Wikipedia

Wes Brown

This article is about the footballer. For the American naval officer, see Wesley A. Brown. For the American jurist, see Wesley E. Brown. For the American actor, see Wes Brown (actor).

Wesley Michael Brown (born 13 October 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back or right back. He spent the majority of his career at Manchester United, where he won 13 trophies including five Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues.

Wes Brown
Brown in 2024
Personal information
Full name Wesley Michael Brown[1]
Date of birth (1979-10-13) 13 October 1979 (age 45)[2]
Place of birth Longsight, Manchester, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre back, right back
Youth career
Fletcher Moss Rangers
1992–1996 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2011 Manchester United 232 (3)
2011–2016 Sunderland 76 (1)
2016–2017 Blackburn Rovers 5 (1)
2017–2018 Kerala Blasters 14 (1)
Total 327 (6)
International career
1998–2000 England U21 8 (0)
1999–2010 England 23 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brown began his career with Manchester United by joining the club's academy at the age of 12 in 1992. After turning professional in 1996, he made his senior debut in 1998 and became a semi regular first team player during the 1998–99 season, when the club won the Treble. After a year-long hiatus due to injury, Brown became a regular fixture in the first team from 2000 onwards. Over the next eight years, he won numerous honours, including four more Premier League titles and another Champions League. Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Brown is "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years".[4] After 15 years with Manchester United, Brown was allowed to leave for Sunderland, where he spent five years and helped them reach the 2014 League Cup final.

Brown earned his first England cap in 1999 and was selected to play at the 2002 World Cup. He played in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers but England failed to progress to the final tournament. He scored his first international goal in 2008 against the Czech Republic. Brown announced his retirement from international football on 8 August 2010, just a day after being recalled to the England squad by Fabio Capello.

Club career

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Manchester United

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Born in Longsight, Manchester, Brown began his football career as a schoolboy playing for the Burnage High School[5] and Fletcher Moss Rangers, a Greater Manchester youth side, and was a former student of the Lilleshall Hall FA School of Excellence, as well as spending time at United's football Academy, which he joined at the age of 12.[6] Brown showed talent and maturity at an early age, signing full professional terms with boyhood club Manchester United on 4 November 1996 at the age of 17.

Brown went on to success with the reserve and youth sides, winning the FA Youth Cup and a Lancashire Division One medal with the reserves. He also added two Jimmy Murphy (Young Player of the Year) awards to his collection, becoming only the second player to receive the award for a second time (the other being Ryan Giggs).[citation needed]

On 4 May 1998, Brown made his first team FA Premier League debut against Leeds United, coming on as a substitute. His breakthrough would occur the next year, the 1998–99 season, where he made several first-team appearances at right-back as well as his more natural position of centre-back. United completed the treble that season, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Brown suffered the first of what would be a string of injuries while training for the 1999–2000 campaign. As a result, he did not play a single competitive game all season, while United went on to seal their sixth Premier League title in eight seasons.

His strong comeback the following year prompted praise from all corners, with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson making waves by proclaiming Brown to be Manchester United's most talented defender.[4]

 
Brown after a match against Barcelona in April 2008

A fine 2000–01 campaign was followed by another solid year in 2001–02. His reputation grew even greater during the 2002–03 season, but again, his performances were marred by injury. Brown tore a knee ligament on the final day of the season, and did not return until midway through the 2003–04 season. Brown finished the season in good form, notably giving an imperious, man of the match-winning performance in the FA Cup semi-final win over Arsenal. It was after this fine display that Ferguson re-iterated his confidence in Brown's abilities.[7]

Brown was a member of the side that won the FA Cup that year, against Millwall at Cardiff, and later went on to collect runners-up medals in the 2005 and 2007 finals.

The signing of Nemanja Vidić in January 2006, who would go on to forge a highly successful partnership with Rio Ferdinand, along with Brown's continuing injury problems, meant the defender continued to struggle to hold down a place in United's starting line-up. In the 2007–08 season, however, Brown established himself as the club's first-choice right-back. He ended the season by assisting Cristiano Ronaldo's goal in the 2008 Champions League final, which United eventually won on penalty kicks to complete a league and European double.

 
Brown playing in the Manchester derby. Manchester United wore a plain kit for this game to signify the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

After nearly three years without scoring a Premier League goal for United, Brown scored on 23 March 2008 against Liverpool, the first in a 3–0 win.[8]

After initially rejecting a new contract offer in December 2007,[9] Brown signed a new five-year contract along with fellow defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Michael Carrick in April 2008, which was to keep him at Old Trafford until 2013.[10]

On 4 October 2008, Brown scored only the fourth goal of his Manchester United career when he headed in Wayne Rooney's cross in United's 2–0 win away to Blackburn Rovers. The goal was controversial, however, as Blackburn's players believed that Nemanja Vidić had impeded their goalkeeper, Jason Brown, allowing Brown to head in at the far post.[11]

Brown was ruled out of first team action for around five weeks in November 2008, following an exploratory ankle operation.[12] Brown made his first start in eight months away against Hull City on 24 May 2009.

 
Brown playing for Manchester United in 2011

Brown started the following season, featuring throughout August in the league, but between September and October only appeared in United's League Cup campaign, before injury to both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić saw Brown return to Premier League action as he partnered Jonny Evans in central defence against Blackburn, and both men produced an assured and professional display. This was Brown's first Premier League start since the 2–1 victory against Arsenal, at the end of August.

Brown captained the League Cup game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in which they won 3–2. On 19 February, he scored his first FA Cup goal in Manchester United's 1–0 win over Crawley Town. He also captained United again in the Crawley match.

Sunderland

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Brown joined Sunderland on 7 July 2011 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[13] Brown made his debut on the opening day of the season at Liverpool, where he was awarded man of the match as Sunderland drew 1–1.[14] On 5 November 2011, Brown scored an own goal in a match against his former club, Manchester United.[15] Brown's first goal for Sunderland came on 21 December 2011, when he scored the winning goal with two minutes remaining in a 3–2 victory away to Queens Park Rangers.[citation needed] Brown's season ended through injury in the FA Cup fourth-round tie with Middlesbrough in January 2012.

He made his Premier League comeback on 2 November 2013 in a 1–0 defeat against Hull.[16] On 23 November 2013, Brown was sent off during a 2–0 defeat against Stoke City, a decision that was overturned on appeal on 26 November 2013.[17] Brown was sent off again on 21 December 2013, in a 0–0 draw against Norwich City.[18] Brown was given his third red card of the season in the fourth minute of Sunderland's 2–0 defeat to Hull City.

On 28 February 2015, Brown was sent off during a match against Manchester United, which Sunderland lost 2–0, though it was John O'Shea who actually committed the foul.[19] Referee Roger East insisted he got the decision right.[20] The red card was later rescinded after Sunderland won an appeal.[21]

At the end of the 2014–15 season, Brown was named as one of several Sunderland players available on a free transfer at the end of his contract in June 2015. On 12 June 2015, however, manager Dick Advocaat signed Brown to a one-year contract extension.[22]

Blackburn Rovers

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On 21 September 2016, following a number of injury set-backs and three-and-a-half months training with the club to regain fitness, Brown signed a short-term contract with Blackburn Rovers, lasting until the end of the season.[23] As part of the deal, Brown would also take up a coaching role with the club's development squad, a team for which he had played a number of games while regaining fitness. He worked alongside existing coaches Damien Johnson and David Dunn and offered guidance and advice to the club's younger players.[24] He made his debut and scored his first goal for Blackburn against Reading on 17 December 2016.[25]

Kerala Blasters

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Brown reunited with former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen in August 2017, joining Meulensteen at Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.[26]

Coaching career

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Brown was part of the Blackburn Rovers Under-23s and Academy coaching setup during his time with the club.[24] He holds the UEFA 'A' Licence, which he achieved with the Irish Football Association.[27][28]

International career

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Brown has represented England at international level, making 23 appearances since debuting in 1999. He was notably part of the England squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Brown made his debut in 1999 against Hungary and booked a place in Sven-Göran Eriksson's squad for the 2002 World Cup, although he spent his time on the bench.[4]

Brown performed consistently well in the 2005–06 season which led to his recall to the England squad for the friendly game against Uruguay. Although he played no part in this fixture, he hoped to make it into the final England squad for the 2006 World Cup, though he was ultimately not selected.

He was once again recalled to the England squad by coach Steve McClaren, and played in a defeat of Andorra in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying on 2 September, partnering John Terry at the heart of the England defence in place of injured Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand. He replaced Terry in a friendly against Brazil on 1 June 2007, but he slipped up with his first touch of the ball and nearly scored an own goal.

Fabio Capello era

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Fabio Capello named Brown as a starter in both of his first two games in charge of the national team, against Switzerland[29] and France.[30] He also played 56 minutes in England's 2–0 win over the United States on 28 May 2008.

Brown scored his sole senior international goal in a friendly against the Czech Republic on 20 August 2008 at Wembley Stadium, heading in a David Beckham corner in the 45th minute.[31]

Brown made three appearances for England in their qualification for the 2010 World Cup in wins over Croatia (4–1), Kazakhstan (5–1) and Belarus (3–1).

Brown was called up for the England squad to face Slovenia in a friendly match on 5 September 2009, but was an unused substitute. He was then called up for a friendly against Brazil to be played Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar, where he played the full 90 minutes.

Brown also played in England's 3–1 win over Egypt on 3 March 2010. He did not, however, make the England squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after an injury-hit season.

Brown retired from international football on 8 August 2010, one day after being selected for a friendly against Hungary.[32]

Personal life

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Brown was married to Leanne Wassell, with whom he has three daughters. They broke up in 2022[33] His father, Bancroft Brown, died in February 2008.[34] His half-sister, Claire Fallows,[35][36] died on 19 July 2008 during pregnancy.[34] Brown's younger brother, Reece, played for Bury having joined the Manchester United Academy at the age of nine,[37] also plays at centre-back and is an England under-20 international. Another brother, Clive, was on the books of Manchester City as a youth player in the late 1990s,[38] before going on to play for Hyde United, Bangor City,[39] Mossley, Woodley Sports and currently plays for New Mills.[40]

He was declared bankrupt on 12 April 2023.[41]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[42][43][44]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 1997–98 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1998–99 Premier League 14 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 21 0
1999–2000 Premier League 0 0 – 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2000–01 Premier League 28 0 1 0 1 0 11 0 0 0 41 0
2001–02 Premier League 17 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 24 0
2002–03 Premier League 22 0 2 0 5 0 6 1 0 0 35 1
2003–04 Premier League 17 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 25 0
2004–05 Premier League 21 1 6 0 3 0 7 0 0 0 37 1
2005–06 Premier League 19 0 4 0 5 0 3 0 0 0 31 0
2006–07 Premier League 22 0 6 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 37 0
2007–08 Premier League 36 1 4 0 1 0 10 0 1 0 52 1
2008–09 Premier League 8 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 13 1
2009–10 Premier League 19 0 1 0 5 0 4 0 0 0 29 0
2010–11 Premier League 7 0 3 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 15 1
Total 232 3 35 1 27 0 65 1 3 0 362 5
Sunderland 2011–12 Premier League 20 1 1 0 1 0 – – 22 1
2012–13 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 – – 0 0
2013–14 Premier League 25 0 1 0 5 0 – – 31 0
2014–15 Premier League 25 0 2 0 1 0 – – 28 0
2015–16 Premier League 6 0 0 0 0 0 – – 6 0
Total 76 1 4 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 87 1
Blackburn Rovers 2016–17 Championship 5 1 1 0 0 0 – – 6 1
Kerala Blasters 2017–18 Indian Super League 14 1 — — — 1 0 15 1
Career total 327 6 40 1 34 0 65 1 4 0 470 8
  1. ^ Appearances in FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
England[45] 1999 1 0
2000 1 0
2001 2 0
2002 2 0
2003 1 0
2004 0 0
2005 2 0
2006 1 0
2007 4 0
2008 7 1
2009 1 0
2010 1 0
Total 23 1

Honours

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Manchester United[46][47]

Sunderland

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Retained and released lists submitted by Premier League clubs". Premier League. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. ^ "Wes Brown". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Wes Brown". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Wes Brown, Manchester United". The Football Association. 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  5. ^ "The campus". Burnage High School. Archived from the original on 18 July 2007.
  6. ^ Burton, Chris (22 February 2008). "Brown upsets Fergie". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  7. ^ Patterson, Scott (22 September 2007). "The Best Natural Defender in England". Republik of Mancunia. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  8. ^ Bensch, Bob (23 March 2008). "Manchester Utd. Tops Liverpool; Chelsea Beats Arsenal (Update5)". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Brown snubs final contract offer". BBC Sport. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Ferdinand signs new Man Utd deal". BBC Sport. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  11. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (4 October 2008). "Blackburn 0–2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Brown & Berbatov out for Man Utd". BBC Sport. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  13. ^ "Manchester United's Wes Brown completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  14. ^ "Steve Bruce hails SAFC defender Wes Brown". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  15. ^ McNulty, Phil (5 November 2011). "Manchester United 1–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  16. ^ Johnston, Neil (2 November 2013). "Hull City 1–0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Wes Brown: FA overturns red card after Sunderland appeal". BBC Sport. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  18. ^ Wilkinson, Kerry (21 December 2013). "Sunderland 0–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  19. ^ Wilson, Paul (28 February 2015). "Gus Poyet criticises Roger East after Wes Brown red card confusion". The Observer. London. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Referee Roger East insists he got Wes Brown red card decision right". Sky Sports. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Wes Brown: Sunderland win red card appeal after Man Utd loss". BBC Sport. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  22. ^ "Wes Brown signs one-year contract extension with Sunderland". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  23. ^ "Wes Brown: Blackburn sign ex-Manchester United and Sunderland defender". BBC Sport. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Wes relishing role with Rovers' rising stars". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 2–3 Reading". BBC Sport. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  26. ^ Bharali, Abhijit (15 August 2017). "ISL 2017: Kerala Blasters sign ex-Manchester United star Wes Brown and close in on Berbatov". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  27. ^ "Wes is a real leader – Coyle". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  28. ^ Flack, John (25 May 2016). "Wes Brown relishing Jose Mourinho's Old Trafford arrival as he studies in Belfast". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  29. ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (6 February 2008). "England 2–1 Switzerland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  30. ^ Fletcher, Paul (26 March 2008). "France 1–0 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  31. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (18 August 2008). "England 2–2 Czech Rep". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  32. ^ "Defender Wes Brown ends England career". BBC Sport. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  33. ^ "Manchester United: The players". The Guardian. London. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  34. ^ a b "Player returns after sister dies". BBC News. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  35. ^ Also reported as "Amanda" by ManUtd.com
  36. ^ Coppack, Nick; Hibbs, Ben (21 July 2008). "Rio set for first outing". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  37. ^ "United sign up Brown Junior". Manchester Evening News. 28 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
  38. ^ Alexander, Nick (8 May 1999). "An England collector's item". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  39. ^ "More big names for Bangor". BBC Sport. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  40. ^ "Complete A-Z of Mossley players from 1919 to current". Mossleyweb. John Cawthorne. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  41. ^ "Former Manchester United legend Wes Brown declared bankrupt". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  42. ^ "Brown: 6". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Barn End Media. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  43. ^ Wes Brown at Soccerbase
  44. ^ "W. Brown". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  45. ^ "Brown, Wes". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  46. ^ "Man Utd News | Team news, injury updates, transfers, new signings". www.manutd.com.
  47. ^ "Brown completes Sunderland switch". BBC Sport.
  48. ^ "Wes Brown: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  49. ^ Phil McNulty (2 March 2014). "Manchester City 3–1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  50. ^ a b Bostock, Adam (4 May 2010). "Award joy for Keane". ManUtd.com. Manchester United Football Club. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
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