 Huddlestone playing forHull City in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Andrew Huddlestone[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-12-28)28 December 1986 (age 38)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Nottingham, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder[4] | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Birmingham City (first team assistant coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Nottingham Forest | |||
| –2002 | Derby County | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2005 | Derby County | 88 | (0) |
| 2005–2013 | Tottenham Hotspur | 144 | (8) |
| 2005–2006 | →Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2013–2017 | Hull City | 135 | (6) |
| 2017–2020 | Derby County | 79 | (3) |
| 2021–2022 | Hull City | 11 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Manchester United | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 470 | (18) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | England U16 | 7 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | England U17 | 6 | (0) |
| 2004 | England U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2005 | England U20 | 4 | (0) |
| 2005–2009 | England U21 | 33 | (5) |
| 2009–2012 | England | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2022–2024 | Manchester United Academy (Under-21 coach) | ||
| 2024 | Wigan Athletic (first team coach) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas Andrew Huddlestone (born 28 December 1986) is an English former professionalfootballer and coach, who is currently a first team assistant coach atBirmingham City. He played as adefensive midfielder.
Having progressed through the youth ranks atNottingham Forest andDerby County, Huddlestone began his professional career in 2003 with the latter club. He quickly broke into the first team, and made 88 league appearances before switching toTottenham Hotspur in 2005. Having spent some of the2005–06 season onloan toWolverhampton Wanderers, where he made 13 league appearances, he began to break into the Tottenham team during the2006–07 season, and became a regular player for the club. However, he struggled with injury problems during the2011–12 season, and fell out of favour. He joinedHull City in August 2013, having made 144 league appearances for Tottenham.
In 2013, Huddlestone joinedHull City where he played a role in helping the club reach the2014 FA Cup final, scoring a goal in theFA Cup third semi-final victory, as they ended up runners-up in the competition, this cup run ensured Hull would qualify for Europe via theUEFA Europa League for the first time in the clubs history, Huddlestone would spend four years at Hull and would play 161 times, scoring 8 goals. In July 2017, Huddlestone returned to Derby County, but after two failed play-off campaigns to gain promotion to the Premier League in 2018 and 2019, Huddlestone left Derby in July 2020 after rejected a contact offer, in his second spell at Derby, Huddlestone played 90 times, scoring 3 goals. After 13 months out of game, Huddlestone returned to Hull City in August 2021, where he spent a season, before ending his career with a two-year spell atManchester United where fulfilled a coaching role forManchester United's Under-21 team, as well as playing for the under-21s.
Huddlestone representedEngland atunder-16,under-17,under-19 andunder-20 levels before making hisunder-21 debut in 2005. He was a regular for the under-21 team between 2005 and 2009, and made 33 appearances. He made senior full England debut in 2009, and made three further appearances, his last being in 2012.
Born inNottingham, Nottinghamshire,[5] Huddlestone was taken on byNottingham Forest at an early age but was released at 12 as he was claimed to be "not strong enough".[6] He joinedDerby County and after progressing well, made his debut for Derby County's reserve team at the age of just 15, when he appeared as an 80th minutesubstitute at right wingback in a match againstCoventry City.[7]
He was given his first-team debut byGeorge Burley at the age of 16 on the opening day of the2003–04 season in a 3–0 home defeat toStoke City, where he was voted man of the match.[8][citation needed] Though Derby struggled in Huddlestone's first full season, Huddlestone was one of Derby's few bright points, with Burley saying "He's a terrific talent. As a young player, he (is) the best passer of a ball I (have) ever seen, and I've worked with some good young players."[9] He eventually went on to appear in 43 of Derby's 46 league matches that season.[10] He enjoyed an equally successful2004–05 as Derby reached the First Division play-offs, where they lost toPreston North End in the semi-final.[11] However, halfway through the season Huddlestone signed forPremier League clubTottenham Hotspur in January 2005 for a fee reported to be worth up to £2.5 million, though he remained at Derby for the rest of the season.[12] He had made a total of 95 appearances for Derby, without scoring.
Huddlestone spent a few months of the2005–06 season onloan toWolverhampton Wanderers,[13] scoring his first league goal, at Derby,[14] before returning to make his debut for Tottenham as a substitute in the 1–0 defeat away atFulham on 31 January 2006.[15]
His first start for Tottenham came on 14 September 2006, away toSlavia Prague in theUEFA Cup, a match that Tottenham won 1–0.[citation needed] His first goal for Tottenham came in theLeague Cup fourth round match againstPort Vale on 8 November 2006.[16] Huddlestone scored two goals in this match, his second goal proving decisive inextra time, taking Tottenham through to the quarter-final of the competition.[16] Huddlestone got his first league goal for Tottenham on 17 December 2006 against Manchester City with an excellent half-volley on 24 minutes, hit first-time after assisting with teammateCalum Davenport's first goal with a free-kick.[17] Huddlestone established himself as one of the most promising young English central midfielders in the Premier League towards the end of the2006–07 season and head coach Martin Jol compared Tom Huddlestone with German legend Franz Beckenbauer due to his playmaking abilities, ferocious shot power and versatility.[18]
On 25 December 2006, he signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract – keeping him at the club until 2011.[19] Tom signed a new and improved five-year contract on 30 June 2008 committing his future to Tottenham until 2013.[20] He came on as a substitute as Tottenham beat Chelsea in the2008 League Cup final atWembley Stadium.[21] During the2009–10 season, he became a regular underHarry Redknapp.[22] In March 2010, he extended his contract until 2015.[23] Huddlestone was plagued with injury during the2011–12 season and managed only four appearances for the club.[24] Huddlestone returned for the2012–13 season and made his first appearance as a substitute forJermain Defoe againstNorwich City on 1 September 2012.[25] He was shown a red card for serious foul play, the match ended in a 1–1 draw. The red card was later rescinded.[26]
On 14 August 2013, Huddlestone moved toHull City for an undisclosed fee believed to be about £5.25 million.[27] He made his debut on the first day of the2013–14 season when he came off the bench in a 2–0 loss away atChelsea.[28] On 28 December, he scored his first goal for Hull in a 6–0 home win against Fulham, his first goal since April 2011.[29] On 28 January 2014, Huddlestone acted as emergency goalkeeper after Hull City's goalkeeperAllan McGregor was sent off for squaring up withCrystal Palace's playerStuart O'Keefe. With Hull already making three substitutions, Hull's managerSteve Bruce ordered Huddlestone to take over the goalkeeping role.[30]
On 13 April 2014, he scored Hull's third goal in their 5–3FA Cup semi-final victory overSheffield United at Wembley Stadium.[31] On 17 May 2014, Huddlestone started in the2014 FA Cup final againstArsenal at Wembley Stadium, in which Hull were beaten 3–2 after extra time.[32]
On 1 July 2016, he signed a new two-year deal with the club.[33]
On 15 July 2017, Huddlestone returned to boyhood clubDerby County, by signing a two-year contract, with an option of a third season, for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £2 million.[34] He scored his first goal for Derby in a 3–0 home win againstBrentford on 3 February 2018, more than 14 years after his debut for the club.[35]
On 1 July 2020, Huddlestone revealed that he and Derby County had failed to agree a contract extension and he would be leaving the club.[36]
On 17 August 2021, Huddlestone re-signed forHull City on a one-year contract.[37] He made his debut the following day when he came on as a 73rd-minute substitute forRichie Smallwood in the home 1–0 loss toDerby County.[38] Huddlestone was one of three senior players to be released at the end of the2021–22 season.[39]
On 2 August 2022, Huddlestone signed forManchester United, primarily to act as a player-coach forits under-21 team. He replacedPaul McShane in this role, who retired from playing at the end of the 2021–22 season.[40]
Huddlestone played in the2022–23 and2023–24 editions of EFL Trophy, wearing the number 35.
On 5 June 2024, the club announced he would be leaving.[41] On 2 July 2024, Huddlestone announced his retirement from football.[42]
On 2 July 2024, it was announced that he had been appointed as a first team coach atEFL League One sideWigan Athletic along withShadab Iftikhar.[43]
On 23 August 2024, Huddlestone joinedBen Futcher's interim backroom staff with theEngland U21s.[44]
On 18 September 2024, Huddlestone left Wigan Athletic to join fellow League One side Birmingham City.[45]
Having been capped at the U-17 and U-19 levels, Huddlestone was a regular in theEngland under-21s.[46] He played twice in the2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship before a red card for dissent ruled him out of the semi-final and final.[47] In October 2008, he scored the opening goal from a free kick in the second leg of the2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs against Wales.[48] Although the match ended in a draw which ensured qualification for England, it was marred by his sending-off in the second half for a reckless challenge onDarcy Blake.[49] He missed the tournament through injury.[citation needed]
He was called up into theEngland squad for the first time by coachFabio Capello to face theUnited States andTrinidad and Tobago infriendlies.[50] On 14 November 2009, he received his first cap for the senior team in the 1–0 loss in a friendly againstBrazil, after coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute.[51] His next appearances came in a2010 FIFA World Cup warm up match againstMexico, where he came on as a substitute in the 61st minute.[52] His latest appearance for England also came in a World Cup warm-up match againstJapan where he started for the first time in 2–1 victory.[53]
In May 2010, Fabio Capello announced that Huddlestone would be in his preliminary World Cup squad of 30 players.[54] However, was not selected for the final 23-man squad.[55] On 11 November 2012, new England managerRoy Hodgson gave Huddlestone his first call up to the squad for two years for a friendly match againstSweden on 14 November.[56]
He is known for his passing ability, which has led to comparisons with former Tottenham playerGlenn Hoddle.[57] He also has a powerful shot that has enabled him to score long-range goals from midfield.[citation needed]
Shortly after scoring a goal for Tottenham against Arsenal in April 2011, Huddlestone accepted a challenge not to cut his hair until he scored again, to raise money for charity.[58] It took him two and a half years, and 55 matches, before he finally scored his next goal (in a Premier League match for Hull against Fulham on 28 December 2013), and he raised more than £57,000 forCancer Research UK as a result.[59][60]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Derby County | 2002–03[61] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[62] | First Division | 43 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05[63] | Championship | 45 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
| Total | 88 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 0 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2005–06[64] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07[65] | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 6[b] | 0 | 35 | 3 | |
| 2007–08[66] | Premier League | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9[b] | 0 | 43 | 4 | |
| 2008–09[67] | Premier League | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[b] | 2 | 31 | 2 | |
| 2009–10[68] | Premier League | 33 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 43 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11[69] | Premier League | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| 2011–12[70] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012–13[71] | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4[d] | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| Total | 144 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 34 | 2 | 209 | 15 | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan) | 2005–06[64] | Championship | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| Hull City | 2013–14[72] | Premier League | 36 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | |
| 2014–15[73] | Premier League | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| 2015–16[74] | Championship | 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 47 | 2 | |
| 2016–17[75] | Premier League | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 39 | 2 | ||
| Total | 135 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 161 | 8 | ||
| Derby County | 2017–18[76] | Championship | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| 2018–19[77] | Championship | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[78] | Championship | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| Total | 79 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 90 | 3 | ||
| Hull City | 2021–22[79] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |
| Manchester United U21 | 2022–23[80] | — | — | — | — | 4[e] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2023–24[80] | — | — | — | — | 1[e] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 470 | 18 | 33 | 1 | 30 | 6 | 52 | 2 | 585 | 27 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 0 | |
Tottenham Hotspur
Hull City
Individual
