Robert Earnshaw facts for kids
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Earnshaw in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Earnshaw | ||
| Date of birth | 6 April 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Mufulira, Zambia | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–1998 | Cardiff City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2004 | Cardiff City | 183 | (86) |
| 2000 | → Greenock Morton (loan) | 3 | (2) |
| 2004–2006 | West Bromwich Albion | 43 | (12) |
| 2006–2007 | Norwich City | 45 | (27) |
| 2007–2008 | Derby County | 22 | (1) |
| 2008–2011 | Nottingham Forest | 102 | (38) |
| 2011–2013 | Cardiff City | 19 | (3) |
| 2012–2013 | → Maccabi Tel Aviv (loan) | 10 | (2) |
| 2013 | Toronto FC | 26 | (8) |
| 2014 | Blackpool | 1 | (0) |
| 2014 | Chicago Fire | 5 | (3) |
| 2015 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 9 | (2) |
| 2015 | → Whitecaps 2 (loan) | 3 | (2) |
| Total | 471 | (186) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998–2001 | Wales U21 | 10 | (1) |
| 2002–2012 | Wales | 59 | (16) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018–2019 | Fresno (assistant) | ||
| 2022– | Orange County (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Robert Earnshaw (born 6 April 1981) is a former professional footballer from Wales. He played as a forward and was known for scoring many goals. He holds a special record: he is the only player to have scored a hat-trick (three goals in one game) in the Premier League, all three divisions of the English Football League, the League Cup, the FA Cup, and for his country in an international match.
Earnshaw was born in Zambia and grew up in South Wales. He started his career at Cardiff City in 1997. After a short loan, he became a key player for Cardiff, helping them get promoted in 2003. He then moved to Premier League club West Bromwich Albion in 2004. Throughout his career, he played for several clubs in England, Israel, Canada, and the United States. He also played for the Wales national team from 2002 to 2012, scoring 16 goals in 59 games.
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Robert Earnshaw was born in Mufulira, Zambia, on 6 April 1981. He was one of five children. His mother was a professional footballer in Zambia and later a boxer. His father managed a gold mine. Robert's uncle and two cousins were also professional footballers who played for Zambia.
When Robert was five, his family moved to Malawi. He went to school there, learning the Chewa language in addition to Bemba and English. In 1990, his father passed away. His mother decided to move the family to Bedwas, a small town in Wales, in 1991. Robert found Wales very different, especially the colder weather and everyone speaking English.
In Wales, Robert started playing football with friends. He supported Manchester United. He also enjoyed gymnastics and basketball. His first organised football match was at age 11 with a local youth team called Llanbradach. After a year, he joined GE Wales, where he became known for scoring lots of goals, even 80 in one season!
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Cardiff City
In 1997, Robert Earnshaw scored three goals in a youth match. A coach from Cardiff City saw him and invited him to train. On 1 August, he signed a contract with Cardiff City. He scored over 47 goals for the club's youth team in one season.
He made his first team debut for Cardiff at just sixteen years old. This was in an FAW Invitation Cup match in October 1997. He played his first league game in March 1998.
In August 1998, Earnshaw signed his first full professional contract. He scored his first goal for Cardiff with a bicycle kick in his first start. However, he found it hard to get into the team. In January 2000, he was loaned to Scottish team Greenock Morton to gain more experience. He scored two goals in three games there. This loan helped him realise he needed to work harder.
The 2000–01 season was a big year for Earnshaw. He scored 25 goals in all competitions, including two hat-tricks. He was named Cardiff's Young Player of the Year. In the 2002–03 season, he continued to score many goals. He scored three hat-tricks and helped Cardiff win promotion to the First Division. He finished the season with 35 goals, breaking a club record!
His amazing goal-scoring attracted attention from many big clubs. Cardiff's chairman did not want to sell him.
Moving to West Bromwich Albion
At the start of the 2004–05 season, Earnshaw moved from Cardiff to West Bromwich Albion for £3 million. He made his debut in September 2004. He scored his first goals for Albion in November, netting twice in a 2–2 draw.
On 19 March 2005, he scored his first and only Premier League hat-trick against Charlton Athletic. This was a special moment because it meant Earnshaw became the only player to score hat-tricks in all four professional English divisions (Premier League, Division 1, 2, and 3), the FA Cup, the League Cup, and in an international match. He finished as Albion's top scorer that season with 14 goals.
In January 2006, Earnshaw left West Bromwich Albion. He felt he wasn't getting enough chances to play.
Time at Norwich City
On 31 January 2006, Earnshaw signed with Norwich City for £2.75 million. He quickly started scoring goals, including two in his second game. He scored six more goals that season.
The next season, he had a fantastic start, scoring 17 goals by January 2007. He got injured but returned to score two more goals, finishing the season with 19 goals.
Playing for Derby County
His goal-scoring at Norwich led Derby County, a newly promoted Premier League team, to sign him for £3.5 million in June 2007. He made his debut in August 2007.
Earnshaw found it tough at Derby. He struggled to score and was often not in the starting team. He scored his first Premier League goal for them in April 2008. He later said this was one of his worst seasons in football.
Joining Nottingham Forest
In May 2008, Earnshaw joined Nottingham Forest for £2.65 million. He quickly scored his first goals for Forest in a League Cup match. His first league goal came in August 2008. On 5 December 2009, he scored a hat-trick against local rivals Leicester City.
In the 2010–11 season, Earnshaw scored important goals, including two in a 5–2 win against Derby County. He scored 43 goals in 111 games for Forest, making him a very successful striker for them.
Returning to Cardiff City
On 6 July 2011, Earnshaw rejoined his boyhood club, Cardiff City, for free. He made his second debut for Cardiff in August. His first goal back came a week later. He scored his 200th career goal in a 1–1 draw with Burnley on 20 August.
He later found himself playing less often and was often a substitute. Cardiff reached the play-offs but lost.
Loan to Maccabi Tel Aviv
In September 2012, Earnshaw moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel on a loan. He believed this move would help him improve as a player. He scored his first goal for them two weeks after his debut. He was in Tel Aviv during a conflict and experienced rocket fire, which was a shocking experience for him.
When he returned to Cardiff, the manager decided he was no longer needed.
Playing in North America
On 28 February 2013, Earnshaw joined Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. He made his debut two days later. The following week, he scored two goals in a 2–1 win, earning him the MLS Player of the Week award.
In March 2014, Earnshaw joined Blackpool for a short time, playing only one game before leaving.
On 15 August 2014, he returned to MLS, joining Chicago Fire. He scored his first goal for them eight days later.
In February 2015, Earnshaw joined Vancouver Whitecaps. He made an instant impact, scoring the winning goal in his debut game in the 90th minute with his first touch of the ball! He scored another goal later, also with his second touch as a substitute.
Retirement from Playing
Robert Earnshaw announced his retirement from playing football on 28 January 2016. He then became the head coach of the Vancouver U-14 Pre-Residency team.
International Career for Wales
Robert Earnshaw chose to play for Wales at international level, even though he was born in Zambia. He felt Wales was his country because he grew up there. He played for the Wales under-21 team ten times, scoring once.
His great form at Cardiff City caught the eye of the Wales national coach. Earnshaw made his debut for Wales in May 2002, scoring the winning goal against Germany at the Millennium Stadium. He was also named man of the match.
He became an important player for Wales during the Euro 2004 qualifying games. He scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 friendly win against Scotland in February 2004.
During a Euro 2004 qualifying match, some Welsh players, including Earnshaw, faced racism. As a result, the opposing team's football association was fined.
Earnshaw played for Wales 59 times over ten years. On 25 May 2011, he was the captain for a game against Scotland. He continued to say he was available to play for the national team even after not being selected for a while.
Coaching Career
After coaching youth teams for the Vancouver Whitecaps, Earnshaw became an assistant coach for United Soccer League side Fresno in January 2018. In December 2021, he joined Orange County as an assistant coach.
Since May 2020, Robert has been studying in Wales to get his UEFA Pro License, which will allow him to coach in Europe.
Personal Life
Robert Earnshaw grew up in Lansbury park in Caerphilly, Wales, after moving there from Zambia as a teenager.
His son, Silva Mexes, signed for the Manchester United under-14 football team at the end of the 2023/24 season.
In June 2024, Earnshaw married Bollywood actress Zarah Shah.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cardiff City | 1997–98 | Third Division | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | 5 | 0 | |||
| 1998–99 | Third Division | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 1 | |||
| 1999–2000 | Second Division | 6 | 1 | – | – | – | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2000–01 | Third Division | 36 | 19 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | – | 41 | 25 | ||
| 2001–02 | Second Division | 32 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | 36 | 15 | ||
| 2002–03 | Second Division | 46 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | – | 55 | 35 | ||
| 2003–04 | First Division | 46 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | – | 49 | 26 | ||
| 2004–05 | Championship | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 5 | 2 | |||
| Total | 183 | 86 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 10 | – | 203 | 105 | |||
| Greenock Morton (loan) | 1999–2000 | Scottish First Division | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 4 | 2 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2004–05 | Premier League | 31 | 11 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 34 | 14 | ||
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | – | 16 | 3 | ||
| Total | 43 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | 50 | 17 | |||
| Norwich City | 2005–06 | Championship | 15 | 8 | – | – | – | 15 | 8 | |||
| 2006–07 | Championship | 30 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 32 | 19 | ||
| Total | 45 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 47 | 27 | |||
| Derby County | 2007–08 | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 25 | 2 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 2008–09 | Championship | 32 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | – | 36 | 17 | |
| 2009–10 | Championship | 34 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 37 | 17 | ||
| 2010–11 | Championship | 36 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 | 9 | ||
| Total | 102 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | 111 | 43 | |||
| Cardiff City | 2011–12 | Championship | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv (loan) | 2012–13 | Israeli Premier League | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 11 | 3 | |
| Toronto | 2013 | MLS | 26 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 | 8 | |
| Blackpool | 2013–14 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| Chicago Fire | 2014 | MLS | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 3 | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 2015 | MLS | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| Career total | 468 | 184 | 27 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 519 | 216 | ||
International Goals
- Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Earnshaw goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 May 2002 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Germany |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 12 February 2003 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 11 October 2003 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Serbia and Montenegro |
2–3 | 2–3 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualification |
| 4 | 18 February 2004 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Scotland |
1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 2–0 | |||||
| 6 | 3–0 | |||||
| 7 | 31 March 2004 | Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest, Hungary |  Hungary |
2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 8 September 2004 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Northern Ireland |
2–2 | 2–2 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | 13 October 2004 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Poland |
1–0 | 2–3 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 27 May 2006 | UPC-Arena, Graz, Austria |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 2–1 | |||||
| 12 | 11 October 2006 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales |  Cyprus |
2–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualification |
| 13 | 17 October 2007 | San Marino Stadium, Serravalle, San Marino |  San Marino |
1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2008 qualification |
| 14 | 29 May 2009 | Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales |  Estonia |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 15 | 25 May 2011 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland | Scotland |
1–0 | 1–3 | Nations Cup |
| 16 | 27 May 2011 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2011 Nations Cup |
Robert Earnshaw's Unique Hat-trick Record
Robert Earnshaw is the only player in football history to have scored a hat-trick (three goals in one game) in all of these different competitions:
- Premier League: For West Bromwich Albion against Charlton, 19 March 2005.
- Championship (formerly Division 1): For Cardiff against Gillingham (13 September 2003) and for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City (5 December 2009).
- League One (formerly Division 2): For Cardiff against QPR (29 November 2002) and against Tranmere Rovers (14 March 2003).
- League Two (formerly Division 3): For Cardiff against Torquay United (2 December 2000).
- FA Cup: For Cardiff against Bristol Rovers (19 November 2000).
- League Cup: For Cardiff against Boston United (11 September 2002) and against Leyton Orient (12 August 2003).
- International Match: For Wales against Scotland (18 February 2004).
Honours and Awards
Cardiff City
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2011–12
Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Israeli Premier League: 2012–13
Individual Awards
- Cardiff City Young Player of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01
- PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2002–03 Second Division
- PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 Third Division, 2002–03 Second Division, 2003–04 First Division
- Cardiff City Player of the Year: 2002–03
- Football League Second Division Top Scorer: 2002–03
- Welsh Footballer of the Year: 2004
Images for kids
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Earnshaw in 2007
See also
In Spanish: Robert Earnshaw para niños
