Danny Ward (Welsh footballer) explained

Danny Ward
Full Name:Danny Ward[1]
Birth Date:22 June 1993
Birth Place:Wrexham, Wales
Height:1.91m (06.27feet)[2]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Leicester City
Clubnumber:1
Youthyears1:2007–2011
Youthclubs1:Wrexham
Years1:2011–2012
Clubs1:Wrexham
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2011
Clubs2:→ Tamworth (loan)
Caps2:1
Goals2:0
Years3:2012–2018
Clubs3:Liverpool
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2015
Clubs4:→ Morecambe (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:→ Aberdeen (loan)
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2016–2017
Clubs6:→ Huddersfield Town (loan)
Caps6:43
Goals6:0
Years7:2018–
Clubs7:Leicester City
Caps7:27
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2010–2011
Nationalteam1:Wales U19
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2013–2014
Nationalteam2:Wales U21
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2016–
Nationalteam3:Wales
Nationalcaps3:41
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:10:18, 8 May 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:22:31, 9 June 2024 (UTC)

Danny Ward (born 22 June 1993) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Leicester City and the Wales national team.

Ward has previously played for Liverpool and Wrexham, as well as having loan spells at Tamworth, Morecambe, Aberdeen and Huddersfield Town. He was first called up to the Welsh national team in 2013 and made his debut in 2016. He was part of their squad that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016, and the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Club career

Wrexham

Ward was born in Wrexham. He is a product of the Wrexham Academy, signing for them as a 14-year-old in 2007. In the 2010–11 season, Ward was briefly loaned out to fellow Conference Premier team Tamworth, making just one appearance in a league match on 12 March 2011 in a 3–2 loss against Hayes & Yeading United.[3] He returned to Wrexham for the 2011–12 season and was promoted to the first team squad but only made it as far as the bench on a handful of occasions.

Liverpool

On 30 January 2012, it was announced that Liverpool had signed Ward for a fee of around £100,000.[4] He was quickly promoted to the reserve team and featured in the 2011–12 NextGen Series where he played in the semi-finals.[5]

Ward got his first call-up to the Liverpool senior squad in a League Cup game against Swansea City on 31 October 2012 as an unused substitute.[6] His next senior call up wasn't until 12 January 2014 for a Premier League game against Stoke City where Ward was deputising for the injured Brad Jones.

In March 2015, he was loaned to League Two side, Morecambe for one month.[7] [8] On 21 March 2015, he made his Football League debut in an away game against Carlisle United.[9]

By the end of the 2014–15 season, Ward had been Liverpool's substitute goalkeeper in 23 of the club's 58 games, taking his tally of squad call-ups to 25.

On 23 June 2015, Ward signed a new five-year contract at Liverpool, keeping him at the club until 2020.[10] A few days later, he was loaned to Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen.[11] He made his debut for Aberdeen on 2 July 2015, against FK Shkëndija in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[12] After the game, Aberdeen informed UEFA officials that Ward had been targeted by laser beams.[13] On 10 January 2016, Liverpool cut short Ward's loan at Aberdeen and he returned after impressing with 13 clean sheets in all competitions for the Dons, making him a firm fan favourite.[14] On 17 April 2016, Ward made his debut for Liverpool against Bournemouth in place of Simon Mignolet, where Liverpool won 2–1. The Welshman was called into action on several occasions in the second half, denying King twice before making a great late save from Grabban's close-range header.[15] [16]

On 11 July 2016, he signed a season-long loan with Championship side Huddersfield Town.[17] He made his competitive debut for the Terriers in their 2–1 win over Brentford on 6 August 2016.[18] Ward played in the play-offs for promotion, saving a total of three penalties, including the crucial fifth penalty in the final against Reading, to help Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League.[19] [20]

Leicester City

On 20 July 2018, as the arrival of Alisson Becker relegated him to fourth choice at Liverpool, Ward completed a move to fellow Premier League side Leicester City for around £12.5 million on a four-year contract.[21] [22] He made his debut on 28 August in the second round of the EFL Cup, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Fleetwood Town.[23] A month later in the next round, he saved three penalties in a shootout win at Wolverhampton Wanderers after keeping a clean sheet in a goalless draw, and was praised by teammate Marc Albrighton.[24] Ward played only 14 times in his first three seasons at Leicester, and not at all in the league.[25]

On 15 May 2022, Ward made his first Premier League appearance for Leicester—and his first overall since 2016—as the Foxes beat Watford 5–1 at Vicarage Road.[26] Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said that this was because he had chosen for Kasper Schmeichel to play three of the final five games in goal, and the other two for Ward.[27]

Ward became Leicester's first-choice keeper for the 2022–23 season after Schmeichel's departure to Nice.[28] [29] He was dropped in favour of teammate Daniel Iversen in March 2023 after his form was called into question.[30] [31]

International career

Ward has represented Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. He was called up to the senior team for the first time for a friendly match against Finland, and was an unused substitute in the 1–1 draw on 16 November 2013 at the Cardiff City Stadium.[32] [33]

He made his senior debut as a half-time substitute for Wayne Hennessey in an international friendly against Northern Ireland on 24 March 2016, conceding from Craig Cathcart in a 1–1 draw at the same ground.[34] Ward was selected in Wales' 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016 and was handed his first start for his country in his third cap in their opening game of the tournament, a 2–1 victory over Slovakia, after Hennessey suffered a back spasm prior to the match.[35]

Ward missed Wales' participation in the 2018 China Cup when his passport got lost in the post during his visa application, and Michael Crowe was called up in his place.[36]

In May 2021 he was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.[37] Having held down the starting place since Hennessey's thigh strain in November 2020, Ward played all of Wales's matches at the tournament, being knocked out in the last 16 by his Leicester teammate Kasper Schmeichel's Denmark.[25] [38]

In November 2022 he was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[39] He made his World Cup debut on 25 November 2022 against Iran when Hennessey was sent off in the 86th minute, with the game finishing 2–0 to Iran due to two late goals in stoppage time.[40] In fact, Wayne Hennessey was sent off with four minutes to play for a foul while the game was goalless; Then when Danny Ward came in to the ground; Wales made it 2–0 loss in favor of Iran with a late goal by Iranian Esteghlal defender Rouzbeh Cheshmi at 90+8.

Career statistics

Club

Club!rowspan=2
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wrexham2010–11[41] Conference Premier0000—0000
2011–12[42] Conference Premier0000—0000
Total0000—0000
Tamworth (loan)2010–11[43] Conference Premier10———10
Liverpool2014–15Premier League0000000000
2015–16Premier League2000000020
2017–18Premier League0000100010
Total2000100030
Morecambe (loan)2014–15League Two50———50
Aberdeen (loan)2015–16Scottish Premiership210101060290
Huddersfield Town (loan)2016–17Championship430001020460
Leicester City2018–19Premier League001040—50
2019–20Premier League002020—40
2020–21Premier League0020102050
2021–22Premier League1020200050
2022–23Premier League2600020—280
2023–24Championship000000—00
Total2707011020470
Career total990801401001310

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales201630
201710
201810
201920
202030
2021140
202240
2023100
202430
Total410

Honours

Liverpool

Huddersfield Town

2017[45]

Leicester City

2020–21[46]

2021[47]

2023–24[48]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists . Premier League . 26 June 2020 . 10 July 2020 . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118110852/https://www.premierleague.com/news/1697050 . live .
  2. Web site: Danny Ward . 11v11.com . AFS Enterprises . 26 May 2018 . 20 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180720225302/https://www.11v11.com/players/danny-ward-238697/ . live .
  3. Web site: Danny Ward season details 2010/11 . Tamworth Mad . Digital Sports Group . 14 November 2012 . 29 July 2013 . https://archive.today/20130729132842/http://www.tamworth-mad.co.uk/unknown_team_or_unattached/player/season_140/danny_ward_95463/index.shtml . live .
  4. News: Liverpool sign up Wrexham keeper Danny Ward. 30 January 2012. BBC Sport. 11 June 2016. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160326091300/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16800720. live.
  5. Web site: Match Report: Liverpool Reserves 0–6 Ajax . 14 March 2012 . Liverpool F.C. . 14 November 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704001649/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/match/fixtures/reserves/liverpool-reserves-v-ajax-7824/last-match-report . 4 July 2015.
  6. Web site: Liverpool 1–3 Swansea. 31 October 2012. BBC Sport. 11 June 2016. 16 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316084854/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20053696. live.
  7. News: Morecambe: Danny Ward and Aaron Wildig join on loan. 11 June 2016. BBC Sport. 20 March 2015. 30 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630045356/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31986176. live.
  8. Web site: Ward completes Morecambe switch. Liverpool F.C.. 20 March 2015. 20 March 2015. 11 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150911150053/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/181996-ward-completes-morecambe-switch. live.
  9. News: Carlisle 1–1 Morecambe. BBC Sport. 11 June 2016. 31 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131133647/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31882895. live.
  10. Web site: David . Lynch . Danny Ward agrees new Reds deal . Liverpool F.C. . 23 June 2015 . 9 March 2023 . 2 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150802100733/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/latest-news/187493-danny-ward-agrees-new-reds-deal . live .
  11. Web site: Liverpool keeper joins The Dons . Aberdeen F.C. . 26 June 2015 . 26 June 2015 . 28 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160328072229/http://www.afc.co.uk/news/6383 . dead .
  12. News: Shkendija 1–1 Aberdeen. BBC Sport. Spence. Jim. 2 July 2015. 11 June 2016. 11 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011134853/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33350986. live.
  13. Web site: Aberdeen FC contact Uefa over Shkendija laser beams . BBC News . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703095119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-33379784 . live .
  14. Web site: Liverpool to recall goalkeeper Danny Ward from Aberdeen early. 11 June 2016. BBC Sport. 10 January 2015. 2 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160402131112/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35277987. live.
  15. News: Gholam . Simeon . B'mouth 1 – 2 Liverpool – Match Report & Highlights . Sky Sports . 17 April 2016 . 5 May 2016 . 21 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180721132720/http://www.skysports.com/football/bmouth-vs-liverpool/341518 . live .
  16. News: Jones . Neil . Bournemouth 1–2 Liverpool player ratings: Danny Ward impresses on debut, Sturridge and Allen continue to shine . Liverpool Echo . 17 April 2016 . 5 May 2016 . 11 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160511172906/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bournemouth-1-2-liverpool-player-11198670 . live .
  17. Web site: Williams. Sam. Danny Ward signs new LFC deal and joins Huddersfield on loan. Liverpool F.C.. 11 July 2016. 11 July 2016. 15 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815075358/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/227122-danny-ward-signs-new-lfc-deal-and-joins-huddersfield-on-loan. live.
  18. News: Huddersfield Town 2–1 Brentford. 6 August 2016. BBC Sport. 21 July 2018. en-GB. 22 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180722092943/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36929750. live.
  19. News: Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Huddersfield Town (agg: 1–1, 3–4 pens). 17 May 2017. BBC Sport. 21 July 2018. en-GB. 29 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729041653/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39866499. live.
  20. News: Huddersfield Town 0–0 Reading (4–3 pens). 29 May 2017. BBC Sport. 21 July 2018. en-GB. 17 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200217234146/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39995791. live.
  21. News: Leicester City sign Liverpool goalkeeper Danny Ward for £12.5m. BBC Sport. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720183145/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44907738. live.
  22. Web site: Leicester City sign Goalkeeper Danny Ward from Liverpool. 20 July 2018. 20 July 2018. Leicester City F.C.. 20 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720213903/https://www.lcfc.com/news/787580/leicester-city-sign-goalkeeper-danny-ward-from-liverpool/press-release. live.
  23. News: Leicester 4-0 Fleetwood: Rachid Ghezzal strike caps off Foxes stroll . 17 February 2019 . PA Sport . Sky Sports . 28 August 2018 . 18 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218025830/https://www.skysports.com/football/leicester-vs-fleetwood/report/401655 . live .
  24. News: Sharpe . James . Leicester City team-mates hail 'incredible' Danny Ward as keeper plays down penalty heroics . 17 February 2019 . Leicester Mercury . 29 September 2018 . 18 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021320/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-danny-ward-penalties-2047966 . live .
  25. News: Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward: 'This is bigger than people realise' . 27 June 2021 . UEFA . 26 June 2021 . 27 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627181937/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/026a-1298855a0aae-deeb847e9bab-1000--wales-goalkeeper-danny-ward-this-is-bigger-than-people-realise/ . live .
  26. News: Blackwell . Jordan . 15 May 2022 . Leicester City team news v Watford as Ward starts amid three changes . 27 May 2022 . Leicestershire Live . 27 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527173610/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-team-news-v-7083345 . live .
  27. News: Rodgers explains Ward over Schmeichel selection as 'unhealthy' wait ends. Blackwell. Jordan. 15 May 2022. Leicestershire Live. 27 May 2022. 26 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220526113958/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/danny-ward-started-over-kasper-7084389. live.
  28. Web site: Brendan Rodgers happy to make Danny Ward his first-choice goalkeeper. Messenger Newspapers. 6 September 2022. 3 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230403064830/https://www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/sport/national/20607924.brendan-rodgers-happy-make-danny-ward-first-choice-goalkeeper/. live.
  29. Web site: Big shoes to fill - an early review of Danny Ward. fosseposse.sbnation.com. 24 March 2023. 24 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324150234/https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/2022/8/25/23320885/big-shoes-to-fill-an-early-review-of-danny-ward. live.
  30. News: 'We have seen that Ward is not a number one at Premier League level' . 8 August 2023 . BBC Sport . 22 March 2023.
  31. News: Blackwell . Jordan . Danny Ward reacts to being dropped by Leicester City as Brendan Rodgers opts for Daniel Iversen . 9 August 2023 . Leicestershire Live . 30 March 2023.
  32. News: International Friendly: Wales v Finland. 5 February 2018. FourFourTwo. 14 November 2013. 6 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131512/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/international-friendly-wales-v-finland. live.
  33. News: Pope. Bruce. Wales 1–1 Finland. 5 February 2018. BBC Sport. 16 November 2013. 24 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181024073034/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24877936. live.
  34. Web site: Wales v Northern Ireland. BBC Sport. 24 March 2016. 13 February 2018. 25 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170925155903/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35828692. live.
  35. Web site: Euro 2016: Hennessey ruled out of Wales opener with back spasm . BBC Sport . 11 June 2016 . 12 June 2016 . 11 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611213411/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36507888 . live .
  36. News: Danny Ward out of Ryan Giggs' Wales squad after losing passport. Gary. Jacob. 15 March 2018. The Times. 16 March 2018. 29 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181129101718/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/danny-ward-out-of-ryan-giggs-wales-squad-after-losing-passport-xvl0pfnrb. live.
  37. News: Euro 2020: Uncapped Rubin Colwill in Wales' European Championship squad . 27 June 2021 . BBC Sport . 30 May 2021 . 30 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210530191812/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57301006 . live .
  38. News: Watson . Chris . Leicester City fans love what happened after Schmeichel vs Ward battle at Euro 2020 . 27 June 2021 . Leicester Mercury . 26 June 2021 . 26 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210626184714/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/schmeichel-ward-leicester-denmark-wales-5579334 . live .
  39. Web site: The players carrying Welsh hopes at the World Cup. www.bbc.co.uk. 24 March 2023. 23 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221123000714/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63545011. live.
  40. News: Pritchard . Dafydd . Iran loss leaves Wales in danger of World Cup exit . BBC Sport . 2022-11-25 . 25 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221125121417/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63603418 . live .
  41. Book: Mike . Williams . Tony . Williams . Non-League Club Directory 2012 . 2011 . Tony Williams Publications . 978-1-869833-70-1 . 150–151.
  42. Book: Mike . Williams . Tony . Williams . Non-League Club Directory 2013 . 2012 . Tony Williams Publications . 978-1-869833-77-0 . 156–157.
  43. Book: Williams . Williams . Non-League Club Directory 2012 . 144–145.
  44. News: Liverpool 1–3 Sevilla . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 18 May 2016 . 27 May 2018 . 5 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180805010314/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36254631 . live.
  45. News: Huddersfield Town 0–0 Reading . Ian . Woodcock . BBC Sport . 29 May 2017 . 26 May 2018 . 6 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190406064047/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39995791 . live.
  46. News: Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 15 May 2021 . 16 May 2021 . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519215158/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57055571 . live.
  47. News: Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City . Shamoon . Hafez . BBC Sport . 7 August 2021 . 8 August 2021 . 23 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211023093804/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036460 . live.
  48. Web site: Championship: 2023/24: Current table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.
    Web site: Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.

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