Chris Rigg Explained

Chris Rigg
Fullname:Christopher John Rigg[1]
Birth Date:18 June 2007
Birth Place:Hebburn, England
Currentclub:Sunderland
Clubnumber:11
Position:Attacking midfielder
Youthclubs1:Sunderland
Years1:2023–
Clubs1:Sunderland
Caps1:23
Goals1:2
Nationalyears1:2022
Nationalteam1:England U15
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2022–2023
Nationalteam2:England U16
Nationalcaps2:9
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2022–
Nationalteam3:England U17
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:England U18
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:18:21, 18 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:21:12, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Christopher John Rigg (born 18 June 2007) is an English professional footballer who is playing as a midfielder for club Sunderland.

Club career

Early life

Rigg was born in Hebburn.[2] He joined Sunderland while still in primary school.[2]

Sunderland

With Sunderland facing numerous injuries in their squad, Rigg was named on the bench for the EFL Championship game against Blackpool on 1 January 2023.[3] Less than a week later, he was again named on the bench, alongside fellow young player Tom Watson, for an FA Cup third round game against Shrewsbury Town, with manager Tony Mowbray saying Rigg was "really impressive", having watched him train with the first team.[4]

Rigg made his professional debut in the game against Shrewsbury Town on 7 January 2023, coming on as a substitute for Édouard Michut in a 2–1 win.[5] In doing so, he became the second youngest player in Sunderland history, behind Derek Forster.[4] Following his debut, he was promoted to the Sunderland first team, having to train with the squad only one or two days a week, as he was still in school at the time.[6] Rigg's second appearance came in the following round of the FA Cup against Fulham, replacing Patrick Roberts in the 86th minute. In injury time, with the score at 1–1, he received a cut back from Abdoullah Ba before firing a shot into the roof of the Fulham net, only to have the goal disallowed due to Ba being offside.[7] He scored his first competitive goal for Sunderland in an EFL Cup tie against Crewe Alexandra on 8 August 2023.[8] With this goal, he not only became Sunderland's youngest ever goalscorer, but also the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history.[9] On 2 September, Rigg scored on his league debut against Southampton, netting the final goal in a 5–0 home win.[10] In doing so he became Sunderland's youngest ever league goalscorer, breaking a record held by Jimmy Hamilton for over half a century.[11]

International career

Rigg has represented England at youth international level.[1] He captained England at under-16 level, before being promoted to the under-17 squad while still only fifteen.[2] He made his England U18 debut during a 1-1 draw with Belgium in Marbella on 11 October 2023.[12]

On 2 November 2023, Rigg was included in the England squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[13] He played his first game of the competition as a starter against Iran, winning the game 2-1.[14] Rigg came off the bench as a substitute in their next group game against Brazil and then started in the round of sixteen defeat against Uzbekistan.[15] [16]

On 20 May 2024, Rigg was included in the England squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[17] He captained the side during the tournament including their quarter-final elimination by Italy.[18]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2022–23Championship0030000030
2023–24Championship2120011223
2024–25Championship20001030
Career total232302100283

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chris Rigg. WorldFootball.net. 7 January 2023.
  2. Web site: Scott. Wilson. Who is Chris Rigg - Sunderland's youngest outfield player. 9 January 2023. 9 January 2023. thenorthernecho.co.uk. 9 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230109103116/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23237130.chris-rigg---sunderlands-youngest-outfield-player/. live.
  3. Web site: The story of Chris Rigg's remarkable Sunderland call-up - and what happens next. Phil. Smith. 2 January 2023. 7 January 2023. sunderlancecho.com. 7 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230107164928/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/the-story-of-chris-riggs-remarkable-sunderland-call-up-and-what-happens-next-3971605. live.
  4. Web site: Sunderland 15-year-old Chris Rigg ready for debut as Tony Mowbray makes 'impressive' statement. James. Hunter. 5 January 2023. 7 January 2023. chroniclelive.co.uk. 6 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230106121321/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-15-year-old-chris-25904495. live.
  5. Web site: Shrewsbury Town 1–2 Sunderland. 7 January 2023. 7 January 2023. BBC Sport. 7 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230107124502/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64167957. live.
  6. Web site: 'Pretty sure': Tony Mowbray explains the next steps in Chris Rigg's incredible Sunderland journey. Phil. Smith. 8 January 2023 . 9 January 2023. sunderlandecho.com. 9 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230109133249/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/pretty-sure-tony-mowbray-explains-the-next-steps-in-chris-riggs-incredible-sunderland-journey-3978253. live.
  7. Web site: Chris Rigg denied 'incredible' Fulham moment as Sunderland earn FA Cup replay. Matty. Hewitt. 29 January 2023. 29 January 2023. chroniclelive.co.uk. 29 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230129214718/https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chris-rigg-sunderland-fa-cup-26101073. live.
  8. News: Sunderland 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (pens 3-5) - Visitors win on penalties in Carabao Cup first round. BBC Sport. 8 August 2023. 10 August 2023.
  9. Web site: EFL. 9 August 2023. Sunderland’s Chris Rigg makes Carabao Cup history. 2 September 2023. EFL.
  10. News: Newsum. Matt. 2 September 2023. Sunderland put five past in-form Southampton. en-GB. BBC Sport. 20 September 2023.
  11. Web site: Hunter. James. 3 September 2023. Sunderland's teen star Chris Rigg rewrites the record books again. 20 September 2023. ChronicleLive. en.
  12. News: Report: Belgium 1-1 England MU18s. Nicholas. Veevers. EnglandFootball.com. 11 October 2023. 12 October 2023.
  13. News: England squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Frank. Smith. EnglandFootball.com. 2 November 2023. 12 November 2023.
  14. Web site: 8 June 2024. England 2-1 Iran. 14 November 2023. ESPN.
  15. Web site: 8 June 2024. England 1-2 Brazil. 17 November 2023. ESPN.
  16. Web site: 8 June 2024. England 1-2 Uzbekistan. 22 November 2023. ESPN.
  17. Web site: England MU17s squad named for EURO Finals. EnglandFootball.com. 21 May 2024. 20 May 2024. Nicholas. Veevers.
  18. Web site: Report: England MU17s 1-1 Italy (4-5 on pens). EnglandFootball.com. 8 June 2024. 30 May 2024. Juliet. Nottingham.