Darius Vassell facts for kids
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Vassell playing for Leicester City in 2011
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darius Markus Vassell | ||
| Date of birth | 13 June 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | 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) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998–1999 | England U18 | 5 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | England U21 | 11 | (1) |
| 2002–2004 | England | 22 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Darius Markus Vassell, born on June 13, 1980, is a former English professional footballer. He played as a forward, which is like a striker, for several teams. These included Aston Villa, Manchester City, Ankaragücü in Turkey, and Leicester City.
Darius started his football journey at his hometown club, Aston Villa. He grew up in their youth academy and played his first senior game in 1998. In 2005, he moved to Manchester City for £2 million. After four seasons there, he went to Turkey to play for Ankaragücü for one year. In 2010, his former England manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, brought him back to England to play for Leicester City.
Vassell also played for the England national team. He scored six goals in 22 games between 2002 and 2004. He even played in big tournaments like 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 and went to Yenton Primary School. He first played football for a local junior team called Romulus. He was a great scorer, once getting 46 goals in one season and 6 goals in a single match! After this, he joined the youth team of Aston Villa.
Time at Aston Villa
Darius was a big fan of Aston Villa and joined their special School of Excellence. While playing for their youth team, he set a club record by scoring 39 goals in one season. He made his first team debut in August 1998, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 win against Middlesbrough.
Vassell was known for his amazing speed and quick movements. Aston Villa fans often felt he played even better for England. He was especially good as a "super sub," coming into games late to use his speed against tired defenders. He had a unique record: for a long time, his team never lost a league game when he scored. This record finally ended on April 22, 2011, when he scored for Leicester City in a 3–2 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Moving to Manchester City
In July 2005, Vassell moved to Manchester City for £2 million. In his first season, he scored eight league goals in 35 games. He formed a strong partnership with fellow striker Andy Cole. He also helped Manchester City reach the FA Cup Quarter-Finals, scoring two goals in five cup matches. He played part of that season with a hernia problem, which needed surgery later.
For the 2007–08 season, he wore the number 12 shirt. He sometimes found it hard to play his best. Later in that season, he often played as a wide midfielder. This was because his manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson, used a more defensive playing style. Vassell scored his 50th Premier League goal on February 10, 2008. This goal came in a win against local rivals Manchester United. He played only 15 games in the 2008–09 season. His contract ended, and he left the club.
Playing in Turkey
In July 2009, Darius Vassell signed with the Turkish team Ankaragücü. About 3,000 fans came out to celebrate his arrival! He scored his first goal in the Turkish Süper Lig against Manisaspor. He left the club at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Back in England with Leicester City
On October 20, 2010, Vassell signed a two-year deal with Leicester City. This meant he was reunited with his former Manchester City and England manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson. He scored his first goal for Leicester in a big 5–1 win over Doncaster Rovers on December 11.
On October 29, 2011, he got a serious knee injury in a game against West Ham United. This injury, a torn ligament, meant he could not play for the rest of the season. Vassell left Leicester City on June 30, 2012, as he was not offered a new contract. He did not join another club and officially retired from football on January 28, 2016, when he was 35 years old.
International Career
Darius Vassell played his first game for England on February 13, 2002. He was named "man of the match" in that game against the Netherlands, which ended in a 1–1 draw. He scored England's goal with a fantastic bicycle kick in the 60th minute.
Because of his great play, he was chosen for England's team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played in three games during the tournament. He started one game, which was against Sweden in England's first group match.
Vassell also played in UEFA Euro 2004. In the quarter-finals against host country Portugal, the game went to a penalty shoot-out. He came on early in the game after Wayne Rooney got injured. Sadly, Vassell missed England's last penalty kick. This allowed Portugal's goalkeeper, Ricardo, to score the winning penalty and knock England out of the tournament. Vassell did not play for England again after that match.
Coaching Career
As of 2024, Darius Vassell has been working with the England Under-18 squad. He helps coach the 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.
Career Stats Summary
Here is a quick look at Darius Vassell's career numbers:
| Club | Years | League Games | League Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa | 1998–2005 | 162 | 35 |
| Manchester City | 2005–2009 | 103 | 17 |
| Ankaragücü | 2009–2010 | 22 | 4 |
| Leicester City | 2010–2012 | 44 | 6 |
| Total Career | 331 | 62 | |
International Goals
Darius Vassell scored 6 goals for England. Here are the details:
| No. | Date | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 13, 2002 |  Netherlands |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | April 17, 2002 |  Paraguay |
3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | May 26, 2002 |  Cameroon |
1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | April 2, 2003 |  Turkey |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying |
| 5 | June 5, 2004 |  Iceland |
4–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | June 5, 2004 | Iceland |
6–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
Honours
Darius Vassell won some awards and reached finals with his clubs:
- FA Cup: 2000 (runner-up with Aston Villa)
- Intertoto Cup: 2001 (winner with Aston Villa)
See also
In Spanish: Darius Vassell para niños
