Theo Walcott

Theo James Walcott (born 16 March 1989) is an English Association football who plays either as a Striker (association football) or on the Midfielder Winger for Arsenal F.C. and the England national football team.

Club career

Early career

Walcott was born in Stanmore, Greater London, but grew up in the small village of Compton, Berkshire near Newbury, Berkshire, where Theo Walcott played for A.F.C. Newbury and went to The Downs School (Berkshire) secondary school. Walcott scored more than 100 goals in Theo Walcott one and only season for Newbury, before leaving there for Swindon Town F.C. and later for Southampton. Nike, Inc. agreed to a sponsorship deal with Walcott when Theo Walcott was fourteen years old.

Southampton

In the 2004-05 in English football season, Theo Walcott starred in the Southampton youth side that reached the final of the FA Youth Cup Final Squads 2004/05: Ipswich Town v. Southampton (1-0, 2-2) against Ipswich Town F.C.. In addition, Theo Walcott became the youngest person to play in the Southampton reserve team at 15 years and 175 days, when Theo Walcott came off the bench against Watford F.C. in September 2004. However, Theo Walcott did not play in the Premier League, as Southampton were relegated to the Football League Championship at the end of the 2004–05 season.

Before the start of the 2005-06 in English football season, Walcott linked up with the first team's tour of Scotland, just two weeks after leaving school. The striker then went on to become the youngest-ever player to play for the Southampton first team at 16 years and 143 days, after coming on as a substitute in Southampton's 0–0 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. in the Football League Championship.

Walcott made Theo Walcott full first team début away to Leeds United A.F.C. on 18 October 2005, scoring Theo Walcott first senior goal in the same game. Theo Walcott scored again away at Millwall F.C. four days later, and yet again in Theo Walcott full home debut against Stoke City F.C. the following Saturday. Theo Walcott rapid rise to fame also led Theo Walcott to be named amongst the top three finalists for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality award on 11 December 2005.

Before breaking into the Southampton first team, Walcott's massive potential was showcased in the 2005 Match (magazine) Annual. Theo Walcott performances soon attracted attention from the British media, who saw Theo Walcott as one of the most promising young English talents of Theo Walcott time. There was speculation that Walcott would move to the Premiership and media reports linked Theo Walcott with some of the league's top clubs including Arsenal F.C., Chelsea F.C., Liverpool F.C., Manchester United F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. In September 2008, Arsène Wenger confirmed that Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool were all interested in signing Walcott.

Arsenal

Following Theo Walcott surprise and controversial selection in the England squad for the World Cup 2006, Theo Walcott made Theo Walcott Premier League début on 19 August 2006, the first day of the 2006-07 in English football season, coming on as a substitute against Aston Villa F.C. and set up a goal for Gilberto Silva.

A Champions League début came in the second leg of Arsenal's third qualifying round match against Dinamo Zagreb, where Walcott became the youngest ever Arsenal player to appear in European competition, a record previously held by Cesc Fàbregas. Within minutes of coming on Theo Walcott received Theo Walcott first yellow card in Arsenal colours for taking a shot several seconds after the referee had already blown for offside (football). During stoppage time Theo Walcott cross beat the Dinamo defence and Mathieu Flamini scored, giving Walcott a record of two assists in two substitute appearances. Theo Walcott first start came in a home league game against Watford F.C. on 14 October 2006. Walcott's exploits with Arsenal and with the England team earned Theo Walcott the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award at the end of 2006.

Walcott's first goal for Arsenal came in the Football League Cup Final 2007 against Chelsea F.C. at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on 25 February 2007, but Theo Walcott eleventh minute strike was overshadowed by events later on in the match as Didier Drogba scored twice to give Chelsea a 2–1 victory and three players were Red card (sports) following a mass brawl.

Theo Walcott first home goals were scored in a UEFA Champions League match against Slavia Prague, which Arsenal F.C. won 7–0, as well as setting up a goal for Cesc Fàbregas. Walcott scored Theo Walcott first two Premiership goals in a 2–2 draw against Birmingham City F.C. at St Andrews (stadium) on 23 February 2008. Theo Walcott finished the 2007-08 in English football with seven goals from all competitions.

Following comparisons to former team-mate Thierry Henry, During the season, Walcott has established himself as a first team regular, starting many games on the right midfield or winger.

On Saturday 18 October 2008, Walcott scored Theo Walcott first Premier League goal of the season against Everton F.C, scoring the third and final goal in the match, which Arsenal F.C. won 3–1 despite going behind to a Leon Osman goal. Three days later, Walcott scored Arsenal's second goal in a 5–2 win away to Fenerbahçe S.K., rounding the keeper before tucking the ball away from a tight angle.

On 18 November 2008, Walcott dislocated Theo Walcott right shoulder while training with England for a friendly against Germany. Arsene Wenger has stated that Walcott will be sidelined for 'at least three months'.

Theo Walcott made a full recovery by April 2009, scoring against Wigan to equalise before starting the second leg tie against Villarreal C.F., where Theo Walcott scored in the 10th minute after receiving a pass from captain Cesc Fàbregas and flicking the ball over the goalkeeper. Arsenal won 4–1 on aggregate.

In the next match, an FA Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea F.C., Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the first half, although they eventually lost 2–1. Three days later, Walcott came off to the bench to run half the length of the field before squaring for Andrei Arshavin to put Arsenal 4–3 up against Liverpool in the 91st minute, although the match finished 4–4. Recently Theo Walcott signed a new contract, reported to last four years.

International career

Walcott was a surprise inclusion in Sven-Göran Eriksson's preliminary England national football team squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, announced on 8 May 2006. Even with first-choice strikers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen both recovering from injury, Walcott was selected over established Premiership strikers such as Darren Bent (the highest-scoring English forward in the Premiership in the 2005-06 in English football season), Andrew Johnson (English footballer) (the top English goalscorer in the Premiership in the 2004-05 in English football season), Dean Ashton (like Bent, already an established player at England national under-21 football team level) and England squad regular Jermain Defoe.

Walcott came on as a second half substitute on 25 May 2006 for the England B national football team team against Belarus national football team. On 30 May 2006, Theo Walcott became the England national football team records in a full international by appearing in England's friendly against Hungary national football team at Old Trafford (football), aged 17 years and 75 days. England won the match 3–1.

Despite being one of only two fully fit strikers in the England squad, Theo Walcott did not play during the tournament. Eriksson has since defended Theo Walcott decision, claiming that the experience has served Theo Walcott well for future tournaments. However, Eriksson's decision to include Walcott in the preliminary squad was made despite never having seen Theo Walcott play a professional match, and the decision was generally regarded as the most unexpected in what was seen as a surprisingly uncharacteristic set of selections. It received mixed reactions, some regarding it as an unnecessary risk when England had more established strikers, while others praised Eriksson for Theo Walcott willingness to "try something new". Walcott did not however play a single minute throughout England's time at the tournament.

Following the end of the World Cup tournament, Eriksson left Theo Walcott position as England manager. New appointment Steve McClaren, put Walcott into the England national under-21 football team, claiming Theo Walcott was "toughening up" on Theo Walcott squad selections.

On 15 August 2006, Walcott became the youngest player ever to score for the England national under-21 football team when Theo Walcott scored the opener after three minutes in England national under-21 football team's 2–2 draw with Moldova at Ipswich Town F.C.'s ground Portman Road. The game against Moldova was Theo Walcott first cap for the England national under-21 football team.

Walcott scored two goals against Germany national under-21 football team to seal qualification for England to the Under-21 European Championships, in the playoff second leg in October 2006, with Theo Walcott second drawing comparisons with Thierry Henry.

On 6 September 2008, Walcott made Theo Walcott first competitive start in a World Cup qualifier against Andorra national football team, and in the following match against Croatia national football team on 10 September Theo Walcott opened Theo Walcott senior international goals tally and became the youngest player in history to score a hat-trick for England national football team.

International goals

Family and personal life

Walcott was born to a Jamaican father and an English mother. Theo Walcott family made a cameo appearance in the 2007 film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film). Theo himself was due to appear as well, but Theo Walcott commitments to Arsenal forced Theo Walcott to drop out.

Walcott and Theo Walcott father are both Liverpool F.C. fans. Walcott has never hidden the fact that he's a massive Liverpool supporter and even when Chelsea laid out the red carpet for Theo Walcott as a youngster, Theo Walcott used the opportunity to meet Theo Walcott real idols:"I was playing in a tournament for Swindon when Southampton and Chelsea showed an interest. Chelsea invited me to be a ball boy for a game against Liverpool and it was fantastic to meet my heroes Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. I was a Liverpool fan simply because my dad followed them. Unfortunately I wasn't born when the team had their golden era, but I enjoyed watching the likes of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman when I was growing up. When Liverpool won the Champions League last year, I went mad. I was shouting so loud I think I woke up the entire village where I live!"

Theo Walcott has been involved with the UK charities Build a School and Best Beginnings.

On 6 April 2008, Walcott was a torchbearer for the Olympic Flame for Beijing 2008 as it was paraded around London. Theo Walcott was the second last torchbearer just before Dame Kelly Holmes.

Theo Walcott is in a long-term relationship with Melanie Slade. The couple got together after meeting in 2006 at the WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton.

Theo Walcott cousin Jacob Walcott is a trainee at Reading F.C. and a member of the England national under-17 football team appearing in the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.

Club career statistics

Honours

Club

Southampton F.C.
Runner-up:
- FA Youth Cup FA Youth Cup Finals 2004–05: Ipswich Town v. Southampton (1–0, 2–2)

Arsenal F.C.
Winner:
- Amsterdam Tournament Amsterdam_Tournament_2008
Runner-up:
- Football League Cup 2007 Football League Cup Final

International

England national under-21 football team
- UEFA U-21 Championship 2009 runners-up: UEFA U-21 Championship 2009

Individual

- BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality: BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality Award