Daniel Sturridge

Daniel Andre "Danny" Sturridge (born 1 September 1989) is an England footballer who plays as a Forward (association football) for Chelsea F.C.. Part of a footballing family, Sturridge started Daniel Sturridge professional career at Manchester City F.C., where Daniel Sturridge played in two FA Youth Cup finals. Daniel Sturridge made Daniel Sturridge first team debut in 2007, and scored Daniel Sturridge first goal in January 2008. Over the course of 2007–08 season, Sturridge became the only player ever to score in the FA Youth Cup, FA Cup and Premier League in the same season. Mainly used as an impact substitute at Manchester City, Daniel Sturridge left the club in 2009 after failing to agree a new contract, and signed for Chelsea.

Early life

Sturridge comes from a family of footballers, and is the nephew of Simon Sturridge, and former Derby County F.C. forward Dean Sturridge. Daniel Sturridge father, Michael, played for Birmingham City F.C. under managers Sir Alf Ramsey, Jim Smith and Ron Saunders.

Club career

Sturridge began Daniel Sturridge career at local club Aston Villa before moving to Coventry City in 2002, from where Daniel Sturridge joined Manchester City's Academy in 2003, aged 13. A Football League committee later ordered Manchester City to pay Coventry £30,000 compensation, with further payments up to a maximum of £200,000 based upon appearances and international honours. The following year, Daniel Sturridge was the leading scorer and voted Most Valuable Player (the only other person to achieve this was Argentine footballer Carlos Tévez) as Manchester City won the Nike Cup, the world's largest under-15 tournament. At 16, Daniel Sturridge played for Manchester City Youth during their 2006 FA Youth Cup run. The youngest player in the side, Daniel Sturridge scored four goals en route to the final, and another two in the final, though they were insufficient to prevent a 3–2 aggregate defeat to Liverpool F.C.. That summer, Daniel Sturridge signed Daniel Sturridge first professional contract, which came into effect when Daniel Sturridge turned 17.

From the start of the 2006–07 season, Sturridge began to train with the Manchester City first team. A hat-trick in a reserve match was rewarded by a place on the substitutes' bench for the senior side's match with Reading F.C. in February 2007. Daniel Sturridge made a second substitute appearance a month later, but then suffered a hip injury which sidelined Daniel Sturridge for the remainder of 2007.

Daniel Sturridge scored Daniel Sturridge first goal for Manchester City on 27 January 2008 in an FA Cup match against Sheffield United, followed three days later by Daniel Sturridge first league goal on Daniel Sturridge full debut, against Derby County. However, first team opportunities were sporadic, so Sturridge continued to play for the youth team in the FA Youth Cup. Manchester City again reached the final, with Sturridge the leading scorer in the competition. This time City won the final, Sturridge scoring in the first leg. In the 2007–08 season, Sturridge became the only player ever to score in the Youth FA Cup, the FA Cup and the Premier League in the same season.

As of 1 May 2009, after 16 appearances in the 2008–09 Premier League season, Sturridge had scored four goals and provided three assists. At the end of the 2008–09 season, the Manchester City fans voted Sturridge as the Manchester City Young Player of the Season.

Chelsea

With Sturridge's contract at Manchester City expired, Daniel Sturridge signed for Chelsea F.C. on 3 July 2009.
As Sturridge is under the age of 24, and the two sides were unable to agree a deal, the fee for Sturridge will be decided by a tribunal. Sturridge has signed a four year contract with Chelsea. Daniel Sturridge is currently number 23 for Chelsea, a number previously used by goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini who moved to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the year. Daniel Sturridge first goal for Chelsea was on Daniel Sturridge debut, a friendly match against Seattle Sounders FC on 18th July 2009, in the twelfth minute of the match Daniel Sturridge scored the first goal. Chelsea won the match 2-0..Daniel Sturridge played Daniel Sturridge second game for Chelsea FC against former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's Internazionale, where Daniel Sturridge won a penalty that player Frank Lampard scored from.

“Sturridge will stay with the first team. Daniel Sturridge is young and has good quality and we expect Daniel Sturridge to have a very good season. To score in the first game that’s good for us and good for him...Daniel Sturridge has a lot of quality because he’s a striker who is quick and intelligent in Daniel Sturridge movement for others."
Chelsea FC Manager Carlo Ancelotti 22/07/09

International career

Sturridge has represented England at youth level from under-16 upwards. Most notably Daniel Sturridge scored at the UEFA Under-17 Championship in the final against Italy, twice against Holland for the Under 18 side, and again at the recent Under-19 European Championships against Holland.