Leon Osman

Infobox Football biography
playername = Leon Osman


fullname = Leon Osman
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|5|17|df=y
cityofbirth = Higher End, Wigan
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=5|in=8
position = Attacking Midfielder, Winger
currentclub = Everton
clubnumber = 21
youthyears = 1997–2000
youthclubs = Everton
years = 2000–
2002–2003
2004
clubs = Everton
→ Carlisle United (loan)
→ Derby County (loan)
caps(goals) = 137 (19) 012 0(1) 017 0(3)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 10:30, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Leon Osman (born 17 May 1981 in Billinge Higher End, Wigan) is a English-Turkish [ [http://www.transfermarkt.de/de/spieler/3620/leonosman/profil.html Profil on transfermarkt.de] ] professional football player currently playing for Everton. He grew up in Skelmersdale and Huyton. He also went to Upholland High School and Winstanley College. Osman is eligble to play for England or Turkey as his father is a citizen of the non recognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.Fact|date=September 2008

His younger brother, Carl Osman, also a former Everton Youth, plays for Northern Premier League team, Kendal Town F.C.

Early career

Osman is undoubtedly one of the most talented midfielders to come through the Everton Academy. As part of Everton's youth team Osman won the 1998 FA Youth Cup alongside Richard Dunne, Francis Jeffers and current Everton player Tony Hibbert. Osman sustained a bad knee injury which kept him out of action for a whole year following the Youth cup victory and many believed he would never be the same player again.

Osman was loaned to Carlisle United in October 2002 where he became an instant hit, winning their "Player of the month" award in his first season. He returned back to Everton in January 2003 and scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over the reserve side of Manchester United.

He was granted a one year extension to his contract in the summer of 2003, yet he failed to break into the first team until the back end of the 2003/04 season. Many believe it was his loan spell at Derby County (where he impressed then manager George Burley who subsequently tried to buy him from Everton), that put him in David Moyes' plans.

Derby fans still hold Leon in high regard despite only being with the club for 3 months.

Premiership career

After returning from Derby with three games remaining in Everton's season, Moyes gave Osman his first start, aged 23, against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Osman took his chance and scored within 3 minutes of his debut. Only weeks earlier Joe Kinnear made a £50k bid to take Osman to Nottingham Forest, an offer dubbed "derisory" by Everton.

Leon was raring to go for Everton in the 2004/05 season and became a first team regular playing on the right wing. In that season Moyes usually played a 4-1-4-1 system where the wingers (usually himself and Kevin Kilbane) could effectively work as two extra strikers when needed. Kilbane only scored one goal in this season whereas Leon scored seven including a brace against Aston Villa.

In the 2005/06 season Moyes at first preferred his new signing Simon Davies to Leon but in time he re-established himself in the team and put Davies down the pecking order. Osman scored a late equalising goal against Millwall in the FA Cup to force a replay which Everton won. His goal tally isn't as clear cut as the previous season. It was initially down as six but the dubious goals committee took two goals off him (now own goals) but Everton rightly recognise both as Leon Osman goals. Also this season Leon played in a wider variety of positions. He played on both wings, in the centre and also played off James Beattie after the sale of Marcus Bent.

Osman started the 2006/07 season in brilliant form. This prompted manager David Moyes to back the midfielder for a call up to Steve McClaren's England squad. McClaren was present at the Blackburn vs Everton match in which Osman put in a man of the match performance.

His start to the 2007-08 season was similarly spectacular, with two goals in consecutive wins against Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur. His appearance in the starting 11 for Everton is threatened by the arrival of South African loan-signing Steven Pienaar. Both players are diminutive but possess excellent close control and touch, with Pienaar already weighing in with the clinching goal at home to Middlesbrough.

Osman scored the wonderfully worked second goal in Everton's 3-1 UEFA Cup Group Stage win over Larissa of Greece on 25 October 2007 at Goodison Park, smashing Steven Pienaar's flick into the net from 22 yards and helping Everton to the top of the group. He subsequently won the Everton Goal of the Season Award for this superb strike. Osman then followed this with a great strike against Norwegian opposition SK Brann to set up a 2-0 1st leg lead on 13 February 2008.

tatistics

External links

*soccerbase|id=23551|name=Leon Osman

References