Joe Gelhardt Explained

Joe Gelhardt
Full Name:Joseph Paul Gelhardt[1]
Birth Date:4 May 2002
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Height:1.75m (05.74feet)[2]
Position:Attacking Midfielder
Currentclub:Leeds United
Clubnumber:30
Youthyears1:2013–2018
Youthclubs1:Wigan Athletic
Years1:2018–2020
Clubs1:Wigan Athletic
Caps1:19
Goals1:1
Years2:2020–
Clubs2:Leeds United
Caps2:42
Goals2:2
Years3:2023
Clubs3:Sunderland (loan)
Caps3:18
Goals3:3
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:England U16
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalteam2:England U17
Nationalcaps2:15
Nationalgoals2:12
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:England U18
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:4
Nationalyears4:2021
Nationalteam4:England U20
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:2
Club-Update:15 February 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:16 October 2019 (UTC)

Joseph Paul Gelhardt (born 4 May 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Leeds United.

Club career

Wigan Athletic

Born in Liverpool, Gelhardt grew up in Netherton, Merseyside, where he attended Chesterfield High School.[3] He joined Wigan Athletic at the age of ten in 2013, progressing through the youth teams before being offered a scholarship deal in 2017.[4] He made his professional debut for Wigan Athletic on 14 August 2018, appearing as a substitute against Rotherham United in the first round of the EFL Cup.[5]

On 24 August 2018, he signed his first professional contract with the club. He made his League debut on 27 April 2019, appearing as a half-time substitute against Birmingham City. On 14 September 2019, he scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Hull City.[6]

Gelhardt made 19 appearances in all competitions with 18 coming in the EFL Championship during the 2019–20 season, as Wigan were relegated from the Championship after a 12-point penalty saw them drop into the relegation places.[7] [8]

Leeds United

On 10 August 2020, Gelhardt signed a four-year contract with Premier League club Leeds United. He made his senior debut for Leeds United on 21 September 2021 as a second-half substitute for Mateusz Klich in the EFL Cup third round match against EFL Championship side Fulham. The match ended 0–0 with Leeds winning 6–5 on penalties, Gelhardt scoring the seventh of Leeds' eight penalties.[9] Gelhardt made his Premier League debut for Leeds on 16 October as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 defeat to Southampton.[10] On 11 December 2021, Gelhardt scored his first goal for Leeds in a 2–3 away league defeat to rivals Chelsea[11] and he netted his second on 13 March 2022: a dramatic added-time 2–1 winner at Elland Road against Norwich City.[12]

In the 2022–23 season, Gelhardt's 10 appearances through the end of October were mostly limited to late substitutions, mostly for Sinisterra and Rodrigo, allowing little time for him to impress himself on the direction of the game.

Loan to Sunderland

On 27 January 2023, Gelhardt joined Championship play-off pushing side Sunderland on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[13] He scored his first goal for Sunderland on 21 February 2023 in a 2–1 defeat to Rotherham United.[14]

International career

Gelhardt scored for the England under-16 team in a 3–3 draw against Brazil at the 2018 Montaigu Tournament.[15]

In September 2018, Gelhardt scored twice for the England under-17 team against Norway and also came off the bench to score against Belgium.[16] The following month saw him score against the United States and twice in a game against Russia.[17] [18] In March 2019, Gelhardt scored in a 3–2 win against Denmark that confirmed qualification for the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[19] In April 2019, Gelhardt was included in the England U17 squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championships and scored in a 3–1 victory over Sweden under-17s as the Young Lions bowed out of the competition at the group stage.[20] [21]

Gelhardt made his U18 debut as a 79th-minute substitute during the 3–2 win over Australia at Hinckley Leicester Road on 6 September 2019.[22] On 2 October 2020, Gelhardt was named in the England U19 squad.[23]

On 6 September 2021, Gelhardt made his debut for the England U20s scoring a brace during a 6–1 victory over Romania U20s at St. George's Park.[24]

Gelhardt received his first call up to the England U21s on 4 October 2021, as an injury replacement for Noni Madueke.[25]

Style of play

Gelhardt is left footed and plays mainly as a striker; he can also play as a second striker, wide forward or as an attacking midfielder.[26] He is known for his dribbling, power and build-up play; his style has been compared to that of Wayne Rooney.[27] [28]

Personal life

Gelhardt supported Liverpool growing up.[29]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wigan Athletic2018–19Championship10001020
2019–20Championship1811000191
Total191101000211
Leeds United U212020–211010
2021–221010
2022–232222
Total0000004242
Leeds United2020–21Premier League00000000
2021–22Premier League2020020222
2022–23Premier League1502020190
2023–24Championship1001021131
Total4523061543
Sunderland (loan)2022–23Championship18320203
Career total756306162909

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 . 1 August 2019 . English Football League .
  2. Web site: Joe Gelhardt . 10 August 2020 . worldfootball.net . en.
  3. Web site: Johnson . Tim . 17 August 2016 . Chesterfield High pupil Joe caps off magnificent season with Three Lions call-up . 19 October 2019 . Visiter.
  4. Web site: 21 December 2017 . 10 Youngsters Offered Scholarships For Next Season . 19 October 2019 . Wigan Athletic.
  5. Web site: 24 August 2018 . Joe Gelhardt commits long-term future to Wigan Athletic . 8 April 2019 . Wigan Athletic.
  6. Web site: 14 September 2019 . Teenager Gelhardt earns Wigan point at Hull . 19 October 2019 . BBC Sport.
  7. Web site: 9 August 2020 . Joe Gelhardt: Leeds United in advanced talks over Wigan Athletic striker . 31 July 2020 . BBC Sport.
  8. News: Urquhart . Joe . 10 August 2020 . Leeds land signature of highly-rated Wigan youngster on a four-year deal . en . . 10 August 2020.
  9. News: Leeds squeeze past Fulham on penalties. BBC Sport .
  10. News: Broja says Saints winner a 'dream come true'. BBC Sport .
  11. News: Poole. Harry. Chelsea 3-2 Leeds United: Stoppage-time Jorginho penalty earns Blues dramatic victory . BBC Sport . 11 December 2021 . 11 December 2021.
  12. News: Taylor . Louise. Gelhardt gives Marsch first Leeds win in dramatic finale against Norwich. The Guardian. 13 March 2022 . 13 March 2022.
  13. Web site: Gelhardt joins from Leeds United. www.safc.com. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023.
  14. News: Rotherham 2-1 Sunderland. . 21 February 2023 . 22 February 2023.
  15. Web site: 5 April 2018 . Gelhardt scores twice as England finish third in Montaigu Tournament . 8 April 2019 . Wigan Athletic.
  16. Web site: 11 September 2018 . Wigan Athletic duo help England U17 to win the 2018 Syrenka Cup in Poland . 8 April 2019 . Wigan Athletic.
  17. Web site: 12 October 2018 . Young Lions stage second-half comeback in Chester to beat USA in tournament opener . 8 April 2019 . The Football Association.
  18. Web site: 14 October 2018 . Joseph Gelhardt hits brace as England U17s beat Russia in Shrewsbury . 8 April 2019 . The Football Association.
  19. Web site: 27 March 2019 . Drama in Denmark as young Lions' late winner seals top spot in Euro qualifying . 8 April 2019 . The Football Association.
  20. Web site: 2 April 2019 . Young Lions squad head for UEFA U17 EURO Finals in the Republic of Ireland this month . 2 April 2019 . The Football Association..
  21. Web site: 9 May 2019 . YOUNG LIONS WIN FINAL GROUP GAME OF U17 EUROS, BUT MISS OUT ON A QUARTER FINAL SPOT . 10 May 2019 . The Football Association..
  22. Web site: 6 September 2019 . ALEX MIGHTEN BLASTS HAT-TRICK TO FIRE ENGLAND U18S TO VICTORY OVER AUSTRALIA . 7 September 2019 . The Football Association..
  23. Web site: 2 October 2020 . Leeds United trio selected for England under-19s squad amidst raft of international calls. 2 October 2020 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  24. Web site: Six at SGP for MU20s. Veevers. Nicholas. 6 September 2021. 18 February 2023. EnglandFootball.com. en.
  25. Web site: England men's under-21s squad updates - October. 4 October 2021. EnglandFootball.com. en.
  26. Web site: 21 July 2020 . Who is Joe Gelhardt? The Wigan striker that Leeds want to sign ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea . 9 August 2020 . BBC Sport.
  27. Web site: 21 July 2020 . Wigan turn to young forward dubbed 'new Wayne Rooney' against Middlesbrough . 9 August 2020 . Teesside Live.
  28. Web site: 9 February 2020 . Everton interested in signing Wigan striker Joe Gelhardt dubbed 'next Wayne Rooney' . 9 August 2020 . Talksport.
  29. Web site: Spencer . Phil . Who is Joe Gelhardt? The Leeds United starlet who admired Liverpool's Fernando Torres, has been compared to Wayne Rooney and won a penalty against Wolves . Talksport. 23 October 2021. 21 November 2021.