Leroy Halirou Bohari Lita ( hold 28 December 1984 ) is an english professional football player who plays for Southern League Premier Division Central club Nuneaton Borough. Lita was a product of the Chelsea youth system but never made a first-team appearance for the club ; in 2002, he moved to Bristol City and belated represented Reading, where his imprint helped him earn a place with the England under-21 side. He late played for Middlesbrough, Swansea City, Barnsley, Yeovil Town, in Greece for AO Chania and in Thailand for Sisaket, with loanword spells at Charlton Athletic, Norwich City, Birmingham City, Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton & Hove Albion and Notts County. He then moved into non-league football .
Club career [edit ]
Bristol City [edit ]
Born in Kinshasa, [ 2 ] Lita made his introduction for Bristol City at the start of the 2002–03 season, and his first finish followed when he scored a belated achiever against Port Vale in September 2002. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Lita signed his foremost professional shrink for Bristol City at the senesce of 18 at the start of the 2003–04 season, after being discovered by lookout Roger Barton. [ 5 ] It was n’t until Brian Tinnion took over from Danny Wilson as coach at the start of the 2004–05 season that Lita very established himself in the first base team. That class he scored 29 goals in all competitions for club and one U21 external goal taking his count to 30 for the season.
Reading: Leroy Lita
Reading [edit ]
Lita moved to Reading of the Championship on 13 July 2005 for a then club record fee of £1 million. [ 6 ] Lita scored on his introduction at dwelling to Plymouth Argyle with a ticket header to equalise, but Reading lost 2–1, however they merely lost one more league game during the entire season. Lita made it three goals in his first three games as he scored two well taken goals in Reading ‘s 3–0 winnings away at Preston. He scored in home wins against Swansea City in the League Cup and Burnley in the league, before scoring an operating expense kick in the 3–2 acquire at home to Crystal Palace. He then endured a barren spell in movement of goal, but he ended it with a finish in a 3–0 acquire at Ipswich, a result which took Reading to the top of the Championship. He then suffered an injury that kept him out for 6 weeks, but on his return against West Bromwich Albion in the third round of the FA Cup, he produced a high gear timbre display, netting a superb hat trick that included a spectacular second goal with a dipping shoot from 25 yards, after a series of one affect passes from the Royals. He found the net in a 4–0 winnings at home to Norwich City, and followed it up in the adjacent game with two excellent finishes in a 4–3 off win at Crewe Alexandra. He scored for the third league game in a row with a tap in during a 2–0 victory at home to Southampton. He came on as a substitute to score the winner in a 2–1 succeed at home to Preston but his 2005–06 season ended early in the adjacent game at Burnley when he sustained a break ankle after landing awkwardly, but Reading hush won the Championship style and forwarding to the Premier League with a criminal record sum of 106 points. Lita had a promise begin to animation in the Premiership, in which he netted the winner at home plate to Middlesbrough on the opening day, a game in which Reading came from 2–0 down to win, 3–2. He ended a goal drought by scoring in a 2–2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the first of ten-spot goals in twelve games, [ 7 ] as he scored away at Manchester United in a 3–2 get the better of, and scored again in the 6–0 family winnings over West Ham. He besides scored three goals in two games in the FA Cup against Burnley and doubly against Birmingham City. His future goal came at home to Wigan in a 3–2 succeed, and in the next plot he scored two late goals in a 2–0 succeed aside at Manchester City. Both goals came from through balls ; for the first Lita hit a brawny beginning time shoot from the border of the box, across the custodian and into the top corner. The second was a finish when through one on matchless. He would have had a hat trick, but had a goal wrongly disallowed in the first half. Leroy scored again against Manchester United, as he pulled one back in a 3–2 home kill in the FA Cup. Lita had suffered some quibble injuries and found himself behind in form Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson for parts of the season. On 13 April 2007, Lita was banned for three games for allegedly headbutting Talal El Karkouri of Charlton Athletic on 9 April, a charge disputed by both the player and Reading ‘s director, Steve Coppell. however, Reading inactive managed to finish eighth in their first always top division campaign, fair missing out on a UEFA Cup invest. Following the end of that temper meditation surrounding the future of Lita increased as he continued to be linked with several premier league clubs. however the striker said in July that he wanted to stay at Reading “ I ‘m happy here. This is an significant class for me and the club and I precisely want to play and be successful. ” In a freak out occurrence fair anterior to the start of the 2007–08 temper, Lita was faced with a month of downtime after damaging a leg muscle as he stretched in bed upon waking. [ 8 ] Coppell told the BBC : “ Leroy is in a big hand of pain. It ‘s a item of laugh but a dangerous business for him because he ‘s going to be out for three or four weeks. ” Lita found himself largely out of favor in the 2007–08 season, and spent much of it either left out or hurt, he besides had a lend spell at Charlton Athletic. He only scored one finish in the Premier League that season, it came on the final examination day against already relegated Derby County with a diving header in a 4–0 away acquire. But Reading found themselves joining Derby, as they were relegated on goal deviation .
loanword spells [edit ]
On 5 March 2008, Lita joined Charlton Athletic on a one-month loanword deal, after finding his first base team opportunities limited at Reading during the 2007–08 season. [ 9 ] The loan was late extended to the end of the season, [ 10 ] but he was called rear from the loan on 19 April for the death three games of the season. [ 11 ] Lita then went to Norwich City for a month-long loan on 1 October. He scored four goals in his initial six game enchantment including a hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 5–2 victory. reading and Norwich agreed to extend the loanword for another six games until 7 December. Following Norwich ‘s 2–0 winnings over local rivals Ipswich, it was announced on 8 December that Lita would sign a far third month on loanword. Lita went on to score 7 goals for Norwich, and in a season which ultimately ended up with relegation, Lita was City ‘s top scorekeeper .
return to Reading [edit ]
Lita returned to Reading and played in the third base round FA Cup tie get the better of at Cardiff City. [ 12 ] He then made his inaugural league appearance since August, coming on as a submarine, to score a goal against Watford at home on 9 January 2009, to make it 4–0. late, in the same workweek Lita announced that he had changed for the better, and that he would stay with Reading for the forwarding advertise. [ 13 ] Sheffield United had a seven figure sum accepted by Reading for Lita on 13 January 2009, but the baseball club by and by withdrew from proceedings after they were not uncoerced to pay the £1.2m signing-on fee being requested by Lita. On 15 May, Lita, Michael Duberry, Marcus Hahnemann and baseball club captain Graeme Murty were told that their contracts would not be renewed .
Middlesbrough [edit ]
Lita play for Middlesbrough in 2010 On 3 August 2009, it was announced that he would join Middlesbrough on a unblock transfer. [ 14 ] He made his debut for Middlesbrough on 7 August 2009 in a 0–0 draw with Sheffield United, but had limited opportunities to score. [ 15 ] Lita scored his inaugural goal for Middlesbrough against Doncaster Rovers, in a 2–0 gain for the Boro. He received a yellow circuit board for removing his shirt in his subsequent celebration. [ 16 ] He scored his second goal when returning to his honest-to-god club Reading in Middlesbrough ‘s 2–0 gain on 3 October 2009. His third goal for Middlesbrough came on 21 November 2009 against Nottingham Forest off a rebound off a Julio Arca shoot. On 5 December 2009, Lita scored two goals in a 5–1 winnings against QPR, Middlesbrough ‘s inaugural succeed under fresh director Gordon Strachan. Lita again received a yellow card for his finish celebration. On 26 December 2009, Lita received a red card for an elbow during the winnings against Scunthorpe, which was the first of his career. Lita ‘s inaugural goal of the 2010–11 season came on 18 September 2010 against old club Reading and his second followed on 27 November with a headed finish in a 2–2 draw with Hull. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] On 28 December, Lita ‘s 26th birthday, he scored two goals against Preston in a 3–1 succeed for Middlesbrough – his first being an individual campaign, scoring after a weaving run from the center line. [ 19 ] Lita scored twice against the golf club where he began his career, Bristol City, in Middlesbrough ‘s 4–0 away victory on 15 January 2011. [ 20 ] He was yellow-carded for his celebration following his first base finish, after being subjected to abuse from the home plate fans. Lita late took the unusual step of using the Bristol City web site to apologising to their fans for his actions. [ 21 ]
Swansea City [edit ]
On 27 July 2011, newly promoted Premier League side Swansea City had a tip of £1.75m accepted by Middlesbrough for Lita ‘s services. [ 22 ] He completed his checkup the be workweek and signed a 3-year contract. He made his swansea debut against Manchester City as a substitute. Lita scored his beginning Swansea City goal on 17 September 2011 against West Bromwich Albion scoring a header in a 3–0 acquire. [ 23 ]
Birmingham City ( lend ) [edit ]
On 6 September 2012, Lita agreed to join Birmingham City on a three-month hand brake lend, the move to be completed when the lend transmit window opened two days subsequently. [ 24 ] He scored his foremost goal for the club on his second appearance, touching in a Paul Caddis cross to open the marking at home to Bolton Wanderers. [ 25 ] After ten league games in which he scored three goals, Lita ‘s loanword was terminated on 12 November to allow him to return to his owning club to complete his recovery from a second joint injury. [ 26 ]
Sheffield Wednesday ( loan ) [edit ]
Lita made his debut on 26 January 2013, scoring the winning finish against Charlton Athletic after coming on as a substitute for Kieran Lee in the 54th minute. He went on to score his second finish in deoxyadenosine monophosphate many games, through a inaugural half volley in a 3–1 home victory against Brighton & Hove Albion. Leroy scored against Crystal Palace on 23 February to take his score for Sheffield Wednesday to 3 goals. He uses a trademark celebration when he scores goals for Wednesday, using his fingers to make an “ M ” which stands for massive. Lita scored his fourth goal of the season for Sheffield Wednesday from a well placed penalty to add to the 3–2 victory against Blackburn Rovers on 6 April. He has besides helped them stave off the relegation with a moment goal in a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough, Lita ‘s former club .
Brighton & Hove Albion ( loanword ) [edit ]
On 16 October 2013, Lita signed for Brighton on loan until 1 January 2014. [ 27 ] Lita made his début as a stand-in in the 0–0 draw against Yeovil on 19 October 2013. Lita scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 away win at Doncaster Rovers. By the end of his loanword go with the Seagulls, Lita had made 5 appearances, scoring 1 goal. [ 28 ]
Barnsley [edit ]
After his departure from Swansea City, Lita signed a annual deal at League One slope Barnsley on 9 August 2014. [ 29 ]
Notts County ( lend ) [edit ]
Lita joined Notts County on loanword until the end of the 2014–15 season in March 2015. [ 30 ]
AO Chania [edit ]
In August 2015, Lita signed for Greek Football League side AO Chania. [ 31 ]
Yeovil Town [edit ]
On 5 March 2016, Lita joined League Two side Yeovil Town on a short-run conduct until the end of the season. [ 32 ] He was released at the end of the 2015–16 season. [ 33 ]
Sisaket [edit ]
On 7 January 2017, Lita joined Thai League T1 side Sisaket. [ 34 ]
In September 2018 Lita joined english non-league clubhouse Margate. [ 35 ] At the age of 34, Lita announced his retirement from professional football in August 2019. [ 36 ] He joined Haverhill Rovers as a coach at the end of the month, [ 37 ] before signing a short-run cope with Southern League cabaret Salisbury in late September. [ 38 ] On 8 November, Lita signed a short-run distribute for National League South club Chelmsford City ; [ 39 ] he left at the end of the season having made 14 appearances in all competitions. [ 40 ] Later in May, he joined Southern League cabaret Nuneaton Borough. [ 41 ]
International career [edit ]
England U21 breakthrough [edit ]
Lita turned down the opportunity to play for DR Congo in favor of pursuing an international career with England, despite having previously stated he wished to represent the nation of his birth. [ 42 ] He scored on his debut for England U21 with a goal against the Netherlands U21 in a 2–1 loss on 8 February 2005, coming on as a second-half stand-in. [ 43 ] He had to wait over a year to make his irregular appearance, again as a utility, in a 3–1 succeed over Norway on 28 February 2006. [ 44 ] Following excellent goal-scoring kind in the Premier League, Lita was awarded with a far cap as a substitute in the 2–2 draw with Spain on 6 February 2007, scoring his second finish in three international appearances .
2007 european U21 Championship [edit ]
Despite being 22, Lita was eligible to compete in the 2007 UEFA european Under-21 Football Championship, [ 45 ] and was called up to the squad. [ 46 ] In the first group game against the Czech Republic, England were awarded a penalty in the 88th moment which Lita subsequently dragged wide-eyed condemning England to a scoreless draw. [ 47 ] however, he then scored for England in each of their next three games ; a 2–2 draw against Italy, a 2–0 gain over Serbia, and a 1–1 ( 13–12 ) penalty shoot-out passing to the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
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He was named in the UEFA Dream Team for the tournament. [ 48 ]
career statistics [edit ]
- As of end of 2020–21 season