Darren Anderton

Portsmouth

Anderton started his career in the Southampton Tyro League and played for Itchen Saints during a successful period for the side. His potential was evident and he was soon scouted and playing youth football at professional clubs. Anderton was signed as an apprentice by Portsmouth manager Alan Ball, coming to prominence at 18 when he scored at Anfield in an FA Youth Cup match against Liverpool which ended 2–2. His first team debut came against Cardiff City in the second round of the League Cup in October 1990 as a substitute for youth team colleague Darryl Powell. Anderton made his full league debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 0–0 draw, making 20 appearances in the 1990–91 season. Under new manager Jim Smith, Anderton became a regular in the attacking side of the 1991–92 season, scoring his first club goal in the season opener against Blackburn Rovers. His performances soon drew the attention of bigger clubs and after an impressive FA Cup run, during which he scored in a semi-final clash with Liverpool, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for £1.75 million in 1992.

Tottenham Hotspur

After a slow start, Anderton settled at Tottenham, playing as a right winger, forming part of an exciting attacking trio along with Teddy Sheringham and the young Nick Barmby. He turned down a move to Manchester United in the summer of 1995 following an exciting season spent playing with the likes of Jürgen Klinsmann at Tottenham, a decision that he later…

In March 1994, Anderton was named in Terry Venables' first squad as England manager and went on to start in the friendly match against Denmark at Wembley Stadium. He scored his first goal for England in his second cap; opening the scoring in a 5–0 friendly win over Greece on 18 May 1994. In June 1995, Anderton appeared for England at the Umbro Cup mini tournament where he scored the opening goal of a 2–1 win against Japan and a stoppage time equaliser in a 3–3 draw with Sweden. Despite missing most of the 1995–96 season, first because of hernia surgery and then with a groin injury that kept him out for eight months, Anderton was named in England's squad for UEFA Euro 1996. He scored twice during his first England appearance in 11 months in a pre-tournament friendly against Hungary. He went on to play every match for the England team that reached the semi-finals of the tournament and, in the semi-final against Germany, Anderton came within inches of putting England into the final when his shot hit the post during Golden Goal extra time. Anderton did not make a single appearance for England during the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injury but was included in England's final squad by Glenn Hoddle. He appeared for the first time since Euro 96 in a pre-World Cup friendly against Saudi Arabia, where he started at right wingback as the team drew 0–0. Anderton was again ever present during the 1998 World Cup and scored a spectacular opening goal in England's final Group G…

Club

International

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Anderton goal.

Renowned as a player of huge potential, Anderton's career was constantly frustrated by injury, earning him the nickname "Sicknote", which was coined by Portsmouth goalkeeper Andy Gosney. Anderton has worked as the in-studio analyst for Canadian network TSN's coverage of Euro 2012. He now resides in California and states that he has no desire to move into coaching.