Leon Barnett

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Leon Barnett
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Leon Barnett playing for Cardiff City in 2013
Personal information
Full name Leon Peter Barnett
Date of birth (1985-11-30) 30 November 1985 (age 38)
Place of birth Luton, England[1]
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Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Wigan Athletic
Number 25
Youth career
2002–2005 Luton Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Luton Town 59 (3)
2004–2005 Aylesbury United (loan)
2007–2011 West Bromwich Albion 45 (3)
2009–2010 Coventry City (loan) 20 (0)
2010–2011 Norwich City (loan) 20 (1)
2011–2013 Norwich City 30 (1)
2013 Cardiff City (loan) 8 (0)
2013– Wigan Athletic 74 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:35, 10 January 2016 (UTC)

Leon Peter Barnett (born 30 November 1985) is an English professional footballer who plays for League One club Wigan Athletic. Although primarily a central defender, he has also played at left back, right back, central midfield and up front.

Barnett began his career at Luton Town, and made his first team debut in 2002. He spent three seasons on the fringes of the first team, during which time he had a short loan to non-league side Aylesbury United, before becoming a regular first team squad member for Luton in the 2005–06 season. After winning Luton Town's player of the season award for the 2006–07 season, Barnett joined West Bromwich Albion in 2007 for £2.5 million. After a successful initial season at West Bromwich Albion, Barnett was demoted to a squad member role after the club was promoted to the Premier League. He was loaned out to Championship sides Coventry City and Norwich City in this time, and eventually joined Norwich on a permanent basis in January 2011 for an undisclosed fee. Barnett again soon found himself out of favour at Norwich after their promotion to the Premier League, and was loaned out to Championship club Cardiff City in 2013. He joined Wigan Athletic from Norwich in July 2013 for an undisclosed fee.

Career

In Barnett's first season, at the age of 13, he played as a pacey right sided midfielder for local side Bushmead Wanderers. This position he retained over the next couple of seasons and was a prolific goalscorer having scored over 40 goals using his incredible pace.[2]

Luton Town

Barnett started his football career at Luton Town's Youth Academy. After signing a professional contract he couldn't force himself in the senior squad, so went on loan to non-league team Aylesbury United, after which he returned to a place in the Luton first team.

Although he took time to adapt to the Championship at times during the 2005–06, his performances improved during the 2006–07 season, including scoring his first career goal at home to Leicester City on the opening day of the season. He won Luton's official Player-of-the-Year Award for 2006–07.[3]

West Bromwich Albion

Barnett completed a move to Championship team West Bromwich Albion in July 2007 for an initial fee of £2.5m fee, with a further £250,000 depending on appearances.[4] West Brom should also be due to pay Luton a further £250,000 because they gained promotion to the Premier League after the 2007–08 season.[4] He signed a four-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2011.[5] Barnett made his Albion debut in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley on the opening day of the 2007–08 season.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory away at Scunthorpe United on 22 September 2007.[7] Barnett's performance in Albion's 2–1 away win against Leicester City on 8 December 2007 earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Week.[8]

On 4 November 2009, Barnett joined West Brom's Championship rivals Coventry City on loan until January.[9] He had made just two substitute appearances in the league at The Hawthorns in the 2009–10 season. Barnett made his Sky Blues debut on 6 November 2009 against Derby County. After going back to West Brom for a few days, Barnett rejoined Coventry on loan on 1 February 2010.

He played 20 games while on loan at Coventry but was not a success with the supporters and conceded three penalties, two of which saw him sent off in consecutive games against Newcastle United[10] and Scunthorpe United.[11]

Norwich City

File:LeonBarnett.jpg
Barnett at Carrow Road in 2012

On 26 August 2010, he joined Norwich City on loan until 4 January, to cover for injuries sustained to Michael Nelson and Zak Whitbread.[12] He was handed squad number 20 at Norwich and made his debut on 28 August against Nottingham Forest in a 1–1 draw at the City Ground. Barnett formed a consistent partnership with Elliott Ward. On 20 November, Barnett scored his first City goal, with a header from a David Fox corner against Leeds United.[13]

It was confirmed on 10 December 2010 that Barnett would join Norwich on a permanent three-and-a-half deal for an undisclosed fee, starting from 1 January 2011.[14] On 11 December 2010, against Portsmouth at Carrow Road, he conceded a penalty, for which he received his second yellow card of the match and was subsequently sent off.[15] In protest, he threw the ball at referee Simon Hooper, which earned him an extended two-match ban from The FA.[16] Barnett suffered a hamstring injury in a 2–1 victory over Reading on 12 March 2011, which ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Barnett played in his first Premier League game for Norwich as a substitute away at Wigan Athletic on 13 August 2011, replacing the injured Zak Whitbread. He started the next game, a 1–1 draw at home with Stoke City at Carrow Road, but was adjudged by referee Neil Swarbrick to have committed a professional foul on Jon Walters in the second half, conceding a penalty kick and receiving a red card.[17] On 26 September, Barnett scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–1 win against Sunderland.[18] It appears that he may not figure in manager Chris Hughton's future plans at Norwich City, after he was offered in trade for Birmingham City's Curtis Davies.[19] On 14 March 2013, Barnett joined Championship side Cardiff City. The loan deal to the Bluebirds extends until 13 April 2013.[20]

On 14 March 2013, Barnett completed a loan move to Championship club Cardiff City Barnett made his debut on 16 March for the Bluebirds against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, in a 2–0 win for Cardiff. He returned to Norwich after helping Cardiff to the Championship title.

Wigan Athletic

On 1 August 2013, Barnett signed a three-year contract with recently relegated Championship side Wigan Athletic, transferring from Norwich City for an undisclosed fee.[21] He scored on his debut on 3 August, in a 4–0 win away to Barnsley.[22] He scored his second goal for the club on 20 August, rescuing a point in the final minute of a 2–2 draw against Doncaster Rovers.[23] Leon Barnett relished a breakthrough season at Wigan Athletic making himself a starter through the 2013/2014 season.

Honours

West Bromwich Albion
Norwich City
Cardiff City

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 April 2014.
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Luton Town 2002–03[24] Second Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2003–04[25] 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
2004–05[26] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
2005–06[27] Championship 20 0 1 0 1 0 22 0
2006–07[28] 39 3 1 0 3 0 43 3
Total 59 3 3 0 4 0 4 0 70 3
Aylesbury United 2004–05[29] Southern League
Premier Division
5 0 0 0 1 0 6 0
West Bromwich Albion 2007–08[30] Championship 32 3 4 0 0 0 36 3
2008–09[31] Premier League 11 0 2 0 1 0 14 0
2009–10[32] Championship 2 0 0 0 3 0 5 0
2010–11[33] Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
Total 45 3 6 0 5 0 56 3
Coventry City 2009–10[34] Championship 20 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Norwich City 2010–11[35] 25 1 1 0 0 0 26 1
2011–12[36] Premier League 17 1 1 0 0 0 18 1
2012–13[37] 8 0 2 0 1 0 11 0
Total 50 2 4 0 1 0 55 2
Cardiff City 2012–13[38] Championship 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Wigan Athletic 2013–14[39] 36 4 4 0 1 0 6 1 47 5
Career total 223 12 17 0 11 0 11 1 262 13

References

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  22. "Barnsley 0–4 Wigan" BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  23. "Wigan 2–2 Doncaster" BBC Sport. 20 August 2013. His third goal was the opening goal against Huddersfield at the DW stadium on the 02 November 2013 Retrieved 20 August 2013.
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External links