This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. |
Kevin Cyril Davies (born 26 March 1977 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire) is an English football player who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers as striker and Captain. He is the half brother of Chesterfield F.C. striker Jamie Jackson.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kevin Cyril Davies | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Bolton Wanderers | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
Playing career
Chesterfield
Davies originally made his name as a vital part of the Chesterfield team which reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1997,[1] scoring a hat-trick against current club Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park, before losing in controversial circumstances to Middlesbrough.
Southampton
He moved to Southampton in May 1997 and, in his first spell with them, scored nine league goals and impressed. He scored a great solo goal against Everton at Goodison Park and also headed the winner in a 1-0 win against Manchester United.
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers signed him for £7.5 million in July 1998, ten times what Southampton had paid for him a year earlier and also a club record. (Chesterfield received no more money from the switch, having failed to negotiate a sell-on clause.) As part of the deal, James Beattie went the other way. However, with his transfer fee hanging over his head, he never found any real form and scored just one league goal, the winner in a victory over Charlton Athletic. Blackburn were relegated and Davies was scorned by Blackburn fans, who blamed their team's downfall (just four years after they had been league champions) on the inability to find a consistent goalscorer.
Return to Southampton
Southampton re-signed their former striker in exchange for Egil Østenstad in August 1999. However, just two league matches into his return at Southampton, he found himself sent off in a defeat against Liverpool, after coming on as a substitute for Mark Hughes. He struggled to gain a first team place throughout the next four years, and was more often than not a perpetual substitute.
Bolton Wanderers
In summer 2003, he joined Bolton having been released by Southampton. In a season where he rediscovered his best form, he scored ten times and started every league game. He ended the season by winning the club's Player of the Year award and scored a consolation goal for his team in the 2004 Football League Cup Final against Middlesbrough in Cardiff.
Davies is frequently cited as being the player in the Premier League that commits the most fouls, committing more such offences than any other Premier League player in the 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. In the 2003-04 and 2007-08 seasons Davis was slightly better behaved, committing the second highest number of fouls per season. In his Bolton career Davies has committed some 522 fouls, more than any other Premier League player in the same period.[2][3][4] At the same time Davies has also featured near the top of the list of most fouled players.[5]
On 8 November 2007 Davies scored a memorable goal away to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Germany. Davies' last gasp effort earned Bolton a crucial away point from the 2-2 draw in the UEFA Cup group stage.
On 12 April 2008, Davies scored a vital goal in a 1–0 win over West Ham United at the Reebok Stadium, which proved crucial in their bid to secure their Premier League status, in the 2007–08 campaign. This was his 100th career goal.[6]
On Saturday 3 May 2008, he made his return from a broken hand to help Bolton retain their Premier League status.
Over the summer of 2008 Hull City tried to sign Kevin Davies from Bolton but the club turned down their offer.[7] Davies then signed a new contract with Bolton which will keep him at the club until 2011.[8]
On 31 January 2009, Davies became captain of Bolton Wanderers following the sale of Kevin Nolan to Newcastle United. The same day, Davies' first game as captain saw him score two goals in Bolton's 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. In the following game, at home against West Ham United he scored his 50th goal for Bolton as well as equalling his record for goals in a Premier League season.
International
Is also currently one of seven English players to have (in a single transfer) cost over £7 million and never represented their country at national level. This list includes Nigel Reo-Coker, Anton Ferdinand, James Milner, Curtis Davies, Carl Cort and Dean Richards.
Honours
- 2003 F.A. Cup runners up medal (Awarded by club for contributions en route to final)
References
- ^ Source: Chesterfield on football-shirts.co.uk
- ^ 2007/2008 | Official Site of the Premier League - Barclays Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Statistics
- ^ FOOTBALL: TODAY'S TOP 20: HIGHEST FOULS PER GAME RATIO SO FAR THIS | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ Official: Davies is the dirtiest | The Sun |HomePage|Sport|Football
- ^ don't play proper football, says Van Persie | Evening Standard
- ^ People.co.uk - Kev's only gone and ton it!
- ^ Bolton News ignore Kevin Davies to Hull story. Manny Road, 1 August 2008.
- ^ Bolton's Kevin Davies signs lucrative new contract. Daily Mirror, 29 August 2008.
External links
- Kevin Davies at Soccerbase
- Photos and stats at sporting heroes.net