Graeme Le Saux
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Graeme Le Saux | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graeme Pierre Le Saux | |
| Date of birth | October 17, 1968 (age 38) | |
| Place of birth | Jersey, Channel Islands | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |
| Playing position | Left-back | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| 1986-1987 | St Paul's (Jersey) | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1987-1993 1993-1997 1997-2003 2003-2005 |
Chelsea Blackburn Rovers Chelsea Southampton |
90 (8) 129 (7) 140 (4) 44 (1) |
| National team | ||
| 1994-2000 | England | 36 (1) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Graeme Pierre Le Saux (born October 17, 1968 in Jersey) is a retired English footballer who played as a left back, though he was also skillful and pacy enough to move into midfield or even the left wing.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
[edit] Chelsea
Le Saux started his career at St Paul's of Jersey before moving to Chelsea in 1987 after being spotted playing in a local tournament by manager John Hollins. He made his debut for the club two years later against Portsmouth and had become a regular by the 1990-91 season. His first stint at Chelsea ended in controversy, though. Angry at continually being substituted, he snapped when he was subbed again during a match with Southampton and threw his shirt to the ground as he stormed past manager Ian Porterfield. He was sold to Blackburn Rovers in March 1993 for £700,000.
[edit] Blackburn Rovers
Le Saux arrived at Blackburn as part of wealthy benefactor Jack Walker and manager Kenny Dalglish's plan to establish the club as one of the country's top sides, and joined an impressive side containing the likes of Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton and Tim Flowers. Blackburn finished 2nd in Le Saux's first season, and were crowned Premier League champions a year later, with Le Saux a near ever-present. He missed the second half of the following season due to a broken ankle which also ruled him out of Euro 96, but was still caught up in controversy after fighting with team-mate David Batty during a UEFA Champions League tie with FC Spartak Moscow.
[edit] Return to Chelsea
In August 1997, Le Saux became the most expensive defender in English football when he returned to Chelsea in a £5 million deal. Always a regular when fit, Le Saux's second spell with Chelsea was often interrupted by injury or suspension. He remained there for six seasons, and was an important part of the side which won the League Cup and Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 and the FA Cup in 2000, though he missed two of those finals through injury.
[edit] Southampton
He was swapped in a part-exchange deal with Southampton for Wayne Bridge in 2003. Le Saux played for another two seasons before announcing his retirement in May 2005 following Southampton's relegation from the Premiership.
[edit] England
Le Saux was capped 36 times for England. He made his first appearance in a friendly win over Denmark and played at the 1998 World Cup, appearing in every game as England reached the second round. Le Saux's only international goal came against Brazil with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area. It came 18th in a recent poll of the greatest ever England goals.
[edit] After football
Following his retirement he worked as a pundit for the BBC on both Match of the Day 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live. He quit the BBC on 31 March 2006 after losing his commentary place on England's World Cup games to Mark Lawrenson.
In 2006, Le Saux joined ABN AMRO Bank’s UK private banking team in the role of Ambassador for their Sports Desk. He is one of the few professional English players who came to the league with a degree (Kingston University).
[edit] Private life
Throughout his career Le Saux has been dogged by controversy surrounding his sexuality. An example of this is in British comedy Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, in which a cast member said, (after being told by a female friend 'every time I really like a guy football gets in the way') "you sound like Graeme Le Saux". These rumours remain unsubstantiated though he is married.
[edit] Honours
Chelsea
- Second Division championship: 1988-89
- League Cup: 1998
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1998
Blackburn Rovers
- FA Cup 1997
- Premier League championship: 1994-95
- Premier League runner-up : 1993-94
[edit] External links
 |
England squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup | |
|---|---|---|
|
1 Seaman | 2 Campbell | 3 Le Saux | 4 Ince | 5 Adams | 6 Southgate | 7 Beckham | 8 Batty | 9 Shearer | 10 Sheringham | 11 McManaman | 12 Neville | 13 Martyn | 14 Anderton | 15 Merson | 16 Scholes | 17 Lee | 18 Keown | 19 L. Ferdinand | 20 Owen | 21 R. Ferdinand | 22 Flowers | Coach: Hoddle |
||
Categories: 1968 births | Living people | Natives of Jersey | English footballers | Chelsea F.C. players | Blackburn Rovers F.C. players | Southampton F.C. players | FA Premier League players | England under-21 international footballers | England international footballers | Left-footed football (soccer) players | Sport in Jersey | FIFA World Cup 1998 players
