Troy Deeney

Troy Deeney

Deeney training with Watford in 2014
Personal information
Full name Troy Matthew Deeney[1]
Date of birth (1988-06-29) 29 June 1988[2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Watford
Number 9
Youth career
2004–2006 Chelmsley Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2010 Walsall 123 (27)
2006–2007 → Halesowen Town (loan) 10 (8)
2010– Watford 254 (99)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:09, 21 November 2016 (UTC).


Troy Matthew Deeney (born 29 June 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Watford. He plays primarily as a striker. Deeney started his professional career at Walsall. He spent a brief spell on loan with the then-Southern League side Halesowen Town during the 2006–07 season. He transferred to Football League Championship side Watford in 2010 and captained the side to promotion to the Premier League in the 2014–15 season.

Early and personal life

Deeney was born in Birmingham, West Midlands,[2] and grew up in Chelmsley Wood. He was one of three children born to his parents, who split up when he was 11. He was expelled from school when he was 14, before returning at the age of 15. He left at 16 without any GCSEs and began training as a bricklayer, earning £120 a week.[4]

On 25 June 2012, Deeney was sentenced to ten months' imprisonment for kicking a man in the head during a brawl.[5][6] He was released after serving almost three months of the sentence, after showing his remorse, and the fact that he was a first-time offender. Since his release from prison in 2012, he has earned GCSEs in English, Science and Maths.[4]

Deeney is married and has a son, Myles, and a daughter, Amelia.[7] His brother, Ellis, is a semi-professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder. Ellis started his career at Aston Villa, where he was captain of their academy side before being released. Having played for Kettering Town, Hinckley United and Worcester City he now plays for Tamworth. He is a personal trainer, and Deeney helped fund his training in the profession.[4]

Career

Walsall

Deeney was invited by the Aston Villa academy to take part in a four-day summer trial at the age of 15 with a view to earning a youth contract; however, he missed the first three days as he "knew there was a game on the last day" and was not offered terms by Villa.[8][9] Having joined Chelmsley Town, he was scouted by Walsall's Head of Youth Mick Halsall, who only attended the game Deeney was playing in because his son was also playing and due to the game he was scheduled to attend being postponed. Deeney was playing while drunk, but scored seven goals in an 11–4 win. He was offered a trial by the then League Two club, but only attended after his Chelmsley manager got him out of bed and paid for his taxi.[4] After signing for Walsall on 18 December 2006, Deeney was instantly sent out to Halesowen Town on loan for the rest of the 2006–07 season.[10]

He scored his first professional competitive goal for Walsall against Millwall in a 2–1 win 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 introduction of Chris Hutchings as manager coincided with Deeney finding a goalscoring touch. Helped by the fact that his new manager started playing him in his favoured striking position, instead of on the right wing as the previous manager Jimmy Mullen had, Deeney scored nine goals in Hutchings' first 12 games in charge.[10][12] On 9 September 2009, it was announced that Deeney had signed a new two-year deal until 2011.[13] In the 2009–10 season, Deeney scored 14 goals to finish as Walsall's top scorer and was awarded the club's Player of the Year award.[14]

Watford

2010–2012: Making the breakthrough

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 training in protest at the club's hardline stance when trying to sell him.[4] He signed for Watford two days later for an initial fee of £250,000 rising up to £500,000 on a two-year contract that lifted his salary from £1,200 to £6,000 a week.[4] On the same day Deeney signed for Watford, he played a part in their 3–2 win against Norwich City on the opening day of the season, coming on for Marvin Sordell in the second half.[15] Deeney found his poor pre-season meant he struggled for fitness in comparison to his new teammates.[4] He scored his first Watford goal against Notts County in the first round of the League Cup on 24 August.[16] Deeney went on to make 40 appearances for Watford in his first season, scoring three goals from 20 starts, although he was mainly deployed on the wing by Malky Mackay.[17]

At the beginning of the 2011–12 campaign, Deeney initially found it hard to acquire a starting spot in the team as many of his early season games saw him consigned to a bench role.[4] He soon found his way into the starting eleven and amassed a total of 46 appearances under the management of Sean Dyche in his preferred position as striker.[18][19] Deeney finished the season as Watford's top goalscorer with 12 goals in all competitions and also won the Goal of the Season Award for his goal against Ipswich Town in March 2012.[20]

2012–2015: Prolific scoring form

Deeney (left) playing for Watford in 2012

Deeney made his first appearance for Watford, after his release from prison, against Bristol City at Vicarage Road on 22 September 2012. The game finished 2–2, with Deeney coming on in the second half and hitting the post.[21] He started the next game against Huddersfield Town on 29 September, and scored the winner from a spot kick in the 3–2 away win.[22] He scored a memorable double against his boyhood club, Birmingham City, as Watford ran out 4–0 winners on 16 February 2013.[23]

In March 2013, Deeney signed a new contract with Watford, keeping him at the club until 2016.[24]

Deeney netted another brace in a 4–0 win over Blackburn Rovers on 20 April 2013, taking his tally to 18 for the season.[25] Six days later, he scored his 19th goal of the season in the next match against Leicester, scoring the first goal in an important 2–1 away win for Watford.[26]

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 final at Wembley Stadium. 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 added time.[27]

Deeney warming up for Watford in 2014

After scoring 20 goals in the 2012–13 season, Deeney scored the only goal as Watford beat Birmingham City 1–0 in the opening game of the 2013–14 season.[28] A week later 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 match since Michael Chopra in 2003, and the first one to do so at Vicarage Road since David Connolly on 7 December 1996. It was also Deeney's first career hat-trick.[29]

Netting a brace in a 4–1 win away against Sheffield Wednesday on 29 March 2014, Deeney took his 2013–14 season tally to 20 goals. In the process, he became the first Watford player to score 20 or more goals in consecutive seasons in all competitions since Luther Blissett managed the feat in 1983.[30]

Deeney scored again, this time against Burnley in a 1–1 draw on 5 April 2014, to become the first Watford player to score 20 league goals in consecutive seasons since Cliff Holton managed the feat in 1961.[31] The striker won both the Watford Player of the Season award for 2013–14 and also won the Players' Player of the Year at the end of season awards on 2 May 2014.[32]

Following the departure of Manuel Almunia, Deeney was named the Watford captain by manager Giuseppe Sannino prior to the 2014–15 campaign.[33] During the course of the 2014–15 Championship season, Deeney helped Watford earn promotion to the Premier League.[34] In the process he became the first player in Watford history to score 20 or more goals in three consecutive seasons (2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15).[35]

2015–present: Premier League years

Deeney (second from the left) in action for Watford against Newcastle United in September 2015

On 8 August 2015, Deeney made his Premier League debut, captaining the Hornets in their 2015–16 season opener, a 2–2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.[36] On 24 October, he scored his first Premier League goal as Watford defeated Stoke City 2–0 at the Britannia Stadium.[37] On 21 November, Deeney scored a penalty against Manchester United in the 87th minute to equalize; just after that, he scored an own goal in the 90th minute to help Manchester United secure a 2–1 victory over Watford in a dramatic change of events at Vicarage Road.[38] Deeney would extend his goal streak to five in six games with the opener in a 2–0 win against Norwich City on 5 December 2015.[39] 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 games.[40]

On 1 July 2016, Deeney signed a new five-year deal with Watford.[41] He opened his 2016–17 goalscoring account on 10 September in a dramatic match at West Ham United's new home venue — the London Stadium. West Ham had gone 2–0 up through a pair of headed goals from Michail Antonio, the second goal assisted by Dimitri Payet's audacious rabona-style cross. Two Watford goals just before half-time, the second scored by Deeney, ensured the teams went in all square at the break. A second half capitulation by the Hammers then saw Watford produce a stunning comeback to win the match 4–2.[42][43][44]

After the contest, Deeney accused the West Ham players of being disrespectful:

“ As a player I thought they were trying to mug us off a little bit. You can appreciate good skill and that was great skill for the second goal but as a professional you cannot allow someone to do that to you. You see that in the playground with six and seven-year-olds and we are grown men. There were some harsh words said to each other and everyone had that fire in their belly again. We all dug in and before you know it we were getting more chances and we got two goals before half-time. I thought we were the only team who were going to win it in the second half.[45] ”

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.[46] Deeney originally believed he was eligible to play for Northern Ireland but that possibility was quickly ruled out as neither his parents nor grandparents are from Northern Ireland.[47]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 November 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 2006–07[48] League Two 10———10
2007–08[11] League One 35140001[lower-alpha 1]0401
2008–09[12] League One 451210102[lower-alpha 1]04912
2009–10[49] League One 421420101[lower-alpha 1]04614
Total 1232770204013627
Halesowen Town (loan) 2006–07[50] Southern League 108———108
Watford 2010–11[17] Championship 3622021—403
2011–12[18] Championship 43112110—4612
2012–13[51] Championship 401910002[lower-alpha 2]14320
2013–14[52] Championship 44243110—4825
2014–15[53] Championship 42211000—4321
2015–16[54] Premier League 38135200—4315
2016–17[55] Premier League 1130010—123
Total 25493144512127599
Career total 3871282147161421134
  1. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in the Championship play-offs

Honours

Watford

References

  1. ↑ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 35. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. 1 2 "T. Deeney". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Smith, Frank (23 May 2015). "Troy Deeney speaks to Frank Smith about how he went from scoring seven times whilst drunk for Chelmsley Wood to captaining Watford into the Premier League". Watford Observer. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Watford striker Troy Deeney sentenced to ten months in prison for affray.". Watford Observer. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "Watford striker Troy Deeney jailed for ten months for kicking man in head". Metro. London. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Downes Jr, Wally (9 May 2016). "Watford star Troy Deeney's summer wishlist includes a new contract, a trip to DisneyWorld and a new car-park space". The Sun. London. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Troy Deeney the Watford hero as Aston Villa lose again". Daily Mail. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Lansley, Peter (29 November 2015). "Watford's Troy Deeney gloats over 'better than dream goal' at Aston Villa". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  10. 1 2 "Player profiles: Troy Deeney". Walsall F.C. Archived from the original on 11 August 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  11. 1 2 "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Deeney pens new Saddlers contract". BBC Sport. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  14. ↑ "Watford sign striker Troy Deeney from Walsall". BBC Sport. 6 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  15. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (6 August 2010). "Norwich 2–3 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  16. ↑ "Watford 1–2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  19. ↑ "Troy Deeney: Leading From The Front". Pundit Arena. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "2011/12 Awards: Goal Of The Season". Watford F.C. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  21. ↑ "Watford 2–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  22. ↑ "Huddersfield 2–3 Watford". BBC Sport. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Birmingham 0–4 Watford". BBC Sport. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Troy Deeney: Striker commits future to Watford". BBC Sport. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Watford 4–0 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  26. ↑ Jurejko, Jonathan (26 April 2013). "Leicester 1–2 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  27. ↑ Prentki, Tom (12 May 2013). "Watford 3 Leicester City 1 (agg 3–2): match report". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  28. ↑ "Birmingham City 0–1 Watford". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Watford 6–1 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  30. ↑ Matthews, Anthony (29 March 2014). "Troy Deeney scores 20 goals for second consecutive season as Watford end 14-game winless streak on road at Sheffield Wednesday". Watford Observer. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  31. ↑ Matthews, Anthony (5 April 2014). "Scott Arfield cancels out early Troy Deeney strike as Burnley earn potentially priceless point at Watford". Watford Observer. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  32. ↑ "DEENEY: "A Real Honour"". Watford F.C. 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  33. ↑ Smith, Frank (23 July 2014). "Watford name Leicester City and Burnley transfer target Troy Deeney as captain". Watford Observer. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  34. ↑ "Watford promoted to Premier League". The Daily Telegraph. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  35. ↑ Smith, Frank (7 April 2015). "Troy Deeney believes going from a prison cell to making Watford FC history shows his turnaround as a player and a person". Watford Observer. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  36. ↑ "Everton 2–2 Watford". Sky Sports. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  37. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (24 October 2015). "Stoke City 0–2 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  38. ↑ Calvin, Michael (21 November 2015). "Watford vs Manchester United match report: Troy Deeney own goal gets United out of jail after late penalty". The Independent. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  39. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (5 December 2015). "Watford 2–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  40. ↑ Gill, Kieran (13 February 2016). "Crystal Palace 1–2 Watford: Troy Deeney double consigns Eagles to defeat as winless run extends to nine Premier League games despite Emmanuel Adebayor scoring his first goal for the club". Daily Mail. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  41. ↑ "Troy Deeney, Isaac Success & Christian Kabasele agree Watford deals". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  42. ↑ Woodcock, Ian (10 September 2016). "West Ham United 2–4 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  43. ↑ Findon, Ben (11 September 2016). "Watford's comeback king Troy Deeney accuses West Ham's players of 'trying to mug us off'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  44. ↑ Bech, Duncan (11 September 2016). "Watford's Troy Deeney: West Ham tried to mug us off with playground tricks, but we're grown men - not children". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  45. ↑ "Troy Deeney: West Ham were trying to 'mug Watford off'". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  46. ↑ Newson, Adam (7 October 2015). "Troy Deeney has revealed he has twice been offered the chance to represent Jamaica but the Watford captain has England ambitions". Watford Observer. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
  47. ↑ Burt, Jason (5 February 2016). "Troy Deeney: Going to prison was the best thing that's ever happened to me". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  48. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  49. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  50. ↑ "Player details: Season 2006–2007: Troy Deeney". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  51. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  52. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  53. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  54. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Troy Deeney in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

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