.jpg) Albrighton playing forLeicester City in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marc Kevin Albrighton[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-11-18)18 November 1989 (age 35) | ||
| Place of birth | Tamworth, England[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger /Wing-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–2009 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2014 | Aston Villa | 86 | (7) |
| 2013 | →Wigan Athletic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2014–2024 | Leicester City | 236 | (13) |
| 2023 | →West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| Total | 343 | (20) | |
| International career | |||
| 2009 | England U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | England U21 | 8 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marc Kevin Albrighton (born 18 November 1989) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as awinger orwing-back.
Albrighton joinedAston Villa at the age of eight, and made his professional debut for them in 2009. he totalled nine goals in 101 professional appearances for Villa, also spending aloan spell atWigan Athletic in 2013.
After being released in 2014, he signed forLeicester City, going on to make over 300 appearances for the club. He was a regular during the club's most successful ever era, winning thePremier League in2016 whilst playing in every league match of the season, as well as theFA Cup in2021, and scored key goals against bothClub Brugge andSevilla in the club's run to the quarter-finals of the2016–17 UEFA Champions League.[4]
Albrighton also represented theEngland U21 andU20 sides.
Born inTamworth,Staffordshire, Albrighton started his career at hometown club Mile Oak Monarchs,[5] before he was offered a trial at Villa's local rivalsWest Bromwich Albion. He was rejected by Albion, then subsequently signed for Villa at the age of eight.[6]
After impressing in the under-18 squad and playing in thereserves,[7] Albrighton's first taste of senior action came on 10 July 2008, playing 17 minutes as a substitute in the 6–0 pre-season friendly victory overWil.[8] He made his competitive debut in theUEFA Cup match away atCSKA Moscow on 26 February 2009, a 2–0 loss (3–1 aggregate).[6][9]
During the2009–10 pre-season, Albrighton was included in the squad which played in the pre-season friendly tournament, the2009 Peace Cup, in which he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win overAtlante.[10] He played in the Peace Cup final in which Villa beat ItaliansJuventus 4–3 in apenalty shootout.[11]
Albrighton made hisPremier League debut on 15 August 2009, the opening day of the 2009–10 season againstWigan Athletic atVilla Park, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute forHabib Beye in a 0–2 loss.[12] On 24 September, he extended his contract with Villa by three years.[13] In December,managerMartin O'Neill admitted that Albrighton along with fellow youngstersNathan Delfouneso andCiaran Clark were the subject of manyloan offers, but went on to state his belief that the trio were good enough to learn their trade in the fringes of the Aston Villa side.[14]
After a good pre-season, Albrighton made his first Premier League start in the first match of the2010–11 season againstWest Ham United on 14 August 2010, assisting two goals in Villa's 3–0 win. He scored his first goal for Villa againstTottenham Hotspur on 2 October. He was sent off againstBurnley in theLeague Cup on 27 October, therefore missing a chance to play in the following match against local rivalsBirmingham City. On 5 November, Albrighton signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2014. On 23 November, Albrighton was ruled out of action for three to four weeks after having his appendix removed, but made his return ahead of schedule in a 3–0 defeat toLiverpool atAnfield on 6 December, playing 65 minutes before being replaced byRobert Pires.[15]Albrighton then set up both goals for the home side in the 2–1 defeat of local rivalsWest Bromwich Albion in December 2010.
On 21 December 2011, he scored the Premier League's 20,000th goal at home againstArsenal, winning a £20,000 cheque from league sponsorsBarclays, donated to his chosen charity,Acorns Children's Hospice.[16] He then scored the opening goal in a 3–1 win againstBristol Rovers at theMemorial Ground in theFA Cup.[17]
A throat operation restricted Albrighton to a single outing, in the League Cup, up to October 2013. He joinedWigan Athletic on a 28-day loan on 30 October 2013.[18] He made four appearances for Wigan before returning to his parent club on 27 November 2013.[19] Albrighton was released by Villa on 20 May 2014.[20]
On 23 May 2014, Albrighton joinedLeicester City on a four-year contract, following their return to the Premier League for the first time in a decade.[21] He made his debut for the Foxes on 23 August, replacingRiyad Mahrez for the final 22 minutes of a 2–0 loss atChelsea. The following 29 April, in the reverse fixture at theKing Power Stadium, he scored his first Leicester goal, putting Leicester ahead just before half time in an eventual 3–1 loss.[22] Albrighton totalled 18 league appearances in his first season at his new club, adding a second goal in the last match of the season, a 5–1 win againstQueens Park Rangers on 24 May.[23] Albrighton struggled to break into the first team squad at the start of the season, but nearer the end of the year was used as awing-back by managerNigel Pearson in a new formation that brought Leicester success. He played an instrumental role in helping complete Leicester's 'great escape' as the team won 7 out of their last 9 matches to finish 14th.
Albrighton played more regularly under new managerClaudio Ranieri, featuring in every league match in thecampaign. Albrighton scored his first goal of the season in the opening 4–2 victory overSunderland, which set the tone for a remarkable season. He partneredN'Golo Kanté,Riyad Mahrez andDanny Drinkwater in a regular 4-man midfield as the club won their first ever top-flight title.[24] Albrighton played on the left of midfield for the majority of the campaign, and was noted for his "diligent work defensively and when going forward, as well as his high-class crossing from open play and set pieces."[25] with manager Ranieri claiming "Albrighton embodies the spirit of Leicester" for his "unmistakable sense of sacrifice."[26] Whilst playing every match, Albrighton scored two goals, with his second coming in Leicester's crucial 4–0 win over Swansea on 24 April.[27] He was rewarded with a new four-year contract in August 2016.[28]
On 14 September 2016, Albrighton scored the club's first everChampions League goal in a 3–0 win overClub Brugge at theJan Breydel Stadium.[29] He was the first Leicester player to score in a European competition sinceMuzzy Izzet againstRed Star Belgrade in September 2000.[30] Albrighton described the goal as "probably one of the greatest achievements of my career so far".[29]
On 25 February 2017, reports emerged alleging that Albrighton was among several teammates who met with chairmanVichai Srivaddhanaprabha following their 2–1 Champions League defeat at Sevilla on 22 February,[31] which led to managerClaudio Ranieri being sacked. Albrighton dismissed the claims as "totally incorrect".[32]
In Leicester City's Champions League Last 16 tie againstSevilla on 14 March 2017, Albrighton scored the second goal for the hosts which capped off a remarkable win, sealing a 3–2 aggregate win and progression to the quarter-finals.[33]
Leicester City finished in 9th place in consecutive seasons in 2017–18 and 2018–19 with Albrighton scoring two league goals in each season respectively. AfterBrendan Rodgers was appointed new Leicester City manager in February 2019, Albrighton continued to be a crucial and reliable member of the first-team squad, with his versatility allowing him to play both on the flanks and in defence.[34] The Foxes ended the2019–20 season in fifth place to qualify for the group stage of the2020–21 UEFA Europa League.
On 9 January 2021, Albrighton scored his first goal for Leicester for 53 matches in all competitions, netting his side's second in their 4–0 win overStoke City in the third round of theFA Cup.[35] His first Premier League goal of the2020–21 season came on 8 May 2021 in a 2–4 home defeat againstNewcastle United.[36] He would help the Foxes win their first-ever FA Cup later that month, coming on for an injuredJonny Evans in the 34th minute in thefinal.[37][34]
On 30 July 2021, Albrighton signed a new contract to stay at Leicester until 2024.[38] Albrighton made an appearance off the bench in Leicester's 1–0 triumph over reigning Premier League championsManchester City in theFA Community Shield on 7 August 2021.[39]
On 31 January 2023, West Brom completed the signing of Albrighton from Leicester City on loan until the end of the season.[40]
Albrighton returned to Leicester City for the 2023–24 season, where they achieved theEFL Championship, securing promotion back to the Premier League. On 7 June 2024, he was among the players announced to depart the club upon the conclusion of the season.[41]
On 29 August 2024, Albrighton officially announced his retirement from professional football on social media.[42]
On 2 April 2009, Albrighton made his debut for theEngland under-20s.[43] He made his debut for theEngland U21 team in September 2010 during their Euro 2011 qualifying play-offs, and scored just fifteen minutes after coming on as a substitute.[44]
Albrighton confirmed to theBirmingham Mail that his dreams came true in playing for Aston Villa Football club, the team he has supported since he was a boy.[45] He named former Villa playersDavid Ginola,Benito Carbone andRobert Pires as some of his footballing role models,[46] along withEngland legendDavid Beckham to whom he has been compared due to crossing ability and technique.[47]
Albrighton became a father for the first time on 19 February 2012 when his partner Chloe Fulford gave birth to a daughter inSutton Coldfield.[48] Fulford's mother, Sue Davey, was killed in theTunisian terror attacks in June 2015.[49]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aston Villa | 2008–09 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | — | 33 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Total | 86 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 9 | ||
| Wigan Athletic (loan) | 2013–14 | Championship | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Leicester City | 2014–15 | Premier League | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 33 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9[c] | 2 | 1[d] | 0 | 47 | 4 | |
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 34 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 2 | |||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 32 | 3 | |||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[b] | 0 | — | 42 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10[e] | 1 | 1[d] | 0 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2022–23 | Premier League | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 1 | |||
| 2023–24 | Championship | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 236 | 13 | 28 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 313 | 19 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 343 | 20 | 34 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 435 | 28 | ||
Leicester City
