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Nigel Reo-Coker

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Nigel Reo-Coker
Personal information
Full name Nigel Shola Andre Reo-Coker
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Number 20
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:47, 21 June 2007 (UTC)

Nigel Shola Andre Reo-Coker (born 14 May 1984 in Croydon, South London) is an English footballer. He is a midfielder, currently playing for Aston Villa. He is known for being a robust midfielder with good overall tackling and passing qualities. Reo-Coker came through the youth team ranks at Wimbledon, joining West Ham United in 2004 and made a move to his current club Aston Villa in 2007.

Background

Reo-Coker was born in Mayday University Hospital, Thornton Heath, Croydon.[1] As a child, Reo-Coker spent six years in Sierra Leone and Antigua where his father, Ransford, was a doctor. He moved back to London with his mother Agnes-Lucinda and sisters Natalie and Vanessa when his parents split up in 1990, There is also a member of Nigel's non-immediate family who is currently playing for West Ham United's under 20s .[2]

Club career

Wimbledon

Reo-Coker was spotted by London club Wimbledon at the age of 13 after representing the borough of Croydon.[3] He came through the ranks at Wimbledon and became captain after progressing to the first team.[4] He also made his debut for the England Under-21s while at Wimbledon.[5] In March 2003, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp agreed a deal to bring Reo-Coker to the south coast club in preparation for their first Premiership season.[6] Financial problems resulted in the player remaining at Wimbledon despite having already signed contracts with Portsmouth.[7] Reo-Coker made 64 appearances for Wimbledon in all competition, scoring 6 goals.[8]

West Ham United

Reo-Coker during his West Ham days.

After an impressive first half of the 2003-04 season, he signed for West Ham in January 2004, saying ""It is a big club and there is the opportunity to do well and get back in the Premiership. I am delighted to have signed and really looking forward to the chance of playing. There is a lot of potential at West Ham with the players and the manager we have here."[9] He quickly became a regular member of Alan Pardew's first team and was made the club captain. He scored three times to help the club win promotion in 2004-05 through the play-offs and led the team to the FA Cup Final in May 2006.[10]

The 2006-07 Premiership campaign began less successfully for West Ham, and Reo-Coker was singled out by some groups as being the main culprit for this slump,[11][12] which left West Ham perilously close to the bottom three and ultimately led to the sacking of manager Alan Pardew.[13][14] Reo-Coker recovered his form in the latter part of the season and a run of seven wins in nine games saw West Ham escape relegation on the last day of the season.[15] Reo-Coker intended to sort his future out in the summer before the 2007-08 season, saying in May 2007, “I do not know what my future is and need to sit down and talk with the manager and the chairman this week. I have been through the mill this season, but it has made me a stronger person and I would not have changed anything. I am a very loyal person but to play at my best I need to be happy. I made a promise to West Ham fans that I would help keep this club in the Premier League and I have done that.”[16] Reo-Coker requested a transfer at the end of the 2006–07 season after the board failed to reassure him concerning his future at West Ham.[17] Aston Villa were reported to have made a £7m bid for Reo-Coker in June[18] and in July 2007, West Ham and Aston Villa reached an agreement in the region of £8.5 million for the signing of Reo-Coker.[19]

Aston Villa

Reo-Coker joined Aston Villa on 5 July 2007 for a reported £8.5 million, signing a four-year deal.[20] At the press conference following the signing, he spoke of being "hung out to dry" by his former club, West Ham United, and said that his reason for joining Villa were, "their aspiration to play in Europe. They have a talented squad and Martin O'Neill has told me what he aims to do and I believe we can achieve it."[21] Reo-Coker scored his first goal for Villa in a 5-0 League Cup 2nd round victory over Wrexham on the 28 August 2007. He lives in Stourbridge, England, near fellow team mate Ashley Young. [22] On Monday 21st of January 2008 Reo-Coker captained Aston Villa in the absence of regular captain Gareth Barry against Liverpool at Anfield. He scored his first Premier League goal for Aston Villa in a 2-1 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane. [23] He then scored again later that week to equalise for Villa in the UEFA Cup against Bulgarian side Litex Lovech. Villa went on to win this game 3-1. During his time at Villa, Reo-Coker has been known to operate as a right-back and right-winger occasionally when players who would usually play in those positions are unavailable. This underlines how solid and versatile as a player he is.

International career

Reo-Coker was first selected for the England U-21 squad against Turkey in October 2003[24]. On 24 March2007, Reo-Coker led out England Under 21s against Italy Under 21s, becoming the first Englishman to captain a side at the new Wembley Stadium[25]. The match finished 3-3.

In May 2006, Reo-Coker was named as the standby midfield player for England's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad[26]. However, on 22 May the FA announced that Reo-Coker would be replaced by Phil Neville as Reo-Coker's back problems made him unable to compete in the World Cup[27].

Reo-Coker is of Sierra Leonean descent and has stated that he would consider any future call-ups to the West African nation[3].

He captained the England U21s throughout the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship. A second booking in the tournament received needlessly in the semi-final against the hosts, the Netherlands, meant he would have missed the final should England have progressed. It also meant that the match would be his final game for the team due to his age. The semi-final went to penalties and the Netherlands eventually won 13-12.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Nigel Reo-Coker". England Football Online. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  2. ^ "The Big Interview: Nigel Reo Coker". The Times. 2006-05-07. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b "Nigel Reo-Coker: 'It annoys me when..." The Independent on Sunday. 2006-02-11. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "Indie" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Hot property Reo-Coker has to sweat it out". The Independent on Sunday. 2004-01-18. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Reo-Coker hopes to impress". BBC Sport. 2003-10-07. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Pompey agree Reo-Coker fee". BBC Sport. 2003-06-16. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Pompey concede Dons duo defeat". BBC Sport. 2003-08-08. Retrieved 2007-06-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Nigel Reo-Coker". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  9. ^ Reo-Coker signs for Hammers, BBC news report, 22 January 2004, retrieved on 3 June 2007.
  10. ^ Reds in seventh heaven, FA Cup Final match report, TheFA.com, 13 May 2006, retrieved 5 June 2007.
  11. ^ Reo-Coker subjected to hate mail, BBC news report, 19 December 2007, retrieved 5 June 2007.
  12. ^ West Ham boss defends Reo-Coker, BBC news report, 7 January 2007, retrieved 5 June 2007.
  13. ^ West Ham 'need a bit of luck', says Reo-Coker, Independent Online article, 31 January 2007, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  14. ^ Reo-Coker reveals West Ham doubts, BBC news report, 13 December 2006, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  15. ^ Magnusson hails West Ham survival, BBC news report, 14 May 2007, retrieved 5 June 2007.
  16. ^ Siege mentality saved West Ham..., Times Online, 14 May 2007, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  17. ^ Reo-Coker asks for transfer, Sky Sports news report, 26 May 2007, retrieved 3 June 2007
  18. ^ Aston Villa bid £7m for Reo-Coker, BBC new report, 5 June 2007, retrieved 5 June 2007
  19. ^ "Reo-Coker Fee Agreed", Official Aston Villa FC Website, 4 July 2007. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  20. ^ "Villa complete Reo-Coker signing", BBC Sport, 5 July 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  21. ^ "Villa complete Reo-Coker signing", BBC Sport, 5 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  22. ^ "Wrexham 0-5 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2007-08-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  23. ^ " Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa", BBC Sport, 15 September 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
  24. ^ Reo-Coker hopes to impress, BBC new report, 7 October 2003, retrieved on 3 June 2007.
  25. ^ A priceless moment, The FA.com, 25 March 2007, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  26. ^ Eriksson gambles on Walcott, Guardian Online, 8 May 2006, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  27. ^ Neville in for injured Reo-Coker, BBC news report, 22 May 2006, retrieved 3 June 2007.
  28. ^ "Holland U21 1-1 Eng U21 (aet)". BBC Sport. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
Preceded by West Ham United Captain
2004-2007 		Succeeded by
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