Paul Konchesky

Infobox Football biography
playername = Paul Konchesky


fullname = Paul Martyn Konchesky
height = height|meter=1.78
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|5|15|df=y
cityofbirth = Barking
countryofbirth = London
currentclub = Fulham
clubnumber = 3
position = Left back
youthyears =
youthclubs = West Ham United
Charlton Athletic
years = 1997–2005
2003
2005–2007
2007–
clubs = Charlton Athletic
→ Tottenham Hotspur (loan)
West Ham United
Fulham
caps(goals) = 149 (5)
012 (0)
059 (1)
036 (0)
nationalyears = 2002–2003
2003–2005
nationalteam = England U21
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 015 (0)
002 (0)
pcupdate = 23:58, 23 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 09:09, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

Paul Martyn Konchesky (born 15 May 1981 in Barking, London) is a professional English football player currently playing for Fulham in the left-back position. He is a versatile player capable of appearing across the back four or in midfield.

Background

Konchesky studied at Eastbrook Comprehensive School in Dagenham, London and played for West Ham United as a boy at the Academy. [cite web | title = Player Profiles: Paul Konchesky | publisher = West Ham United Official Site | url = http://www.whufc.com/team/?page_id=1219&player_id=5 | accessdate =2007-06-30 ]

Club career

Charlton Athletic

Konchesky joined Charlton Athletic as a trainee in August 1997.cite web | title = Paul Konchesky | work=Soccerbase | publisher = Racing Post | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=12185 | accessdate =2007-06-30 ] He became the youngest player to appear in the first team for Charlton (a record which has since been broken) when he played against Oxford United in August 1997 at the age of 16 years and 93 days [cite news | last= Harlow | first=Phil |title =Konchesky's ready for the top | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2002-08-09 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/2176410.stm | accessdate =2007-06-30 ] but it was not until the 2000–01 season when he made 27 appearances, that he became a regular in the first team. In June 2003, frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities at his preferred position of leftback, Konchesky made a written request for a transfer, which was accepted by Charlton. [cite news | title =Konchesky seeks move | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-06-18 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3000586.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] However, firm offers were not forthcoming and in September 2003, Konchesky joined Tottenham Hotspur on one-month loan. [cite news | title =Spurs land Konchesky| publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-09-01 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3199065.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] The loan was extended for a further month [cite news | title =Spurs extend Konchesky loan | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-10-06 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3168628.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] and then until January 2004. [cite news | title =Konchesky stays at Spurs | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-12-16 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3324359.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] Although Konchesky was keen on a permanent move to Tottenham, [cite news | title =Konchesky keen on Spurs move | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-11-14 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3270187.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] no move materialised and a spate of injuries at Charlton led to Konchesky being recalled from loan in December 2003, [cite news | title =Curbishley calms Konchesky | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2003-12-24 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/3333339.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] when he also came off the transfer list. [cite news | title =Konchesky off the transfer list| publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-02-14 |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/4265325.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] In July 2005, Konchesky signed for West Ham United,cite news | title =Hammers swoop for defensive trio| publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-07-05 |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4642147.stm| accessdate =2007-06-30 ] having made a total of 169 appearances for Charlton in all competitions, scoring six goals, and 15 appearances for Tottenham.

West Ham United

Konchesky joined West Ham United in July 2005 for a fee of £1.5 million. He made 45 league and cup appearances in the 2005–06 season, helping West Ham to ninth place in the Premier League and to the 2006 FA Cup Final, where he scored when his cross went straight into the net but later had a spot kick saved as West Ham went down to Liverpool on penalties after drawing 3-3 after extra time. [cite news | last=Mawhinney |first=Stuart |title =Reds in seventh heaven| publisher =TheFA.com | date =2006-05-13 |url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4642147.stm| accessdate =2007-07-15 ] He lost his place in the first team during the 2006–07 season, making only 25 appearances, as West Ham slipped into the relegation places and only secured their place in the Premier League on the final day of the season, and left the club in July 2007 having made a total of 70 league and cup appearances for West Ham, scoring two goals. After leaving West Ham, Konchesky criticised manager Alan Curbishley, claiming that he made the players unhappy. [cite news | last=Silver|first=Neil |title =Curbs is useless| publisher =The People| date =2007-08-12 |url =http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=curbs-is-useless&method=full&objectid=19614446&siteid=93463-name_page.html| accessdate =2008-03-29 ]

Fulham

Konchesky signed a four-year contract with Fulham in July 2007 for a fee of up to £3.25 million. Konchesky played the first game of the 07/08 season for Fulham against new Premiership Team Hull City but his mistake greatly helped the opposing team score a winner after he stumbled over the ball. He missed the next game against Arsenal due to injury but returned to action the following league game against Bolton.

International career

Konchesky made 15 appearances for the England national under-21 football team, [cite web| title =England U21 Caps, 1976-present | publisher = TheFA.com | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm | accessdate =2007-07-15 ] and has two caps for senior England team. [cite web| title =Profile:Paul Konchesky| publisher = TheFA.com | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=5849&searchname=Konchesky&
accessdate =2007-07-15 ] He made his England first team debut in a half-time substitution in the friendly against Australia in February 2003 [cite web| title =Match Statistics: England 1-3 Australia| publisher = TheFA.com | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=799 | accessdate =2007-07-15 ] and made a second appearance for England again in a half-time substitution in the friendly against Argentina in November 2005. [cite web| title =Match Statistics: England 3-2 Argentina| publisher = TheFA.com | url = http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=834 | accessdate =2007-07-15 ]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=12185|name=Paul Konchesky
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/bsp/hi/football/statistics/players/k/konchesky_37103.stm Paul Konchesky profile] at bbc.co.uk
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/site/players/index.php?dumpPlayer=481 Paul Konchesky] at FootballDatabase
* [http://www.4thegame.com/club/charlton-athletic-fc/player-profile/218/paulkonchesky.html Paul Konchesky] at 4thegame.com