International career

Aston Villa

On 18 January 2007, Aston Villa had an £8 million offer (rising to £9.75 million with add-ons), accepted—the club's record transfer fee. This allowed manager Martin O'Neill and the Aston Villa board to discuss personal terms with the player. Two days later O'Neill confirmed the player had agreed to join the club. Young underwent a medical on 21 January and the signing was confirmed on 23 January 2007.[10] On 31 January, he scored in his debut for Villa at St James' Park against Newcastle United, but Villa went on to lose 3–1.[11] Ashley Young started the 2007–08 season well, receiving several Man of the Match awards. The good start was highlighted by his call-up to the England Squad.

In the 2007–08 Premier League season, Young finished second to Cesc Fàbregas in assists with 17.[12] Young was included in the Premier League Team of the Year, and apart from Portsmouth's David James, he was the only other player who did not come from any of the 'Big Four' (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United) to make it into the best XI of the season. He is known for his pace, set pieces and ability to pass and shoot. He is also well known for cutting back onto his right foot and 'whipping' the ball into the penalty area.

On 20 April 2008, Young scored 2 goals and assisted two goals for Aston Villa against Birmingham City at Villa Park and Villa went on to win the game 5–1. He also scored the winner against Danish side Odense Boldklub in Villa's home leg of the Intertoto Cup 3rd round. On 10 October 2008 Young won the Player of the Month award. This was due to his performances in the 2008–2009 Premier League season. Having also won the award in April 2008, Young joins the list of players who have won the award more than once including Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. On 7 December 2008 in the 3–2 win over Everton, Young scored two goals, one being an injury time winner after Everton's Joleon Lescott had equalised seconds earlier putting his tally for the season up to five. Manager Martin O'Neill later described the player as being 'world-class' in the post-match press conference. Ashley Young signed a new four-year contract until 2012 on the 4 November 2008.[13] On 10 January 2009 Young was again awarded Player of the Month for December along with O'Neill, who won the Manager of the Month award. He became the first ever player to win three FA Premiership Player of the Month awards in the same year.[14] During a match against Sunderland on 18 January 2009, Young was sent off for a two-footed foul on Sunderland's Dean Whitehead.[15]

Young appeared for Villa at the 2009 Peace Cup in Andalusia. He scored a header that was to be the third and final goal in a Group C match against Atlante as Villa triumphed 3–1. This was also the goal that sent Villa through to the knockout stages due to their superior goal difference in comparison to fellow group members Atlante and Málaga. After helping Villa defeat Portuguese side Porto in the semi-final, Ashley Young scored a penalty in the final as Villa overcame Italian club Juventus. Villa won 4–3 on penalties, after the game had finished 0–0 in normal time.[16] Young's performances in Spain earned him praise in the media.

On 24 August 2009 Young scored a penalty as Aston Villa won 3–1 against Liverpool at Anfield. He did, however, go on to miss a penalty on 27 August in a home tie in the UEFA Europa League against Rapid Vienna. Young won two penalties in the first half of the game (one that he missed, the other that was converted by James Milner) as Aston Villa were eliminated from the tournament on the away goals rule.

During the 2010–11 season, Young became vice-captain of the club and played in a new free role behind the striker, allowing him to move from wing to wing and through the centre. Young scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season with a direct free-kick in the Premier League game at home to Bolton Wanderers on 18 September 2010. He ended the season with nine goals and fourteen assists in 39 appearances for Villa in all competitions. With one year left to run on his current contract, Young stated that he would not make a decision on his future until the end of the season. On 20 June 2011 new Villa manager Alex McLeish admitted that he was resigned to losing Young, stating "It's not confirmed yet but it does seem likely."[17]

Manchester United

On 23 June 2011, Young completed a move to Manchester United for a reported fee ranging between £15 million and £20 million, having passed a medical the day before, beating Liverpool to the signing who were also interested in Young.[18] He signed a five-year deal with the club for an undisclosed fee.[4] He was handed the #18 shirt previously worn by Paul Scholes. He made his debut on 13 July in a 4–1 friendly win against American club New England Revolution, playing 67 minutes on the right wing before being substituted.[19] Young made his competitive debut for United in a 3–2 derby win over Manchester City in the 2011 Community Shield, playing the full 90 minutes and making an assist.[20]

He made his league debut for United against West Bromwich Albion on 14 August 2011, setting up the first goal for Wayne Rooney and forcing an own goal after a run down the left flank and cross, in a 2–1 away win. He was named Man of The Match. He scored his first two goals for United on 28 August in an 8–2 victory against Arsenal at Old Trafford. Both occurring after cutting inside from the left flank and bending two right foot shots into the far corner. Young made his debut in the UEFA Champions League on the 27 September 2011, scoring a headed goal in the 90th minute to help Manchester United to a 3–3 draw against Basel. After a long term injury, Ashley returned on the field at Stamford Bridge in a 3–3 Premier League draw against Chelsea on 5 February 2012. On 16 February, he scored a goal for the lead in a Europa League 2–0 away win against Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena. On 4 March 2012, Young scored two goals and made an assist against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in a 3–1 Premier League win.[21] On 2 April, he scored in a 2–0 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.[22] Young came under severe criticism for alleged diving in games against QPR and former club Aston Villa, which resulted in penalties and subsequent goals.

International career

As a result of his form for Watford during the 2005–06 season, in February 2006 Young earned a call-up to Peter Taylor's England U21 League squad to face an Italian Serie B squad alongside team-mate Chris Eagles. Young started alongside Eagles in the 1–0 win, playing the first half. His continued form into the 2006–07 season earned him a first England U21 call-up to face Switzerland U21s in September 2006. Young played the last 15 minutes of the match as England scored a late goal to win 3–2, topping their group, and reaching a playoff for a place in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. At the finals Young played three times. He took part in the epic semi-final shootout against hosts Netherlands, scoring twice in the shootout as England lost 13–12.

On 31 August 2007, Steve McClaren called Young up to the full England squad for the first time to face Russia and Israel in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. He was again called up for the Euro 2008 qualifiers to face Estonia and Russia. On 16 November 2007 Young finally made his international debut and came on as a half-time substitute for England in a friendly against Austria. He has since appeared in the England friendly against Germany in November 2008, coming on as a second half substitute. He was also part of the starting XI in Capello's England squad in the friendly against Holland at the Amsterdam Arena on 12 August 2009. Young did not make the cut in Capello's 30-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa.[23]

On 12 October 2010, Young made his first start for England in a Euro 2012 qualifying match against Montenegro.[24] He scored his first international goal in a friendly away to Denmark on 9 February 2011 in Copenhagen, which was the winning goal. Young also scored again against Switzerland on 4 June 2011, as, this time coming off the bench for Frank Lampard at half time, he got the equaliser with a volley from the edge of the area.[25] On 6 September 2011, Young scored the only goal for England in a Euro 2012 qualifying 1–0 win against Wales. On 7 October, he scored England's first goal away against Montenegro, and set up Darren Bent for the second. England went on to draw the match 2–2 and securing a qualification to Euro 2012. On 29 February 2012, Young scored his fifth international goal in a 2–3 home loss to Netherlands in a friendly match played at Wembley Stadium. On 26 May 2012, Young scored his sixth, as well as his fourth straight, international goal against Norway. He became the first English footballer since Wayne Rooney to score in four straight international appearances.

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 806