![]() Brown in 2024 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Wesley Michael Brown | ||
Date of birth | (1979-10-13) 13 October 1979 (age 44) | ||
Place of birth | Longsight, Manchester, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back, right back | ||
Youth career | |||
Fletcher Moss Rangers | |||
1992β1996 | Manchester United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1996β2011 | Manchester United | 232 | (3) |
2011β2016 | Sunderland | 76 | (1) |
2016β2017 | Blackburn Rovers | 5 | (1) |
2017β2018 | Kerala Blasters | 14 | (1) |
Total | 327 | (6) | |
International career | |||
1998β2000 | England U21 | 8 | (0) |
1999β2010 | England | 23 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances. And goals |
Wesley Michael Brown (born 13 October 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back/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.
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 1998β99 season, when the club won the Treble. After a year-long hiatus dueββto 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, an FA Cup, a League Cup and another Champions League. Former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that Brown is "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years". After 15 years with Manchester United, Brown was allowedββto 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 careerβ»
Manchester Unitedβ»
Born in Longsight, Manchester, Brown began his football career as a schoolboy playing for the Burnage High School 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. 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).
On 4 May 1998, Brown made his full first team FA Premier League debut against Leeds United, coming on as a substitute. His breakthrough would occur the next year, the 1998β99 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 1999β2000 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.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Wes_Brown%2C_after_Barca-match_29th_of_April_2008.jpg/170px-Wes_Brown%2C_after_Barca-match_29th_of_April_2008.jpg)
A fine 2000β01 campaign was followed by another solid year in 2001β02. His reputation grew even greater during the 2002β03 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 2003β04 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.
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 VidiΔ 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 2007β08 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.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/W_Brown.jpg/220px-W_Brown.jpg)
After nearly three years without scoring Premier League goal for United, Brown scored on 23 March 2008 against Liverpool, the first in a 3β0 win.
After initially rejecting new contract offer in December 2007, 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.
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 2β0 win away to Blackburn Rovers. The goal was controversial, however, as Blackburn's players believed that Nemanja VidiΔ had impeded their goalkeeper, Jason Brown, allowing Brown to head in at the far post.
Brown was ruled out of first team action for around five weeks in November 2008, following an exploratory ankle operation. Brown made his first start in eight months away against Hull City on 24 May 2009.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Brown_Manchester_-_Old_Trafford_-_Manchester_United_vs_Crawley_Town.jpg/155px-Brown_Manchester_-_Old_Trafford_-_Manchester_United_vs_Crawley_Town.jpg)
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 VidiΔ 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 2β1 victory against Arsenal, at the end of August.
Brown captained the League Cup game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in which they won 3β2. On 19 February, he scored his first FA Cup goal in Manchester United's 1β0 win over Crawley Town. He also captained United again in the Crawley match.
Sunderlandβ»
Brown joined Sunderland on 7 July 2011 on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Brown made his debut on the opening day of the season at Liverpool, where he was awarded man of the match as Sunderland drew 1β1. On 5 November 2011, Brown scored an own goal in a match against his former club, Manchester United. Brown's first goal for Sunderland came on 21 December 2011, when he scored the winning goal with two minutes remaining in a 3β2 victory away to Queens Park Rangers. 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 1β0 defeat against Hull. On 23 November 2013, Brown was sent off during a 2β0 defeat against Stoke City, a decision that was overturned on appeal on 26 November 2013. Brown was sent off again on 21 December 2013, in a 0β0 draw against Norwich City. Brown was given his third red card of the season in the fourth minute of Sunderland's 2β0 defeat to Hull City.
On 28 February 2015, Brown was sent off during a match against Manchester United, which Sunderland lost 2β0, though it was John O'Shea who actually committed the foul. Referee Roger East insisted he got the decision right. The red card was later rescinded after Sunderland won an appeal.
At the end of the 2014β15 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.
Blackburn Roversβ»
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. 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. He made his debut and scored his first goal for Blackburn against Reading on 17 December 2016.
Kerala Blastersβ»
Brown reunited with former Manchester United coach RenΓ© Meulensteen in August 2017, joining Meulensteen at Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.
Coaching careerβ»
Brown was part of the Blackburn Rovers Under-23s and Academy coaching setup during his time with the club. He holds the UEFA 'A' Licence, which he achieved with the Irish Football Association.
International careerβ»
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-GΓΆran Eriksson's squad for the 2002 World Cup, although he spent his time on the bench.
Brown performed consistently well in the 2005β06 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 eraβ»
Fabio Capello named Brown as a starter in both of his first two games in charge of the national team, against Switzerland and France. He also played 56 minutes in England's 2β0 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.
Brown made three appearances for England in their qualification for the 2010 World Cup in wins over Croatia (4β1), Kazakhstan (5β1) and Belarus (3β1).
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 3β1 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.
Personal lifeβ»
Brown was married to Leanne Wassell, with whom he has three daughters. They broke up in 2022 His father, Bancroft Brown, died in February 2008. His half-sister, Claire Fallows, died on 19 July 2008 during pregnancy. Brown's younger brother, Reece, played for Bury having joined the Manchester United Academy at the age of nine, 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, before going on to play for Hyde United, Bangor City, Mossley, Woodley Sports and currently plays for New Mills.
He was declared bankrupt on 12 April 2023.
Career statisticsβ»
Clubβ»
Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Manchester United | 1997β98 | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
1998β99 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
1999β2000 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | β | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2000β01 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
2001β02 | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
2002β03 | Premier League | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
2003β04 | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | |
2004β05 | Premier League | 21 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
2005β06 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
2006β07 | Premier League | 22 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
2007β08 | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 1 | |
2008β09 | Premier League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
2009β10 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | |
2010β11 | 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 | 2011β12 | Premier League | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | β | β | 22 | 1 | ||
2012β13 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | β | 0 | 0 | |||
2013β14 | Premier League | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | β | β | 31 | 0 | |||
2014β15 | Premier League | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | β | β | 28 | 0 | |||
2015β16 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | β | 6 | 0 | |||
Total | 76 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 1 | ||
Blackburn Rovers | 2016β17 | Championship | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | β | β | 6 | 1 | ||
Kerala Blasters | 2017β18 | Indian Super League | 14 | 1 | β | β | β | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |||
Career total | 327 | 6 | 40 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 65 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 470 | 8 |
- ^ Appearances in FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
Internationalβ»
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
England | 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 |
Honoursβ»
Manchester United
- Premier League: 1998β99, 2000β01, 2002β03, 2006β07, 2007β08
- FA Cup: 1998β99, 2003β04
- Football League Cup: 2005β06, 2009β10
- FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008
- UEFA Champions League: 1998β99, 2007β08
Sunderland
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2013β14
Individual
- Jimmy Murphy Academy Player of the Year: 1997β98, 1998β99
- PFA Team of the Year: 2000β01 Premier League
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Retained and released lists submitted by Premier League clubs". Premier League. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown, Manchester United". The Football Association. 1 February 2006. Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
- ^ "The campus". Burnage High School. Archived from the original on 18 July 2007.
- ^ Burton, Chris (22 February 2008). "Brown upsets Fergie". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Patterson, Scott (22 September 2007). "The Best Natural Defender in England". Republik of Mancunia. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Bensch, Bob (23 March 2008). "Manchester Utd. Tops Liverpool; Chelsea Beats Arsenal (Update5)". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013.
- ^ "Brown snubs final contract offer". BBC Sport. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Ferdinand signs new Man Utd deal". BBC Sport. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ McKenzie, Andrew (4 October 2008). "Blackburn 0β2 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Brown & Berbatov out for Man Utd". BBC Sport. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ^ "Manchester United's Wes Brown completes Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Steve Bruce hails SAFC defender Wes Brown". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ McNulty, Phil (5 November 2011). "Manchester United 1β0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Johnston, Neil (2 November 2013). "Hull City 1β0 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown: FA overturns red card after Sunderland appeal". BBC Sport. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Wilkinson, Kerry (21 December 2013). "Sunderland 0β0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Paul (28 February 2015). "Gus Poyet criticises Roger East after Wes Brown red card confusion". The Observer. London. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Referee Roger East insists he got Wes Brown red card decision right". Sky Sports. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown: Sunderland win red card appeal after Man Utd loss". BBC Sport. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown signs one-year contract extension with Sunderland". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes Brown: Blackburn sign ex-Manchester United and Sunderland defender". BBC Sport. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Wes relishing role with Rovers' rising stars". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers 2β3 Reading". BBC Sport. 17 December 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Wes is a real leader β Coyle". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (6 February 2008). "England 2β1 Switzerland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
- ^ Fletcher, Paul (26 March 2008). "France 1β0 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
- ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (18 August 2008). "England 2β2 Czech Rep". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Defender Wes Brown ends England career". BBC Sport. 8 August 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
- ^ "Manchester United: The players". The Guardian. London. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Player returns after sister dies". BBC News. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Also reported as "Amanda" by ManUtd.com
- ^ Coppack, Nick; Hibbs, Ben (21 July 2008). "Rio set for first outing". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- ^ "United sign up Brown Junior". Manchester Evening News. 28 August 2001. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012.
- ^ Alexander, Nick (8 May 1999). "An England collector's item". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "More big names for Bangor". BBC Sport. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Former Manchester United legend Wes Brown declared bankrupt". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "Brown: 6". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Barn End Media. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ Wes Brown at Soccerbase
- ^ "W. Brown". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Brown, Wes". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Man Utd News | Team news, injury updates, transfers, new signings". www.manutd.com.
- ^ "Brown completes Sunderland switch". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Wes Brown: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
- ^ Phil McNulty (2 March 2014). "Manchester City 3β1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ 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.
External linksβ»
- 1979 births
- Living people
- People from Longsight
- Footballers from Manchester
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football central defenders
- Men's association football fullbacks
- Fletcher Moss Rangers F.C. players
- Manchester United F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- Kerala Blasters FC players
- Premier League players
- English Football League players
- Indian Super League players
- UEFA Champions League winning players
- England men's under-21 international footballers
- England men's international footballers
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- Association football coaches
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. non-playing staff
- English expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in India
- English expatriate sportspeople in India
- People educated at Burnage Academy for Boys
- Black British sportsmen