.jpg) Puncheon in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jason David Ian Puncheon[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1986-06-18)18 June 1986 (age 39)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Croydon, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2004 | Wimbledon | 8 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Milton Keynes Dons | 26 | (1) |
| 2006 | Fisher Athletic | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | Lewes | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Barnet | 78 | (15) |
| 2008–2010 | Plymouth Argyle | 6 | (0) |
| 2008 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| 2009 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 18 | (3) |
| 2009–2010 | →Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 24 | (7) |
| 2010–2014 | Southampton | 74 | (9) |
| 2010–2011 | →Millwall (loan) | 7 | (5) |
| 2011 | →Blackpool (loan) | 11 | (3) |
| 2011 | →Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | →Crystal Palace (loan) | 20 | (3) |
| 2014–2019 | Crystal Palace | 133 | (12) |
| 2019 | →Huddersfield Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2019–2022 | Pafos | 65 | (5) |
| 2022–2023 | Anorthosis Famagusta | 16 | (0) |
| 2024 | Kissos Kissonergas | ||
| Total | 508 | (64) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2023–2024 | Peyia 2014 | ||
| 2024 | AEZ Zakakiou | ||
| 2024 | Ayia Napa | ||
| 2024–2025 | Akritas Chlorakas | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jason David Ian Puncheon (born 18 June 1986) is an English professionalfootball manager and former player who played as amidfielder.
Puncheon started his career atWimbledon, movingwith the team as they becameMilton Keynes Dons. After being released, he had a brief spell innon-league withFisher Athletic andLewes before climbing back up thefootball pyramid, eventually playing in the top-flight withBlackpool. He went on to make more than 200Premier League appearances.
Following his goal againstEverton on his Blackpool debut, Puncheon has scored in all of the top four divisions of Englishleague football, scoring forBarnet inLeague Two, Milton Keynes Dons andSouthampton inLeague One,Millwall in theChampionship and Blackpool, Southampton andCrystal Palace in the Premier League. He has also scored in anFA Cup Final, opening the scoring in the2016 final for Crystal Palace as they eventually lost toManchester United.
Puncheon spent the final years of his playing career in theCypriot First Division, withPafos and laterAnorthosis Famagusta. After retirement, he started his managerial journey withCypriot Second Division sidePeyia 2014. Following an unsuccessful spell managing in the First Division withAEZ Zakakiou and a stint in charge ofAyia Napa, Puncheon leadAkritas Chlorakas to Cypriot top-flight promotion for only the second time in their history, finishing third in the2024–25 Second Division.
Born inCroydon, Greater London, Puncheon began his career withWimbledon, and movedwith the team to Milton Keynes, where the club becameMilton Keynes Dons in 2004. He was released in January 2006. He moved toBarnet in June of the same year, after brief spells innon-league withFisher Athletic andLewes.[3] He was named2006–07 FA Cup Player of the Third Round and in the following season after scoring a succession of brilliant goals (including a last minute 35-yard free kick versusBradford City) was named in thePFA League Two Team of the Year.[4]
Plymouth Argyle signed Puncheon from Barnet for £250,000 in 2008. He endured an unsuccessful 18-month spell at the club, making only six league appearances. He was loaned to former club MK Dons three times in two years, where he scored 12 goals in 61 appearances.
On 30 January 2010, Puncheon joinedSouthampton which then led to his loan deal at MK Dons to be cut short.[5] He scored his first goal in a 5–1 victory overWalsall, and scored again a few days later, in a 5–0 victory overHuddersfield Town. He was unable to contribute to Southampton winning the2009–10 Football League Trophy as he was cup-tied.[6]
At the start of the2010–11 season, he was a regular in the first team. However, whenAlan Pardew lost his job just days after a 4–0 win away toBristol Rovers, Southampton hiredNigel Adkins as manager. Under Adkins, he stayed in the first team, but found himself under increasing pressure fromAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain for his place. Eventually Adkins lost patience with Puncheon's erratic performances, and dropped him to the bench in favour of 17-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was later sold toArsenal for a reported £15m. On 16 November 2010, Puncheon moved on an emergency loan deal toMillwall.[7] He scored his first goal in his first game for Millwall in their 1–0 victory overMiddlesbrough.[8] On 1 January 2011, Puncheon scored ahat-trick in the 3–0 victory overCrystal Palace.[9]
On 31 January 2011, Puncheon joinedBlackpool on loan until the end of the season.[10] He made his debut in thePremier League, scoring a goal, atEverton on 5 February.[11] He scored his second goal againstChelsea on 7 March atBloomfield Road. Puncheon re-joined the Saints after Blackpool's failed attempt to fight off relegation.[12] On 31 August 2011, Puncheon joinedQueens Park Rangers on loan until 2 January 2012.[13][14]
He returned to the Saints after his unsuccessful loan spell at QPR,[15] but on 21 January 2012, he publicly criticised executive chairmanNicola Cortese.[16] However just days later, it was revealed that Puncheon had apologised to Cortese and would be available for selection in the first team.[17] He then started the next two matches: a 1–1 draw in theFA Cup at Millwall[18] and a 1–1 draw in theChampionship againstCardiff City.[19]
He scored his first goal of the2012–13 season with a 30-yard volley in aLeague Cup win atStevenage. He scored his first Premier League goal for Southampton in a 4–1 home victory againstAston Villa. His second came when Southampton won 3–1 away to QPR. He scored his third Premier League goal in the 61st minute againstReading to secure Southampton a vital 1–0 victory and move them out of the relegation zone. His fourth was scored to give Southampton a 2–2 draw away to the then-champions of Europe,Chelsea. On 9 February 2013, he scored his fifth in Southampton's 3–1 home win against2011–12 championsManchester City.
On 1 March 2013, Puncheon signed a new contract with Southampton, expiring in 2016.[20]
On 21 August 2013, Puncheon signed a one-year loan withCrystal Palace.[21] He missed a penalty as Palace lost 2–0 away toTottenham Hotspur on 11 January 2014,[22] but made up for his miss by scoring the only goal of their 1–0 win againstStoke City the following weekend.[23] On 31 January 2014, Puncheon made his loan spell into a permanent move, for a fee of around £1.75m.[24] Puncheon's three goals in January and a further three in back-to-back wins in April that lifted Palace away from the relegation zone, led bossTony Pulis to issue a 'hands off' warning to other clubs interested in signing Puncheon.[25]
On 16 August 2014, in Palace's first match of the new season away toArsenal, Puncheon took a corner which was headed in byBrede Hangeland for the first goal of the game. He was sent off for his second booking in the 89th minute, after which Arsenal scored their winning goal.[26] On 17 January 2015, Puncheon scored his third goal of the season and second in as many games againstBurnley in a 3–2 away win. Crystal Palace had come from 2 goals down to claim victory to boost their survival hopes. Palace manager Alan Pardew praised Puncheon's performance, describing him as "the best player on the pitch by a country mile".[27]
On 6 April 2015, Puncheon scored the winning goal for Crystal Palace against Manchester City. Puncheon's goal came from a freekick which went past Manchester City's goalkeeperJoe Hart.[28] He opened the scoring in the2016 FA Cup final againstManchester United with a goal in the 78th minute, but Palace went on to lose the match 2–1 after extra time.[29]
On 18 July 2017, Puncheon replacedScott Dann as captain.[30] In January 2018, managerRoy Hodgson announced that Puncheon would play no further part in the2017–18 season following acruciate ligament injury sustained while playing against Manchester City.[31]
In May 2019, Crystal Palace issued a statement that Puncheon would leave the club at the end of the2018–19 season after having made 169 appearances and scored 16 goals.[32]
On 4 January 2019, Puncheon signed for Premier League club Huddersfield Town on loan until the end of the season.[33]
In August 2019, Puncheon completed a move to Cypriot football withFirst Division sidePafos.[34] After three seasons with the club, he moved toAnorthosis Famagusta, where he spent one season before retiring in 2023.
After a year in management, Puncheon briefly came out of retirement to play for fifth tier sideKissos Kissonergas.[35]
Puncheon was appointed head coach ofCypriot Second Division clubPeyia 2014 ahead of the2023–24 season.[36] He left the role at the end of January in his first season.
On 10 February 2024, Puncheon was appointed head coach ofCypriot First Division clubAEZ Zakakiou.[37] He was sacked less than one month later after failing to win any of his first seven games.
On 29 October 2024, Puncheon was appointed manager of Second Division sideAyia Napa on a contract until the end of the season.[38] On 19 November, it was announced that Puncheon's contract had been mutually terminated, having won both his games in charge with no goals conceded.[39]
On 20 November 2024, a day after leaving Ayia Napa, Puncheon was appointed head coach ofAkritas Chlorakas.[40] Akritas finished third in the table in the2024–25 season, earning promotion to the First Division, with Puncheon winning thePASP Second Division Manager of the Season award.[41] However, in June 2025, he was forced to resign as he did not have aUEFA Pro Licence, which is mandatory for all Cypriot First Division head coaches. He was unable to obtain special dispensation from theCyprus Football Association, despite his previous experience managing in the top-flight with AEZ.
Puncheon is ofJamaican descent and was eligible for theJamaica national football team.[42]
In December 2017, Puncheon was arrested and charged with possession of an offensive weapon, common assault, and a public order offence of "causing fear or provocation of violence" after a fight outside a nightclub inReigate.[43][44] On 5 January 2018, Puncheon appeared in court where he denied the charge of assault. The charge of possessing an offensive weapon was withdrawn and he was bailed to appear again in court on 4 June.[45] He later changed his plea to guilty and was given a community order requiring him to carry out 210 hours of unpaid work, and pay the doorman involved £250 compensation.[46]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Other[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wimbledon | 2003–04 | First Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 2004–05 | League One | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| 2005–06 | League One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| Fisher Athletic | 2005–06 | Isthmian League Premier | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Lewes | 2005–06 | Conference South | 1 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Barnet | 2006–07 | League Two | 37 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 6 |
| 2007–08 | League Two | 41 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 11 | |
| Total | 78 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 93 | 17 | ||
| Plymouth Argyle | 2008–09 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | 2008–09 | League One | 27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 | League One | 24 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 8 | |
| Total | 51 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 61 | 12 | ||
| Southampton | 2009–10 | League One | 19 | 3 | — | — | — | 19 | 3 | |||
| 2010–11 | League One | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 32 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 34 | 7 | ||
| Total | 74 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 10 | ||
| Millwall (loan) | 2010–11 | Championship | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | 7 | 5 | |||
| Blackpool (loan) | 2010–11 | Premier League | 11 | 3 | — | — | — | 11 | 3 | |||
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2011–12 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 2013–14 | Premier League | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 3 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2013–14 | Premier League | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 4 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 37 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 6 | ||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 31 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| Total | 153 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 16 | ||
| Huddersfield Town (loan) | 2018–19 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
| Pafos | 2019–20 | Cypriot First Division | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Cypriot First Division | 29 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 4 | |||
| 2021–22 | Cypriot First Division | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 1 | |||
| Total | 68 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 5 | ||
| Anorthosis | 2022–23 | Cypriot First Division | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 508 | 64 | 30 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 569 | 69 | ||
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| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | |||
| Peyia 2014 | 1 July 2023 | 30 January 2024 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 044.4 |
| AEZ Zakakiou | 10 February 2024 | 7 March 2024 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 000.0 |
| Ayia Napa | 29 October 2024 | 19 November 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.0 |
| Akritas Chlorakas | 20 November 2024 | June 2025 | 21 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 35 | 19 | +16 | 066.7 |
| Total | 48 | 24 | 5 | 19 | 66 | 48 | +18 | 050.0 | ||
Southampton
Crystal Palace
Individual
Individual
