Joleon Lescott

Joleon Lescott

Personal information
Full name	Joleon Patrick Lescott
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Everton
Number	5
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 November 2007 (UTC)

Joleon Lescott (b. 16 August 1982) is an English footballer currently playing for English club Everton. He often plays as a left back, however his natural position is centre back. He also occasionally plays in midfield.

Childhood

When he was only 5 years old, Lescott was struck by a car as he stepped into the road outside his primary school in the Midlands.

His mother, sitting in the family car opposite, could only look on as her child was dragged along the road and suffered such severe head injuries that his survival was in doubt as he was taken away for major surgery. Numerous operations followed, leaving the scar that is still visible on Lescott's forehead and which has left a permanent reminder of that dreadful afternoon. "I was lucky," he insists when speaking of the event

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

Whilst playing youth football for the Grinham Giants in the Quinton Little League, Birmingham, Lescott was spotted by a Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. scout and accepted the offer of joining the club's Centre of Excellence. Despite spending a short spell at Derby County F.C. and, at the age of 13, contemplating never going back to football following a year out from the game because he was finding the training and the professionalism too difficult, Lescott signed trainee forms with Wolves in August 1999.

His first-team debut came as a 17 year old in the 2000–01 season against Sheffield Wednesday F.C. at Molineux stadium on 13 August 2000. At the end of his first season, Lescott was named the Supporters' Young Player of the Year by the Wolves faithful; an award he also won in the subsequent 2001–02 season.

Lescott started to become a regular fixture in the Wolves team. During the 2002–03 season he missed only one league match and played in each of the club's FA Cup fixtures. He was also a member of the team that defeated Sheffield United 3–0 at the Millennium Stadium to win promotion to the FA Premier League for the 2003–04 season. Lescott declared this to be the proudest moment of his career.

Despite Wolves gaining promotion, Lescott was unable to participate in the 2003–04 season due to knee surgery, preventing him from competing in the Premier League. Wolves were subsequently relegated and, upon completing his rehabilitation, Lescott returned to compete in the Championship.

In October 2005, Lescott agreed a two and a half year extension to his contract at Wolves. At the conclusion of the 2005–06 season he was named in the Championship team of the season, voted for by his fellow professionals, and also picked up the Wolves Player of the Year award.

Everton F.C.

Lescott was sold to Everton at the start of the 2006–07 season for an immediate payment of £2 million, followed by a further £2 million paid by installments and a final £1 million contingent on appearances. The transfer was slightly delayed as Everton asked for extra medical checks to be taken on Lescott's knee following the reconstruction of the joint earlier in his career.

Of the move to Everton, Lescott said: "I am more than happy to sign because it was one of my favourite clubs as a boy and I am grateful I have the chance to play here. It didn't take me any time at all to make the decision. As soon as my agent said Everton were interested I said that was where I wanted to go and I made it clear to Wolves as well."

Lescott was Everton's third summer signing after Tim Howard and Andy Johnson. Everton sold Per Krøldrup in January 2006 and Matteo Ferrari returned to A.S. Roma at the conclusion of his loan making Lescott one of only four senior centre backs at the club. This ensured that Lescott had significant playing time during 2006–07, predominately as a centre back, but also as a left full-back.

Joleon made his Everton debut in August 2006 during a victory over Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Everton's first victory at White Hart Lane in two decades. Lescott started again in the next match, the 204th Merseyside derby which resulted in a 3-0 victory for Lescott and Everton. After numerous impressive performances Lescott quickly became a fans' favourite. He scored his first Everton goal in the 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at Villa Park on April 2nd, 2007. Lescott scored his second Everton goal just 13 days later in a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic at Goodison Park.

Lescott's successful first season in top flight football was recognised by his team mates who voted him Player's Player of the Season 2006/07. He also finished a very close second behind Mikel Arteta in the fans Player of the Season.

The start of the 2007/08 season saw Lescott score three goals in the first eight games of the season. After scoring against Tottenham on the 14th of August, Joleon rolled his sleeve up in celebration and showed a tattoo of his son's name, Donovan, on his forearm.

He continued his scoring spree on September 30 2007 with a header against Middlesbrough F.C. to give Everton the lead, a game that Everton went on to win 2-0. As of October 4 2007 he is Everton's top goalscorer with 5 goals, 3 in the Premier League and 2 in the UEFA Cup.

England

Lescott has represented England at Under-18, Under-20, Under-21 and England B levels. After a fine first season for Everton, Lescott made his England B debut against Albania at Burnley's Turf Moor on May 25 2007, he replaced Reading's Nicky Shorey in the 73rd minute.

On September 3 2007, Lescott was handed a long awaited callup to Steve McClaren's England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia.

Lescott was given his international senior debut against Estonia on October 13 2007 — replacing Rio Ferdinand at half-time — with England winning 3-0. His second cap — and first start — was the Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia, which England lost 2-1. On the 16th of November Joleon made his second international start against Austria in a friendly, England won the game 1-0 and Joleon made a composed performance at the heart of defence. His final cap to date came in a 3-2 defeat in the hands of Croatia on November 21 in another Euro 2008 qualifier. This defeat put England out of the qualifiers and unable to qualify.

External links

• Joleon Lescott at Soccerbase
• Profile on Official Everton Website