Grant Leadbitter
{{short description|English footballer (born 1986)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Grant Leadbitter
| image = Grant Leadbitter 12042025 (2).jpg
| caption = Leadbitter in 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|7|df=y}}{{cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11 |year=2010 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=978-1-84596-601-0 |page=247}}
| birth_place = Chester-le-Street, England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2002–2003
| youthclubs1 = Sunderland
| years1 = 2003–2009
| years2 = 2005
| years3 = 2009–2012
| years4 = 2012–2019
| years5 = 2019–2021
| clubs1 = Sunderland
| clubs2 = → Rotherham United (loan)
| clubs3 = Ipswich Town
| clubs4 = Middlesbrough
| clubs5 = Sunderland
| caps1 = 111
| goals1 = 11
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 1
| caps3 = 116
| goals3 = 13
| caps4 = 212
| goals4 = 28
| caps5 = 69
| goals5 = 7
| totalcaps = 513
| totalgoals = 60
| nationalyears1 = 2001–2002
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2003
| nationalyears3 = 2004–2005
| nationalyears4 = 2005
| nationalyears5 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalteam4 = England U20
| nationalteam5 = England U21
| nationalcaps1 = 10
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalcaps2 = 9
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalcaps3 = 11
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalcaps5 = 3
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 9 May 2021
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Grant Leadbitter (born 7 January 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made more than 500 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, which included 212 for Middlesbrough, 180 for Sunderland and 116 for Ipswich Town. Leadbitter retired at the end of the 2021 season, having won the EFL Trophy in his final season with Sunderland.
Leadbitter played for Sunderland from 2003 until 2009 after rising as a product from the team's Youth Academy before signing for Ipswich Town. He spent seven seasons with Middlesbrough before finishing his career with Sunderland. In 2007 Leadbitter received a call-up for England U21, and featured for them three times.
Leadbitter spent the 2021/2022 season gaining his UEFA A License.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-25 |title=Grant Leadbitter |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/players/grantleadbitter |website=Middlesbrough FC}} Since October 2022, he has been part of the first-team coaching staff at Middlesbrough.
Early life
Leadbitter was born in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.{{Hugman|23785|access-date=7 May 2018}} He grew up in Fence Houses as a Sunderland fan, and joined the Sunderland youth academy at the age of 16. He progressed through the ranks and represented England at the U19 level in 2002, scoring against Brazil to help England finish in the top four in the league tournament.
Club career
=Sunderland=
Leadbitter's first professional appearance for Sunderland came as a substitute in a League Cup defeat against Huddersfield Town in September 2003. Before obtaining a regular first-team place at the club, he was loaned to Rotherham United in September 2005, where he scored once against Swansea{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4344676.stm |title=Rotherham 2–2 Swansea |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 October 2005 |access-date=2 November 2009}} in five league games. After his loan stay in Hibernian, he began to be selected regularly by then manager Mick McCarthy, and played in 11 of Sunderland's final 14 matches of the season.{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Michael |title=Grant Leadbitter's grief: 'I want to show people you can come through it' |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/2130316/2020/10/12/grant-leadbitters-grief-mother-father-sunderland/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=12 October 2020 |date=12 October 2020}} {{subscription required}}
After Sunderland's relegation in 2006, Leadbitter stalled on contract talks, with many predicting he was aiming to attract the attention of a Premier League club after his impressive displays during the previous season. However, a contract was subsequently agreed with the player claiming he only ever wanted to stay with Sunderland and, henceforth, Leadbitter played an important role in the Black Cats' revival under the management of Roy Keane. Leadbitter took part in every one of Sunderland's games in the 2006–07 season and contributed seven goals,{{cite web |url=http://www.safc.com/team/?page_id=2623&player_id=71 |title=404 }} ranking as the club's third top scorer of that season. On Sunderland's return to the Premier League, Leadbitter continued to feature regularly with Keane, even making comparisons with Paul Scholes (he allegedly wears the number 18 shirt in honour of his hero Scholes). In June 2008 Leadbitter signed a new contract with Sunderland, keeping him at the club until 2011.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7478073.stm |title=Leadbitter signs new contract with Sunderland |access-date=27 June 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 June 2008}}
On 4 October 2008, Leadbitter scored a memorable goal against Arsenal after just coming off the bench. The 25-yard goal was celebrated in emotional style, as he ran over to his manager and had his head on the floor, nearly in tears. This emotional celebration was because his father, Brian Leadbitter, had died just weeks beforehand and his ashes had been buried right on that spot under the grass on the Stadium of Light. "People close to me know why I went down on the floor like I did, I just want to leave it at that. The people who know me know why I kissed that area of the ground. My dad's ashes were buried there. I don't want to go on about it. It just means a lot to me and my family. It's exactly that spot and it was always my intention to do something like that when I scored my first goal here." Leadbitter said to the press after the match.
=Ipswich Town=
Grant Leadbitter.jpg in 2010.]]
On 1 September 2009, Leadbitter transferred to Championship club Ipswich Town for a fee of £2.6 million, along with team-mate Carlos Edwards.{{cite web |url=http://www.safc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10281~1784455,00.html |title=Black Cats Pair Seal Switch |access-date=1 September 2009 |publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.}} He made his first-appearance on 12 September, starting in a 3–1 loss to Middlesbrough. He scored his first goal for the club against Nottingham Forest on 15 September, netting the opening goal in a 1–1 draw. Leadbitter became a first-team regular during his first season at Portman Road, making 40 appearances in all competitions and scoring 3 goals.
He continued to feature as a regular in the first-team during the 2010–11 season. He scored his first goal of the season on 21 August in a 2–1 away win over Crystal Palace. He made 50 appearances over the course of the season, scoring 6 goals, including a brace in a 3–3 home draw with Middlesbrough at Portman Road.
Leadbitter was named club captain for the 2011–12 season,{{cite web |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/grant-leadbitter-will-be-my-captain-on-saturday-if-selected-1-1136588 |title=Grant Leadbitter will be my captain on Saturday – if selected |access-date=3 May 2020 |work=East Anglian Daily Times}} following the departure of David Norris. On 10 March, he scored a brace as Ipswich came from behind to draw 2–2 with Hull City. Following a spell on the sidelines due to injury, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell gave the captain's armband to Carlos Edwards, who remained as the captain for the remainder of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/20332 |title=Jewell: Captaincy Change No Slight on Grant |access-date=3 May 2020 |publisher=TWTD}} He made 36 appearances during the 2011–12 season, scoring 5 goals.
=Middlesbrough=
On 29 May 2012, it was announced that Leadbitter had signed a three-year contract with Championship club Middlesbrough, on a free transfer, following the expiry of his contract at Ipswich Town.{{cite web |url=http://www.mfc.co.uk/page/news/latest/0,,1~2791662,00.html |title=Grant Is First Summer Signing |access-date=29 May 2012 |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531230750/http://www.mfc.co.uk/page/news/latest/0,,1~2791662,00.html |archive-date=31 May 2012}} Leadbitter scored on his debut in a 7–3 pre-season friendly win against Falkirk. He scored his first league goal on 30 November 2012 in a 2–3 away defeat against Birmingham City.{{cite news |first=Ged |last=Scott |title=Birmingham 3–2 Middlesbrough |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20457906 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 November 2012 |access-date=1 December 2012}} Leadbitter scored twice as Boro lost 3–2 away to Wolverhampton Wanderers in March 2013. After a string of consistent performances throughout the 2012–13 season, Leadbitter was awarded Middlesbrough's player of the season in his first season at the club. Leadbitter scored his fourth goal for Middlesbrough on 25 August 2013 at Wigan. On 21 September 2013, he scored Boro's final goal in a 3–3 draw at home to Bournemouth. On 19 December 2014 Leadbitter agreed a 3-year contract extension with the club. Leadbitter's commanding performances and selection of spectacular goals lead to him being named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32473770 |title=PFA Championship Team of the Year: Deeney only Watford player |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2015 |access-date=7 May 2018}}
On 7 May 2016, Leadbitter won promotion to the Premier League with Middlesbrough after a 1–1 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2016/may/07/middlesbrough-v-brighton-championship-promotion-decider-live-boro-albion |title=Middlesbrough 1–1 Brighton: Boro promoted to Premier League – as it happened |first=Gregg |last=Bakowski |date=7 May 2016 |website=The Guardian}}
=Return to Sunderland=
Leadbitter re-signed for Sunderland on a free transfer in January 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47043747 |title=Grant Leadbitter returns to Sunderland from Middlesbrough almost a decade after leaving |date=29 January 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport}} He was named captain at the start of the 2019–20 season.{{cite web |last1=Lightle |first1=Sam |title=To be named captain is special |url=https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2019/august/leadbitter-on-captaincy |access-date=12 October 2020 |date=9 August 2019}} In February 2020, he was given an extended leave of absence from the club for personal reasons,{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=Grant Leadbitter given compassionate leave from Sunderland to deal with 'personal reasons' |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18216281.grant-leadbitter-given-compassionate-leave-sunderland/ |website=The Northern Echo |access-date=12 October 2020 |date=6 February 2020}} returning for pre-season in July. On 25 May 2021 it was announced that he would leave Sunderland at the end of the season, following the expiry of his contract.{{cite web |title=2021-22: Retained list confirmed |date=25 May 2021 |url=https://safc.com/news/team-news/2021/may/retained-list-summer-2021 |publisher=Sunderland A.F.C. |access-date=25 May 2021}} On 14 September 2021 Leadbitter announced his retirement from football, most notably winning the EFL trophy with the club in his final season.{{cite web |title=Legend Leadbitter Announces Retirement |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/legend-leadbitter-announces-retirement |publisher=mfc.co.uk |access-date=14 September 2021}}
International career
Leadbitter came on as a late substitute replacing Gabriel Agbonlahor, in a 2–0 win in England Under 21s 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification group, against Bulgaria.{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/11/EngU21svbulg_Pearce.htm |title=The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team |first=The Football |last=Association |publisher=The Football Association}} He featured again for England U21 on 25 March 2008 and made his final appearance in a 0–0 draw against Poland U21, not being picked after that and turning 23 soon after.
Career statistics
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=8|Sunderland
|2003–04{{Soccerbase season|35635|2003|access-date=4 February 2019}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2004–05{{Soccerbase season|35635|2004|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06{{Soccerbase season|35635|2005|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2006–07{{Soccerbase season|35635|2006|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |44 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 46 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08{{Soccerbase season|35635|2007|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Premier League |31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09{{Soccerbase season|35635|2008|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Premier League |23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10{{Soccerbase season|35635|2009|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Premier League |1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| colspan=2|Total
!111||11||4||0||8||0||colspan=2|—||123||11 | ||||||||||
| Rotherham United (loan)
|5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance in Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| rowspan=4|Ipswich Town
|Championship |38 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2010–11{{Soccerbase season|35635|2010|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 50 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12{{Soccerbase season|35635|2011|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 36 | 5 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!116||13||3||0||7||1||colspan=2|—||126||14 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=8|Middlesbrough
|2012–13{{Soccerbase season|35635|2012|access-date=4 February 2019}} |Championship |42 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 47 | 4 | ||
| 2013–14{{Soccerbase season|35635|2013|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |39 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 41 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15{{Soccerbase season|35635|2014|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |43 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3{{efn|Appearances in Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 51 | 12 | |
| 2015–16{{Soccerbase season|35635|2015|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |41 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 46 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17{{Soccerbase season|35635|2016|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Premier League |13 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 17 | 3 | ||
| 2017–18{{Soccerbase season|35635|2017|access-date=4 February 2019}}
|Championship |32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 34 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19
|Championship |2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 8 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!212||28||12||2||17||2||3||0||244||32 | ||||||||||
| rowspan="5"|Sunderland
|2018–19{{Soccerbase season|35635|2018|access-date=5 October 2020}} |League One |15 | 0 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 4{{efn|Two appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs}} | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20{{Soccerbase season|35635|2019|access-date=5 October 2020}}
|League One |14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2020–21{{Soccerbase season|35635|2020|access-date=7 November 2021}}
|League One |40 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8{{efn|Six appearances in EFL Trophy, two in League One play-offs}} | 0 | 48 | 7 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!69||7||1||0||2||0||15||0||87||7 | ||||||||||
| colspan=2|Sunderland Total
!180||18||5||0||10||0||15||0||210||18 | ||||||||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!513||60||21||2||34||3||17||0||586||65 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Sunderland
- Football League Championship: 2006–07{{cite book |editor1-first=Glenda |editor1-last=Rollin |editor2-first=Jack |editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2007–2008 |year=2007 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-1664-9 |pages=46, 370–371}}
- EFL Trophy: 2020–21;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56373623 |title=Sunderland 1–0 Tranmere Rovers |first=Brent |last=Pilnick |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 March 2021 |access-date=22 March 2021}} runner-up: 2018–19{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47709134 |title=Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland |first=Adam |last=Williams |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 March 2019 |access-date=7 May 2019}}
Middlesbrough
- Football League Championship runner-up: 2015–16{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017 |year=2016 |publisher=Headline |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-3395-0 |pages=234–235}}
Individual
- Middlesbrough Player of the Year: 2012–13{{cite news |title=Grant Leadbitter named fans' Player of the Year – Video + Gallery |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/grant-leadbitter-named-fans-player-3665022 |publisher=Teesside Live |date=2 May 2013 |access-date=20 May 2020}}
- PFA Team of the Year: 2014–15 Championship
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{ESPN FC|34640}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{2014–15 Football League Championship PFA Team of the Year}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. Player of the Year}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leadbitter, Grant}}
Category:Footballers from Chester-le-Street
Category:Footballers from Tyne and Wear
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:England men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Rotherham United F.C. players
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:English Football League players