Andy King (footballer, born 1988) explained

Andy King
Fullname:Andrew Philip King[1]
Birth Date:29 October 1988
Birth Place:Barnstaple, England
Height:1.84m (06.04feet)[2]
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1998–2004
Youthclubs1:Chelsea
Youthyears2:2004–2006
Youthclubs2:Leicester City
Years1:2006–2020
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:329
Goals1:55
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Swansea City (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:2
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Derby County (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:0
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Rangers (loan)
Caps4:2
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:Huddersfield Town (loan)
Caps5:14
Goals5:0
Years6:2021
Clubs6:OH Leuven
Caps6:1
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–2024
Clubs7:Bristol City
Caps7:55
Goals7:1
Totalcaps:416
Totalgoals:58
Nationalyears1:2007–2008
Nationalteam1:Wales U19
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2007–2010
Nationalteam2:Wales U21
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2009–2018
Nationalteam3:Wales
Nationalcaps3:50
Nationalgoals3:2

Andrew Philip King (born 29 October 1988) is a former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

He spent the majority of his career with Leicester City, making 379 appearances across all competitions and scoring 62 goals. He won the League One, Championship and Premier League titles in 2009, 2014 and 2016 respectively, making him the first and only player to win the top three divisions with the same team in the Premier League era.[3]

Born in England, King is a Wales international, qualifying through his grandfather. He made his international debut in 2009, and has gone on to earn 50 caps. He was part of the team that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016.

Early life

King was born in Barnstaple, Devon on holiday and was brought up in Maidenhead, Berkshire.[4] He attended Furze Platt Senior School and joined Chelsea when he was nine years old.[5] [6] After being released in 2004 when he was 15 years old, he joined the Leicester City youth academy.[7]

Club career

Leicester City

Academy and early career

He was given a squad number for the 2006–07 season.[8] During that season, King scored eight goals in 21 appearances for the Leicester academy side, which saw them win the FA Premier League Group B.[9]

King was offered his first professional contract with Leicester on 5 May 2007.[10] He also went on trial with Conference National team York City in August,[9] and after playing in a pre-season friendly against Sheffield he turned down a possible loan move to the club on the advice of his agent.[11] King made his first team debut in a 0–0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 October 2007,[12] before scoring his first senior goal with a 35-yard shot described as a "rocket" in a 2–1 defeat to Southampton on 1 December.[13] He made 11 league appearances as Leicester were relegated to League One at the end of the 2007–08 season.

2008–09 season

King's impressive start the following season earned him a new three-year contract on 21 August 2008.[7] He scored his first goal of the season in a 3–2 League Cup defeat to Fulham on 27 August, scoring from 18 yards.[14] He went on to score nine league goals to help Leicester secure their promotion as League One champions. His performances earned him the club's young player of the season award on 28 April 2009. He was also nominated for players' player of the season and player of the season awards, but lost out to teammates Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard.[15] King dedicated his award to team captain Stephen Clemence, who missed the entire season through injury.[16]

2009–10 season

During pre-season, King believed the Leicester squad was good enough to challenge for promotion.[17] He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle at the Walkers Stadium on 21 November 2009.[18] Following a fine start to the 2009–10 season, King said on 23 November there is a firm belief that the team can win promotion to the Premier League.[19] He drew praise from then-manager Nigel Pearson after scoring his fourth goal of the season in a 2–1 FA Cup win over Swansea City on 2 January 2010.[20] His overall performance earned him the players' player of the year award on 28 April 2010 which he shared with teammate Jack Hobbs.[21]

2010–11 season

King had his best season yet in terms of goalscoring in 2010–11, as he ended up the club's top scorer, netting 15 times in the league and 16 times in all competitions from midfield.[22] He earned himself a four-year contract on 15 April 2011, keeping him at the club until 2015.[23] Three days later, King's form that season was acknowledged by his fellow professionals as he was named in the Championship's PFA Team of the Year with teammate Kyle Naughton.[24] He then took the club's players' player of the season award for the second season in a row.[25]

2011–12 season

King began the 2011–12 season with a goal drought, scoring just one goal in his first 14 games of the season, but got back on track, netting a brace against West Ham United on 29 October 2011, the first game following Sven-Göran Eriksson's sacking as manager,[26] before adding his fourth of the season at home to Blackpool a month later. However, the latter part of his season was disrupted due to injury.[27] King finished the season scoring 4 times in 32 games across all competitions, King's lowest goal and appearance tally since becoming a first team regular in the 2008–09 season.

2012–13 season

King regained his form at the beginning of the following season though, scoring a goal in both the opening 2012–13 Championship fixtures against Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic respectively.[28] King's central midfield partner often changed between Matty James and Danny Drinkwater with former forming a formidable partnership with King in the latter part of the season as Leicester attempted to get their promotion push back on track. King scored his 50th goal for Leicester on the final day of the 2012–13 season away at Nottingham Forest, a game that city won 3–2, a result that clinched 6th place and the final play-off position. King scored 7 times during the 2012–13 season in 48 games.

2013–14 season

King started the 2013–14 Championship season how he finished the last: Scoring twice in the first 8 games, both fantastic strikes against Birmingham City and Blackpool. The former was voted the Foxes goal of the month for August and the latter a show in for September's award. King's first goal of the season also marked his 250th Leicester appearance. Due to the form of Drinkwater and James, King found opportunities limited to substitute appearances.[29] King scored his 54th goal for the Foxes in their 2–2 draw against Wigan Athletic on 1 April 2014, making him the club's highest scoring midfielder in their 130-year history as Leicester made their way to the 2013–14 Football League Championship and promotion to the Premier League.

2014–15 season

King made his Premier League debut, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–2, opening day draw with Everton, putting in an impressive display, finishing the match with a 95.6% pass completion record.[30] King signed a new four-year contract with the club on his 26th birthday, 29 October 2014, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2018, stating that he would love it if he spent his entire career with the Foxes.[31] On 4 April 2015, King scored his 50th league goal for Leicester, a late winner in the 2–1 Premier League victory over West Ham United.[32] On 29 April 2015, King made his 300th appearance for the club in the 1–3 defeat to Chelsea, the club that released him as a teenager.[33]

2015–16 season

King started the new campaign in the Leicester team, playing the full 90 minutes as Leicester topped the Premier League table following a 4–2 win against Sunderland at the King Power Stadium on 8 August 2015, with new manager Claudio Ranieri singling out him and midfield partner Danny Drinkwater for praise.[34] [35] He won the league title on 2 May 2016, becoming the first player to win the top three divisions with the same club in the Premier League era;[3] Roy Bailey, Larry Carberry, John Elsworthy, Jimmy Leadbetter and Ted Phillips having previously achieved the feat with Ipswich Town in the 1950s and 1960s.

Andy King became the fourth Welsh footballer to win the Premier League, after Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Clayton Blackmore.[36]

2016–17 season

On 29 July 2016, King signed a new four-year contract.[37] He made his Champions League debut for Leicester on 18 October 2016, contributing in a 1–0 victory over F.C. Copenhagen at the King Power Stadium.[38] He scored his first goal of the season in a 4–2 home win against Manchester City on 10 October 2016, his 10th consecutive season of scoring for the Foxes.[39] He scored his second goal of the season against Derby County in the FA Cup, captaining Leicester City to a 3–1 home win.[40]

Later years and loans

On 31 January 2018, King was sent on loan to Premier League club Swansea City until the end of the season.[41] He scored twice for the eventually relegated Swans.[42] [43]

Upon his return to Leicester, King's number 10 shirt was reassigned to James Maddison, with King himself taking number 37.[44] On 6 January 2019, King played for the first time of the season for Leicester in the FA Cup defeat against League Two side Newport County. He came on as a substitute for Matty James.[45]

King joined Derby County on loan on 31 January 2019, signing until the end of the season.[46] On 25 February, he suffered an ankle injury away to Nottingham Forest, and was ruled out for the rest of the season.[47] His loan deal was cut short as a result and he returned to Leicester on 28 February.[48]

On 15 August 2019, Rangers announced they had signed King on a season-long loan.[49] The Scottish Premiership club cut the deal short on 5 January after just five games.[50]

On 16 January 2020 King joined Huddersfield of the Championship on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season.[51] His parent club confirmed on 18 June that he would be released at the end of the season.[52]

OH Leuven

On 5 January 2021, King signed for Belgian First Division A side OH Leuven on a deal until the end of the season.[53]

Bristol City

On 2 July 2021, King signed for Championship club Bristol City on a one-year deal.[54] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss at Middlesbrough on 14 August 2021.[55] On 30 June 2022, King became a player-coach with the club.[56] On 3 May 2024, King announced that he would retire from football after the final game of the 2023–24 season.[57]

International career

King qualified to play for Wales through a grandfather from Wrexham.[58] He won caps for Wales under-19 and under-21 international, receiving his first call-up on 10 October 2007.[59] He scored his first goal in a 5–1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying win over Luxembourg under-21 on 31 March 2009.[60] He was in the squad that narrowly lost out to England in the play-offs for a spot at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

On 22 May 2009, King received his first call-up to the senior Wales squad when he was named in manager John Toshack's squad for a friendly match against Estonia.[61] [62] Despite naming King in the squad, Toshack admitted that he was not yet ready for international football.[63] He made his debut as a last-minute substitute for Ched Evans in a 1–0 victory.[64] King's first international goal came on 11 August 2010 in a 5–1 friendly victory over Luxembourg at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.[65]

King was a regular in Wales' successful UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. He was given a straight red card in the 47th minute on 13 October 2014, in a home qualifier against Cyprus, for a foul on Constantinos Makrides. However Wales won 2–1, the same score at the time of the red card.[66] Manager Chris Coleman blamed the attitude of himself and his staff for aggressively rallying the team prior to King's red card.[67]

On 31 May 2016, King was included in Wales' 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[68] King made his debut in the tournament as a substitute in Wales' 3–0 victory against Russia on 20 June, as Wales won Group B.[69]

On 2 September 2017, King came on as a half time substitute to help Wales to a 1–0 victory against Austria in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. This was his 40th cap, therefore breaking Northern Irishman John O'Neill's record for most caps while a Leicester player.[70]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City2007–08Championship1111000121
2008–09League One4594121305411
2009–10Championship4391110214711
2010–11Championship451521305016
2011–12Championship3041010324
2012–13Championship427202020487
2013–14Championship3041020334
2014–15Premier League2421010262
2015–16Premier League2522021293
2016–17Premier League23131104010322
2017–18Premier League1111030151
2018–19Premier League00100010
Total32955204182408137962
Swansea City (loan)2017–18Premier League11200112
Derby County (loan)2018–19Championship4040
Rangers (loan)2019–20Scottish Premiership200020100050
Huddersfield Town (loan)2019–20Championship14000000000140
OH Leuven2020–21[71] Belgian Pro League100010
Bristol City2021–22Championship1411000151
2022–23Championship2602030310
2023–24Championship1501020180
Total5514050641
Career total41658245252508147865

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales200930
201031
201150
201240
201381
201450
201540
201670
201750
201860
Total502

Wales score listed first, score column indicates score after each King goal.

List of international goals scored by Andy King
scope=colNo.scope=col data-sort-type=dateDatescope=colVenuescope=colCapscope=colOpponentscope=colScorescope=colResultscope=colCompetitionscope=col class=unsortable
scope=row style="text-align: center"111 August 2010Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales43–15–1Friendly
scope=row style="text-align: center"216 November 2013Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales231–01–1Friendly[72]

Honours

Leicester City

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 . 2010 . Mainstream Publishing . Edinburgh . 978-1-84596-601-0 . 236.
  2. Web site: Andy King . Leicester City F.C. . 22 December 2018.
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36199896 Leicester City: Andy King on his rise from Champions League mascot to player
  4. News: Friday Interview: King gets taste of the big time . Leicester Mercury . 3 October 2008 . 13 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140414122638/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Friday-Interview-King-gets-taste-big-time/story-12094004-detail/story.html . 14 April 2014.
  5. News: Andy King at the Raffle . Cookham Dean F.C . 26 December 2009 . 13 April 2014.
  6. News: The Friday Interview: The more I play, the better I will get – Leicester City's Andy King . Leicester Mercury . 5 February 2010 . 27 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195802/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Friday-Interview-play-better-8211-Leicester-City-star-Andy-King/story-12069840-detail/story.html . 29 October 2013.
  7. News: King of the Castle . Leicester City F.C . 21 August 2008 . 21 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080919142622/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1371836%2C00.html . 19 September 2008 . dead.
  8. Web site: Leicester City . FootballSquads . 2 August 2007.
  9. News: Dave . Flett . City check out Leicester duo . The Press . York . 2 August 2007 . 27 October 2013.
  10. News: Young Stars Make The Grade . Leicester City F.C . 23 May 2007 . 27 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120218091507/https://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1021228%2C00.html . 18 February 2012 . dead.
  11. News: Dave . Flett . One-year York deal for Jones . The Press . York . 8 August 2007 . 27 October 2013.
  12. News: Leicester 0–0 Wolves . BBC Sport . 2 October 2007 . 10 April 2009.
  13. News: Leicester 1–2 Southampton . BBC Sport . 1 December 2007 . 10 April 2009.
  14. News: Fulham 3–2 Leicester . BBC Sport . 27 August 2008 . 28 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080831034923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/7576510.stm . 31 August 2008 . live.
  15. News: Howard bags club gong . Leicester City F.C . 28 April 2009 . 29 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090430040050/https://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1642325%2C00.html . 30 April 2009 . dead.
  16. News: Steve Howard wins Leicester City player-of-the-year award . Leicester Mercury . 29 April 2009 . 27 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195807/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Steve-Howard-wins-Leicester-City-player-year-award/story-12052783-detail/story.html . 29 October 2013.
  17. News: King ponders Premier League place . BBC Sport . 6 July 2009 . 27 October 2013.
  18. News: Leicester 1–0 Plymouth . BBC Sport . 21 November 2009 . 20 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100128054648/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/8351145.stm . 28 January 2010 . live.
  19. News: King confident on promotion goal . BBC Sport . 23 November 2009 . 27 October 2013.
  20. News: Leicester's Nigel Pearson hails midfielder Andy King . BBC Sport . 4 January 2010 . 7 January 2010.
  21. News: Hobbs Lands Awards Double . Leicester City F.C. . 27 April 2010 . 28 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100429153427/https://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~2037129%2C00.html . 29 April 2010 . dead.
  22. Web site: Goal Scorers – 2010/11 . The Football League . 27 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131108084830/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Goalscorers/0,,10794~201010274~7,00.html . 8 November 2013.
  23. News: King Commits To Foxes Until 2015 . Leicester City F.C. . 18 April 2011 . 27 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110420124800/https://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~2339706%2C00.html . 20 April 2011 . dead.
  24. News: Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award . BBC Sport . 17 April 2011 . 24 May 2018.
  25. Web site: Richie Wellens and Andy King top polls in Leicester City awards . https://archive.today/20140828200835/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/wellens-king-polls/story-12083090-detail/story.html. dead. 28 August 2014 . Leicester Mercury . 28 August 2014 . 4 May 2011.
  26. News: West Ham Utd vs Leicester City . Leicester City F.C. . 29 October 2011 . 27 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120101112602/http://www.lcfc.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10274~58179%2C00.html . 1 January 2012 . dead.
  27. News: Leicester City v Blackpool . Leicester City F.C. . 29 November 2011 . 27 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313104258/http://www.lcfc.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10274~58519%2C00.html . 13 March 2012 . dead.
  28. News: Leicester City v Peterborough . BBC Sport . 18 August 2012.
  29. Web site: I'll sacrifice my starting spot for promotion, says Leicester City's Andy King | Leicester Mercury . leicestermercury.co.uk . 18 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140314080359/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/ll-sacrifice-starting-spot-promotion-says/story-20787183-detail/story.html . 14 March 2014.
  30. Web site: Andy King statistics 2014/15 . whoscored.com . 17 August 2014.
  31. Web site: Andy King Signs New Leicester City Deal . Leicester City . 11 January 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150614035526/http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/291014-andy-king-signs-new-leicester-city-deal-2049085.aspx#6DfUD9GRXyOOBZvY.99 . 14 June 2015 . dead .
  32. Web site: Report: Leicester City 2 West Ham 1 . Leicester City . 10 April 2015.
  33. Web site: Report: Leicester City 1 Chelsea 3 . Leicester City . 16 August 2015.
  34. Web site: Report: Leicester City 4 Sunderland 2 . Leicester City . 15 August 2015.
  35. Web site: Concentration Key For Claudio . Leicester City . 15 August 2015.
  36. Web site: Every Welsh Player To Win The Premier League – Football Stories . 27 February 2023 . 2023-02-27 . en-US.
  37. News: Andy King: Midfielder signs four-year deal with champions Leicester . 30 July 2016 . BBC Sport . 29 July 2016.
  38. Web site: Leicester City 1–0 FC Copenhagen . 18 October 2016 . BBC.
  39. News: Leicester City 4–2 Manchester City Leicester . 12 December 2016 . BBC Sport . 10 December 2016.
  40. News: Leicester City 3–1 Derby County Leicester . 8 February 2017 . BBC Sport . 8 February 2017.
  41. Web site: Andy King: Swansea City take Leicester City and Wales midfielder on loan . 1 February 2018 . BBC Sport . 1 February 2018.
  42. News: Hall . Pete . Swansea 4-1 West Ham: Hosts move out of the bottom three with comfortable win . 24 February 2021 . Sky Sports . 3 March 2018.
  43. News: Relegated Stoke take Swansea down into Championship with them . 24 February 2021 . The Guardian . 13 May 2018.
  44. Web site: Andy King sends classy message to James Maddison after Leicester City reveal squad numbers. 10 August 2018. Leicester Mercury. Richard. Cusack. 7 January 2019.
  45. Web site: Newport County 2–1 Leicester City . 6 January 2019. BBC. Michael. Pearlman. 7 January 2019.
  46. Web site: Andy King Joins Derby County On Loan. Leicester City FC. 31 January 2019.
  47. Web site: King Ruled Out For The Rest Of The Season . 28 February 2019. Derby County FC. 28 February 2019.
  48. Web site: Derby midfielder Andy King ruled out for rest of season with ankle injury. Sky Sports. 28 February 2019. 1 March 2019.
  49. News: Andy King: Rangers sign Leicester midfielder on season-long loan . BBC Sport .
  50. News: Rangers cut short King loan. Sky Sports. 5 January 2020. 7 January 2020.
  51. News: Huddersfield sign Foxes midfielder King. BBC Sport.
  52. News: Midfielder King to leave Leicester. BBC Sport.
  53. Web site: Andy King: Wales' ex-Leicester midfielder joins Oud-Heverlee Leuven in Belgium . BBC Sport . 5 January 2021.
  54. Web site: Andy King: Bristol City sign ex-Leicester City midfielder on one-year deal. BBC. 2 July 2021. 2 July 2021.
  55. News: Middlesbrough 2–1 Bristol City . . 14 August 2021 . 15 August 2021.
  56. Web site: PLAYER-COACH ROLE FOR KING. Bristol City FC. 30 June 2022. 22 February 2023.
  57. Web site: King announces retirement. Bristol City F.C.. 3 May 2024. 5 May 2024.
  58. News: Wathan . Chris . How these nine English-born footballers came to be Wales' Euro 2016 heroes . 16 June 2016 . Wales Online . 14 June 2016.
  59. News: King Earns Welsh Recognition . Leicester City F.C . 10 October 2007 . 10 October 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071012044607/http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1131790%2C00.html . 12 October 2007 . dead.
  60. News: Wales U21 5–1 Luxembourg U21 . BBC Sport . 31 March 2009 . 5 April 2009.
  61. News: King of Wales . Leicester City F.C . 22 May 2009 . 22 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090524053132/http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~1664695%2C00.html . 24 May 2009 . dead.
  62. News: Wales v Estonia – Nationwide International match . The Football Association of Wales . 22 May 2009 . 22 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090527073306/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/1354 . 27 May 2009 . live.
  63. News: Uncapped trio not ready – Toshack . BBC Sport . 22 May 2009 . 5 February 2010.
  64. News: Wales 1–0 Estonia . BBC Sport . 29 May 2009 . 30 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090518043454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8046478.stm . 18 May 2009 . live.
  65. News: David . Dulin . Wales 5–1 Luxembourg . BBC Sport . 11 August 2010 . 4 March 2016.
  66. News: Wales 2–1 Cyprus . 14 October 2014 . BBC Sport . 13 October 2014.
  67. News: Wales: Sent-off Andy King not to blame, says Chris Coleman . 14 October 2014 . BBC Sport . 13 October 2014.
  68. News: Euro 2016: Wales include Joe Ledley in 23-man squad for Euro 2016 . 22 June 2016 . BBC Sport . 31 May 2016.
  69. News: Russia 0–3 Wales . 22 June 2016 . BBC Sport . 22 June 2016.
  70. News: King Breaks Leicester City Record . 3 September 2017 . Leicester City Football Club . 2 September 2017.
  71. Web site: Andrew Philip King . Jupiter Pro League . 16 June 2021.
  72. News: Bruce . Pope . Wales 1–1 Finland . BBC Sport . 16 November 2013 . 4 March 2016.
  73. Web site: Andy King: Overview . Premier League . 17 April 2018.
  74. Web site: A. King: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 17 April 2018.