Chris Smalling

english association football player

Christopher Lloyd Smalling ( born 22 November 1989 ) is an english professional football player who plays as a centre-back for Serie A clubhouse Roma. Smalling represented the England national team from 2011 to 2017. During his youth, Smalling played for the Millwall academy before joining non-League club Maidstone United. After establishing himself in the Maidstone United first team, he signed for Middlesbrough in May 2008. however, concisely after joining Middlesbrough, Smalling had his narrow with the clubhouse cancelled after raising concerns over homesickness. soon after, in June 2008, he signed for Premier League club Fulham. He made his professional debut with them in May 2009 and helped them reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final the succeed season.

Reading: Chris Smalling

In January 2010, Smalling signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United and joined them formally in July 2010. He made his competitive introduction in the 2010 FA Community Shield victory over Chelsea, which earned him his first career decoration. He went on to make more than 300 appearances for the club, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup, a UEFA Europa League and a far two Community Shields. Smalling represented the England Schools under-18 team in early 2008, before making his debut for the national under-20 and under-21 teams in 2009. He made his senior international debut in September 2011 and has appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016 .

early life [edit ]

Smalling was born in Greenwich, London. [ 4 ] He is of jamaican descent. [ 5 ] His forefather Lloyd died when Chris was aged five. [ 6 ] Smalling has one brother. [ 6 ] After his beget ‘s death the family moved to Kent, where he then attended Chatham Grammar School for Boys. [ 7 ] Smalling was a schoolboy national Judo champion, and besides finished second in an international competition. [ 8 ] He was a boyhood Arsenal fan. [ 7 ]

Club career [edit ]

Maidstone United [edit ]

As a child he played for Walderslade Boys and Lordswood. During his adolescent years he sometimes missed train as he could not afford to pay for the bus. [ 6 ] After a short spell at Millwall ‘s academy, a 16-year-old Smalling joined Maidstone United ‘s youth set-up. [ 9 ] After rising through Maidstone United ‘s youth and reserve team set-up under the care of coaches Peter Nott and Tony Cornwell, [ 9 ] Smalling made his first-team debut for ‘The Stones ‘ on 11 April 2007, in a 4–1 personnel casualty against Tonbridge Angels in the Kent Senior Cup. [ 10 ] After making far appearances in the FA Trophy and Isthmian League Cup, Smalling made his league debut for the cabaret in December 2007, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 pull back against Harlow Town. [ 11 ] Smalling affect and promptly established himself as a critical share of Maidstone United ‘s spinal column pipeline ; however, injury and external duty restricted him to making only 11 league appearances for the Kent club. [ 12 ] Smalling scored one goal for Maidstone United, in a 4–2 succeed at East Thurrock United on 24 March 2008, a peer which was besides his concluding appearance for the club. [ 13 ]

Fulham [edit ]

Smalling warming up for Fulham in 2009 After attracting strong matter to from Fulham, Gillingham, Charlton Athletic and Reading, [ 14 ] Smalling signed for Middlesbrough on a biennial contract on 30 April 2008. [ 14 ] however, within a month of sign, his contract with Middlesbrough was cancelled, with Smalling concerned about homesickness, [ 15 ] and in June 2008, he signed for Premier League club Fulham. [ 16 ] Smalling was not on a contract at Maidstone United, for it would have prohibited him from playing for England Schoolboys, and as such the Isthmian League club were not entitled to a tip for the player ; however, Fulham struck a softwood which saw Maidstone United given £10,000 upon the transfer and £10,000 for every 10 league matches he played. [ 17 ] He was made captain of the club ‘s Development Squad by director Billy McKinlay. [ 18 ] On 24 May 2009, Smalling made his Premier League introduction for Fulham, replacing Aaron Hughes in the 77th moment in the concluding peer of the 2008–09 season, a 2–0 home passing to Everton. [ 19 ] Smalling made his first begin for Fulham on 17 September 2009, in an away tie with CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Europa League, with the pit ending 1–1. [ 20 ] On 28 December 2009, Smalling made his first league startle for Fulham, in a 2–1 loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Fulham ‘s final match of 2009 and scored a decisive own goal in the 75th infinitesimal of the match. [ 21 ] He was not included in the matchday team for the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final, in which Fulham were beaten 2–1 after extra meter by Atlético Madrid at the Volksparkstadion. [ 22 ]

manchester United [edit ]

On 27 January 2010, Manchester United announced that they had signed Smalling, for an undisclosed fee, with the player staying at Fulham for the end of the 2009–10 season before joining United for the beginning 2010–11 political campaign. [ 23 ] The transfer formally went through on 1 July 2010. [ 24 ] Smalling made his debut for United on 8 August 2010 in the 2010 FA Community Shield, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 win over Chelsea. [ 25 ] His Premier League debut for United came in their 3–0 dwelling succeed over West Ham United on 28 August 2010, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Jonny Evans. [ 26 ] On 15 September 2010, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw at home against Rangers. [ 27 ] Eight days late, Smalling scored his foremost goal for Manchester United, besides his first senior career goal, in a 5–2 away win over Scunthorpe United in the League Cup. [ 28 ] Smalling then made his full Premier League debut for United on 4 January 2011, partnering Nemanja Vidić for the wax 90 minutes in a 2–1 dwelling gain against Stoke City. [ 29 ] On 8 July 2011, Smalling signed a newfangled five-year contract with United. [ 30 ] Smalling scored his first goal of the 2011–12 temper in the 2011 FA Community Shield against United ‘s local rivals Manchester City, volleying in an Ashley Young free kick from close range to reduce the deficit to 2–1. [ 31 ] Manchester United went on to win the peer 3–2 and take the Shield. [ 31 ] The new season besides saw Smalling adjust to a new character, as early injuries to Nemanja Vidić and Rio Ferdinand allowed Smalling, Jonny Evans and modern signing Phil Jones to replace them. [ 32 ] Evans and Jones played as central defenders, whereas Smalling was deployed as a right-back. [ 32 ] Smalling scored his first ever Premier League goal, against Chelsea at Old Trafford, on 18 September 2011, rising unmarked to place a header into the far corner to open the score in a match United went on to win 3–1. [ 33 ] Smalling was ruled out of the last Premier League regular of the season and besides for England ‘s UEFA Euro 2012 campaign due to a groin injury he sustained during Manchester United ‘s 2–0 win over Swansea City in the penultimate week of the league season. [ 34 ] On 21 July 2012, it was announced that Smalling would miss the begin of the temper after being ruled out for 10 weeks after undergoing operating room on a break metatarsal. [ 35 ] The injury had ruled him out of the integral pre-season tour. [ 36 ] He made his return on 7 November 2012, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 win away to Portuguese team Braga in the Champions League. [ 37 ] He made his Premier League return three days former, helping his team to a 3–2 winnings against Aston Villa. [ 38 ]
Smalling playing for Manchester United in 2015 On 27 November 2013, Smalling scored his first Champions League goal in a 5–0 acquire away to Bayer Leverkusen. [ 39 ] On 26 December 2013, he scored in a 3–2 win against Hull City. [ 40 ] Smalling was sent off in the foremost half of United ‘s 1–0 kill in the Manchester bowler hat on 2 November 2014. [ 41 ] Manager Louis van Gaal deemed Smalling “ dazed ” for his second yellow batting order in the catch, awarded for a foul on James Milner. [ 42 ] On 29 November 2014, he scored his foremost Premier League goal of the temper in a 3–0 victory over Hull City at Old Trafford, it was besides his beginning Old Trafford goal in three years. [ 43 ] On 11 February 2015, Smalling became the beginning actor in the history of the Premier League to score two first-half goals as a substitute, after appearing as a 5th-minute utility in a 3–1 victory against Burnley. This entered Smalling into the Guinness Book of Records for “ the fastest finish in the Premier League by a substitute from kick-off ” and “ the most goals in the Premier League scored by a stand-in in the beginning half ”. [ 44 ] [ 45 ] On 12 April 2015, he scored his fourth league goal of the season in a 4–2 winnings over Manchester City. [ 46 ] Nine days late, Smalling signed a modern contract with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until June 2019. [ 47 ] Having been praised by director Louis avant-garde Gaal for his control of the defensive unit, Smalling captained United for the first clock time on 17 May 2015 during a 1–1 drawing card against Arsenal. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] On 2 May 2016, Smalling won the Manchester United Players ‘ Player of the Year award. [ 50 ] Later that calendar month, on 21 May, he was sent off against Crystal Palace in the 2016 FA Cup Final, which Manchester United won 2–1 after extra time. [ 51 ]
Smalling lining up for Manchester United in 2017 He scored his beginning goal of the 2016–17 season on 24 September with a 22nd-minute header which opened the seduce in a 4–1 victory over reigning Premier League champions, Leicester City. [ 52 ]

rome [edit ]

On 30 August 2019, Smalling joined Serie A cabaret Roma on loan for the 2019–20 season, with the club paying €3 million to sign him. [ 62 ] On 24 November 2019, he became the first English actor to score at least two goals in the lapp Serie A campaign since David Beckham during the 2008–09 season, [ 63 ] and third overall since 2000 after Jay Bothroyd in the 2003–04 season. [ 64 ] On 5 October 2020, Smalling signed for Roma permanently on a three-year contract for an initial €15 million tip, potentially rising to €20 million with add-ons. [ 65 ]

International career [edit ]

young [edit ]

At the old age of 17 and studying for his vitamin a Levels, Smalling was selected to represent his county ( Kent ), and the Kent Schools ‘ Football Association then nominated him for trials for the England Schoolboy international team. [ 66 ] His trial was successful, and Smalling was selected to represent England Schools against Australia in January 2008. [ 67 ] England won 2–0, [ 68 ] and Smalling went on to play for England in the Centenary Shield, playing all four matches which including 1–0 victory against Wales Schools in which he scored the merely goal. [ 69 ] Smalling made his debut for the England under-20 team 31 March 2009, playing 45 minutes in a 2–0 win against Italy at Loftus Road. [ 70 ] On 11 August, four months after his under-20 debut, he made his debut for the under-21 team in a friendly regular against the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute in the 58th infinitesimal of a 0–0 away pull. [ 71 ] On 14 November, Smalling made beginning start for the under-21s in a 2011 UEFA european Under-21 Championship qualifier against Portugal at Wembley Stadium in a 1–0 win. [ 72 ] He scored his first goal for the under-21s on 8 October 2010, against Romania, in England ‘s 2011 UEFA european Under-21 Championship reservation play-off first peg, converting from inside the area after an aid from Daniel Sturridge. The goal, scored in the 83rd minute, proved to be the achiever as England won 2–1. [ 73 ]

senior [edit ]

On 13 November 2010, Smalling was called up to the England senior squad for the first time for their friendly against France on 17 November ; [ 74 ] however, he was an idle substitute in the 2–1 passing. [ 75 ] He made his elder debut in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria on 2 September 2011, which England won 3–0, in which he played at right-back. [ 76 ] On 12 May 2014, Smalling was named in England ‘s 23-man team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 77 ] With England ‘s elimination from the group stages already confirmed, Smalling was given a tournament introduction as a appetizer in the concluding group match, helping the team to a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw with Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte. [ 78 ] On 31 May 2016, Smalling was named in England ‘s 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. [ 79 ] On 2 June 2016, in England ‘s final warm-up match for Euro 2016, he scored his first goal for England in a 1–0 victory over Portugal. [ 80 ] Smalling was dropped by England director Gareth Southgate in November 2017, as Southgate felt players such as John Stones, Harry Maguire and Eric Dier were better at initiating the play. Smalling registered his surprise and responded, “ I ‘m vitamin a good a defender as anyone. ” [ 81 ] He was not included in the police squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [ 82 ]

personal life [edit ]

In June 2017, Smalling marry model Sam Cooke near Lake Como, Italy. [ 83 ] [ 84 ] They have a son, Leo, born in May 2019. [ 85 ] Inspired by his wife, he became vegan, which he credits for improving his health and reducing his convalescence time. He had cut out bolshevik kernel prior to becoming vegan. [ 86 ] [ 87 ] Smalling has promoted the vegan diet and kindness to animals through advertisements for PETA. [ 88 ] [ 89 ] In February 2019, he became a patron of education charity Football Beyond Borders. [ 6 ] On 16 April 2021, Smalling and his family were robbed by armed men in their home in southern Rome. The thieves took luxury watches and jewelry in an early dawn raid. [ 90 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 1 December 2021[91]

International [edit ]

As of match played 10 June 2017[112]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

England

2011
2
0

2012
1
0

2013
6
0

2014
6
0

2015
6
0

2016
8
1

2017
2
0

Total
31
1

As of match played 10 June 2017. England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Smalling goal.[112]

List of international goals scored by Chris Smalling

No.

Date

Venue

Cap

Opponent

Score

Result

Competition

Ref.

1
2 June 2016
Wembley Stadium, London, England
25
Portugal
1–0
1–0
Friendly
[113]

Honours [edit ]

Manchester United
Individual

References [edit ]

Profile at the A.S. Roma website
Chris Smalling at Soccerbase