 McAnuff playing forReading in 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joel Joshua Frederick Melvin McAnuff[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1981-11-09)9 November 1981 (age 44)[2] | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Edmonton, London, England | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Wimbledon | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2004 | Wimbledon | 96 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004 | West Ham United | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Cardiff City | 43 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Crystal Palace | 75 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Watford | 82 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2009–2014 | Reading | 189 | (14) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Leyton Orient | 51 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Stevenage | 31 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | Leyton Orient | 115 | (13) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 695 | (70) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2016 | Jamaica | 32 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Leyton Orient | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Joel Joshua Frederick Melvin "Jobi" McAnuff (born 9 November 1981) is a formerfootballer. He was predominantly awinger but he has also played as an occasionalcentral midfielder. Since his retirement he has worked as a pundit.
He began his career atWimbledon, making over 100 appearances for the club before brief spells atWest Ham United andCardiff City. McAnuff joinedCrystal Palace in 2005, spending two years there before moving again, this time toWatford before joiningReading in 2009. He was appointed captain in 2011 and went on to make over 200 appearances in all competition for the Royals. Prior to Reading's promotion to the Premier League in2011–12 he had spent his entire career playing in England's second tier, amassing over 400 league appearances. He joined Leyton Orient in 2014.
Born in London, McAnuff has representedJamaica, his father's country of birth, at international level. He made his debut in May 2002 although his next appearance did not come until nearly eleven years later in February 2013. He was part of their squads which won the2014 Caribbean Cup and competed at the2015 Copa América.
Born inEdmonton, London, McAnuff made his professional debut in the2001–02 season withFirst Division sideWimbledon.[2] He played 104 games and scored 15 goals for the club, staying until Wimbledon's last season,2003–04. In March 2003,Portsmouth managerHarry Redknapp agreed a deal to bring McAnuff and teammateNigel Reo-Coker to the south coast club in preparation for their first Premiership season.[3] Financial problems resulted in the player remaining at Wimbledon despite having already signed contracts with Portsmouth.[4]
In the January 2004 transfer window, with Wimbledon now inadministration, West Ham managerAlan Pardew signed McAnuff forWest Ham United joining fellow former Wimbledon players,Nigel Reo-Coker andAdam Nowland.[5] He played only 14 games for the club, scoring one goal against Crewe.[6] To generate funds for future transfers Pardew was forced to sell McAnuff[7] and on 12 August 2004, he joinedCardiff City for a fee of £250,000 and was virtually ever-present in his first year at the club. He made his debut againstIpswich Town, scoring his first goal against his former side West Ham United during a 4–1 win.[8] He played 48 games and scored 3 goals and picked up numerous player of the month awards.[citation needed] With Cardiff in financial difficulty, McAnuff left the club at the end of the2004–05 season to joinCrystal Palace for a fee of around £600,000.[9]
In his first season at Selhurst Park, McAnuff played 43 games and scored eight goals. His performances in the Championship understandably led to interest from a number of clubs and in the summer of 2006 being linked with moves toWatford,Bolton Wanderers andCharlton Athletic, the latter managed by his former boss at PalaceIain Dowie.[citation needed] However, it was announced during the summer 2006 transfer window that he would stay at Crystal Palace, and play for the Eagles under new bossPeter Taylor.
After a less successful2006–07 campaign, McAnuff moved to Watford in June 2007 in a deal worth an initial £1.75 million.[10]
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McAnuff joinedReading on 27 August 2009, then managed by formerWatford bossBrendan Rodgers, on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[11] He made his debut against his former club Watford on 26 September 2009 with his first goal coming a month later in a 3–1 win overCoventry City on 31 October.[12]
He scored the third goal againstCardiff City in the2011 play-off semi-final with a storming run, sealing a 3–0 victory and sending Reading toWembley for the final againstSwansea City.[13] McAnuff started in the final and provided assists for both Reading goals but was unable to prevent them losing the game 4 – 2.[14]Ivar Ingimarsson andMatt Mills both left the club in the months following the play-off final defeat and on 13 July 2011, days after extending his contract until 2014, McAnuff was named as the new Reading captain.[15] On being named captain he paid tribute to his predecessors and described it as a "massive honour".[16]
The 2012–13 season saw McAnuff playing in thePremier League for the first time in his twelve-year career. By 27 November, he had laid on four goals for his teammates, lying joint third in the league assists table.[17] He had to wait until February for his first goal of the season, scoring in Reading's 2–1FA Cup fifth round defeat toManchester United at Old Trafford.[18]
He left the club at the end of the 2013–14 season.[19] McAnuff gave an exclusive interview to Get Reading saying he is fine over not getting a renewed contract, though he went on to say: "My time at Reading has been fantastic. It's been a thoroughly enjoyable chapter of my life, a stable one as well. Five seasons is a large chunk of my career. I've captained the club with massive amounts of pride and enjoyment. I've had many great times, the Championship win obviously, and also some bad ones as well. But it's been a fantastic experience. It's a time of my career I'll never forget."[20]
On 25 July 2014, McAnuff signed a two-year deal withLeague One sideLeyton Orient.[21] In May 2016, he was released from Leyton Orient when it was announced that he would not be retained when his contract expired.[22]
McAnuff began trialing withMinnesota United of theNorth American Soccer League in June 2016.[23] McAnuff made an appearance for Minnesota United in an international friendly againstLiga MX sideClub León on 25 June 2016 in the first ever football match atTarget Field.[24]
On 19 July 2016 McAnuff signed forLeague Two teamStevenage on a free transfer.[25]
On 20 July 2017, it was announced that McAnuff would return to Leyton Orient. He captained the side in the 2018–19 season and went on to win the league title. He later signed a further contract extension and moved into a player/coach role.
He was madeinterim manager of Leyton Orient on 28 February 2021 following the sacking ofRoss Embleton[26] He retired from playing at the end of the2020–21 season. He was released from his management duties and left the club on 8 May 2021.[27][28]
Born in England, McAnuff qualifies to play forJamaica through his Jamaican born father.[29] He made his international debut on 18 May 2002 in the 'Unity Cup', an exhibition game againstNigeria atLoftus Road, coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute replacingOmar Daley.[30] On 24 January 2013, more than ten years after he won his first cap, McAnuff was called up to the Jamaica squad to faceMexico on 7 February alongside fellowReading playersAdrian Mariappa andGarath McCleary.[31] He started the game and helped Jamaica to a 0–0 draw in theEstadio Azteca.[32][33] McAnuff was in the Jamaican squad which won the2014 Caribbean Cup on home soil, scoring in thepenalty shootout following their goalless draw againstTrinidad and Tobago in the final inMontego Bay.[34] At the 2016 Copa América held in the United States he made appearances in all 3 of Jamaica's group games.[35]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wimbledon | 2001–02[36] | First Division | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | |
| 2002–03[37] | First Division | 31 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 34 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04[38] | First Division | 27 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 5 | ||
| Total | 96 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 104 | 15 | |||
| West Ham United | 2003–04[38] | First Division | 12 | 1 | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05[39] | Championship | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 13 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | ||||
| Cardiff City | 2004–05[39] | Championship | 43 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 48 | 3 | |
| Crystal Palace | 2005–06[40] | Championship | 41 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 47 | 8 |
| 2006–07[41] | Championship | 34 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 36 | 6 | ||
| Total | 75 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 14 | ||
| Watford | 2007–08[42] | Championship | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 43 | 2 |
| 2008–09[43] | Championship | 40 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 45 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10[44] | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 82 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 5 | ||
| Reading | 2009–10[44] | Championship | 36 | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11[45] | Championship | 40 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 47 | 5 | |
| 2011–12[46] | Championship | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 42 | 5 | ||
| 2012–13[47] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14[48] | Championship | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 2 | ||
| Total | 189 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 206 | 16 | ||
| Leyton Orient | 2014–15[49] | League One | 34 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 38 | 3 |
| 2015–16[50] | League Two | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | |
| Total | 51 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 6 | ||
| Stevenage | 2016–17[51] | League Two | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 4 |
| Leyton Orient | 2017–18[52] | National League | 37 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 40 | 6 | |
| 2018–19[53] | National League | 38 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | 43 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20[54] | League Two | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[55] | League Two | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 3 | |
| Total | 109 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 120 | 14 | ||
| Career total | 689 | 70 | 32 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 17 | 1 | 757 | 78 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 June 2015 | StubHub Center,Carson, United States | 17 |  Costa Rica | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Leyton Orient |  | 28 February 2021 | 8 May 2021 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 037.50 | [57] |
| Total | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 21 | −4 | 037.50 | — | |||
Reading
Leyton Orient
Jamaica
Individual
Jamaica squads | |||||||||||||
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