Grant Leadbitter
Leadbitter playing for Ipswich Town in 2010
Personal information
Full name Grant Leadbitter[1]
Date of birth (1986-01-07) 7 January 1986[2]
Place of birth Chester-le-Street, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2002–2003 Sunderland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2009 Sunderland 111 (11)
2005 → Rotherham United (loan) 5 (1)
2009–2012 Ipswich Town 116 (13)
2012–2019 Middlesbrough 212 (28)
2019–2021 Sunderland 69 (7)
Total 513 (60)
International career
2001–2002 England U16 10 (0)
2002–2003 England U17 9 (0)
2004–2005 England U19 11 (0)
2005 England U20 1 (0)
2007–2008 England U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 May 2021

Grant Leadbitter (born 7 January 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made more than 500 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, which included 212 for Middlesbrough, 180 for Sunderland and 116 for Ipswich Town. Leadbitter retired at the end of the 2021 season, having won the EFL Trophy in his final season with Sunderland.

Leadbitter played for Sunderland from 2003 until 2009 after rising as a product from the team's Youth Academy before signing for Ipswich Town. He spent seven seasons with Middlesbrough before finishing his career with Sunderland. In 2007 Leadbitter received a call-up for England U21, and featured for them three times.

Leadbitter spent the 2021/2022 season gaining his UEFA A License.[3] Since October 2022, he has been part of the first-team coaching staff at Middlesbrough.

Early life

Leadbitter was born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.[4] He grew up in Fence Houses as a Sunderland fan, and joined the Sunderland youth academy at the age of 16. He progressed through the ranks and represented England at the U19 level in 2002, scoring against Brazil to help England finish in the top four in the league tournament.

Club career

Sunderland

Leadbitter's first professional appearance for Sunderland came as a substitute in a League Cup defeat against Huddersfield Town in September 2003. Before obtaining a regular first-team place at the club, he was loaned to Rotherham United in September 2005, where he scored once against Swansea[5] in five league games. After his loan stay in Hibernian, he began to be selected regularly by then manager Mick McCarthy, and played in 11 of Sunderland's final 14 matches of the season.[6]

After Sunderland's relegation in 2006, Leadbitter stalled on contract talks, with many predicting he was aiming to attract the attention of a Premier League club after his impressive displays during the previous season. However, a contract was subsequently agreed with the player claiming he only ever wanted to stay with Sunderland and, henceforth, Leadbitter played an important role in the Black Cats' revival under the management of Roy Keane. Leadbitter took part in every one of Sunderland's games in the 2006–07 season and contributed seven goals,[7] ranking as the club's third top scorer of that season. On Sunderland's return to the Premier League, Leadbitter continued to feature regularly with Keane, even making comparisons with Paul Scholes (he allegedly wears the number 18 shirt in honour of his hero Scholes). In June 2008 Leadbitter signed a new contract with Sunderland, keeping him at the club until 2011.[8]

On 4 October 2008, Leadbitter scored a memorable goal against Arsenal after just coming off the bench. The 25-yard goal was celebrated in emotional style, as he ran over to his manager and had his head on the floor, nearly in tears. This emotional celebration was because his father, Brian Leadbitter, had died just weeks beforehand and his ashes had been buried right on that spot under the grass on the Stadium of Light.[6] "People close to me know why I went down on the floor like I did, I just want to leave it at that. The people who know me know why I kissed that area of the ground. My dad's ashes were buried there. I don't want to go on about it. It just means a lot to me and my family. It's exactly that spot and it was always my intention to do something like that when I scored my first goal here." Leadbitter said to the press after the match.

Ipswich Town

On 1 September 2009, Leadbitter transferred to Championship club Ipswich Town for a fee of £2.6 million, along with team-mate Carlos Edwards.[9] He made his first-appearance on 12 September, starting in a 3–1 loss to Middlesbrough. He scored his first goal for the club against Nottingham Forest on 15 September, netting the opening goal in a 1–1 draw. Leadbitter became a first-team regular during his first season at Portman Road, making 40 appearances in all competitions and scoring 3 goals.[10]

He continued to feature as a regular in the first-team during the 2010–11 season. He scored his first goal of the season on 21 August in a 2–1 away win over Crystal Palace. He made 50 appearances over the course of the season, scoring 6 goals, including a brace in a 3–3 home draw with Middlesbrough at Portman Road.[11]

Leadbitter was named club captain for the 2011–12 season,[12] following the departure of David Norris. On 10 March, he scored a brace as Ipswich came from behind to draw 2–2 with Hull City. Following a spell on the sidelines due to injury, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell gave the captain's armband to Carlos Edwards, who remained as the captain for the remainder of the season.[13] He made 36 appearances during the 2011–12 season, scoring 5 goals.[14]

Middlesbrough

On 29 May 2012, it was announced that Leadbitter had signed a three-year contract with Championship club Middlesbrough, on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at Ipswich Town.[15] Leadbitter scored on his debut in a 7–3 pre-season friendly win against Falkirk. He scored his first league goal on 30 November 2012 in a 2–3 away defeat against Birmingham City.[16] Leadbitter scored twice as Boro lost 3–2 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2013. After a string of consistent performances throughout the 2012–13 season, Leadbitter was awarded Middlesbrough's player of the season in his first season at the club.[6] Leadbitter scored his fourth goal for Middlesbrough on 25 August 2013 at Wigan. On 21 September 2013, he scored Boro's final goal in a 3–3 draw at home to Bournemouth. On 19 December 2014 Leadbitter agreed a 3-year contract extension with the club. Leadbitter's commanding performances and selection of spectacular goals lead to him being named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year.[17]

On 7 May 2016, Leadbitter won promotion to the Premier League with Middlesbrough after a 1–1 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.[18]

Return to Sunderland

Leadbitter re-signed for Sunderland on a free transfer in January 2019.[19] He was named captain at the start of the 2019–20 season.[20] In February 2020, he was given an extended leave of absence from the club for personal reasons,[21] returning for pre-season in July.[6] On 25 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Sunderland at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.[22] On 14 September 2021 Leadbitter announced his retirement from football, most notably winning the EFL trophy with the club in his final season.[23]

International career

Leadbitter came on as a late substitute replacing Gabriel Agbonlahor, in a 2–0 win in England Under 21s 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification group, against Bulgaria.[24] He featured again for England U21 on 25 March 2008 and made his final appearance in a 0–0 draw against Poland U21, not being picked after that and turning 23 soon after.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 2003–04[25] First Division 0000100010
2004–05[26] Championship 000010—10
2005–06[27] Premier League 1200000—120
2006–07[28] Championship 4471010—467
2007–08[29] Premier League 3121010—332
2008–09[30] Premier League 2322030—282
2009–10[10] Premier League 10—10—20
Total 111114080—12311
Rotherham United (loan) 2005–06[27] League One 5110—1[lower-alpha 1]071
Ipswich Town 2009–10[10] Championship 38320——403
2010–11[11] Championship 4450061—506
2011–12[14] Championship 3451010—365
Total 116133071—12614
Middlesbrough 2012–13[31] Championship 4232031—474
2013–14[32] Championship 3961010—416
2014–15[33] Championship 431130213[lower-alpha 2]05112
2015–16[34] Championship 4140050—464
2016–17[35] Premier League 1314200—173
2017–18[36] Championship 3231010—343
2018–19[37] Championship 201050—80
Total 212281221723024432
Sunderland 2018–19[37] League One 150——4[lower-alpha 3]0190
2019–20[38] League One 14010203[lower-alpha 4]0200
2020–21[39] League One 40700008[lower-alpha 5]0487
Total 6971020150877
Sunderland Total 180185010015021018
Career total 5136021234317058665
  1. ↑ Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  3. ↑ Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  5. ↑ Six appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs

Honours

Sunderland

Middlesbrough

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Middlesbrough" (PDF). English Football League. p. 23. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 247. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ↑ "Grant Leadbitter". Middlesbrough FC. 25 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Grant Leadbitter". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Rotherham 2–2 Swansea". BBC Sport. 22 October 2005. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Walker, Michael (12 October 2020). "Grant Leadbitter's grief: 'I want to show people you can come through it'". The Athletic. Retrieved 12 October 2020. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ "404". {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  8. ↑ "Leadbitter signs new contract with Sunderland". BBC Sport. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2008.
  9. ↑ "Black Cats Pair Seal Switch". Sunderland A.F.C. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  12. ↑ "Grant Leadbitter will be my captain on Saturday – if selected". East Anglian Daily Times. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Jewell: Captaincy Change No Slight on Grant". TWTD. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  15. ↑ "Grant Is First Summer Signing". Middlesbrough F.C. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  16. ↑ Scott, Ged (30 November 2012). "Birmingham 3–2 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  17. 1 2 "PFA Championship Team of the Year: Deeney only Watford player". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. ↑ Bakowski, Gregg (7 May 2016). "Middlesbrough 1–1 Brighton: Boro promoted to Premier League – as it happened". The Guardian.
  19. ↑ "Grant Leadbitter returns to Sunderland from Middlesbrough almost a decade after leaving". BBC Sport. 29 January 2019.
  20. ↑ Lightle, Sam (9 August 2019). "To be named captain is special". Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  21. ↑ Wilson, Scott (6 February 2020). "Grant Leadbitter given compassionate leave from Sunderland to deal with 'personal reasons'". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "2021-22: Retained list confirmed". Sunderland A.F.C. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "Legend Leadbitter Announces Retirement". mfc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  24. ↑ Association, The Football. "The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team". The Football Association.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  27. 1 2 "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  37. 1 2 "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Grant Leadbitter in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  40. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2007). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 46, 370–371. ISBN 978-0-7553-1664-9.
  41. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (14 March 2021). "Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  42. ↑ Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  43. ↑ Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline. pp. 234–235. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
  44. ↑ "Grant Leadbitter named fans' Player of the Year – Video + Gallery". Teesside Live. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
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