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Alan Smith Profile |
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Birth Date: October 28, 1980
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Birth Place: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK
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Birth Name: Alan Smith
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Height: 5'8"
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Biography |
Alan Smith (born 28 October 1980) is an English football
player. He has played centre-forward for most of his career.
He formerly played for Leeds United and now plays for
Manchester United.
Smith was born in Rothwell, Leeds, and got his start with
the England School Boys Centre For Excellence but became
home sick. He then joined with his hometown and future club,
when he entered the Leeds United Centre of Excellence. Smith
eventually joined up with Leeds United properly in March
1998.
His senior Premiership debut was as a substitute for Leeds
vs. Liverpool at Anfield, where he displayed his natural
scoring ability by scoring with his first touch of the ball.
That goal helped propel him into the 1998-99 season, as he
was one-half of manager David O'Leary's first-choice striker
pairing, along with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Smith continued his run through the Leeds side, as the club
began to grow in stature. Smith showed his class in 2001
while helping to lead the Leeds side through the much
vaunted Champions League, though his experience ended on a
sour note as he was sent off in the semi final. The
following season saw Alan relegated to the midfield, his
versatility working against him, as O'Leary tried to
accommodate new signings. 2001 was also the year for Smith's
break into the England squad. An England youth international
at multiple levels, Smith made his senior England debut in
May 2001. Alan did not make the final cut for the 2002 FIFA
World Cup, and accepted a starring role with the England
Under-21 side.
A hometown hero and a teen idol for supporters of hometown
club Leeds, Smith was the poster boy for the club for the
2002-2004 seasons, winning the "Supporter's Player of the
Year" award two years running, a first in Leeds' history, as
Smithy was one of their own (at the time). Though his goal
tally was not excellent by any means, his willingness to
play any role on the pitch and his tireless efforts to save
"the Whites" from relegation for two seasons was met with
love from his adoring public. This constant relentless
workrate in the name of his hometown club caused him to pick
up the nickname "Smudger" (arguably this could also be due
to the fact that Smudge is a common nickame for English
people who have the surname Smith) from the Leeds fans.
Smith also caused controversy in the 2004 season when, in a
League Cup game against Manchester United, he threw a bottle
in the crowd after it was thrown on the field, incidentally
hitting his best friend's sister. This incident landed Smith
in hot water with his club and the FA.
The No. 17 shirt bearer, Smith announced his desire to leave
Leeds due to relegation in May 2004, ending his Leeds career
by kissing the badge and crying at his last match. His
transfer to bitter rivals Manchester United, however, led to
controversy and his exit was marred by accusations of
treachery going from hero to villain from the view of Leeds
fans in the space of a day. Leeds fans were not angry at
Alan for leaving to further his England prospects and fully
understood this. Their anger was at him going to the club
most hated by Leeds fans. Smith chose to waive his personal
transfer fee owed to him by Leeds United who had financial
difficulties at the time.
Smith started the second chapter of his career on August 8,
2004 at the Community Shield clash against Arsenal, netting
for the "Red Devils" with a swerving volley in the 55th
minute. Smith has impressed at Old Trafford since his
arrival, with several prominent former players hailing him
as something akin to the next Mark Hughes. Despite only
being at the club for a few months, he developed a fearsome
reputation for both long-ranged strikes such as his strikes
against Arsenal and Norwich City, and more intelligent,
"poacher"-type goals, akin to those crafted by Ruud van
Nistelrooy, such as the double against Dinamo Bucureşti in
the UEFA Champions League.
An injury hampered his first season, causing him to miss out
on several matches including the Carling Cup semi-final
against Chelsea. He missed out in the FA Cup final against
Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium as Manchester United lost
out to penalties in the game. As the 2004-05 season ended
rumours were rife about Smith's future, despite Smith saying
he wanted to continue at United for his entire career. The
forward managed a good return of 10 goals for his first
season at Old Trafford. However, with Wayne Rooney in
sparkling form and Ruud van Nistelrooy back in the team
after injury, Smith was relegated to the bench. However, he
remained a fans' favourite.
In the summer of 2005 it emerged that Manchester United
manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was grooming Smith as a
successor to Roy Keane in the Manchester United midfield.
Ferguson stated, "Roy sees characteristics in Alan that he
saw in himself as a young player, which could help Alan
develop into a very good player in that position." Smith got
his chance to prove his credentials as a replacement for
Keane when the United skipper was injured early on in the
2005-06 season. Smith began a prolonged run in the midfield
'anchor' role, with moderate effectiveness. However, as
United began to stutter in the absence of several senior
players, the midfield came under heavy flak from fans and
pundits alike, and it was questioned whether Smith was cut
out for the vital midfield role he was being asked to
play[citation needed]. These criticisms aimed at Smith and
his team-mates reached its nadir with United's embarrassing
4-1 capitulation away to Middlesbrough and the subsequent
1-0 defeat to Lille OSC in the Champions League. Smith was
believed to be one of several United stars who were heavily
criticised by Roy Keane in an MUTV interview that was
thought too explosive to be aired and consigned to the
cutting room floor by club officials. It seemed that Smith's
performance in the crucial home match against league leaders
Chelsea would be meticulously scrutinised in the light of
Keane's damning words. Smith responded in spectacular
fashion, giving a man-of-the-match performance as his side
won 1-0.
Smith cemented his place in the hearts of Manchester United
fans when he turned down the honourable chance of playing
for his country, in order to work on his fitness in his new
midfield role, in the reserve squad. Here, the fans got
another glimpse of his commitment to the club, which is
regarded almost as highly as anything else amongst
supporters.
He had only one goal in the 2005-2006 season, that came in a
3-1 away win over Charlton Athletic at The Valley. On
February 18, during a 1-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield in
the FA Cup, Alan broke his leg and dislocated his ankle
while attempting to block a free-kick from Liverpool's John
Arne Riise, an injury described by Sir Alex Ferguson as "one
of the worst I've seen". Despite the rivalry between the two
clubs, he was given an ovation by many of the Liverpool fans
as he was stretchered off the pitch. A number of Liverpool
fans attacked the ambulance during its departure from the
scene, however, something which was widely condemned. In
response to this injury, some Leeds United fans at the Leeds
United vs Leicester City match which took place on the same
day sang ridiculing and derogatory remarks about Alan.
As a result of this injury, Smith missed out on a place in
the England World Cup 2006 squad. On the next day it was
confirmed that Smith would miss action for at least 12
months. Although in May, after a successful operation on his
ankle, it was reported that he would likely be back in
action as soon as mid-September; he had been recovering
alongside Wayne Rooney for several weeks, who was also
reported to be making a "miraculous" recovery on a broken
foot.
"I felt my leg go from under me as I went to block a
free-kick", Smith told The Sun. "When I looked down, the leg
was lying one way and my ankle was pointing towards Hong
Kong so I knew I was in serious trouble." There was however,
a small consolation for Smith and his club when United beat
Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the Carling cup final of the same
season. United players toasted, with T-shirts emblazoned
with "For you Smudge", in homage to Smith and his horrific
end to the 2005-06 season.
In the build up to the 2006-07 season Sir Alex Ferguson
revealed that he planned to replace the departing Ruud van
Nistelrooy by returning Alan Smith to his natural position
on centre-forward.
"We are going to convert Alan Smith back into being a
forward. He will be back in training soon and should be
available by the end of August or the beginning of
September."
Smith has now recovered from his injury and has played in
several reserve games. He was on the bench during Manchester
United's Champions League match against Celtic.
On 26 September 2006 Smith made a heroic return as a
substitute in the 85th minute of the 1-0 Champions League
victory over S.L. Benfica at the Estadio da Luz, immediately
showing the passion he still has for the game by making a
couple of crunching tackles in the 5 minute cameo
appearance. He currently wears the number 14 shirt.
On 10 November 2006, Leeds United boss Dennis Wise revealed
he was interested in bring Smith back to Elland Road.
Ferguson told the press that Cardiff City are also
interested and he would let Smith go out on a short-term
loan for Smith to regain his fitness. It is believed that
Smith, however, would be more interested in a loan move to
Leeds. There has also been reported interest from other
Premiership and Championship clubs, Newcastle United and
Aston Villa seemingly keen on the player. This, however,
proved to be untrue for Smith, through his agent, Alex
Black, has publicly announced his wish to remain at
Manchester United, and his will to solidify his place in Sir
Alex Ferguson's first team. Recently, Sir Alex Ferguson
himself has voiced his desire to have Alan back at top
fitness, and has stated that Alan is currently undergoing
special training in order to aid and speed his recovery. On
Friday 22 December 2006, reports suggested Smith may be the
subject of a £6 million pound transfer to Everton, however,
this was quickly denied by manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The
manager also revealed his fitness is improving greatly,
"Alan is doing really well at the moment. We put him on a
speed programme, which had an immediate effect and we have
seen a tremendous improvement in him over the last month." |
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Other Information |
Signed for Manchester United FC following the relegation of
his previous club Leeds United (whom he had supported since
childhood) from the Premiership to the First Division - much
to the anger of Leeds fans, given the great rivalry between
the two sides. [May 2004]
English football player (striker).
Favorite chlidhood game other than football was Motor
Racing.
Does not drink alcohol. |
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