Michael Owen

Profile Football Stars | Michael Owen | The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. In 2001, Liverpool won a cup treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup, and Owen was the recipient of the Ballon d'Or. He went on to score 118 goals in 216 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool. Internationally, Owen first played for the senior England team in 1998, Becoming England's youngest player and youngest goalscorer at the time. Owen's long injury absence after the 2006 World Cup resulted in a dispute Between FIFA and The FA and Newcastle United, and eventually resulted in an unprecedented £ 10m compensation award to Newcastle, and Brought changes to the compensation arrangements Between club and country regarding injuries sustained by contracted club players while on international duty.

The 2002-03 season saw Owen on top form again as he hit 28 goals. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the League Cup and scored his 100th Premier League goal against West Bromwich Albion.  Following Gérard Houllier's sacking as Liverpool manager, Speculation about Owen's departure from the club began. During the first few Champions League games at the start of the 2004-2005 season, Owen sat on the bench to avoid being cup-tied for the Champions League, Something That Meant he would have would be Unable to play in European competitions for any other That club season. Since 1998 Owen had been Liverpool's top scorer every season until he left the club.

Owen had a slow start to his Madrid career. A few days later, he scored his first Spanish league goal in a 1-0 victory over Valencia. During his time at Real Madrid, Owen scored 18 goals from 41 games, 15 of the which were starts.

Roughly 20.000 fans were present at Newcastle's home ground of St James 'Park for Owen's official unveiling as a Newcastle player. Owen scored his first hat-trick for Newcastle in the 4-2 away win over West Ham on 17 December. On 14 June it was reported That Owen's management company Wasserman Media Group had sent out a 34-page brochure advertising Owen to Several potential clubs.

On 3 July 2009, it was Announced That Owen had signed a two-year deal with Premier League champions, Manchester United. Owen started his second game of the season in the fourth round of the League Cup , against League Two club Aldershot Town. In February 2012, Owen started light training with the Manchester United squad. From April 2012, Owen started full training but not yet ready for first team games.

Owen had a highly Successful record at youth level, playing for the England under-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and scoring three goals in four games. As of December 2007, Owen has never gone more than four international games in a row without scoring a goal. Owen's future as a first choice striker for England is uncertain however, due to competition from Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and fast-developing Theo Walcott amongst others. Owen's lack of action in Fabio Capello's first two England friendlies and Capello's selection of a single striker 4-5-1 formation also support the view That Owen's international opportunities in future may be limited. On 28 February, he suffered a hamstring injury in the League Cup final and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Personal information
Full name Michael James Owen
Date of birth 14 December 1979 (age 32)
Place of birth Chester, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Free Agent

Youth career
Liverpool 1991-1996

Senior career
years Team
Liverpool 1996-2004 216 (118)
2004-2005 Real Madrid 36 (13)
2005-2009 Newcastle United 71 (26)
2009-2012 Manchester United 31 (5)

National team
1997 England U20 4 (3)
1997 England U21 1 (1)
2006-2007 England B 2 (0)
1998-2008 England 89 (40)

Honours

Club
Liverpool
     FA Cup (1): 2000-01
     Football League Cup (2): 2000-01, 2002-03
     FA Community Shield (1): 2001
     UEFA Cup (1): 2000-01
     UEFA Super Cup (1): 2001


Manchester United
     Premier League (1): 2010-11
     Football League Cup (1): 2009-10
     FA Community Shield (1): 2010

Individual
     PFA Young Player of the Year (1): 1997-98
     PFA Premier League Team of the Year (1): 1997-98
     Premier League Player of the Month (1): August 1998
     Premier League Golden Boot (2): 1997-98, 1998-99
     Carling Player of the Year (1): 1997-98
     FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award (1): France 1998
     BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1): 1998
     Ballon d'Or (1): 2001
     Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992-93 to 2001-02):
     Domestic Team of the Decade
     FIFA 100

Demba Ba

Profile Football Stars | Demba Ba | In 2001, his family moved to Chatillon and Ba played for Montrouge. Watford manager Ray Lewington after was sacked in 2005, Ba found That he was not in the first team plans of Aidy Boothroyd, and left the club in March 2005. Ba signed with manager Alain Michel Because They were both moving to French club Rouen on a one year contract, and Ba enjoyed a highly Successful season with the club. Belgian club Mouscron beat off competition from other clubs to win Numerous Ba's signature in 2006. That season he scored in 14 goals, missing only one game all season. These goals included a hat-trick in a 3-3 game against Stuttgart on 24 February 2009. In all competitions Ba scored 40 goals in 103 appearances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. In December of that year Ba extended his contract at Hoffenheim to 2013.

Ba left Hoffenheim for Reasons disputed in January 2011. Claiming the club had gone back on an Agreed transfer to a Premier League club, believed to be West Ham United, he Refused to travel to Hoffenheim's winter training camp. The club later Agreed to a transfer to Stoke City for a reported fee of £ 7.1 million, but it fell through after Ba had Agreed personal terms but failed his medical for undisclosed Reasons. After the deal collapsed Stoke, Ba was sold to West Ham for an undisclosed fee based on appearances. Ba's Premier League debut came on 6 February 2011, as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane during a 1-0 home defeat by Birmingham City.

On 17 June 2011, Ba signed for Newcastle United on a three-year deal, making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in 0-0 draw against Arsenal. A second hat-trick in a 3-1 came away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to eight and maintaining the club's 11 league games unbeaten start, taking them to 3rd in the league. Ba's goalscoring form continued Despite Newcastle entering a downward spell, and saw him picked in ESPN.com 's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2011. By the time Ba left to play in the international tournament the January 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal's Robin van Persie. While at the tournament, Ba's Senagal team-mate Papiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle.

Ba and Cisse returned Earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of Their group, with Ba having missed three games and two Premier League 2011-12 FA Cup games, the second of the which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup.  He returned to action against Aston Villa on Their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the which Newcastle won the game 2-1.  Ba was voted as the best signing of the 2011-12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012. Ba has played a total of twelve games for Senegal, scoring five goals. He scored on his debut against Tanzania, in June 2007.

Personal information
Full name Demba Ba
Date of birth 25 May 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth Sèvres, France
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 19

Youth career
1998-2000 Port Autonome du Havre
2000-2001 Frileuse
2001-2004 Montrouge
Watford 2004-2005

Senior career
years Team
Rouen 2005-2006 26 (22)
2006-2007 Mouscron 12 (8)
Hoffenheim 2007-2011 1899 97 (37)
2011 West Ham United 12 (7)
2011-Newcastle United 32 (16)

National team
2007-Senegal 12 (5)

Honours

Club
1899 Hoffenheim

     Bundesliga:
         Runners-up: 2008

Individual
     Premier League Player of the Month: December 2011

James Milner

Profile Football Stars | James Milner | Milner's talent in football, cricket, and long-distance running was at a very young recognized age. While at Leeds United, he spent time on loan at Swindon Town to gain experience as a first-team player. Following his move to Newcastle United, he was loaned to Aston Villa for a season. Milner was born in Wortley, and raised in Horsforth, Leeds, he played most of his childhood football for Westbrook Lane Primary School in Horsforth. Graeme Coulson, a coach from Rawdon, recognized Milner's talent and persuaded him to play for Rawdon in Several tournaments, Including a tournament at Rawdon Meadows, where Milner scored four goals in their victory in the final.

The appearance made him the second youngest player ever to play in the Premier League, at the age of 16 years and 309 days. Milner made his first appearance for Newcastle United during Their pre-season tour of Asia, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against Kitchee, in Hong Kong. At the start of the 2005-06 season, Milner scored in Newcastle's 3-1 away win against FK ZTS Dubnica in the Intertoto Cup, and also set up Shearer for the team's third goal. Villa manager David O'Leary, who had managed Milner at Leeds, was happy to acquire Milner in this deal, saying he believed That Villa got the better of the deal and that 'he hoped to improve him as a player.

Milner made his Villa debut on 12 September 2005 in a Premiership match against West Ham. Throughout the season Milner was positive about his team. Newcastle's players and manager Glenn Roeder reacted Positively to Milner's return at the start of the 2006-07 season. Milner Roeder praised for the way he had handled the failed Villa transfer, although Roeder's own handling of the Negotiations was criticized. That Roeder confirmed he would play Milner in "plenty of games" during the season. This proved to be the case, as Milner was a starter in the Newcastle side for the entire season.  Newcastle made a poor start in the Premier League, but in European competition, Milner played a key role in Newcastle Helping advance through the group stage of the UEFA Cup.

On 17 August 2010 it was reported Agreed That Aston Villa had a deal with Manchester City to sell Milner subject to a medical. Milner made his debut for City on 23 August 2010 in a 3-0 win against Liverpool , where he set up the first goal for former Villa teammate Gareth Barry. Milner scored his first competitive goal for Manchester City in an FA Cup third-round match at Leicester City the which ended in a 2-2 draw. Milner scored his first Premier League goal for Manchester City against Everton on 24 September. Two matches later, he scored his second Premier League goal for Manchester City against former club Aston Villa in a 4-1 win after initially starting the attack with a 60-yard diagonal cross-field pass and then ending with a curling finish from 25 yards out .

On 3 January 2012, Milner scored his third goal of the season, a penalty, against Liverpool. Manchester City won the match 3-0. During a Champions League away match against Napoli, Milner played as right-back after Manchester City's manager Roberto Mancini bought on Johnson for Zabaleta.

After representing England at the U-15 and U-17 levels, Milner was Promoted to the U-20 level and called up for the 2003 World Youth Championship. Milner scored his first goal for the England Under-21 side during the 2004-05 season in a qualification game for the 2007 European Under-21 Championship, against Wales. Despite club's domestic troubles, he continued to make-progress at international level, scoring the winning goal for the England Under-21 side in a 3-2 win over Switzerland.  In August 2009, Milner made his debut for the full England team, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly match against the Netherlands for the final 23 minutes. England won the match 5-1 to secure latter qualification for the 2010 World Cup. In England's third match against Slovenia, he set up the only goal of the match with a cross for Jermain Defoe.

Personal information
Full name James Philip Milner
Date of birth 4 January 1986 (age 26)
Place of birth Wortley, Leeds, England
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1/2 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Manchester City
Number 7

Youth career
1996-2002 Leeds United

Senior career
years Team
2002-2004 Leeds United 48 (5)
2003 Swindon Town (loan) 6 (2)
2004-2008 Newcastle United 94 (6)
2005-2006 Aston Villa (loan) 27 (1)
2008-2010 Aston Villa 73 (11)
2010-Manchester City 57 (3)

National team
2001-2002 England U16 6 (5)
2002-2003 England U17 11 (8)
2003 England U19 1 (0)
2003-2004 England U20 6 (4)
2004-2009 England U21 46 (9)
2009-England 24 (0)

Honours

Club
Manchester City
     FA Cup (1): 2010-11

Aston Villa
     League Cup Runner-Up: 2009-10

England
     UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-Up: 2009

Individual
     PFA Young Player of the Year (1): 2009-10
     PFA Premier League Team of the Year (1): 2009-10

Giuseppe Rossi

Profile Football Stars | Giuseppe Rossi | His mother, Cleonilde Rossi, was also a language teacher at Clifton. Giuseppe Rossi, is an American-born Italian footballer plays as a striker who for Spanish club Villarreal CF and the Italian national team. Rossi was born to Italian immigrant parents in Teaneck, New Jersey; his father, Fernando Rossi, coached football and taught Italian and Spanish at Clifton High School.

When Offered a spot on the youth team of Parma, Rossi (then 12) and his father moved to Italy until Manchester United bought his contract when he was 17. Rossi scored his only Newcastle goal in his first start on October 25, 2006, against Portsmouth in a Carling Cup Third Round tie at St James' Park. Scoring nine goals in 19 league appearances, he helped the club escape the threat of Relegation.

In his second season with Villarreal, Rossi had scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances, along with three goals in eight Champions League appearances. The 2010-11 season proved to be his breakthrough season, as he scored 32 goals in 56 appearances in all competitions.

Rossi has represented Italy at almost every youth level from Under-16 to U-21. Italian national football team manager Marcello Lippi has Stated That Rossi had been fit, he would have received a call-up for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September 2008. Rossi was called up to the Italy squad in October 2008, making his debut for the national team as a second half substitute against Bulgaria on October 11. Rossi scored his first goal for the Italian national team on June 6, 2009, in a friendly against Northern Ireland, at Pisa's Arena Garibaldi. He also scored two goals against the United States in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup on June 15, 2009, in South Africa.

Personal information
Full name Giuseppe Rossi
Date of birth 1 February 1987 (age 25)
Place of birth Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Villarreal
Number 22

Youth career
Parma 2000-2004
Manchester United 2004-2006

Senior career
years Team
2005-2007 Manchester United 5 (1)
2006 Newcastle United (loan) 11 (0)
2007 Parma (loan) 19 (9)
2007-Villarreal 136 (54)

National team
2003 Italy U16 5 (3)
2003-2004 Italy U17 14 (6)
2004-2005 Italy U18 3 (0)
2006-2008 Italy U21 16 (5)
2008 Olympic Italy 6 (6)
2008-Italy 27 (6)

Honours

Club
Manchester United
     Football League Cup (1): 2005-06

Individual
     Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year (1): 2004-05
     Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year (1): 2005-06
     Olympic Golden Boot: 2008

Adam Johnson

Profile Football Stars | Adam Johnson | Johnson played for Cleveland Juniors Football Club and Attended Easington Comprehensive School. He played 119 games for Middlesbrough, having also played on loan with Leeds United and Watford. Adam Johnson is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester City as a winger. A product of the Middlesbrough youth academy, he came to prominence after making his debut aged 17 in a UEFA Cup game. He has played at Various Levels for England, and won nine caps at senior level. Upon seeing Johnson score two goals at Wembley a seven-a-side match school, Johnny Haynes remarked, "You're a great little player.

Johnson's first goal for Middlesbrough came in a midweek Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers on 3 May 2006. After playing four games during his month-long loan spell, Johnson returned to Middlesbrough as Leeds chose not to extend his loan.

After scoring in two 3-0 wins against Internazionale and League of Ireland XI in the pre-season Super Cup Dublin, he started in Manchester City's first Premier League game of the season against Swansea City, getting an assist as his shot was saved by Michel Vorm and the rebounds scored by Edin Dzeko. City went on to win the game 4-0. He scored his first goal of the season during a 4-0 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, curling a shot into the top corner to the make the score 1-0 at the time.

On 26 October 2011, he scored and got an assist in a 5-2 League Cup win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. Three days later, he scored against Wolves again, this time in a 3-1 home league win. In the next round, he assisted the only goal of the game, playing a through-ball for Sergio Aguero to score, in a 1-0 win away at Arsenal. He came on as a late sub in a 5-1 home win over Norwich City and scored his fifth goal of the season. His sixth goal of the season in a 3-0 win came against Stoke City on 21 December.

In May, Capello named Johnson in his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad. On 1 June 2010, Capello Announced his final 23-man team and Johnson failed to the make the cut. On 11 August 2010, Johnson started his first game for England against Hungary at Wembley and played the entire game. He scored his first international goal on 3 September 2010 against Bulgaria in a Euro 2012 qualifier, the which England won 4-0. He scored his second international goal against Switzerland in a 3-1 win after coming on as an early substitute for the injured Theo Walcott.

Personal information
Full name Adam Johnson
Date of birth 14 July 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Sunderland, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Winger

Club information
Current club Manchester City
Number 11

Youth career
1997-1999 Newcastle United
Middlesbrough 1999-2004

Senior career
years Team
Middlesbrough 2004-2010 96 (13)
2006 Leeds United (loan) 5 (0)
2007 Watford (loan) 12 (5)
2010 - Manchester City 65 (10)

National team
2006-2007 England U19 3 (0)
2007-2009 England U21 19 (4)
2010 - England 9 (2)

Honours

Club
Middlesbrough
     FA Youth Cup winners: 2003-04

Manchester City
     FA Cup (1): 2010-11

England
     UEFA European Under-21 Championship Runner-Up: 2009

Hatem Ben Arfa

Profile Football Stars | Hatem Ben Arfa | Ben Arfa started his career throughout Various clubs in the Île-de-France region, having Trained at AC Boulogne-Billancourt and Versailles. Hatem Ben Arfa is a French association football player plays for English club WHO Newcastle United in the Premier League.  Ben Arfa is a former French youth international having played at all levels. Ben Arfa was called up to the senior team for the first time in October 2007 for a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against the Faroe Islands.

Ben Arfa was born in Clamart, a suburb of Paris Southwestern. His father is Kamel Ben Arfa, a former Tunisian international football player. Ben Arfa began training at ASV Châtenay-Malabry. In 1998, Ben Arfa moved to sporting club AC Boulogne-Billancourt. While training at Clairefontaine during the weekdays, Ben Arfa played for FC Versailles on the weekends

On 27 August 2010, Ben Arfa Agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and, the Following day, the club confirmed it had signed That Ben Arfa on a season-long loan.  Ben Arfa spent most of his rehabilitation in his home city of Paris recuperating at the Clairefontaine academy. On 23 February, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew confirmed Ben Arfa That Could was running and return to the team in April. Ben Arfa returned to training with Newcastle on April 5.

He Ben Arfa Ultimately failed to the make any more appearances with the team in the 2010-11 season. After continuing his rehabilitation during the summer, ahead of the 2011-12 season, Ben Arfa began participating in friendly matches with the senior team. Ben Arfa ventured back to his home country to rehab the injury and returned to Newcastle on 18 September. Ben Arfa made his season debut in the match against Nottingham Forest Appearing as a substitute.  On 7 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored Newcastle's opening goal in its FA Cup third round tie against Blackburn Rovers.

Ben Arfa was, however, omitted from Domenech's final 23-man Euro 2008 squad on 28 May. After going nearly two years without representing France internationally, on 5 August 2010, Ben Arfa was called up to the senior team by new manager Laurent Blanc for the team's friendly match against Norway on 11 August 2010. Ben Arfa made his return to the team in the match Appearing as a half-time substitute for Moussa Sissoko.

Personal information
Full name Hatem Ben Arfa
Date of birth 7 March 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Clamart, France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Winger

Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 10

Youth career
1994-1996 ASV Châtenay-Malabry
CF 92 1996-1998 Montrouge
1998-1999 AC Boulogne-Billancourt
INF Clairefontaine 1999-2002
2002-2004 Lyon

Senior career
years Team
2004-2008 Lyon 64 (7)
Marseille 2008-2011 63 (9)
2010-2011 Newcastle United (loan) 4 (1)
2011 - Newcastle United 14 (2)

National team
2002-2003 France U16 10 (7)
2003-2004 France U17 17 (11)
2005 France U18 4 (0)
2005-2006 France U19 6 (1)
2007 France U21 4 (0)
2007 - France 8 (2)

Honours

Club
Lyon
     Ligue 1 (4): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
     Coupe de France (1): 2007-08
     Trophée des champions (2): 2005-06, 2006-07

Marseille
     Ligue 1 (1): 2009-10
     Coupe de la Ligue (1): 2009-10

France
     UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (1): 2004

Individual
     UNFP Young Player of the Year (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Player of the Month (1): February 2010

Andy Carroll

Profile Football Stars | Andy Carroll | Carroll started his professional career with Newcastle United in 2006, before spending a brief period on loan with Preston North End, during the which time he scored his first league goal. He established Himself as a regular in the Newcastle first team by 2008, and Following Newcastle's Relegation from the Premier League to the Championship in 2009, scored 17 goals in 39 appearances to help Newcastle finish first in the league, earning immediate promotion back to the Premier League in the process. He continued to play for Newcastle in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances. Andrew Thomas Carroll (born 6 January 1989) is an English footballer WHO plays for Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team as a striker. Carroll was bought to replace Fernando Torres, WHO moved from Liverpool to Chelsea on the same day for a fee of £ 50 million, making Carroll the second-most expensive player currently playing for a British club, behind Torres.

On 11 September 2007, Carroll made his England under-19 debut against Belarus, scoring in the 4-0 victory. Carroll received his first call up to the England U-21s on 5 August 2009. Carroll's performances for Newcastle United earned him a call up to the England squad for the friendly against France on 17 November 2010. Carroll passed a late fitness test to start the match.

Following England's 1-1 draw with Ghana on 29 March 2011, England manager Fabio Capello of toll Carroll to curtail his drinking habits. In March 2010, Carroll was allegedly INVOLVED in an altercation with teammate Steven Taylor during training That left Taylor with a broken jaw. Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, club representatives and both players Declined to comment any further on the incident and no charges were pressed. On 18 October 2010, Carroll was charged with assault in an incident with his ex-girlfriend.

After the game, Carroll received praise from Italian Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, WHO Carroll tipped to have a big future. Carroll scored his first competitive goal for Newcastle on his first ever home start with a header against West Ham United in a 2-2 draw on 10 January 2009. Carroll finished the season as Newcastle's top scorer, with 19 goals in all competitions, 17 in the league. Carroll scored his first career hat-trick against Aston Villa in the 6-0 Their win in the Premier League on 22 August 2010. Carroll scored Newcastle's third in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool at St .

On 11 April, Carroll scored his first goals for Liverpool in a 3 - 0 victory against Manchester City at Anfield, scoring his first with a long-range strike and his second with a header. He played Several more times That season, but did not score any more goals.

Personal information
Full name Andrew Thomas Carroll
Date of birth 6 January 1989 (age 23)
Place of birth Gateshead, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Liverpool
Number 9

Youth career
2005-2006 Newcastle United

Senior career
years Team
2006-2011 Newcastle United 80 (31)
2007-2008 Preston North End (loan) 11 (1)
2011 - Liverpool 30 (5)

National team
2007-2008 England U19 8 (4)
2009-2010 England U21 5 (2)
2010 - England 3 (1)

Honours

Newcastle United
     Football League Championship (1): 2009-10
     Teresa Herrera Trophy (1): 2010

Individual
     PFA Championship Team of the Year (1): 2009-10
     Jackie Milburn Trophy (1): 2007