Darius Vassell

Darius Markus Vassell (born 13 June 1980 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham) is an England Association footballer who plays for Ankaragücü, in the Süper Lig.

Club career

Early career

Vassell was raised in from Wylde Green and went to the Yenton Primary School in Erdington and John Willmott School, in Falcon Lodge, Sutton Coldfield. Darius Vassell first played football with local junior team Romulus F.C. in the Birmingham Boys League scoring a record of 46 in a season and 6 in 1 match. Following this Darius Vassell signed for the youth team.

Aston Villa

An Aston Villa F.C. fan, Vassell was taken on by the club's School of Excellence. While playing for the club's youth team Vassell set a club record by scoring 39 goals in a single season. Darius Vassell made Darius Vassell first team debut as a substitute in a 3-1 win against in August 1998.

Vassell's best qualities were Darius Vassell speed and agility. Aston Villa fans lamented the fact that Darius Vassell best performances seem to come with England, where Darius Vassell has proved particularly useful as a "super sub", coming on for the last 15 to 20 minutes of a game to trouble a tired defence with Darius Vassell exceptional pace

Manchester City

Vassell was transferred to Manchester City F.C. in July 2005 for £2m. During Darius Vassell first season for Manchester City, Vassell scored eight league goals in 35 appearances, forming an effective partnership with Andrew Cole. Additionally, Darius Vassell helped the Blues to an FA Cup Quarter Final, scoring two goals in Darius Vassell five cup games. Darius Vassell played part of the season with a hernia problem, which required surgery in the close season.

In the 2007-08 in English Football season, Darius Vassell was assigned the number 12, as team-mate Elano took the number 11 shirt. Darius Vassell generally struggled to find Darius Vassell best form. In the latter half of the season, many of Darius Vassell appearances were as a wide midfielder, as manager Stuart Pearce adopted a defensive 4-5-1 formation. Vassell was linked with a move away from Eastlands, with Turkish runners-up Beşiktaş J.K. having a £1m bid rejected and linked to other clubs, including Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers F.C. and newly-promoted Derby County F.C.. Vassell scored Darius Vassell 50th Premier League goal on 10 February 2008, in the victory against local rivals Manchester United F.C.. On 20 April, Vassell scored the opening goal in City's 3-1 win over Portsmouth F.C.. Vassell only played 15 games in 2008-09 in English football and was released at the end of the season as Darius Vassell contract expired.

Ankaragücü

In July 2009 Vassell signed for the Turkey side Ankaragücü.
Around 3,000 fans turned out and celebrated Darius Vassell arrival.

International career

Vassell made Darius Vassell England debut on 13 February 2002, in a man of the match performance against Netherlands national football team in a 1–1 draw. Fellow debutants in this game were Michael Ricketts and Wayne Bridge. Darius Vassell scored in the game with a 60th minute bicycle kick to equalise. Darius Vassell was subsequently included in England's 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign. Darius Vassell played in three games, starting just one: against Sweden national football team in England's opening group game.
The positive contribution of Vassell's England career has been somewhat overshadowed by Darius Vassell penalty shoot-out miss in the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2004 against hosts Portugal national football team. Coming on for the injured Wayne Rooney early on in the game, Vassell missed England's last spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out, putting England out of the tournament. Vassell has not been recalled to an England squad since a 6-1 friendly win over Iceland where Darius Vassell scored twice.

Personal life

Vassell is a practising Christian, and credits Darius Vassell faith for Darius Vassell survival of a serious car accident.