- Michael Appleton
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Michael Appleton 
Personal information Full name Michael Antony Appleton Date of birth 4 December 1975 Place of birth Salford, England Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Playing position Midfielder Club information Current club Portsmouth (manager) Youth career 1992–1994 Manchester United Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1994–1997 Manchester United 0 (0) 1995 → Lincoln City (loan) 4 (0) 1997 → Grimsby Town (loan) 10 (3) 1997–2001 Preston North End 121 (12) 2001–2003 West Bromwich Albion 33 (0) Teams managed 2011 West Bromwich Albion (caretaker) 2011– Portsmouth * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Michael Antony Appleton (born 4 December 1975) is an English former footballer who is the current manager of Portsmouth.
He played as a midfielder until his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury. He also played as a professional for Manchester United, Lincoln City, Grimsby Town and Preston North End. He had been the assistant head coach at West Bromwich Albion, one of the teams he had served as a player; he was temporarily caretaker manager after Roberto Di Matteo was placed on gardening leave. On 10 November 2011, he was appointed the manager of Portsmouth.
Contents
Playing career
Manchester United
Born in Salford, Greater Manchester, Appleton attended Seedley Primary School and Buile Hill Secondary School, both in Salford. He represented the football teams of both schools, playing as a striker until the age of "12 or 13" before switching to midfield.[1] A lifelong Manchester United fan,[2] Appleton progressed through the club's youth system before earning a professional contact in 1994. In 1995–96 Appleton was loaned out to Lincoln City for a month to get first team experience, playing four Division Three matches and one match in the Football League Trophy, before returning to Old Trafford.
In October 1996, Appleton made his Manchester United début in the 2–1 League Cup victory versus Swindon Town. Appleton's second and last game for the Red Devils was the 2–0 defeat at Filbert Street against Leicester City. During his time at Manchester United he was issued with the number 29 shirt.
In January 1997, Appleton joined Grimsby Town on a two month loan from United, scoring three goals in 10 league matches for the Mariners against Swindon Town, Barnsley and United's Manchester rivals; Manchester City. He returned to United in March 1997. When it became apparent that Manchester United were moving for striker Erik Nevland, Appleton approached Alex Ferguson explaining that if the transfer were to go through, he would be leaving the club, citing a serious argument with the player three years previously when the two met on holiday in Crete.
Preston North End
In the 1997–98 pre-season, Appleton joined Preston North End for a (then) club record fee of £500,000. In his three-and-a-half years at Deepdale, Appleton played 145 first team games, scoring 15 goals. He also played an important part in The Lilywhites promotion to Division One in 2000 as Division Two champions.
West Bromwich Albion
In January 2001, Appleton moved from Preston to West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £750,000, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.[3] He made his début in a 2–1 victory versus Sheffield United, picking up a yellow card, and went on to play an important part in The Baggies' play-off chase, although they ultimately lost to Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals. At the start of the 2001–02 season, Appleton was a regular in the first team, but on 19 November 2001, Appleton tore posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, after an accidental training ground collision with team mate Des Lyttle. He was initially expected to be out for the rest of the season.[4] With West Brom getting promoted to the Premier League, Appleton had to wait until February 2003 for his return to football, 28 minutes into a reserve team match against former club Manchester United.[5] In November 2003, at the age of 27, Appleton was forced to retire, after losing his two year battle against injury. West Brom manager Gary Megson described Appleton's retirement as "One of the saddest days I've had as a manager, Football can't afford to be losing a player of his ilk."[6]
Appleton, who played his last first-team game of football in a 1–0 win at Birmingham City on 7 November 2001, made a total of 38 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.
"Having had my playing career taken away from me prematurely, I am all the more determined now to make a success of my coaching career"
Michael Appleton[7]In June 2009, Appleton was appointed first-team coach at West Brom. After the board placed Roberto Di Matteo on gardening leave on 6 February 2011, Appleton was placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs.[8]
Managerial career
On 10 November 2011 Portsmouth unveiled Appleton as their new manager on a three and a half year contract; his first as a manager. [9]
Injury damages court case
In June 2005, Appleton announced that he was going to sue the surgeon that he believed had ended his career early. The surgeon's name was not announced, and the case was set to start in early 2007.[10] In June West Bromwich Albion Football Club began a £1 million compensation claim against knee specialist Medhet Mohammed El-Safty, the surgeon who operated on Appleton, who West Brom described as "negligent".[11] It was said if West Bromwich Albion had won the case, it could result in many similar cases, the appeal court was told.[12] Appleton's case against Mr El-Safty was heard by a high court judge in Manchester, with evidence provided by Appleton's former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former team mates Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, Manchester United's former captain. Appleton won his case but had to wait to hear how much money he would receive for his damages.[13]
"I am relieved finally to have received judgment and to be able to put this chapter of my life behind me"
Michael Appleton[7]On 23 March 2007, Appleton was awarded £1.5 million in damages for his injury as Mr El-Safty had admitted he wrongly operated on him. It was said that he could have earned £500,000 a year in the Premier League and the High Court also commented that his career could have lasted until 2009.[7]
Personal life
Appleton is the father of two children.[2]
Honours
As a player
- Second Division
- Winner (1): 1999–2000
- First Division
- Runner-up (1): 2001–02
References
- ^ "PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE: Michael Appleton". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 1 January 2009. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PastPresentandFuture/0,,10366~1505088,00.html. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ a b "WELCOME TO MY WORLD: Michael Appleton". West Bromwich Albion F.C.. 13 January 2009. http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WelcometomyWorldDetail/0,,10366~1517679,00.html. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ "West Brom sign Appleton". BBC Sport. 18 January 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/1121200.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Baggies' Appleton blow". BBC Sport. 22 November 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/1669984.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Appleton on road to recovery". BBC Sport. 4 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/2723605.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Appleton forced to retire". BBC Sport. 13 November 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/3267685.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ a b c "Surgeon must pay footballer £1.5m". BBC News Online. 23 March 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6484977.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Di Matteo relieved of duties". WBA.co.uk. 6 February 2011. http://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~2286720,00.html. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
- ^ "Portsmouth name Michael Appleton as new manager". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15616925.stm. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ^ "Ex-West Brom star to sue surgeon". BBC Sport. 21 June 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/4117138.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "West Brom sue 'negligent' surgeon". BBC News Online. 21 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5104444.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Warning over football club claim". BBC News. 22 June 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5107406.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
- ^ "Player must wait on surgery claim". BBC News Online. 24 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6296203.stm. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
External links
- BBC Sport profile
- Michael Appleton career stats at Soccerbase
- Michael Appleton management career stats at Soccerbase
- Lincoln City F.C. Official Archive Profile
West Bromwich Albion F.C. – managers Ford (1890–92) · Jackson (1892–94) · Stephenson (1894–95) · Keys (1895–96) · Heaven (1896–1902) · Everiss (1902–48) · J. Smith (1948–52) · Carver (1952–53) · Buckingham (1953–59) · Clark (1959–61) · Macaulay (1961–63) · Hagan (1963–67) · Ashman (1967–71) · Howe (1971–75) · Whitehouse (1975) · Giles (1975–77) · Allen (1977) · Wile (1977–78) · Atkinson (1978–81) · Allen (1981–82) · Wylie (1982–84) · Giles (1984–85) · Stiles (1985–86) · Saunders (1986–87) · Atkinson (1987–88) · Talbot (1988–91) · S. Pearson (1991) · Gould (1991–92) · Ardiles (1992–93) · Burkinshaw (1993–94) · Buckley (1994–97) · Mann (1997) · Harford (1997) · Barker (1997) · Trewick (1997) · D. Smith (1997–99) · Gorman & Regis (1999) · Little (1999–2000) · Evans & Regis (2000) · Megson (2000–04) · Burrows (2004) · Robson (2004–06) · N. Pearson (2006) · Shakespeare (2006) · Mowbray (2006–09) · Di Matteo (2009–11) · Appleton (2011) · Hodgson (2011–)
Portsmouth F.C. – managers (c) caretakerBrettell (1898–1901) · Blyth (1901–04) · Bonney (1904–08) · Brown (1911–20) · McCartney (1920–27) · Tinn (1927–47) · Jackson (1947–52) · Lever (1952–58) · Cox (1958–61) · G. Smith (1961–70) · Tindall (1970–73) · Mortimore (1973–74) · St. John (1974–77) · Dickinson (1977–79) · Burrows (1979–82) · Campbell (1982–84) · Ball (1984–89) · Gregory (1989–90) · Burrows (1990–91) · Bartonc (1991) · J. Smith (1991–95) · Fenwick (1995–98) · Waldonc (1998) · Ball (1998–99) · McNabc (1999–00) · Pulis (2000) · Claridge (2000–01) · Rix (2001–02) · Redknapp (2002–04) · Zajec (2004–05) · Perrin (2005) · Jordanc (2005) · Redknapp (2005–08) · Adams & Jordanc (2008) · Adams (2008–09) · Hart (2009) · Groves & Woanc (2009) · Grant (2009–10) · Cotterill (2010–11) · Whittingham & Grayc (2011) · Appleton (2011–)
Portsmouth F.C. – current squad Football League Championship managers Categories:- 1975 births
- Living people
- People from Salford
- English footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Lincoln City F.C. players
- Grimsby Town F.C. players
- Preston North End F.C. players
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. players
- The Football League players
- English football managers
- West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers
- Portsmouth F.C. managers
- Premier League managers
- The Football League managers
- Second Division
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