Wayne Routledge is an English former professional footballer born in 1985.
Routledge played as a winger and represented England at under-16, under-19, and under-21 levels.
He was born in Sidcup, London, and attended Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon.
Biography
Early Life
Wayne Neville Anthony Routledge was born in Sidcup, London, in 1985. He attended Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon, where his passion for football began to flourish.
Career
Routledge's professional career kicked off at Crystal Palace, where he made his debut in the Football League First Division on October 31, 2001, at just 16 years old. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal in a 4–2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 2002. His time at Palace saw him experience both promotion and relegation, culminating in a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005 for a fee of £1.5 million.
During his tenure at Tottenham, Routledge faced challenges, including a stress fracture that sidelined him early on. He was loaned to Portsmouth and later to Fulham, where he continued to develop his skills. His career saw him play for several clubs, including Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Cardiff City, before settling at Swansea City in 2011. Throughout his club career, Routledge was known for his versatility as a winger and his ability to contribute to his teams both in the Premier League and in various cup competitions.
On the international stage, Routledge represented England at various youth levels, including under-16, under-19, and under-21, scoring once for the under-21 team in a friendly against Italy at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007.
Legacy
Wayne Routledge's journey through football showcases his resilience and adaptability in a competitive sport. His contributions to the teams he played for, particularly in the Premier League, have left a lasting impression on fans and aspiring footballers alike. As a former professional footballer, he remains a respected figure in the football community, known for his dedication and skill on the pitch.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Crystal Palace
Routledge began his career at Crystal Palace. He made his debut in the Football League First Division on 31 October 2001, replacing Jovan Kirovski for the last two minutes of a 1–0 home loss to West Bromwich Albion, aged 16 years and 297 days. On 14 September 2002, he scored his first goal in the first minute of his first start, a 4–2 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. A week later, he was sent off in a 3–3 draw at Watford. He was sent off on 9 August 2003 as the season opened with a 3–2 loss at Burnley, for tripping Luke Chadwick as Palace ended with nine men. Palace won promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs in 2003–04, and he was ever present as they went straight back down in 2004–05. After rejecting a £2 million approach in January, Tottenham Hotspur signed him on a deal effective from 1 July 2005. Though he was out of contract, his age meant that he would not leave on a Bosman transfer, and the two clubs agreed a compensation of £1.5 million.
Tottenham Hotspur
Routledge made his Tottenham debut on 13 August by starting in a 2–0 win at Portsmouth but suffered a stress fracture of the foot. He made his comeback on 12 December in the return fixture, coming on after 40 minutes for Teemu Tainio and making way in the 83rd for Andy Reid in a 3–1 win at White Hart Lane. He was loaned to Portsmouth in the January 2006 transfer window and made 13 appearances as they avoided relegation. On 31 August 2006, he was loaned for a year to…
Routledge scored once for England under-21 in a 3–3 friendly draw with Italy on 24 March 2007, the first game at the new Wembley Stadium. Manager Stuart Pearce called him up for the summer's European Championship in the Netherlands. He made two substitute appearances in the group stage for the semi-finalists.
- Club
- Cardiff City F.C. (2008–2009)
- Club
- Portsmouth F.C. (2006–2006)
- Club
- Queens Park Rangers F.C. (2009–2010)
- Club
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (2005–2008)
- Club
- Aston Villa F.C. (2008–2009)
- Club
- Crystal Palace F.C. (2001–2005)
- Club
- Fulham F.C. (2006–2007)
- Club
- Queens Park Rangers F.C. (2011–2011)
- Club
- England national under-21 association football team (2004–2007)
- League
- Premier League
- National team
- England
- Club
- Swansea City A.F.C. (2011–)
- Club
- Newcastle United F.C. (2010–2011)
Personal
Routledge was born in Sidcup, London and attended Archbishop Lanfranc School in Croydon.
Clubs
- Swansea City A.F.C.2011current
- Crystal Palace F.C.2001–2005
- England national under-21 association football team2004–2007
- Tottenham Hotspur F.C.2005–2008
- Fulham F.C.2006–2007
- Portsmouth F.C.2006–2006
- Aston Villa F.C.2008–2009
- Cardiff City F.C.2008–2009
- Queens Park Rangers F.C.2009–2010
- Newcastle United F.C.2010–2011
- Queens Park Rangers F.C.2011–2011
Played together with
Aaron BrownQueens Park Rangers F.C. · 2004–2006- Aaron CookCrystal Palace F.C. · 1999–1999
- Aaron CookPortsmouth F.C. · 1998–1999
- Aaron FlahavanPortsmouth F.C. · 1994–2001
Aaron HughesAston Villa F.C. · 2005–2007- Aaron HughesFulham F.C. · 2007–2014
- Aaron HughesNewcastle United F.C. · 1997–2005
- Aaron HughesQueens Park Rangers F.C. · 2014–2014
Aaron LennonEngland national under-21 association football team · 2005–2008- Aaron LennonTottenham Hotspur F.C. · 2005–2015
Aaron McCareyPortsmouth F.C. · 2015–2015
Aaron McEneffTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Wayne Neville Anthony Routledge is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger. He represented England at under-16, under-19 and under-21 level.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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