english football player

Troy Matthew Deeney ( behave 29 June 1988 ) is an english professional football player who plays as a hitter for EFL Championship club Birmingham City. Deeney started his professional career at Walsall. He spent a abbreviated spell on loan with Southern League Premier Division club Halesowen Town during the 2006–07 season. He transferred to Championship club Watford in 2010 and captained the team to promotion to the Premier League in the 2014–15 season. After 11 years and more than 400 matches with Watford, he left the golf club as a rid agentive role in August 2021 and signed for Birmingham City.

early life

Deeney was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, [ 2 ] one of three children born to his parents, and grew up in Chelmsley Wood. At the long time of 10, Deeney and his mother were assaulted by his father, leading to visits from social services. The couple split when Deeney was 11 with his mother taking detention of their children. He maintained a kinship with his father, who was a drug dealer in Deeney ‘s local area. [ 4 ] Deeney was expelled from educate when he was 14, before returning at the long time of 15 but left at 16 without any GCSEs. Since 2012 he has earned GCSEs in English, Science and Maths. [ 5 ]

Club career

early career

Deeney was invited by the Aston Villa academy to take part in a four-day summer trial at the historic period of 15 with a position to earning a young person shrink ; however, he missed the first three days as he “ knew there was a game on the survive day ” and was not offered terms by Villa. [ 6 ] After leaving school in 2004 he had begun training as a bricklayer, earning £120 a workweek, and joined Chelmsley Town. He made his debut on 9 October 2004 in a 2–1 victory against Mile Oak Rovers, [ 7 ] only coming into the first team as several players were unavailable because the game was an early kick-off – it had been brought forward to avoid clashing with England ‘s 2006 World Cup Qualifier against Wales. [ 8 ] After holding down a regular place in the team, Deeney went on to win Chelmsley Town ‘s Player of the class for the 2005–06 season. [ 9 ]

Walsall

Deeney was spotted by Walsall ‘s Head of Youth Mick Halsall, who alone attended the peer because his son was besides playing, and because the match he was scheduled to attend had been postponed. Deeney was playing while drink in, but scored seven goals in an 11–4 win. He was offered a test by the then League Two club, but only attended after his Chelmsley coach got him out of bed and pay for his cab. [ 5 ] After signing for Walsall on 18 December 2006, Deeney was instantaneously sent out to Halesowen Town on lend for the rest of the 2006–07 season. [ 10 ] He scored his first master competitive goal for Walsall against Millwall in a 2–1 acquire in September 2007. [ 11 ] This turned out to be his only goal of the 2007–08 season, and the 2008–09 season started similarly, with him managing only two goals in the first half of the season. however, the initiation of Chris Hutchings as coach coincided with Deeney finding a goalscoring touch. Helped by the fact that his new director started playing him in his privilege strike position, alternatively of on the right wing as the former coach Jimmy Mullen had, Deeney scored nine goals in Hutchings ‘ first 12 matches in charge. [ 10 ] [ 12 ] On 9 September 2009, it was announced that Deeney had signed a newly biennial deal until 2011. [ 13 ] In the 2009–10 season, Deeney scored 14 goals to finish as Walsall ‘s top scorer and was awarded the cabaret ‘s Player of the Year award. [ 14 ]

Watford

2010–2012

On 4 August 2010, Deeney handed in a written transfer request amid interest from several Championship clubs. He had been told he was to leave Walsall earlier in the summer, and had slackened his pre-season train in protest at the club ‘s hard-line position when trying to sell him. [ 5 ] He signed for Watford two days later for an initial fee of £250,000 rising up to £500,000 on a biennial contract that lifted his wage from £1,200 to £6,000 a week. [ 5 ] Walsall besides negotiated a 20 % sell-on tip for any profit were Watford to sell him in the future, something that late would complicate potential transfers away from the club according to Deeney in 2018. [ 15 ] On the lapp day Deeney signed for Watford, he played a separate in their 3–2 gain against Norwich City on the open day of the season, coming on for Marvin Sordell in the second half. [ 16 ] Deeney found his poor people pre-season mean he struggled for seaworthiness in comparison to his new teammates. [ 5 ] He scored his first Watford goal against Notts County in the beginning round of the League Cup on 24 August. [ 17 ] Deeney went on to make 40 appearances for Watford in his first season, scoring three goals from 20 starts, although he was chiefly deployed on the wing by Malky Mackay. [ 18 ] At the begin of the 2011–12 crusade, Deeney initially found it difficult to acquire a starting blemish in the team as many of his early season matches saw him consigned to a workbench character. [ 5 ] He soon found his means into the starting eleven and amassed a total of 46 appearances under the management of Sean Dyche in his prefer position as striker. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] Deeney finished the season as Watford ‘s top goalscorer with 12 goals in all competitions and besides won the Goal of the Season Award for his goal against Ipswich Town in March 2012. [ 21 ]

2012–2015

Deeney ( left ) playing for Watford in 2012 Deeney made his first base appearance for Watford, after his spill from prison, against Bristol City at Vicarage Road on 22 September 2012. The match finished 2–2, with Deeney coming on in the second half and hitting the post. [ 22 ] He started the following match against Huddersfield Town on 29 September, and scored the achiever from a spot complain in the 3–2 away acquire. [ 23 ] He scored a memorable double against his boyhood club, Birmingham City, as Watford ran out 4–0 winners on 16 February 2013. [ 24 ] In March 2013, Deeney signed a raw condense with Watford, keeping him at the clubhouse until 2016. [ 25 ] Deeney netted another brace in a 4–0 acquire over Blackburn Rovers on 20 April 2013, taking his run to 18 for the season. [ 26 ] Six days former, he scored his 19th goal of the season in the following equal against Leicester, scoring the first finish in an significant 2–1 away win for Watford. [ 27 ] On 12 May 2013, Watford faced Leicester City in the play-off semi-final second leg at Vicarage Road. In one of the most dramatic ends to a play-off match in history, Deeney scored a goal deep into injury time to qualify for the Championship Play-off concluding at Wembley. After Manuel Almunia saved a penalty taken by Anthony Knockaert and a rebound, Watford charged down to the other end, and Deeney lashed in the winning goal in the seventh minute of add time – an ecstatic Deeney celebrated the goal by jumping into the crowd. [ 28 ] After scoring 20 goals in the 2012–13 season, Deeney scored the only goal as Watford beat Birmingham City 1–0 in the open match of the 2013–14 season. [ 29 ] A week former on 10 August, Deeney scored a hat-trick as Watford thrashed Bournemouth 6–1 at Vicarage Road. In doing so, he became the first Hornets player to score a hat-trick in a peer since Michael Chopra in 2003, and the first one to do sol at Vicarage Road since David Connolly on 7 December 1996. It was besides Deeney ‘s beginning career hat-trick. [ 30 ] Netting a brace in a 4–1 win away against Sheffield Wednesday on 29 March 2014, Deeney took his 2013–14 season score to 20 goals. In the process, he became the first Watford musician to score 20 or more goals in consecutive seasons in all competitions since Luther Blissett managed the feat in 1983. [ 31 ] Deeney scored again, this time against Burnley in a 1–1 draw on 5 April 2014, to become the first Watford actor to score 20 league goals in consecutive seasons since Cliff Holton managed the feat in 1961. [ 32 ] The striker won both the Watford Player of the Season award for 2013–14 and besides won the Players ‘ Player of the year at the goal of season awards on 2 May 2014. [ 33 ] Following the passing of Manuel Almunia, Deeney was named the Watford captain by coach Giuseppe Sannino anterior to the 2014–15 campaign. [ 34 ] During the course of the 2014–15 Championship season, Deeney helped Watford earn forwarding to the Premier League. [ 35 ] In the serve he became the first gear actor in Watford history to score 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons ( 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15 ). [ 36 ]

2015–2020 : Premier League years

Deeney playing for Watford in 2019. On 8 August 2015, Deeney made his Premier League debut, captaining the Hornets in their 2015–16 season opener, a 2–2 guide with Everton at Goodison Park. [ 37 ] On 24 October, he scored his beginning Premier League goal as Watford defeated Stoke City 2–0 at the Britannia Stadium. [ 38 ] On 21 November, Deeney scored a penalty against Manchester United in the 87th minute to equalise ; just after that, he scored an own goal in the 90th infinitesimal to help Manchester United secure a 2–1 victory over Watford in a dramatic change of events at Vicarage Road. [ 39 ] Deeney would extend his finish streak to five in six matches with the opener in a 2–0 win against Norwich City on 5 December 2015. [ 40 ] On 13 February 2016, he scored twice in a 2–1 away win over Crystal Palace and in the process extended the Eagles ‘ winless run in the league to nine matches. [ 41 ] On 1 July 2016, Deeney signed a new five-year deal with Watford. [ 42 ] He opened his 2016–17 goalscoring report on 10 September at West Ham United ‘s fresh home venue, the London Stadium, equalising in a 4–2 rejoinder victory. [ 43 ] Deeney scored his hundredth Watford goal in all competitions on 26 December 2016 with a penalty in a 1–1 home draw against Crystal Palace, ending a ten-match scoreless run. He became the fifth musician to reach a century of goals for Watford. [ 44 ] Since summer 2018 he has given up gambling entirely and alcohol in weeks Watford are playing. [ 45 ] In April 2019 Deeney ( and Watford team-mates Adrian Mariappa and Christian Kabasele ) were subjected to racist comments on social media. [ 46 ] In May 2020, following the Premier League ‘s suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Deeney initially refused to return to non-contact training with his teammates. He said he did not wish to put his five-month-old child at gamble, who has breathing difficulties, saying “ it only takes one person to get infected within the group and I do n’t want to be bringing that home. ” [ 47 ] Deeney finally returned to trail and captained Watford in their first game back against Leicester City, playing the full 90 minutes. On 11 July, he scored two second-half penalties to come from behind and win at base against Newcastle United, giving Deeney his beginning goals of the restarted season. [ 48 ] Deeney revealed after the game he had been suffering from a right stifle wound since the restart, but vowed to see out the end of the season as club captain and try to save Watford from delegating. [ 49 ] Following this announcement, Deeney was frequently substituted in the irregular half of most games for the remainder of the season to ease the workload on his stifle. He scored again in a 3–1 loss against West Ham United on 17 July, late coming off in the second half. [ 50 ] In Watford ‘s concluding game of the season against Arsenal, Deeney played the fully 90 minutes and scored a penalty in the first half, but was unable to prevent Watford losing 3–2, finishing in 19th and suffering delegating to the EFL Championship. [ 51 ] After this loss, it was highly speculated that Deeney had played his last game for the club ; Deeney commented, saying he was “ uncertain ” about his future at Watford. [ 52 ]

2020–21 : championship return

Despite far-flung rumor of his impend deviation [ 53 ] and reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur, [ 54 ] West Bromwich Albion [ 55 ] and Fenerbahçe, [ 56 ] Deeney remained with Watford throughout the summer transfer windowpane and came off the bench during their 1–0 win over Luton Town on 26 September 2020. [ 57 ] Watford secured immediate forwarding back to the Premier League on 24 April 2021, after a 1–0 home victory over Millwall. [ 58 ]

Immediate Premier League render and final examination games

Deeney came on as a 79th-minute ersatz for Tom Cleverley in Watford ‘s beginning match since their return to the top flight on 14 August 2021, helping secure a win after beating Aston Villa 3–2 at home [ 59 ] Deeney made his final examination appearance for Watford as a 78th-minute ersatz, replacing Ken Sema in a 2–0 away passing to Brighton & Hove Albion on 21 August. [ 60 ] On 30 August 2021, Deeney left Watford as a free agent after football team years with the club ; he had made 419 appearances for the team and scored 140 goals. [ 61 ] [ 62 ]

Birmingham City

On 30 August 2021, Deeney signed a biennial contract with Birmingham City, the team he has supported since childhood. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] He made his debut, as a 67th-minute utility for Lukas Jutkiewicz in a 2–0 home victory over Derby County on 10 September, [ 64 ] and five days late scored his foremost Birmingham finish, a belated penalty in a 4–1 loss at home to Fulham. [ 65 ]

International career

In October 2015, Deeney revealed that he had twice rejected invitations to play for Jamaica internationally and that he harboured an ambition of playing for England. [ 66 ] Deeney originally believed he was eligible to play for Northern Ireland but that possibility was cursorily ruled out as neither his parents nor grandparents are from Northern Ireland. [ 67 ] Having never been selected for England at a youth degree, Deeney remains uncapped .

personal life

Deeney is divorced from his wife Stacy, with whom he had a son, Myles, and a daughter, Amelia. He has been in a relationship with exemplar Alisha Hosannah since July 2018. [ 4 ] He is a lifelong assistant of Birmingham City and has the golf club crest tattoo on his calf. [ 68 ] His brother, Ellis, is a semi-professional football player who plays as a cardinal midfielder. Ellis started his career at Aston Villa, where he was captain of their academy team before being released. [ 5 ] On 25 June 2012, Deeney was sentenced to ten months ‘ captivity after pleading guilty to a agitate of affray, having attacked a group of students outside a cabaret. The Guardian reported that a “ 30-second video clip, which was played to the woo respective times, clearly showed both Troy Deeney and Brennan [ Deeney ‘s acquaintance ] kicking out at the “ defenseless ” students, one of whom received repeat blows to the head as he lay injure ”. [ 69 ] [ 70 ] [ 71 ] [ 72 ] He was released after serving about three months of the sentence. Deeney has cited his grief surrounding his father ‘s death from cancer in May 2012 as a reason for the behavior leading to his catch. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] In March 2020, Deeney was hospitalised with COVID-19 and exhausted five days in hospital with a high temperature and kidney and intestine issues. [ 73 ] In October 2020, Deeney began working as a guest writer for The Sun, penning a fortnightly column for the paper ‘s sports section. He is besides a hebdomadally guest on TalkSport ‘s Monday dawn breakfast show, appearing aboard Laura Woods and Ally McCoist. [ 74 ] In April 2021, he launched a podcast, Deeney Talks. [ 75 ]

career statistics

As of match played 11 December 2021

Honours

Watford
Individual

References

  • Profile at the Watford F.C. website