Darius Vassell facts for kids
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Vassell playing for Leicester City in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 June 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker, winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Romulus | |||
| 1996–1998 | Aston Villa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2005 | Aston Villa | 162 | (35) |
| 2005–2009 | Manchester City | 103 | (17) |
| 2009–2010 | Ankaragücü | 22 | (4) |
| 2010–2012 | Leicester City | 44 | (6) |
| Total | 331 | (62) | |
| National team | |||
| 1998–1999 | England U18 | 5 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | England U21 | 11 | (1) |
| 2002–2004 | England | 22 | (6) |
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Darius Martin Clarke Vassell (born 13 June 1980) is an English former professional footballer. He played as a forward or winger. His main clubs were Aston Villa, Manchester City, Ankaragücü, and Leicester City.
Vassell started his career at his hometown club, Aston Villa. He joined their academy and made his first team debut in 1998. In 2005, he moved to Manchester City. After four seasons, he played for Ankaragücü in Turkey. In 2010, he returned to England to play for Leicester City.
He also played for the England national team. Between 2002 and 2004, he scored six goals in 22 games. He represented England in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004.
Contents
Playing Career
Starting Out
Darius Vassell was born in Birmingham, England. He grew up in the Gravelly Hill area. He went to Yenton Primary School and John Willmott School. He began playing football with a local junior team called Romulus. He was a fantastic scorer, once getting 46 goals in one season! After this, he joined the youth team of his favorite club, Aston Villa.
Aston Villa Years
As a big Aston Villa fan, Vassell joined the club's special School of Excellence. While playing for their youth team, he scored an amazing 39 goals in one season. He made his first appearance for the senior team in August 1998. This was in a 3–1 win against Middlesbrough.
Vassell was known for his incredible speed and quick movements. Fans often said he played his best games for England. He was especially good as a "super sub." This meant he would come on for the last 15 to 20 minutes of a game. His amazing pace would cause problems for tired defenders. For a long time, if he scored in a league game, his team never lost!
Moving to Manchester City
In July 2005, Vassell moved to Manchester City. The transfer cost £2 million. In his first season, he scored eight league goals in 35 games. He formed a strong attacking partnership with Andy Cole. He also helped Manchester City reach the FA Cup Quarter-Finals.
During the 2007–08 season, he scored his 50th Premier League goal. This was in a big win against local rivals Manchester United. Vassell played 15 games in the 2008–09 season. His contract ended, and he left the club.
Adventure in Turkey
In July 2009, Vassell signed with a Turkish team called Ankaragücü. About 3,000 fans came out to celebrate his arrival! He scored his first goal in the Turkish Süper Lig very early in the season. He left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Back to England with Leicester City
On 20 October 2010, Vassell signed a two-year deal with Leicester City. This meant he was reunited with his former manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, who had managed him at Manchester City and with England. He scored his first goal for Leicester in a big 5–1 win against Doncaster Rovers.
In October 2011, he suffered a serious knee injury during a game. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the season. Vassell left Leicester City in June 2012. He did not play for another club after this. He officially retired from football on 28 January 2016, when he was 35 years old.
Playing for England
Darius Vassell made his debut for the England national team on 13 February 2002. It was a friendly match against the Netherlands. He scored a fantastic bicycle kick goal to make the score 1–1. He was even named the best player of the match!
Because of his great performances, he was chosen for England's team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He played in three games during the tournament. He was also part of the England squad for UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal.
In the quarter-finals of Euro 2004, England played against the host country, Portugal. The game went to a penalty shoot-out. Unfortunately, Vassell missed his penalty kick. This meant England was knocked out of the tournament. He did not play for England again after this match.
Life After Football
As of August 2024, Darius Vassell is working with the England U18 squad. He is helping to coach the next generation of young players.
Personal Life
Darius Vassell's parents are from Jamaica. He is a Christian and believes his faith helped him survive a serious car accident. He is married to Amani Rodriquez-Thomas, and they have a daughter named Persia. His 2017 book, Road to Persia, was named after her. He is also a cousin to other footballers, Kyle Vassell and Isaac Vassell.
Honours
- Aston Villa
- FA Cup: 2000 (runner-up)
- Intertoto Cup: 2001
See also
In Spanish: Darius Vassell para niños
