Joe Ledley facts for kids
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Ledley with Wales, 2016
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Joseph Christopher Ledley | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2004 | Cardiff City | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2010 | Cardiff City | 229 | (27) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | Celtic | 106 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Crystal Palace | 83 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Derby County | 30 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Charlton Athletic | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Newcastle Jets | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Newport County | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 459 | (55) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Wales U17 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Wales U19 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Wales U21 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2018 | Wales | 77 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Joseph Christopher Ledley, born on January 23, 1987, is a Welsh former professional footballer. He was a central midfielder.
Joe started his football journey at Cardiff City, playing there for six years. He helped the club reach the FA Cup Final in 2008. He also played in the Championship play-off final in 2010. In 2010, he moved to Celtic. He won the Scottish Premier League title with Celtic in 2012. He also won both the league and the Scottish Cup in 2013. In January 2014, he joined Crystal Palace. He played for them for three and a half seasons in the Premier League.
Ledley played for Wales at different youth levels. These included under-17, under-19, and under-21 teams. He made his full national team debut in 2005. He played over 70 international games and was captain many times. Joe was part of the Welsh team that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016.
Joe Ledley's Early Life
Joe Ledley was born in Cardiff, Wales. He grew up in the Fairwater area. He went to Cantonian High School and was captain of their football team. His school picture is still displayed there. When he was younger, he played many sports. But he always dreamed of becoming a footballer.
He supported Cardiff City as a child. He joined the club's youth academy when he was nine. As a trainee, he cleaned the boots of the team captain, Graham Kavanagh. He kept cleaning them even after joining the first team. This helped him stay humble.
Club Football Career
Playing for Cardiff City
Starting Out (2004–2005)
Ledley joined the first team in the 2004–05 season. He was only 17 years old. His first game was in the League Cup on September 21, 2004. He came on as a substitute in a 4–1 win. He made his league debut on October 16. This was in a 2–0 win against Rotherham United.
Three days later, he started his first game for the club. It was a 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. He had chances to score, including a header that hit the post. His manager, Lennie Lawrence, said Joe was not nervous at all. He looked like he had played many games before.
Joe scored his first goal for Cardiff on November 2. It was in a 4–1 win over West Ham. He controlled a cross and then scored with a powerful shot. His manager and teammates praised him. They said he showed great maturity for his age.
On February 4, 2005, Joe signed a new long-term contract with Cardiff. This was after he was called up to the Wales under-21 squad. A month later, he scored a key goal. It helped Cardiff beat Sheffield United 1–0.
His season ended in April due to a foot injury. Before that, he played 32 games for Cardiff. He also earned three Wales under-21 caps. His strong performances helped Cardiff City. The team was struggling with relegation and money problems that season.
More Goals and Progress (2005–2006)
Joe's first goal of the 2005–06 season was in a 2–1 League Cup win. This was against Macclesfield Town. He scored the goal that tied the game. A month later, on October 18, he scored in a 2–2 draw. This was against Preston North End.
Four days later, Cardiff beat Crewe Alexandra 6–1. Joe scored the second goal, making it 2–1. Many thought Cardiff would be relegated that season. But this win put them close to the play-off spots. Joe scored his fourth goal of the season on December 31. It was in a 2–1 win over Southampton.
Key Player for Cardiff (2006–2007)
Ledley scored in the first game of the 2006–07 season. It was the first goal in a 2–1 win over Barnsley. Weeks later, he scored again. Cardiff City beat Birmingham City 2–0. This win put them at the top of the league table.
Cardiff City had a full stadium for the first time in over 45 years. This showed their growing success. Joe was seen as a very important player for the team. His speed on the left side was key to their playing style. On September 25, Joe scored in a 3–0 win. This was against Southend United.
Cardiff entered the FA Cup in the third round. They played Tottenham Hotspur. The game ended 0–0. Joe had a great chance to score but shot just over the bar. Tottenham won the replay 4–0. On February 2, Joe got a hamstring injury. This was in a 2–0 win over Barnsley. At the end of the season, he won an award. It was for the best goal of the season against Barnsley.
FA Cup Final Run (2007–2008)
Ledley started the 2007–08 season in great form. He won several 'man of the match' awards. In October 2007, he signed a two-year contract extension. In December 2007, Wolverhampton Wanderers offered a lot of money for Joe. Cardiff City offered the deal to Joe, but he chose to stay.
Premier League team Everton was also interested in him. Cardiff valued him at a high price. Joe said he wanted to stay at Cardiff. But he knew he might have to leave if a big offer came. Everton tried to sign him again in January. But Cardiff rejected their offer.
Joe's good form continued into February and March. Then a hamstring injury made him miss some games. This included Cardiff's 2–0 FA Cup quarter-final win. He returned for the semi-final against Barnsley. He scored the only goal, sending Cardiff to their first FA Cup Final since 1927. This goal earned him 'Player of the Round'. Cardiff lost the Final to Portsmouth.
Captain and Team of the Year (2008–2009)
In the summer of 2008, Stoke City offered Cardiff a large sum for Joe. Cardiff turned it down. On September 1, 2008, Stoke made another offer, but Cardiff rejected it again. On October 7, Joe was named Welsh clubman of the year. This was for the second year in a row.
He scored his first goal of the 2008–09 season on November 15. This was in a 2–1 win over Crystal Palace. He had just returned to the field after a dislocated finger. The injury needed surgery. But Joe returned quickly to play against Swansea City. He scored a great goal in the 2–2 draw. This goal won the club's 'goal of the season' award.
In his next game, on December 6, 2008, Joe captained Cardiff City for the first time. He was only 21 years old. This was in a 2–0 win over Preston North End. His strong play earned him the Championship player of the month award for January.
In January, more teams wanted to sign Joe. West Ham United and Wigan Athletic made offers. But Cardiff turned them down. Joe remained captain for the rest of the season. At the end of the year, he was named in the Championship Team of the Year.
Final Season at Cardiff (2009–2010)
With only one year left on his contract, there was talk about Joe leaving. This led to him losing the captaincy. Despite this, Joe stayed with Cardiff. He played in the first game at the new Cardiff City Stadium. In the third league game, Joe played his 200th league game for Cardiff. This was in a 3–1 win.
On September 2, 2009, Cardiff offered Joe a new four-year contract. He rejected it. On September 26, Joe was sent off for the first time in his career. This was in a 3–1 loss.
In November 2009, Joe faced criticism for his performances. He later said he needed surgery for a hip injury. This injury had affected his play for three months. On December 9, Cardiff confirmed Joe needed a hip operation. He was expected to miss the rest of the season. But he returned early as a substitute. This was in a 2–1 win over Swansea City.
On April 17, Joe scored against Queens Park Rangers. This 1–0 win secured Cardiff a Play-Off spot. He scored in the Play-off Final on May 22. But Cardiff lost 3–2 to Blackpool.
Joe's contract ended that season. He moved to Scottish Premier League club Celtic. Cardiff City did not receive any money for the transfer. This was because he moved to a team outside the English Football League.
Playing for Celtic
First Season in Scotland (2010–2011)
Joe's contract ended in 2010. He talked with several clubs, including Rangers and AS Roma. He then joined Celtic on a four-year contract on July 12, 2010. He played his first game for Celtic on July 28. This was in a 3–0 loss to Braga in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. His SPL debut was two weeks later. Celtic won 1–0.
Joe played as a left-back during his first month at Celtic. This was a new position for him. He focused on doing his best for the team. He scored his first goal for Celtic on August 22. This was in a 4–0 win against St Mirren. Later, a new left-back arrived. Joe then returned to his usual midfield role.
On November 6, 2010, Joe scored again. This was in Celtic's record 9–0 win over Aberdeen. Four days later, Joe was sent off. This was for a challenge on a Hearts player. Joe said he couldn't believe it. He felt it was a fair challenge. His manager, Neil Lennon, also defended him.
Joe played regularly after his suspension. On March 16, 2011, Joe scored both Celtic goals. This was in a 2–1 Scottish Cup win. On March 20, 2011, Joe played in his second cup final. This was the Scottish League Cup Final against Rangers. He scored a header to tie the game. But Rangers won 2–1 after extra time. A hamstring injury ended Joe's season early. He missed Celtic's Scottish Cup Final win.
Winning the League (2011–2012)
Joe played in Celtic's first game of the 2011–12 season. They won 2–0. On August 13, he scored in a 5–1 win. On September 10, he scored in a 4–0 win. He played in a 2–0 Europa League loss. But he missed the first Old Firm match.
He returned for a 2–0 League Cup win. On September 24, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win. Five days later, he started in a 1–1 draw. He played left-back but left at half-time due to injury. On October 21, he scored a clever header. This gave Celtic a 1–1 draw.
He scored Celtic's winning goal in a 1–0 win over Rangers in December 2011. This win put Celtic in first place. He scored again in February 2012. On March 18, 2012, Joe played in another Scottish League Cup Final. But Celtic lost 1–0.
However, Joe won a trophy that season. Celtic won the Scottish Premier League for the first time in three years. They won the title on April 7, 2012. Joe scored Celtic's fifth goal in a 6–0 win. After the game, Joe said winning the title was a huge achievement. He played 32 league games that season and scored 7 goals.
Double Winners (2012–2013)
On August 8, 2012, Joe scored in Celtic's 2–0 win. This was in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Joe played in both legs of the next qualifier. Celtic won 4–0 and reached the group stages. He played in 5 of these matches. This included Celtic's first away win in the group stages. They also had a memorable 2–1 win over Barcelona.
These results helped Celtic reach the last 16 of the Champions League. They lost to Juventus. Joe played regularly for Celtic in 2012–13. He captained the team several times when Scott Brown was injured. He scored Celtic's third goal in a 4–1 win on April 21, 2013. This win secured the League Championship for Celtic. Joe won another trophy at the end of the season. He scored Celtic's third goal in a 3–0 win. This was against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final.
Final Season at Celtic (2013–2014)
In the 2013–14 season, Joe continued to play regularly. But his contract was ending in summer 2014. Celtic talked about a new contract, but no agreement was reached. Manager Neil Lennon said it was likely Joe would leave.
Despite the uncertainty, Joe remained a key player. On January 29, 2014, Joe scored his fifth goal of the season. This was in a 4–0 win. This turned out to be Joe's last game and goal for Celtic.
Playing for Crystal Palace
On January 31, 2014, Joe joined Crystal Palace. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract. His transfer was completed just minutes before the transfer deadline. Joe said he would have stayed at Celtic if he hadn't joined Crystal Palace. He was given the number 28 shirt.
He scored on his debut on February 8. This was in a 3–1 home win. Manager Tony Pulis praised Joe's performance. Joe scored in a 3–0 win over his old club Cardiff on April 5. He chose not to celebrate. Pulis praised him for his play at Cardiff and for Palace. He said Joe brought "a little bit of class."
Joe played in central midfield, attacking midfield, and left-back. He helped Crystal Palace finish eleventh in the Premier League. This kept them safe from relegation. The next season, he scored important goals. These were in wins against Liverpool and Leicester City.
On June 9, 2017, Joe left Crystal Palace. His contract had ended.
Playing for Derby County
After leaving Crystal Palace, Joe turned down several offers. These included teams in Turkey and China. On September 20, 2017, he joined Derby County. He signed as a free agent until January 2018. Joe played his first game for Derby on September 26. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw.
He signed a longer contract with Derby on November 28, 2017. This kept him until the end of the 2018–19 season. On January 30, 2019, Joe's contract at Derby ended by agreement.
Later Career and Retirement
On December 6, 2019, Joe joined Charlton Athletic. He made his only appearance the next day. This was in a 1–0 loss.
On February 23, 2020, Joe trained with Newport County. But he turned down a contract. He then joined A League team Newcastle Jets in May. He was signed by his former teammate Carl Robinson. He stayed with the club until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2021, Joe trained with Bristol Rovers. However, on March 18, he joined Newport County. He made his debut two days later. This was in a 1–0 loss. He was a substitute in the playoff final on May 31. Newport lost that game. On June 4, it was announced he would leave Newport.
On November 14, 2021, Joe Ledley announced he was retiring from football.
International Career
Joe Ledley was first called up to the Wales under-21 squad in the 2004–05 season. He was 17 and playing for Cardiff City's first team. By the end of the season, he had played three under-21 games. His manager, Lennie Lawrence, expected him to get a full Wales call-up soon.
Joe played for Wales at several youth levels. He earned his first senior Wales cap on September 7, 2005. This was in a World Cup qualifying match. His first international goal was against San Marino. This was on October 17, 2007.
In 2008, Joe was called back to the Wales U21 squad. This was to help them qualify for the U21 championships. But a back injury kept him out. On May 29, 2009, Joe was named captain of Wales' youngest ever team. This was for a 1–0 win over Estonia. He also captained them a week later.
He earned his 50th international cap on November 16, 2013. This was in a friendly game.
Joe was chosen for UEFA Euro 2016 in France. He had just recovered from a broken leg a month before. He played all six games as Wales reached the semi-finals.
How Joe Ledley Played
Joe Ledley was known for his amazing energy. He had high fitness levels and worked very hard. He worked hard in both defense and attack. He always tried to win the ball back. He also scored goals for his team. He was comfortable with the ball and a good passer. He was also a very strong player.
Some people said Joe was not very fast. They thought this might have stopped some Premier League clubs from signing him. But former player John Hartson said speed isn't always the most important thing. He said Joe was good in many other parts of the game. He also compared Joe's playing style to players like Xabi Alonso and Frank Lampard.
At the start of his career, Joe usually played as a left winger. But since the 2008–09 season, he played more in the center midfield.
Personal Life
Joe Ledley and his wife Ruby have two daughters. Their names are Layla and Reeva. They were born in October 2010. In March 2011, Joe's house was broken into. His wife and daughter were in Cardiff at the time. After this, they decided to move.
In September 2011, Joe was reportedly attacked in Glasgow City Centre. Police said they had no record of the incident.
Joe supported Liverpool when he was young. His hero was Ryan Giggs.
Joe was part of ITV's coverage for UEFA Euro 2020.
Career Achievements
Cardiff City
- FA Cup runner-up: 2007–08
Celtic
- Scottish Premiership: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
- Scottish Cup: 2012–13
Crystal Palace
- FA Cup runner-up: 2015–16
Individual Awards
- Wales Club Player of the Year: 2007, 2008
- PFA Championship Team of the Year: 2008–09
- Championship Player of the Month: January 2009
Images for kids
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Ledley playing for Celtic in the 2011–12 season.
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Ledley training ahead of the match between Celtic F.C and ICT on 11 February 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Ledley para niños
