- Nathan Delfouneso
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Nathan Delfouneso 
Delfouneso playing for Aston VillaPersonal information Full name Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso[1] Date of birth 2 February 1991 Place of birth Tyseley, Birmingham, England Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Playing position Striker
WingerClub information Current club Aston Villa Number 14 Youth career 2006–2008 Aston Villa Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2008– Aston Villa 25 (3) 2011 → Burnley (loan) 11 (1) National team‡ 2006–2007 England U16 7 (0) 2007–2008 England U17 4 (0) 2008–2010 England U19 25 (9) 2010– England U21 11 (3) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:00, 9 October 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 8 October 2011 (UTC)Nathan Abayomi Delfouneso (born 2 February 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. His natural playing position is as a striker, however he has been used as a winger throughout his career. He is also eligible to play for Nigeria.[2]
Contents
Club career
Aston Villa
Born in Tyseley, Birmingham, Delfouneso – a product of the Aston Villa Academy – became a regular for both the club's reserve and academy teams in the 2006–07 season. He made his debut for the reserve team in March 2007, just a month after turning 16. Nathan Delfouneso's late winner helped Aston Villa to a 2-1 win against Portsmouth. In October 2007, he scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw with Reading. In February 2008, Delfouneso signed his first professional contract with Aston Villa, a few days after he was given the number 14 shirt for the first team – it was later reported in French magazine Onze Mondial, that the number was chosen due to Delfouneso's admiration of FC Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. He also travelled with the squad for the game at Fulham, but missed out on the final 16.[3] By the end of the 2007–08 season, Delfouneso had made 41 appearances for the Academy team, scoring 22 goals in the process.
2008–09
Delfouneso warming up for Aston Villa in 2008.
Delfouneso made his competitive first-team début as a substitute in the away tie of the UEFA Cup second round match against Icelandic opponents FH Hafnarfjörður, this in turn made Delfouneso the youngest player to represent Aston Villa in European competition, at the age of 17 years and 195 days. He also came on in the second leg at Villa Park. He made his first competitive start in a UEFA Cup tie against MŠK Žilina, scoring with a stunning left-footed volley after just half an hour of his debut.[4] He scored again in his second start on 17 December 2008, netting a consolation goal away at Hamburger SV.[5]
Delfouneso made his first domestic senior appearance on 4 January 2009, in an FA Cup tie against Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium, which Villa won 2–1. He scored his first domestic senior goal a month later, on 4 February 2009 in an FA Cup fourth round replay against Doncaster Rovers at Villa Park, which Villa won 3–1.[6] His performance was rewarded with high praise from boss Martin O'Neill.
On 16 February 2009, it was reported that Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock was interested in taking Delfouneso to Selhurst Park on loan. Villa boss O'Neill refused, declaring that Warnock's chances of acquiring the striker were "not a prayer".[7]
Delfouneso made his league debut against Tottenham Hotspur as a second half substitute for Gabriel Agbonlahor, on 15 March 2009.[8] He was given a second run-out during Villa's 3–3 draw with Everton, creating two good chances for himself, but failed to score.
On 13 May 2009, Delfouneso marked an impressive debut season, as he picked up both Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Year and Aston Villa Supporters Young Player of the Year, at the annual end of season Awards Night. Delfouneso furthered this eight days later, as he netted the opening goal in a 3–1 victory over Sunderland in the Premier Reserve League final.
2009–10
On 6 November 2009, Delfouneso signed a new two-and-a-half year contract with Aston Villa keeping him at the club until the end of the 2011-12 season.
On 2 January 2010, Delfouneso was in the starting eleven for Aston Villa's third round FA Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers. In the game he scored his fourth senior goal for the club, which was his team's first goal in a 3–1 win. Delfouneso scored with his head, diverting an in-swinging Ashley Young cross just inside the opposition keeper's near right post from 10 yards.[9] Shortly after the game, Villa boss Martin O'Neill admitted that Delfouneso along with fellow youngsters Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark were the subject of many loan offers from various other clubs. However, he went on to emphasise his confidence that the trio were good enough to remain as vital squad members on the fringes of Aston Villa's first team.[10]
On 23 January 2010, Delfouneso scored the opening goal in the 5th minute in Villa's FA Cup 4th round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion. He was an unused substitute in the final of the League Cup, as Villa lost 2–1 to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on 28 February. He scored his first league goal on 18 April, after coming off the bench against Portsmouth in a 2–1 victory at Fratton Park.
2010–11
On 6 November 2010, Delfouneso started his first Premier League game against Fulham due to Emile Heskey, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor being injured. He completed 88 minutes of the match which he substituted for Stephen Ireland, with the match ending as a 1-1 draw. On 10 November 2010, Delfouneso scored his second Premier League goal in a 3-2 win against Blackpool at Villa Park. On 21 November 2010, he made a substitute appearance against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, replacing Gabriel Agbonlahor on 78 minutes in a 2-0 defeat. On 27 November, he played in Villa's 4-2 loss to Arsenal at Villa Park. On 29 January 2011, in the FA Cup fourth round, Delfouneso played and scored with a header against Blackburn Rovers with the third goal in a 3-1 win. At the end of this campaign for Villa, he made 16 appearances and scored 2 goals for them in all competitions.
Burnley (loan)
On 8 March 2011, Delfouneso signed for Burnley of the Football League Championship until the end of the season. He made his debut the same day, playing in an away match at Hull City's KC Stadium. Delfouneso scored past on-loan Aston Villa team-mate Brad Guzan just five minutes in to his first start for The Clarets.[11]
2011–12
In July 2011, he signed a new three-year contract with Aston Villa which will now run until summer 2014. On Saturday 13 August 2011, Delfouneso was an unused substitute in Villa's opening 2011-12 Barclays Premier League fixture with Fulham at Craven Cottage in a 0-0 draw.
On 23 August 2011, he scored in the League Cup tie against Hereford helping Villa to win 2-0.[12]
International career
On the international scene, Delfouneso first came to notice playing for the England U16 team – collecting eight caps and scoring three goals during this period, all three were scored in the 2006 Victory Shield. In October 2007, Delfouneso marked his debut for the England U17 team with a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory over Malta.
Delfouneso made his debut for the England U19 team on 8 October 2008 in a UEFA Championship Qualifying tie against Albania. The striker came on as an 18th-minute substitute and netted the second goal in a comfortable 3–0 victory. He added another brace to his tally in the semi-final match against France to put England through to the final of the 2009 UEFA Under-19 Championship.
On 22 February 2010 Delfouneso received his first call up to the England under 21 squad, On 3 March 2010 he scored on his debut for the under 21 team against Greece in a 2–1 defeat.
Delfouneso was named in the final 18 man squad for the 2010 UEFA Under-19 Championship which took place in France.
Delfouneso scored his second U-21 international goal against Iceland at Deepdale in a 1-2 friendly defeat in March 2011.
Personal life
Delfouneso's younger brother Emmitt is a player for the youth team of Aston Villa's city rivals Birmingham City.[13]
Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Aston Villa 2008–09 4 0 3 1 0 0 5 2 12 3 2009–10 9 1 3 2 1 0 0 0 13 3 2010–11 11 1 2 1 2 0 1 0 16 2 2011–12 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 Total 25 2 8 4 4 1 6 2 43 9 Burnley (loan) 2010–11 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 Career totals 36 3 8 4 4 1 6 2 54 10 Honours
Aston Villa
- League Cup: Runner up 2010
- Premier Academy League: Winner 2007–08
- Premier Reserve League South: Winner 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
- Play-off Final: Winner 2009
England
- Victory Shield: Winner 2006
- Top Goalscorer: 2006
- European U19 Championship: Runner-up 2009
- Golden Boot: 2009
Individual
- Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10
- Aston Villa Supporters Young Player of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10
References
- ^ "search births indexes 1837 - 2006". Findmypast.com. http://www.findmypast.co.uk/birth-indexes-search-start.action?redef=0. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
- ^ Nathan Delfouneso worldfootball.net
- ^ "Nathan Signs". Aston Villa FC. 6 February 2008. http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~1233416,00.html. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
- ^ Hughes, Ian (4 December 2008). "Aston Villa 1–2 MŠK Žilina". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7750021.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ "Villa lose to Hamburg in Uefa Cup". BBC Sport. 18 December 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7780000/newsid_7789000/7789086.stm. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
- ^ Ashenden, Mark (4 February 2009). "Aston Villa 3–1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7858922.stm. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ Aston Villa: Crystal Palace move for Nathan Delfouneso rejected Birmingham Mail, 14 February 2009
- ^ Shea, Julian (15 March 2009). "Aston Villa 1–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7922077.stm. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ Rae, Richard (2 January 2010). "El-Hadji Diouf dismissal gifts victory to Villa". Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article6973766.ece. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ Aston Villa FC[dead link]
- ^ "Hull 0-1 Burnley". BBC Sport. 8 March 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9415112.stm.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14539134.stm
- ^ Aston Villa: Nathan Delfouneso hopes his 'Blues brother' Emmitt will support him in Carling Cup derby Birmingham Mail, 30 November 2010
External links
- Nathan Delfouneso career stats at Soccerbase
- Nathan Delfouneso ESPN Soccernet
• 2 Trippier • 3 Mattock • 4 Gosling • 5 Walker • 6 Hoyte • 7 Welbeck • 8 Drinkwater • 9 Ranger • 10 Delfouneso • 11 Lansbury • 12 Murphy • 13 Rudd • 14 James • 15 Townsend • 16 Bennett • 17 Tutte • 18 Briggs • Coach: Eastick
• 2 Clyne • 3 Briggs • 4 James (c) • 5 Caulker • 6 Baker • 7 Mellis • 8 Parrett • 9 Noble • 10 Delfouneso • 11 Nouble • 12 Bostock • 13 Nicholls • 14 Cruise • 15 Brown • 16 Thompson • 17 Phillips • 18 Donaldson • Coach: Noel Blake
• 2 Mancienne • 3 Bertrand • 4 Muamba • 5 Smalling • 6 Jones • 7 Albrighton • 8 Henderson • 9 Welbeck • 10 Sturridge • 11 Sinclair • 12 Gibbs • 13 McCarthy • 14 Walker • 15 Tomkins • 16 Cork • 17 Cleverley • 18 Lansbury • 19 Rodwell • 20 Rose • 21 Delfouneso • 22 Wickham • 23 Steele • Coach: Pearce
Aston Villa F.C. – current squad 1 Given · 2 Hutton · 3 Warnock · 5 Dunne · 6 Collins · 7 Ireland · 8 Jenas · 9 Bent · 10 N'Zogbia · 11 Agbonlahor · 12 Albrighton · 14 Delfouneso · 16 Delph · 18 Heskey · 19 Petrov (c) · 21 Clark · 22 Guzan · 23 Beye · 24 Cuéllar · 25 Bannan · 26 Weimann · 30 Lichaj · 31 Herd · 32 Baker · 33 Marshall · 34 Lowry · Manager: McLeish
Categories:- 1991 births
- Living people
- People from Birmingham, West Midlands
- English footballers
- England youth international footballers
- England under-21 international footballers
- Association football forwards
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- Burnley F.C. players
- Premier League players
- The Football League players
- Black British sportspeople
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