Hayden Hackney
{{Short description|English footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Hayden Hackney
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Hayden Rhys Hackney{{Cite web |date=23 June 2020 |title=Club list of registered players: As at 23rd June 2020: Middlesbrough |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/202021/efl-professional-retain-list---2019-20.pdf |access-date=9 January 2021 |page=18}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|6|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Redcar, England
| height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Middlesbrough
| clubnumber = 7
| youthyears1 = 2011–2021
| youthclubs1 = Middlesbrough
| years1 = 2021–
| clubs1 = Middlesbrough
| caps1 = 86
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = → Scunthorpe United (loan)
| caps2 = 28
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2016
| nationalteam1 = England U15
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2022
| nationalteam2 = Scotland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 23 February 2025 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 19:56, 23 March 2025 (UTC)
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = England U21
| nationalcaps3 = 9
| nationalgoals3 = 1
}}
Hayden Rhys Hackney (born 26 June 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Middboro}} club Middlesbrough and the England U21 national team.
Early life
Hackney was born in Redcar.{{Cite web |title=Hayden Hackney |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/teams/middlesbrough-under-23s/hayden-hackney |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}}{{Cite web |last=Tallentire |first=Philip |date=28 November 2019 |title=Praise for Hackney & Pears and 'more youngsters will get chance' |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/woodgates-praise-hayden-hackney--17329150 |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=TeessideLive}} He attended Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary School.{{Cite web |title=The Postgate News - Spring 2024 |url=https://online.fliphtml5.com/qsqrk/accj/ |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=online.fliphtml5.com}}
Club career
=Middlesbrough=
Hackney joined Middlesbrough's academy at under-10 level. Having been part of the Middlesbrough team that reached the under-18 Premier League Cup final in 2019,{{Cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Joe |date=1 January 2021 |title='Electric pace' 'Top keeper': Five Boro players to watch in 2021 as Warnock assesses academy options |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-fc/electric-pace-top-keeper-five-middlesbrough-players-watch-2021-warnock-assesses-academy-options-3083109 |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=Hartlepool Mail}} he signed his first professional contract with the club on 26 June 2019, his 17th birthday.{{Cite web |date=26 June 2019 |title=Hayden Hackney Signs Professional Contract |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/hayden-hackney-signs-professional-contract |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}}{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=George |date=26 June 2019 |title=Middlesbrough starlet signs new deal at the Riverside |url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/middlesbrough-starlet-signs-new-deal-at-the-riverside/ |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=Football League World}} Shortly after being named on the first-team bench for a match against Barnsley in November 2019, he was praised by Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate, with Woodgate claiming "Hayden Hackney deserves to be there because he's been outstanding for the Under-23s".
Hackney made his senior debut for Middlesbrough on 9 January 2021, starting in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat away to Brentford.{{Cite web |date=9 January 2021 |title=MATCH REPORT: Brentford 2 Boro 1 |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/match-report-brentford-2-boro-1 |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}} He made his league debut for the club in the final match of the season as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.{{Cite web |last=Law |first=James |date=8 May 2021 |title=Wycombe relegation confirmed despite win at Boro |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56953368 |access-date=8 May 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} He signed a new two-year contract with the club later that month.{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Dominic |date=27 May 2021 |title=Hayden Hackney rounds off superb season with a new Boro contract |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hayden-hackney-rounds-superb-season-20689373 |access-date=2 September 2021 |work=TeessideLive |language=en}}
On 31 August 2021, Hackney joined EFL League Two side Scunthorpe United on loan until January 2022.{{Cite web |date=31 August 2021 |title=Hayden Hackney: Scunthorpe sign Middlesbrough midfielder on loan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58404000 |access-date=2 September 2021 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} After playing in the majority of games in the first half of the season, Hackney's loan was extended to last until the end of the season.{{Cite web |date=4 January 2022 |title=Hayden Hackney's loan stay extended until end of the season |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2022/january/hayden-hackneys-loan-stay-extended-until-end-of-the-season/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=Scunthorpe-United}} In the 15th minute of a 2–0 defeat to Exeter City,{{Cite web |date=15 January 2022 |title=Exeter City 2-0 Scunthorpe united |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59918818 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115181011/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59918818 |archive-date=15 January 2022 |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=BBC}} Hackney was caught spitting at an opponent.{{Cite web |date=20 January 2022 |title=Hayden Hackney: Scunthorpe United midfielder banned for spitting |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60075035.amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120223315/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60075035.amp |archive-date=20 January 2022 |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=BBC}} The referee did not see this at the time, but after the game, the Football Association confirmed that Hackney had admitted to spitting and was given a six-game suspension.{{Cite web |last=Kirwan |first=Chris |date=20 January 2022 |title=Scunthorpe's Hayden Hackney gets six-game ban for spitting |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19863253.scunthorpes-hayden-hackney-gets-six-game-ban-spitting/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120223507/https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19863253.scunthorpes-hayden-hackney-gets-six-game-ban-spitting/ |archive-date=20 January 2022 |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |date=20 January 2022 |title=Hackney set for six-game suspension |url=https://www.scunthorpe-united.co.uk/news/2022/january/hackney-set-for-six-game-suspension/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=Scunthorpe-United}} He made 31 appearances as Scunthorpe were relegated to the National League.{{Cite news |last=Johns |first=Craig |date=13 December 2022 |title=Midfield starlet Hayden Hackney shares the secret to his impressive Boro form |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hayden-hackney-middlesbrough-form-plan-25742182 |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=TeessideLive |publisher=Reach plc |language=en}}
Hackney's game time at Middlesbrough was limited at the start of the 2022–23 season, but Hackney became a regular starter following the appointment of Michael Carrick as manager in October 2022.{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Charlie |date=8 December 2022 |title=Hackney signs long-term contract extension |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-michael-carrick-hayden-hackney-25706357 |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=TeessideLive |publisher=Reach plc |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Dominic |date=18 February 2023 |title=Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney secret is out as Carrick tells of 'real pleasure' |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/23330556.middlesbroughs-hayden-hackney-secret-midfielder-hailed/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |work=The Northern Echo |language=en}} On 19 October, Hackney scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 4–1 win against Wigan Athletic.{{Cite web |date=19 October 2022 |title=Wigan 1–4 Middlesbrough |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63224173 |access-date=20 October 2022 |website=BBC Sport}} On 8 December, he signed a contract extension until 2026. Hackney won the Middlesbrough Young Player of the Year Award for the 2022–23 season, having made 38 appearances and scoring 3 goals. Hackney was also nominated for the Championship Young Player of the Season Award for the same season,{{Cite web |date=11 April 2023 |title=EFL Awards 2023 shortlists revealed |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl-awards-2023-shortlists-revealed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530142109/https://www.efl.com/news/2023/april/efl-awards-2023-shortlists-revealed/ |archive-date=30 May 2023 |access-date=30 May 2023 |website=efl.com |publisher=English Football League |language=en}} but lost out to Bristol City's Alex Scott.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2023 |title=Scott wins EFL Championship Young Player of the Year |url=https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/scott-wins-efl-championship-young-player-of-the-year-1/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=bcfc.co.uk |publisher=Bristol City F.C.}}
On 28 June 2023, Hackney signed a new contract for Middlesbrough, keeping him to the club until the summer of 2027.{{Cite web |date=28 June 2023 |title=Hayden Hackney pens deal until 2027 |url=https://mfc.co.uk/news/2023/june/28/hayden-hackney-signs-new-boro-contract/ |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}} Hackney captained the club for the first time in a 1–0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on 6 January 2024.{{Cite web |date=6 January 2024 |title=Match Review: Boro 0 Aston Villa 1 |url=https://mfc.co.uk//news/2024/january/06/match-review--boro-0-aston-villa-1/ |access-date=7 January 2024 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}} On 9 January, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Chelsea in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.{{Cite web |last=Bate |first=Adam |date=10 January 2024 |title=Middlesbrough 1–0 Chelsea: Hayden Hackney earns Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg lead for Championship side |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11938/13044028/middlesbrough-1-0-chelsea-hayden-hackney-earns-carabao-cup-semi-final-first-leg-lead-for-championship-side |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}
International career
Hackney represented England at under-15 level. He is also eligible to represent Scotland because his mother was born in Edinburgh. He debuted for the Scotland under-21 team in November 2022.{{Cite web |title=Hayden Hackney |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/players/?pid=650959&lid=5 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association}}{{Cite web |date=4 November 2022 |title=Hayden Hackney Rewarded With Scotland Call |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/04/Hayden-Hackney-Rewarded-With-Scotland-Call/ |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough FC}} In September 2023, he was called up to the England under-21 squad for the first time.{{Cite web |date=1 September 2023 |title=England MU21s squad named for Luxembourg |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/01/england-mu21s-squad-named-to-play-luxembourg-20230901 |access-date=1 September 2023 |website=englandfootball.com}}
On 11 September 2023, Hackney made his England U21 debut during a 3–0 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win away to Luxembourg.{{Cite web |last=Dickson Jefford |first=Oli |date=11 September 2023 |title=Report: Luxembourg 0-3 England MU21s |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Sep/11/england-mens-under-21s-luxembourg-report-uefa-u21-euro-report-20231109 |access-date=11 September 2023 |website=EnglandFootball.com}}
Style of play
Hackney plays as a central midfielder. He often plays as a deep-lying playmaker due to his ability in possession of the ball.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 26 December 2024}}{{soccerway|hayden-hackney/505365|access-date=10 January 2021}}
| 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"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Middlesbrough U21
|colspan="3"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{Efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="6" |Middlesbrough
|1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021–22
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|Championship |34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in EFL Championship play-offs}} | 0 | 38 | 3 | |
| 2023–24
|Championship |21 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2024–25
|Championship |20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!76 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 89 | 8 | |
| Scunthorpe United (loan)
|28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{Efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!104 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 121 | 8 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Individual
- Middlesbrough Young Player of the Year: 2022–23{{Cite web |date=13 May 2023 |title=Double Recognition For Chuba Akpom At Player Of The Year Awards |url=https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2023/may/04/double-recognition-for-chuba-akpom-at-player-of-the-year-awards/ |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=mfc.co.uk |publisher=Middlesbrough F.C.}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackney, Hayden}}
Category:Footballers from Redcar
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Scottish people of English descent
Category:English people of Scottish descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:English Football League players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:Scunthorpe United F.C. players