Stephen Hughes (footballer born 1976)
Stephen Hughes
Stephen John Hughes ( born September 18, 1976 in Reading) is a former English footballer. Mostly used in the left or central midfield, he won in 1998 with the Arsenal FC, the English Championship. The team of Arsène Wenger he came but mostly on the role of Einwechsel and supplementary player not out, and then moved in March 2000 for well over a year to Everton before he was active in the lower professional leagues until his career end in 2009. In this case, the eight-time British U-21 national team left in the four years between 2004 and 2008 at second division Coventry City the most lasting impression.
Professional career
Arsenal FC (1995-2000)
After winning the FA Youth Cup in 1994 with the youth team of Arsenal FC Hughes made his debut as a left midfielder on Boxing Day of that year by Substitutes against Aston Villa (0-0 ) in the Premier League. Half a year later he signed his first professional contract with the " Gunners ", but except for a further league appearance in February 1996 against Coventry City and a vocation for the bench in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final against Aston Villa were Hughes ' athletic prospects in the first team limited. Only with the arrival of Arsène Wenger as the new sporting director himself seemed things in the season 1996/97 for the better. In the meantime risen to speak in the English U -21 captain and in the reserve team to guide players, Hughes received on 14 January 1997 by Substitutes against AFC Sunderland his next chance. Four days later, he scored in the FA Cup against the same opponent his first goal for Arsenal and the rest of the season he was still 14 more times - mostly for Paul Merson - used.
It was followed by the sporty successful season in the professional career of Stephen Hughes. Although he top-class competitors had with Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira and Marc Overmars in the midfield, the club furnished him with a new five -year contract and the " left-footed " showed both the external position as well as centrally with good look and flanks as well as in a duel in 17 Premier League games as a good addition. All of his three Goals in official matches in the 1997/98 season he scored against city rivals Chelsea and in the end he won the English championship.
However, the final breakthrough was further delayed. In the season 1998/99 he was in only four league games in the starting XI and at the start of the following season 1999/2000 lent in the club in July 1999 to the second division FC Fulham - with the prospect of a permanent change in accordance with sporty positive development. After a broken arm at the end of the previous season but Hughes was lacking match practice and after about a month he returned prematurely back to Arsenal. There he was then - with few exceptions - only part of the reserve team, making him turn, finally prompting, to look for a new club. For a fee of just £ 500,000 finally signaled Everton in March 2000, his interest in an undertaking. In case of success, the amount could increase to a maximum of three million pounds on.
Their careers: Everton, Watford and Charlton (2000-2003)
The fact that Hughes would find in Everton neither be lasting happiness, the 1999/2000 season not yet appeared in the remaining games. Hughes appeared in the left side of midfield as part of coach Walter Smith rebuilt Elf prima navigate before he provisionally fell after the first six league games of the season 2000/ 01 from the starting line- and more or less after a further series of seven missions completely the connection lost. According to rumors, the club's management Everton feared the increased transfer fee of up to three million pounds that they were prepared in the face of changing services by Stephen Hughes not to pay and so the signs were clearly in the direction of a premature end. Gianluca Vialli With the second division Watford FC was found in the summer of 2001, soon a new prospective customer.
At first it looked in Watford look as Hughes would play an important role in the remodeling team before injury problems for decisive setbacks ensured. After a concussion in September 2001, he had specially to fight in November of the year with a groin problem, an operation made necessary in January 2002 and Hughes forced to a long pause. In the following two years until the end of the 2003/ 04 Hughes finally came in no single professional game longer used, where he was temporarily pulled free transfer in the summer of 2003 for the Premier League club Charlton Athletic on.
Coventry City (2004-2008)
Only Peter Reid as coach of second division club Coventry City again found use for him. Hughes surpassed here with 40 league assignments right away the expectations placed in him, demonstrated his good passing and position of understanding and also showed as a substitute for captain Tim Sherwood leadership qualities. Added to this was a remarkable performance as a goalkeeper, after -budgetary " Keeper" Ian Bennett had been sent off and Hughes remained with some parades without conceding a goal.
Setbacks followed in the 2006 /07 ended in the form of further injury problems and the painful Achilles tendon in November quasi prematurely his season, although he sporadically again came to the course at the end. Fortunately, the tide turned in the following year again for the better and Hughes came up with 38 league bets. After a start as a captain his trainer Micky Adams had withdrawn from the office for a short time in November 2006 after a defeat against Stoke City, but then again made a U- turn in December. After the dismissal of Adam Hughes showed outstanding performance under successor Iain Dowie and was praised for the " newbie" separately.
In his last year in Coventry Hughes, who was with parts of Annex due to its not excessive Torgefahr never without controversy, his midfield role often defensive and only after the coaching change towards Chris Coleman he had more offensive again interpreted. He did become increasingly difficult to set appropriate accents, because he was able to bring the opposing defensive alliances rarely embarrassed with his not-so- strong pace. So went with the end of the season 2007/ 08 expiring contract for Hughes the time in Coventry at the end.
Walsall FC (2008-2009)
The last professional year 2008/ 09 spent Hughes at third division FC Walsall, which he had in early August 2008 connected. He was appointed immediately to the captain, should provide the midfield center for the necessary experience and completed these tasks mostly reliable and unobtrusive. At the end, however, were increasing again the wounds and so you left it in a season for the " Saddlers ". The contract was subsequently not renewed.
Title / Awards
- English Championship ( 1): 1998
- Charity Shield ( 1): 1998
- FA Youth Cup ( 1): 1994