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Lewin Nyatanga

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Lewin Nyatanga
Nyatanga while at Derby County in 2006
Personal information
Full name Lewin John Nyatanga[1]
Date of birth (1988-08-18) 18 August 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Burton upon Trent, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
0000–2005 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2009 Derby County 63 (4)
2006–2007 → Sunderland (loan) 11 (0)
2007 → Barnsley (loan) 10 (1)
2007–2008 → Barnsley (loan) 25 (0)
2008 → Barnsley (loan) 16 (1)
2009–2013 Bristol City 105 (4)
2010 → Peterborough United (loan) 3 (0)
2013–2017 Barnsley 78 (7)
2016–2017 → Northampton Town (loan) 37 (0)
Total 348 (17)
International career
2003–2005 Wales U17 8 (0)
2005–2008 Wales U21[2] 10 (0)
2006–2011 Wales 34 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Lewin John Nyatanga (born 18 August 1988) is a former Wales international[3] footballer who played as a defender. He played for Derby County, Bristol City, Sunderland, Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Barnsley in his career. He has made 34 international appearances for the Wales national team, having previously held the record for the youngest player to represent the country when he made his international debut at the age of 17. In February 2018, it was reported that he had retired from football to focus on family life and is now a personal trainer.[3]

Club career

Derby County

Nyatanga developed as a player through Derby's academy, signing professional terms for the club in August 2005[4] and making his senior debut in a League Cup tie against Grimsby Town, going on to feature in over half of Derby's league games during the 2005–06 season, primarily at centreback,[5] scoring his first goal a 2–1 win over Stoke City.

Despite starting the 2006–07 season in the first team picture, Nyatanga lost his place in the first team and was loaned out to fellow Championship side Sunderland for four months in October 2006. Whilst at Sunderland, Nyatanga played left back due to an injury to Stephen Wright and Clive Clarke leaving on loan. Sunderland boss Roy Keane was reportedly interested in signing Nyatanga in a £1.5m move in January 2007. Derby manager Billy Davies said there was a possibility that Nyatanga could join Sunderland permanently,[6] however, no bid was ever tabled by Sunderland.

Nyatanaga returned to Derby in January 2007, only to join Barnsley a month later on a three-month loan deal.[7] Nyantanga helped the club to some vital wins during his time at Barnsley, including a surprise 1–0 win over promotion hopefuls Birmingham City and a vital 3–1 win away over relegation rivals Southend United. Nyantanga was recalled to Derby on 16 April after injury and suspension, respectively, to two key defenders in Michael Johnson and Darren Moore, left Derby with only one natural centre half.[8] In his first game after returning to Derby he scored the winner against Luton Town on 20 April which sent Derby back into the automatic promotion places and relegated Luton. Nyatanga lost his place when Moore and Johnson returned, and was not in the 16 for the 2007 Playoff victory.

Nyatanga signed a new 4-year contract in the summer of 2007,[9] and returned to Barnsley on a six-month loan shortly after.[10] He formed an impressive partnership with Dennis Souza at the heart of Barnsley's defence, but was recalled by Derby in January 2008.[11] On 19 January 2008, Nyatanga scored on his Premier League debut at Portsmouth in the 5th minute,[12] which gave Derby a 1–0 lead, though Derby went on to lose the game 3–1 after a Benjani hat-trick.[13] That was to be his only Premier League game of the season and his first of only 3 appearances for Derby that season, as he was sent back out on loan to Barnsley for the remainder of the 2007–8 season.[14]

During the 2008–09 season, Nyatanga was initially out of the first team picture, behind Martin Albrechtsen and Dean Leacock. A season-ending injury to Leacock gave Nyatanga a chance to establish himself and he featured predominantly from November onwards, going on to make 30 league appearances, scoring once – the first in a 3–1 hammering of fierce local rivals Nottingham Forest.[15] He also played in the League Cup semi final 1st leg against Manchester United, a game which Derby won 1–0.

Bristol City

Nyatanga playing for Bristol City in 2010

On 14 July 2009, Nyatanga signed for Bristol City and agreed a four-year deal.[16] He Scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw with Newcastle United on 20 March 2010.

Nyatanga was injured during pre-season 2010–11, once recovered he was sent out on loan to Peterborough United to gain some match fitness.

Barnsley

On 9 July 2013, Nyatanga signed for Barnsley on a two-year deal following his departure from Bristol City.[17]

On 8 August 2016, Nyatanga was loaned to Northampton Town for the season.[18] Nyatanga was released from his Barnsley contract at the conclusion of the loan.

International career

Born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England,[1] Nyatanga qualifies for Wales through parentage, having been born to a Zimbabwean father and a Welsh mother. Nyatanga holds the records for being the youngest captain and youngest player ever to play for the Welsh Under-21s.[19] On 1 March 2006, aged 17 years and 195 days, he made his full international debut for Wales in a friendly match against Paraguay in Cardiff, breaking Ryan Green's record as the youngest ever Welsh international.[20] Despite his inexperience, with only 17 first team appearances for Derby behind him, he played "a key role" in the goalless draw.[21][22] Wales' match against Trinidad and Tobago in May 2006 marked Nyatanga's second international appearance and also saw his age record broken by 16-year-old teammate Gareth Bale.[23] He has mostly been a regular and was recalled to the U-21 team to help them qualify for the 2009 European Championships but they narrowly lost 5–4 on aggregate to England in the play-offs.[24] His most recent appearance for Wales came in a Nations Cup match versus the Republic of Ireland in February 2011,[24] replacing Sam Ricketts late in the 3–0 defeat.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 30 April 2017.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derby County 2005–06[26] Championship 24 1 2 0 1 0 — 27 1
2006–07[27] Championship 7 1 0 0 2 0 1[a] 0 10 1
2007–08[28] Premier League 2 1 2 0 — — 4 1
2008–09[29] Championship 30 1 2 0 3 0 — 35 1
Total 63 4 6 0 6 0 1 0 76 4
Sunderland (loan) 2006–07[27] Championship 11 0 — — — 11 0
Barnsley (loan) 2006–07[27] Championship 10 1 — — — 10 1
2007–08[28] Championship 41 1 — 2 0 — 43 1
Total 51 2 — 2 0 — 53 2
Bristol City 2009–10[30] Championship 37 1 1 0 0 0 — 38 1
2010–11[31] Championship 20 1 1 0 0 0 — 21 1
2011–12[32] Championship 29 0 1 0 1 0 — 31 0
2012–13[33] Championship 19 2 0 0 1 0 — 20 2
Total 105 4 3 0 2 0 — 110 4
Peterborough United (loan) 2010–11[31] League One 3 0 — — — 3 0
Barnsley 2013–14[34] Championship 12 0 0 0 0 0 — 12 0
2014–15[35] League One 45 5 3 0 1 0 2[b] 0 51 5
2015–16[36] League One 21 2 1 0 2 0 4[b] 1 28 3
2016–17[37] Championship 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 78 7 4 0 3 0 6 1 91 8
Northampton Town (loan) 2016–17[37] League One 37 0 1 0 1 0 3[b] 0 42 0
Career total 348 17 14 0 14 0 10 1 386 18
  1. ^ Appearance in Championship play-offs
  2. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International

As of match played 8 February 2011.[38]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2006 8 0
2007 9 0
2008 5 0
2009 9 0
2010 2 0
2011 1 0
Total 34 0

Honours

Barnsley

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 311. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 980. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ a b "What happened to the Welsh football wonderkid finished at 29". 15 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Teenager Nyatanga pens Derby deal". BBC Sport. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  5. ^ "Bluebirds set Premiership target". BBC Sport. 18 December 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  6. ^ "Nyatanga could stay at Sunderland". BBC Sport. 20 October 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  7. ^ "Barnsley sign defender Nyatanga". BBC Sport. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
  8. ^ "Defender Nyatanga back at Derby". BBC Sport. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  9. ^ "Nyatanga signs new deal with Rams". BBC Sport. 18 July 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Nyatanga returns to Tykes on loan". BBC Sport. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Derby to recall Nyatanga & Macken". BBC Sport. 24 December 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  12. ^ "Portsmouth 3–1 Derby". BBC Sport. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  13. ^ Whyatt, Chris (19 January 2008). "Portsmouth 3–1 Derby". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
  14. ^ "Tykes sign Anderson and Nyatanga". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Nott'm Forest 1–3 Derby". BBC Sport. 21 February 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  16. ^ "Nyatanga agrees Bristol City move". BBC Sport. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
  17. ^ "Barnsley sign ex-Bristol City defender Lewin Nyatanga". BBC Sport. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  18. ^ "Lewin Nyatanga: Barnsley defender joins Northampton Town on loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Wales U21 1-0 Cyprus U21". 16 May 2006.
  20. ^ "Nyatanga called up to Wales squad". BBC Sport. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  21. ^ "Wales 0–0 Paraguay". BBC Sport. 1 March 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  22. ^ "Nyatanga to build on Wales debut". BBC Sport. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  23. ^ "UEFA.com – Players". UEFA. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010.
  24. ^ a b "Lewin Nyatanga".
  25. ^ "Republic of Ireland 3-0 Wales". 8 February 2011.
  26. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  27. ^ a b c "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  28. ^ a b "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  29. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  30. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  32. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  33. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  35. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  36. ^ "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Lewin Nyatanga in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  38. ^ "Nyatanga, Lewin". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  39. ^ Stevens, Rob (29 May 2016). "Barnsley 3–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  40. ^ Cartwright, Phil (3 April 2016). "Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  41. ^ Jones, Matt. "Raise Your Game – Lewin Nyatanga". BBC Wales. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
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