Leon Osman
Encyclopedia
Leon Osman is an English
football player who plays for Everton
in the Premier League. He has spent his whole career as an Everton player, though he has spent time on loan at Carlisle United
and Derby County
.
, Wigan
in Greater Manchester
to a Turkish Cypriot father and an English mother. He grew up in Skelmersdale
and Huyton
, on Merseyside
, attending Up Holland High School
and Winstanley College
. He joined the Everton Academy and was part of the team that won the 1998 FA Youth Cup
. Following the cup victory Osman sustained a knee injury which kept him from playing for a year. Through his father he is eligible to play for Turkey
or Cyprus
. Through his mother he is able to play for England
.
in October 2002, where he scored once in the league against Macclesfield Town and a brace against Oldham Athletic in the LDV Vans Trophy and was awarded Player of the Year by the club. He was granted a one year extension to his Everton contract in the summer of 2003, but failed to break into the first team until the end of the 2003–04 season. Instead, he was again loaned out, this time to Derby County
. He had an integral role in Derby's successful bid to avoid relegation, and manager George Burley
tried to buy him from Everton. Instead, Osman returned to his parent club with three games remaining in Everton's season. Manager David Moyes
gave Osman his first start, against Wolverhampton Wanderers
, and he scored within three minutes of his debut.
Osman became a first team regular in 2004–05 playing on the right wing of a 4–1–4–1 formation. He finished the season with seven goals including two in a game against Aston Villa
. In the 2005–06 season Moyes at first preferred his new signing Simon Davies to Osman but in time he re-established himself in the team and put Davies down the pecking order. He was an established first team regular by 2006–07, a season in which made 37 appearances and scored three goals.
His start to the 2007–08 season began 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 play diminutive roles but are considered to possess excellent close control and touch, with Pienaar already contributing a game-clinching goal at home to Middlesbrough
.
Osman scored the second goal in Everton
's 3–1 UEFA Cup Group Stage win over Larissa
of Greece
on 25 October 2007 at Goodison Park
, striking 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 goal against Norwegian opposition SK Brann to set up a 2–0 1st leg lead on 13 February 2008. He then scored against Wigan in a 4–0 victory.
Leon Osman scored both goals in Everton's 2–0 win over Fulham on the final day of the season to secure Everton 5th place in the Premier League for 08/09. The following season Osman captained Everton for the first time in the 4–0 Carling Cup victory away at Hull City
. He marked the occasion by scoring a goal in the second half to take the score to 4–0 and cap off Everton's victory.
In the 2010-2011 season Everton started off badly which has been a trend in recent years. But towards the second half of the season Everton went on a good run and Osman began to show why he is so important for the team. He scored the equaliser in 2-1 over Newcastle United
in early March and then went on to score a goal against Aston Villa
in 2-2 draw.
Osman was then named man of the match in two successive games in April. First he was instrumental in a 3-0 win at Wolves
and then managed to get his name on the scoresheet in 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers
.
Osman continued to impress in the remaining games of the season and scored a brilliant headed winner in a 2-1 win at home to Manchester City
. This form earned rave reviews off Everton manager David Moyes
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player who plays for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the Premier League. He has spent his whole career as an Everton player, though he has spent time on loan at Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Biography
Osman was born in Billinge Higher EndHigher End
Higher End or Billinge Higher End is an area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England.-Governance:Billinge lies within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire...
, Wigan
Metropolitan Borough of Wigan
The Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town, Wigan and also includes the towns of Leigh, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
to a Turkish Cypriot father and an English mother. He grew up in Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale is a town in West Lancashire, England. It lies on high-ground on the River Tawd, to the west of Wigan, to the northeast of Liverpool, south-southwest of Preston. As of 2006, Skelmersdale had a population of 38,813, down from 41,000 in 2004. The town is known locally as Skem.The...
and Huyton
Huyton
Huyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
, on Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, attending Up Holland High School
Up Holland High School
Upholland High School is a secondary school in Upholland, England. It is a comprehensive school of non-denominational religion and holds dual specialist Music College and Maths and Computing College status...
and Winstanley College
Winstanley College
Winstanley College is a sixth form college in the Billinge Higher End area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester.-Admissions:In the academic year 2007–08 it had 1,803 full time students...
. He joined the Everton Academy and was part of the team that won the 1998 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
. Following the cup victory Osman sustained a knee injury which kept him from playing for a year. Through his father he is eligible to play for Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
or Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
. Through his mother he is able to play for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Senior career
Osman was loaned to Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in October 2002, where he scored once in the league against Macclesfield Town and a brace against Oldham Athletic in the LDV Vans Trophy and was awarded Player of the Year by the club. He was granted a one year extension to his Everton contract in the summer of 2003, but failed to break into the first team until the end of the 2003–04 season. Instead, he was again loaned out, this time to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. He had an integral role in Derby's successful bid to avoid relegation, and manager George Burley
George Burley
George Elder Burley is a Scottish football manager and former player and manager, formerly the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club. Burley had a professional career spanning 21 years as a player making 628 appearances and earning 11 Scotland caps...
tried to buy him from Everton. Instead, Osman returned to his parent club with three games remaining in Everton's season. Manager David Moyes
David Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
gave Osman his first start, against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, and he scored within three minutes of his debut.
Osman became a first team regular in 2004–05 playing on the right wing of a 4–1–4–1 formation. He finished the season with seven goals including two in a game against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. In the 2005–06 season Moyes at first preferred his new signing Simon Davies to Osman but in time he re-established himself in the team and put Davies down the pecking order. He was an established first team regular by 2006–07, a season in which made 37 appearances and scored three goals.
His start to the 2007–08 season began with two goals in consecutive wins against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. His appearance in the starting 11 for Everton is threatened by the arrival of South African loan-signing Steven Pienaar
Steven Pienaar
Steven Jerome Pienaar is a South African footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He can play on either the right or left wing and is also a member of the South African national team. Pienaar has previously played for Ajax Cape Town, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Everton...
. Both players play diminutive roles but are considered to possess excellent close control and touch, with Pienaar already contributing a game-clinching goal at home to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Osman scored the second goal in Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
's 3–1 UEFA Cup Group Stage win over Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
on 25 October 2007 at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, striking Steven Pienaar
Steven Pienaar
Steven Jerome Pienaar is a South African footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He can play on either the right or left wing and is also a member of the South African national team. Pienaar has previously played for Ajax Cape Town, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Everton...
's flick into the net from 22 yards and helping Everton to the top of the group. He subsequently won the Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
Goal of the Season Award for this superb strike. Osman then followed this with a goal against Norwegian opposition SK Brann to set up a 2–0 1st leg lead on 13 February 2008. He then scored against Wigan in a 4–0 victory.
Leon Osman scored both goals in Everton's 2–0 win over Fulham on the final day of the season to secure Everton 5th place in the Premier League for 08/09. The following season Osman captained Everton for the first time in the 4–0 Carling Cup victory away at Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. He marked the occasion by scoring a goal in the second half to take the score to 4–0 and cap off Everton's victory.
In the 2010-2011 season Everton started off badly which has been a trend in recent years. But towards the second half of the season Everton went on a good run and Osman began to show why he is so important for the team. He scored the equaliser in 2-1 over Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in early March and then went on to score a goal against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 2-2 draw.
Osman was then named man of the match in two successive games in April. First he was instrumental in a 3-0 win at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
and then managed to get his name on the scoresheet in 2-0 win against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
Osman continued to impress in the remaining games of the season and scored a brilliant headed winner in a 2-1 win at home to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. This form earned rave reviews off Everton manager David Moyes
David Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
.