David Batty
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Batty | ||
| Date of birth | 2 December 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Leeds, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Leeds United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1993 | Leeds United | 211 | (4) |
| 1993–1996 | Blackburn Rovers | 54 | (1) |
| 1996–1998 | Newcastle United | 83 | (3) |
| 1998–2004 | Leeds United | 90 | (0) |
| Total | 438 | (8) | |
| National team | |||
| 1988–1989 | England U21 | 7 | (1) |
| 1989–1992 | England B | 5 | (0) |
| 1991–1999 | England | 42 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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David Batty (born 2 December 1968) is an English retired professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder.
He is most famous for playing for Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, also being capped for the England national football team, and representing the nation at UEFA Euro 1992 and the 1998 World Cup.
Born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, Batty made his debut for Leeds in November 1986 as an 18-year-old during a 4–2 win over Swindon Town, and quickly earned a reputation as a fiercely competitive midfielder in the mould of Leeds legend Billy Bremner. Perceived to be a bit lightweight, to build up Batty's strength Bremner would call him into his office every morning to drink sherry with a raw egg stirred into it. Batty was a key member of the Leeds team that won promotion from the second division in 1989–90, and a member of a midfield which included Gary Speed, Gary McAllister and Gordon Strachan, when Leeds won the first division championship in 1991–92. As a tireless and sometimes ruthless forager of the ball there were few equals, but there was more to his game than simply breaking up opposition attacks; having won the ball, his distribution was excellent, making him the springboard for many counterattacks. If there was one aspect missing from his game it was the lack of goals, as evidenced by the affectionate cries of "shoot" from Leeds fans whenever Batty received the ball anywhere within the opponents half.
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