Samir Carruthers Explained

Samir Carruthers
Fullname:Samir Badre Carruthers[1]
Birth Date:4 April 1993
Birth Place:Islington, England
Height:[2]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Dartford
Youthclubs1:Cambridge United
Youthyears2:2005–2009
Youthclubs2:Arsenal
Youthyears3:2009–2012
Youthclubs3:Aston Villa
Years1:2012–2014
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2013–2014
Clubs2:Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
Caps2:23
Goals2:2
Years3:2014–2017
Caps3:94
Goals3:4
Years4:2017–2019
Caps4:28
Goals4:1
Years5:2018–2019
Clubs5:Oxford United (loan)
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Years6:2019–2020
Caps6:10
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2022
Clubs7:Hemel Hempstead Town
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Years8:2022
Clubs8:Dartford (loan)
Caps8:6
Goals8:0
Years9:2022–2023
Clubs9:Dartford
Caps9:35
Goals9:10
Years10:2023–2024
Clubs10:Chelmsford City
Caps10:37
Goals10:3
Years11:2024–
Clubs11:Dartford
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Nationalyears1:2011–2012
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps1:10
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2012–2013
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:3
Club-Update:17:10, 3 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:23:59, 14 August 2013

Samir Badre Carruthers (born 4 April 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dartford. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 and U21 level.

With over 160 Football League appearances, his former clubs include Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Milton Keynes Dons, Oxford United, Cambridge United and Dartford.

Club career

Early career

Born in Islington, London, Carruthers was playing football local to his hometown of Hatfield, Hertfordshire when he was signed by Cambridge United's under-10 side.[3] He trained frequently with Manchester United, but when Cambridge United abandoned their youth team set-up he signed for Arsenal, the team he supported as a child.[3] He went on to represent Arsenal at under-18 level and captained the club's under-16 side. However, in 2009 Carruthers rejected offers from Fulham and Arsenal in favour of a move to Aston Villa.[4]

Aston Villa

Carruthers signed for Aston Villa in June 2009, aged 16. He made his name playing for the club's reserve and academy sides as an attacking midfielder and winger. Following a number of injuries to Alex McLeish's first team squad in the latter stages of the 2011–12 season, the young midfielder was brought in to train with the first team on a number of occasions.

Carruthers made his first-team debut in Villa's 1–1 Premier League draw at Liverpool on 7 April 2012, replacing Barry Bannan for the final four minutes.[5] He made two further substitute appearances that month.

On 1 April 2013, Carruthers captained Aston Villa's youth squad to the final of the NextGen Series where they beat Chelsea 2–0, at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, in Como, Italy.[6]

Milton Keynes Dons

Carruthers was sent out on loan to League One side Milton Keynes Dons on 10 August 2013 on a youth loan until 4 January 2014.[7] He made his debut against Preston North End on 17 August. Coming on as a substitute in the 56th minute, Carruthers won a penalty, which was in turn converted by Shaun Williams, levelling the score at 2–2.[8] A week later he scored within 15 minutes of coming on as a substitute against Bristol City, hitting a left-footed effort into the top corner to earn another 2–2 draw.[9] On 8 January 2014, he extended his loan spell until 3 April.[10] However, on 18 February, he withdrew from a match against Preston North End with a knee injury in the 13th minute, ending his season.[11]

On 6 August 2014, Carruthers signed for Milton Keynes Dons on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[12] He scored his first goal of the season on 13 September in a 5–3 away win against Barnsley, and on 25 April 2015, he scored a second goal, opening a 3–2 win over Rochdale at Spotland.[13] Eight days later the team earned their first promotion to the Championship with a 5–1 home win over Yeovil Town on the final day, with Carruthers setting up the first goal from Carl Baker.[14]

On 19 September 2015, Carruthers received a straight red card for a foul on Stuart Dallas in a 2–1 home loss to Leeds United.[15] He scored once in 39 appearances – opening a 3–2 loss at Blackburn Rovers on 27 February 2016[16] – as Milton Keynes were relegated.

Sheffield United

On 3 January 2017, it was announced that Carruthers had signed for League One leaders Sheffield United on a three-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, thought to be worth £250,000.[17] [18] He made his debut four days later in a 4–2 win at Southend United, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Mark Duffy but lasting only 15 minutes before withdrawing with injury.[19] He totalled 14 appearances for the Blades, who won the league title with 100 points.[20]

Again as Duffy's replacement, Carruthers scored his first goal for the Blades on 21 November 2017 in a 5–4 loss to Fulham at Bramall Lane.[21] He was transfer-listed by Sheffield United at the end of the 2017–18 season.[22]

Carruthers joined Oxford United in June 2018, on loan for the 2018–19 season.[23] He suffered a knee injury during the first game of the season, and his recovery was interrupted by a recurrence of the injury later in the autumn that required surgery.[24]

Cambridge United

On 29 August 2019, Carruthers joined League Two side Cambridge United on a one-year deal following his release by Sheffield United.[25] He was released by the club at the end of the season.[26]

Non-League

Carruthers dropped down into non-league football with Hemel Hempstead Town for the start of the 2020–21 season. On 24 March 2022, he joined Dartford on loan.[27]

On 9 June 2022, Carruthers joined Dartford on a permanent deal ahead of the 2022–23 season.[28]

On 22 May 2023, Carruthers joined Chelmsford City on a permanent deal ahead of the 2023–24 season.[29] On 3 May 2024, Carruthers announced he had left the club following the culmination of Chelmsford's season.[30]

On 16 May 2024, Carruthers re-joined Dartford.

International career

Carruthers is of Irish, Italian and Moroccan descent and is eligible to play for Italy, Morocco, England and the Republic of Ireland, the country of his grandparents.[3] [31] [32] In 2011, he made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19 team. On 10 September 2012, Carruthers made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U21 team away to Italy.

Controversy

On 15 March 2016, whilst attending the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Carruthers and Northampton Town's James Collins were photographed urinating into a beer glass whilst standing on a balcony. The following day, Carruthers apologised for his behaviour,[33] and following a meeting with MK Dons manager Karl Robinson and chairman Pete Winkelman he was fined two weeks' wages and suspended by the club.[34] He pledged his fine to charities, including one chosen by the racecourse.[35]

Career statistics

[36]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa2011–12Premier League3000000030
2012–13Premier League0000000000
2013–14Premier League0000000000
Total3000000030
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)2013–14League One232301010282
Milton Keynes Dons2014–15League One322203010382
2015–16Championship391301000431
2016–17League One231101030281
Total9446050401094
Sheffield United2016–17League One140140
2017–18Championship1412010171
Total2812010311
Oxford United (loan)2018–19League One100000021121
Cambridge United2019–20League Two100000000100
Hemel Hempstead Town2020–21National League South60002080
2021–22National League South2000010210
Total260000030290
Dartford (loan)2021–22National League South602080
Dartford2022–23National League South3510103[37] [38] [39] 03910
Total42101000504710
2023–24National League South373203[40] [41] 0423
Dartford2024–25Isthmian League Premier Division00000000
Career total274201407018132321

Honours

Aston Villa U19

2012–13[42]

Milton Keynes Dons

Sheffield United

2016–17[44]

Dartford

2021–22

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Cambridge United . English Football League . 13 . 18 October 2019.
  2. Book: Glenda. Rollin. Jack. Rollin. Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013. 2012. Headline. London. 978-0-7553-6356-8. 423. 43rd.
  3. News: Gold. Alasdair. Samir turns down Arsenal but signs for Aston Villa instead. 8 April 2012. hertfordshiremercury.co.uk. 6 July 2009.
  4. News: Howell. Bill. Villa close in on Arsenal teenager Samir Carruthers. 9 April 2012. birminghammail.net. 26 June 2009.
  5. News: Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa . BBC News . 7 April 2012.
  6. News: Percy . John . NextGen Series Final: Chelsea U19 0 Aston Villa U19 2 . 8 October 2020 . The Telegraph . 1 April 2013.
  7. Web site: Villa starlet completes loan switch. Milton Keynes Dons FC. 10 August 2013. 10 August 2013.
  8. Web site: Preston 2-2 MK Dons. BBC Sport. 18 August 2013. 18 August 2013.
  9. Web site: MK Dons 2–2 Bristol City . BBC Sport . 24 August 2013. 26 August 2013.
  10. News: Villa's Samir Carruthers extends MK Dons stay. 28 December 2017. ITV. 8 January 2014.
  11. News: Carruthers returns to Aston Villa. 28 December 2017. MK Citizen. 27 February 2014.
  12. News: Aston Villa's Samir Carruthers joins MK Dons. 28 December 2017. BBC Sport. 6 August 2014.
  13. News: Rochdale 2-3 MK Dons. 18 May 2015. BBC Sport. 25 April 2015.
  14. News: MK Dons 5-1 Yeovil. 18 May 2015. BBC Sport. 3 May 2015.
  15. News: Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Leeds United. 28 December 2017. BBC Sport. 19 September 2015.
  16. News: Blackburn Rovers 3–2 Milton Keynes Dons. 28 December 2017. BBC Sport. 27 February 2016.
  17. Web site: Samir signs . Sheffield United Official Site . 3 January 2017 . 3 January 2017 .
  18. Web site: Samir Carruthers: Sheffield United sign MK Dons midfielder for undisclosed fee . BBC Sport. 4 January 2017. 3 January 2017.
  19. News: Shield. James. REPORT: Blades 4, Southend 2 – Chris Wilder's Blades go four points clear at top of League One. 28 December 2017. The Star. 7 January 2017.
  20. News: Bradley. Mark. Sheffield United 2016/17 season review. 28 December 2017. JUS News. 2 May 2017.
  21. News: Cottagers edge nine-goal thriller. 28 December 2017. PA Sports. Sky Sports. 21 November 2017.
  22. Web site: Clayton Donaldson: Sheffield United release striker and transfer list seven. 11 May 2018. 11 May 2018. BBC Sport.
  23. Web site: Carruthers joins Oxford. Oxford United F.C. . 21 June 2018 . 21 June 2018.
  24. Web site: Samir Suffers New Setback . Oxford United F.C. . 5 November 2018 . 7 November 2018.
  25. Web site: Samir Carruthers: Cambridge United sign midfielder after Sheffield United release. BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. 30 August 2019.
  26. Web site: Cambridge United: Paul Lewis, Samir Carruthers & Reggie Lambe among nine players leaving in June . . 29 April 2020 . 17 December 2020 .
  27. Web site: Carruthers joins Dartford on loan . . 24 March 2022 . 24 March 2022 .
  28. Web site: Dartford manager Alan Dowson on his new office, building a squad and having to deal with agents at National League South level . Kent Online . 10 June 2022 . 10 June 2022 .
  29. Web site: CARRUTHERS IS A CLARET . Chelmsford City Official Site. 22 May 2023 . 22 May 2023 .
  30. Web site: Just want to say thank you for everything @chelmsfordcityfc I know it didn't end how we wanted it to but what a season it was. Made so many amazing memories and friends I will always keep close to me, thank to the staff as well that looked after us at the club and on the pitch. Lastly the fans were unreal the whole season with me and the song was fantastic keep moving forward as a club and hope to see you again next season. Goodbye it is. #wheelthemin. Instagram. Samir Carruthers. 3 May 2024 .
  31. Web site: Irish u19 squad profiles. fai.ie. 8 April 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120614034353/http://www.fai.ie/international/under-19/101917-irish-u19-squad-profiles.html. 14 June 2012.
  32. News: Fitzmaurice. Aiden. Villa's green teens step up. 8 April 2012. herald.ie. 2 April 2012.
  33. Web site: Samir Carruthers: My apology. MK Dons. 16 March 2016.
  34. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons player Samir Carruthers suspended by club after Cheltenham Festival 2016 photos . onemk.co.uk . 16 March 2016 . 16 March 2016.
  35. News: Cheltenham urine row: Samir Carruthers and James Collins apologise. 17 March 2016. BBC News. 16 March 2016.
  36. Web site: Samir Carruthers. Soccerbase. 8 October 2018.
  37. One appearance in the FA Trophy
  38. One appearance in the London Senior Cup
  39. One appearance in the National League South Play-Offs
  40. Two appearances in the FA Trophy
  41. One appearance in the National League South Play-Offs
  42. Web site: The five best young Irish players . Goal . 8 October 2018 .
  43. Web site: Oxford United was the best place for me to come and play, says new signing Samir Carruthers . Oxford Mail. 22 June 2018 . 8 October 2018 .
  44. Web site: Sheffield United 3–2 Chesterfield . . 30 April 2017 . 17 December 2020 .