceremony, but lost out to eventual winnerAlex Mowatt. Murphy also lost out to goal of the season for his goal againstBournemouth to teammateRodolph Austin's volley against Watford.[41]
On 9 July 2015, it was announced that Murphy would miss all of pre-season and the beginning of the season after picking up a knee injury which required surgery during pre season training.[42]
Despite being out injured, on 14 July 2015, Murphy signed a new four-year contract at the club keeping him at Leeds until the summer of 2019. The contract saw Murphy actually sign on reduced terms as a considerable sign of his commitment to stay with the club.[43] On 31 July 2015, Murphy was given the number 8 shirt for the upcoming 2015–16 season.[44] After missing all of the pre season and the beginning of the Championship season, on 12 August 2015, Murphy returned for Leeds as a substitute in the League Cup againstDoncaster Rovers, Murphy scored a penalty in a penalty shootout with Leeds losing 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw.[45] On 2 April 2016, Murphy scored his first goal of the season and Leeds' only goal in the 2–1 loss toRotherham.[46]
He made his first appearance for Leeds on 23 August 2016, starting in Leeds League Cup fixture againstLuton Town.[47]
By 24 September, Murphy had fallen so far out of favour that he, along withToumani Diagouraga andRoss Turnbull, was no longer listed in the Leeds United match programme as a member of the squad,[48] and all three were training with the under-23 team.[49]
On 6 January 2017, Murphy left Leeds for fellowChampionship sideBurton Albion, on loan until the end of the 2016–17 season.[50][51][52] On 28 January 2017, Murphy scored his first goal for Burton against Queens Park Rangers.[53] He impressed during his time at Burton, and formed a vital partnership in midfield alongside midfielderJackson Irvine and helped the club to avoid relegation after finishing 20th.[54]
On 3 July 2017, he re-joined Burton on loan for the entirety of the 2017–18 season.[55] Playing in a deeper central midfield position for most of the 2017/18 season, he scored his first goal of the season on 15 April 2018, in a 3–1 victory againstDerby County.[56]
With speculation that he was not inMarcelo Bielsa's plans, on 26 July 2018, Murphy was not given a shirt number for Leeds for the upcoming2018–19 season for Leeds.[57]
He was released from his Leeds contract, a year early, on 1 August 2018. The following day he signed forBolton Wanderers on a two-year contract.[58] He made his debut for Bolton on 4 August 2018 when starting in Wanderers' 2–1 victory overWest Bromwich Albion atThe Hawthorns.[59] His first goal for Bolton was on 22 October 2019, as he scored the opening goal in Bolton's first win of the 2019/2020 season, a 2–0 win againstBristol Rovers.[60] On 26 June it was announced Murphy would be one of 14 senior players released at the end of his contract on 30 June.[61]
On 4 September 2020, Murphy signed a two-year deal to return to Crewe Alexandra,[62] and played in a 2–1 defeat byLincoln City in the first round of theEFL Cup at Gresty Road the following day, 5 September 2020.[63] Reappointed Crewe captain for the 2021–2022 season, he scored the first (and only) goal of his second spell at Crewe, the winner in a 2–1 victory atMorecambe, on 29 December 2021.[64] Following relegation to League Two, Murphy was released by Crewe at the end of the2021–22 season,[65] though he continued to train with the club to maintain his fitness during the summer.[66]
Murphy joinedNorthern Premier League Division One West sideMacclesfield in late August 2022.[67] He helped them win the title during his first season which meant promotion to theNorthern Premier League Premier Division.[68] He was released at the end of the 2023–2024 season.[69]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crewe Alexandra | 2008–09[70] | League One | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| 2009–10[71] | League Two | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 3 | |
| 2010–11[72] | League Two | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 44 | 3 | |
| 2011–12[73] | League Two | 42 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | 49 | 8 | |
| 2012–13[74] | League One | 39 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5[a] | 2 | 48 | 9 | |
| Total | 161 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 186 | 25 | ||
| Leeds United | 2013–14[75] | Championship | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 3 |
| 2014–15[76] | Championship | 30 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2015–16[77] | Championship | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2016–17[78] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 103 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 111 | 7 | ||
| Burton Albion (loan) | 2016–17[78] | Championship | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2017–18[79] | Championship | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| Total | 57 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2018–19[80] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[81] | League One | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 2 | ||
| Crewe Alexandra | 2020–21[82] | League One | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| 2021–22[83] | League One | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Total | 78 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 86 | 1 | ||
| Macclesfield | 2022–23[84] | NPL Division One West | 35 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[c] | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| 2023–24[84] | NPL Premier Division | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[d] | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 71 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 494 | 34 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 556 | 38 | ||
Crewe Alexandra
Macclesfield
Individual
