Stephen Hughes (footballer, born 1976) explained

Stephen Hughes
Fullname:Stephen John Hughes[1]
Birth Date:18 September 1976
Birth Place:Reading, England
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–1995
Youthclubs1:Arsenal
Years1:1995–2000
Years2:1999
Years3:2000–2001
Years4:2001–2003
Years5:2003–2004
Years6:2004–2008
Years7:2008–2009
Clubs2:Fulham (loan)
Clubs7:Walsall
Caps1:49
Goals1:4
Caps2:3
Goals2:0
Caps3:29
Goals3:1
Caps4:15
Goals4:0
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Caps6:133
Goals6:6
Caps7:32
Goals7:2
Totalcaps:261
Totalgoals:13
Nationalyears1:1994
Nationalyears2:1997–1998
Nationalteam1:England U18
Nationalteam2:England U21
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0

Stephen John Hughes (born 18 September 1976) is an English former professional footballer and pundit.

He played as a midfielder, notably in the Premier League for Arsenal, Everton and Charlton Athletic, and in the Football League for Fulham, Watford, Coventry City and Walsall. He was capped at both England U18 and U21 levels.

Club career

Hughes started his career at Arsenal, with whom he won the FA Youth Cup in 1994. He then made 16 first team appearances to earn a winners medal as Arsenal won the 1998 Premier League title. Hughes' highlight for that season was scoring twice as Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2–0 at Highbury.[2] He also made six appearances in Arsenal's FA Cup run that season, including the semi-final against Wolves,[3] but was left out of the squad for the 1998 FA Cup final as they clinched the double. Another highlight was a 25-yard last minute equaliser against Leicester City at Filbert Street the following season.[4] Altogether with Arsenal he made 76 senior appearances with 40 of them as a substitute, and scored seven goals.[5] [6]

Hughes then moved to Everton in March 2000, for a fee of £3 million.[7] He played 33 games for them before being released on a free transfer on 4 July 2001. He then moved on to First Division side Watford that same month,[8] having scored his two Everton goals against them; once in the league[9] and once in the FA Cup.[10] He only managed 17 games in his first season due to injury. His contract was settled early in the 2002–03 season.

He signed for Charlton Athletic in August 2003.[11] but made no appearances that season and subsequently left on a free transfer to join Coventry City in July 2004.[12] He went on to become the club's captain and make 144 appearances.

Personal life

After his retirement from football, Hughes returned to the Gunners as a commentator and pundit for Arsenal Player.[13] [14] [15]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOther¹Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal1994–95Premier League1000000000000000----1000
1995–96100000000000--------1000
1996–9714110211000000000----16220
1997–9817200601051000000----28310
1998–9914130400020004100100025230
1999–2000200020000000100000005000
Arsenal total494401412071005100100076760
Fulham (loan)1999–2000First Division300000001010--------4010
Everton1999–2000Premier League1111000000000--------11110
2000–011803021102010--------22160
Everton total29140214030200000000033270
Watford2001–02First Division1502000002000--------17020
2002–03000000000000--------0000
Watford total15020000020000000000017020
Charlton Athletic2003–04Premier League000000000000--------0000
Coventry City2004–05Championship4043020002100--------44530
2005–061903110001000--------21031
2006–073713000001010--------38140
2007–083717011003000--------41270
Coventry City total133616141007110000000001448171
Walsall2008–09League One3224010001010----200041270
Career total2611330121330212405100300031519371

¹ includes FA Charity Shield and Football League Trophy.

Honours

Arsenal[16] [17]

1997–98[18]

1998

1993–94

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 . 2009 . Mainstream Publishing . Edinburgh . 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. News: Arsenal outgun Chelsea. BBC Sport . 8 February 1998 . 12 November 2013.
  3. News: Wreh the wrecker of Wolves. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-wreh-the-wrecker-of-wolves-1154756.html . 25 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent . 6 April 1998 . 12 November 2013.
  4. News: Hughes rides Arsenal luck. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hughes-rides-arsenal-luck-1197763.html . 25 May 2022 . subscription . live. The Independent . 13 September 1998 . 12 November 2013.
  5. News: Promised much, delivered little . Damian . Hall . When Saturday Comes . 19 June 2003 . 7 June 2012 .
  6. Web site: Total appearance records of selected former Arsenal players . Rupert . Ward . Arseweb . 9 August 2011 .
  7. News: Hughes joins Everton . BBC Sport . 7 March 2000 . 7 July 2012 .
  8. News: Watford seal Hughes deal . BBC Sport . 3 July 2001 . 7 June 2012 .
  9. News: Moore's double as Hughes stars . BBC Sport . 1 April 2000 . 7 June 2012.
  10. News: Everton snatch Watford win . BBC Sport . 6 January 2001 . 31 January 2010.
  11. News: Addicks make double signing . BBC Sport . 14 August 2003 . 7 June 2012 .
  12. News: Wetherall snubs Sky Blues . BBC Sport . 6 July 2004 . 7 June 2012 .
  13. Web site: Arsenal Player. Twitter.
  14. Web site: NextGen: Watch it LIVE on Arsenal Player. Arsenal.com.
  15. Web site: Arsenal Matchday Show. Twitter.
  16. News: The FA Youth Cup . Arsenal F.C. official website . 7 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121022163915/http://www.arsenal.com/155/unhoused-import-pages/the-fa-youth-cup . 22 October 2012 .
  17. Web site: Stephen Hughes. Arsenal.com.
  18. Web site: Stephen Hughes: Overview . Premier League . 17 April 2018.
  19. News: Double award joy for Hughes . https://web.archive.org/web/20200202224730/https://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10269~667150,00.html . dead . 2 February 2020 . Coventry City F.C. official website . 20 May 2005 . 7 June 2012 .