Ledley King
King in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ledley Brenton King | ||
| Date of birth | 12 October 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Bow, England | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| -1996 | Senrab | ||
| 1996–1999 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2012 | Tottenham Hotspur | 268 | (10) |
| Total | 268 | (10) | |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1996–1997 | England U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 1999 | England U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 1999–2001 | England U21 | 12 | (1) |
| 2002–2010 | England | 21 | (2) |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 22 April 2012 (UTC). |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:00, 22 April 2012 (UTC).
Ledley Brenton King (born 12 October 1980) is a former English footballer who was a one-club man, spending his entire career playing 321 competitive matches for Tottenham Hotspur from 1999 to 2012. Highly rated as a central defender, in 2009 he was named by The Times as Tottenham's 25th best player of all time. From 2002 to 2010, King made 21 international appearances for England, scoring twice and representing the nation at UEFA Euro 2004 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In the latter part of his career, King was plagued by chronic knee problems, for which no effective treatment or remedy was found. Instead of training with the rest of the squad King undertook fitness exercises on his own, allowing him to play one first team game per week. His former manager Harry Redknapp called King "an absolute freak" for being able to perform at Premiership level despite not training. Whilst playing, King was cited by opponents and pundits as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
King announced his retirement from all forms of football on 19 July 2012 as a result of the chronic knee injuries that plagued much of his career. He continues to represent Tottenham Hotspur on an ambassadorial level.
King was born in Bow, London in 1980. As a youth footballer, he played for Senrab FC and the Tower Hamlets district representative team. He attended the Blessed John Roche RC School, which is now closed. King joined Tottenham as a trainee in July 1996 and progressed through the youth system. Whilst a trainee, he was identified as having qualities and instincts similar to Bobby Moore.
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