Mikele Leigertwood
Encyclopedia
Mikele Benjamin Leigertwood (born 12 November 1982 in Enfield
) is an English-born Antiguan footballer who plays for Reading
in the Football League Championship
. He also plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national football team
.
, but he made his professional debut while on loan to Leyton Orient
in November 2001. He got his first game at Wimbledon at the end of the 2001–2002 season, in a 1–0 defeat against Barnsley
. While at Wimbledon, he played 65 games, scoring just three times in games against Norwich, Watford and Portsmouth in the League Cup.
He transferred to Crystal Palace
for £
155,000 in January 2004, becoming the first permanent signing of Iain Dowie
, and played in 10 league games for the remainder of the 2003–2004 season, helping to secure Palace's promotion to the FA Premier League
. In the 2004–2005 season, he made 23 appearances for Palace, including his first goal for the club against Tottenham Hotspur
.
After the relegation of his club Crystal Palace
, he joined Sheffield United
on a three year deal after the Blades paid a £
600,000 compensation fee. Although Leigertwood was out of contract, a fee was due as he was under 24 years of age at the time.
Leigertwood joined Queens Park Rangers
for a fee of £900,000 in August 2007.
During his time at Queens Park Rangers, he made 141 appearances and 12 goals for Queens Park Rangers. Leigertwood went on loan to Reading in November 2010 after being out of favour with Neil Warnock
. After a series of consistently good performances, this was extended to the end of the 2011 season, including the playoffs should it be needed. He scored his first goal for the club against Stevenage in the FA Cup on 29 January 2011. A week later Leigertwood added another goal to his tally with a 21st minute deflected strike against Cardiff City
in a 2-2 draw.
In May 2011, it was announced that Reading had signed Leigertwood on a three-year contract, the deal going through on 1 June with the opening of the domestic transfer window.
. Willie Donachie
, Antigua and Barbuda's manager, tried to get Leigertwood into the squad for a World Cup Qualifier in June 2008, but Leigertwood had a wedding to attend. Leigertwood received a red card and four match ban in a match against Birmingham City
on 28 October 2008, for a challenge on Lee Carsley
. During this ban, he accepted a call up for the Caribbean Championship to represent Antigua and Barbuda. He made his national debut on 5 November 2008 in a 3–2 loss against Trinidad and Tobago
and scored his first goal in their next match against Guyana
. In November 2010 he returned to the national team and participated in the second stage of the Caribbean Championship
, playing in all three matches.
:
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
) is an English-born Antiguan footballer who plays for Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. He also plays for the Antigua and Barbuda national football team
Antigua and Barbuda national football team
The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF. The team's best performance was in the 1998 Caribbean Cup where it placed 4th...
.
Club career
Leigertwood began his career with WimbledonWimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, but he made his professional debut while on loan to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in November 2001. He got his first game at Wimbledon at the end of the 2001–2002 season, in a 1–0 defeat against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. While at Wimbledon, he played 65 games, scoring just three times in games against Norwich, Watford and Portsmouth in the League Cup.
He transferred to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
155,000 in January 2004, becoming the first permanent signing of Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
, and played in 10 league games for the remainder of the 2003–2004 season, helping to secure Palace's promotion to the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
. In the 2004–2005 season, he made 23 appearances for Palace, including his first goal for the club against 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....
.
After the relegation of his club Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, he joined Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
on a three year deal after the Blades paid a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
600,000 compensation fee. Although Leigertwood was out of contract, a fee was due as he was under 24 years of age at the time.
Leigertwood joined Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
for a fee of £900,000 in August 2007.
During his time at Queens Park Rangers, he made 141 appearances and 12 goals for Queens Park Rangers. Leigertwood went on loan to Reading in November 2010 after being out of favour with Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
. After a series of consistently good performances, this was extended to the end of the 2011 season, including the playoffs should it be needed. He scored his first goal for the club against Stevenage in the FA Cup on 29 January 2011. A week later Leigertwood added another goal to his tally with a 21st minute deflected strike against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in a 2-2 draw.
In May 2011, it was announced that Reading had signed Leigertwood on a three-year contract, the deal going through on 1 June with the opening of the domestic transfer window.
International career
Leigertwood is eligible to represent Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda national football team
The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF. The team's best performance was in the 1998 Caribbean Cup where it placed 4th...
. Willie Donachie
Willie Donachie
William Donachie is a Scottish former professional footballer. He won 35 full caps for Scotland, playing in the 1978 World Cup.-Career:...
, Antigua and Barbuda's manager, tried to get Leigertwood into the squad for a World Cup Qualifier in June 2008, but Leigertwood had a wedding to attend. Leigertwood received a red card and four match ban in a match against Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 28 October 2008, for a challenge on Lee Carsley
Lee Carsley
Lee Kevin Carsley is a former professional footballer who played in the Football League and Premier League for Derby County, Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City, Everton and Birmingham City. Although English by birth, he represented the Republic of Ireland internationally...
. During this ban, he accepted a call up for the Caribbean Championship to represent Antigua and Barbuda. He made his national debut on 5 November 2008 in a 3–2 loss against Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
and scored his first goal in their next match against Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. In November 2010 he returned to the national team and participated in the second stage of the Caribbean Championship
2010 Caribbean Championship
-Group B:Played in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from October 6–10.*Saint Kitts and Nevis ranked ahead of Saint Vincent and Barbados based on head-to-head tiebreaker...
, playing in all three matches.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 November 2008 | Marvin Lee Stadium Marvin Lee Stadium Marvin Lee Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Macoya, Trinidad and Tobago which is housed together with the Dr. João Havelange Centre of Excellence. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Joe Public F.C.... , Macoya Macoya Macoya is a small town located alongside the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in Trinidad and Tobago. It is located between Tunapuna and Trincity on the island of Trinidad... , Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles... |
2–1 | Win | 2008 Caribbean Championship | |
Club
Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
:
- Npower Championship: 2010–11
External links
- Official profile at SUFC
- Official profile at QPR
- Mikele Leigertwood Official Website at Icons.comIcons.comIcons.com, founded by James Freedman, was initially a football website that provided regular diary updates from many of the world's top footballers and also guest interviews from some of the biggest names in the football world...
- International Statistics at CaribbeanFootballDatabase