Kevin Cyril Davies(born 26 March 1977) is an English former professionalfootballerwho played as astrikerforChesterfield,Southampton,Blackburn Rovers,Millwall,Bolton WanderersandPreston North End.He managedSouthportin the 2017–18 season, before his contract was terminated on 30 April 2018.

Kevin Davies
Davies training withBolton Wanderersin 2011
Personal information
Full name Kevin Cyril Davies[1]
Date of birth (1977-03-26)26 March 1977(age 47)[1]
Place of birth Sheffield,England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Sheffield United
0000–1993 Chesterfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993–1997 Chesterfield 129 (22)
1997–1998 Southampton 25 (9)
1998–1999 Blackburn Rovers 23 (1)
1999–2003 Southampton 82 (10)
2002Millwall(loan) 9 (3)
2003–2013 Bolton Wanderers 351 (74)
2013–2015 Preston North End 70 (4)
Total 689 (123)
International career
1994–1995 England U18 8 (0)
1997–2000 England U21 3 (0)
2010 England 1 (0)
Managerial career
2017–2018 Southport
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Davies originally made his name as a vital part of the Chesterfield team which reached the semi-finals of theFA Cupin 1997. He left Chesterfield at the end of that season, having made 148 appearances for the club and joinedPremier Leagueclub Southampton in May 1997. He only spent one season at Southampton, making 30 appearances, before he joined Premier League club Blackburn Rovers in a club-record £7.5 million deal. Once again, he spent a single season at the club, making 29 appearances, before rejoining Southampton in 1999. In his second spell at the club, he made 95 appearances, also spending part of 2002 onloantoFirst Divisionclub Millwall, where he made nine appearances. Released by Southampton at the end of the2002–03 season,he joined Premier League club Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. He was made Boltonteam captainin January 2009, but began to fall out of favour at Bolton towards the end of the2012–13 season,and the club decided against renewing his contract. Davies made 407 appearances for Bolton, scoring 85 goals, then played two seasons at Preston North End before retiring.

He made three appearances for theEngland under-21 teambetween 1997 and 2000. At the age of 33, Davies made his international debut, and only appearance, forEnglandagainstMontenegroin a 0–0 draw on 12 October 2010, coming on as a second-halfsubstitute.

Club career

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Chesterfield

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Born inSheffield,South Yorkshire,[1]Davies played as a schoolboy with his boyhood clubSheffield United,but was released at the age of 15.[citation needed]He was taken on trial atChesterfield[2]and served his traineeship with the club.[1]Davies broke into the club's first team after several months.[2]He became Chesterfield's second youngest ever first-team player when he appeared againstWest Ham Unitedin aLeague Cuptie, aged only 16, on 22 September 1993.[3][4]He signed his first professional contract with the club in April 1994.[1]

Generally, Davies' goalscoring form at Chesterfield was unspectacular, playing mostly wide in midfield and scoring his best total of 11 goals in the1994–95promotion season from theThird Divisionvia the play-offs.[citation needed]In his final season atSaltergatehe managed a mere three goals from 34Second Divisionmatches but made a major contribution to the Spireites' best-everFA Cuprun, including ahat-trickatBurnden Parkin a fourth round tie againstBolton Wanderersand an earlier strike againstScarboroughin the 2nd round.[5]Despite his relative lack of goals, his skilful play was still attracting attention fromPremier LeagueandFirst Divisionclubs during his contribution to Chesterfield's FA Cup exploits, which culminated in a semi-final replay defeat againstMiddlesbrough.[6]

As a youngster, Davies was far from the aggressive centre-forward he subsequently became at Bolton.[citation needed]At Chesterfield, although very well-built and strong for a teenager, he was known for his skill and intelligence, and it was these qualities that attracted the attention of Southampton managerGraeme Souness.[citation needed]

Southampton

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Davies moved toSouthamptonin May 1997 and, in his first spell with them, scored nine league goals, one of which was a notable solo goal in a 2–0 win againstEvertonatGoodison Park.[7]He also scored the lone goals in historic 1–0 wins againstManchester United[8]andChelsea,[9]and the equaliser in a 1–1 draw withLiverpool.[10]

Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Roverssigned him for £7.5 million in July 1998, ten times what Southampton had paid for him a year earlier and also a club record.[citation needed]Chesterfield received no more money from the switch, having failed to negotiate a sell-on clause.[citation needed]As part of the deal,James Beattiewent the other way.[citation needed]However, Davies scored just one league goal, the winner in a victory overCharlton Athletic,in 21 appearances for the club.[11]He scored a further goal in the FA Cup, also against Charlton Athletic, and played aUEFA Cupmatch that season.[12]At the end of the campaign, Blackburn were relegated a year after finishing sixth in the league and a mere four years afterwinning the league.[citation needed]

Return to Southampton

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Southampton re-signed their former striker in exchange forEgil Østenstadin August 1999.[citation needed]However, just two league matches into his return at Southampton, Davies found himself sent off in a defeat against Liverpool after coming on as asubstituteforMark Hughes.[citation needed]He struggled to gain a first-team place throughout the next four years, and was more often than not a substitute.[citation needed]For the2002–03 seasonDavies went onloantoMillwallin the First Division, where he played nine times, scoring three goals.[citation needed]

Bolton Wanderers

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Davies lining up forBolton Wanderersin 2008

In summer 2003, he joined Bolton having been released by Southampton.[citation needed]In a season where he rediscovered his best form, he scored ten times and started every league match.[citation needed]He ended the season by winning the club's Player of the Year award and scored a consolation goal for his team in the2004 League Cup Finalagainst Middlesbrough at theMillennium Stadium.[citation needed]

Davies is frequently cited as being the player in the Premier League that commits the most fouls, committing more offences than any other Premier League player in for three consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2007.[citation needed]In the 2003–04 and 2007–08 seasons, Davies was slightly better behaved, committing the second highest number of fouls per season.[citation needed]In his Bolton career Davies has committed over 1,000 fouls, more than any other Premier League player in the competition's history.[13][14]At the same time Davies has also featured near the top of the list of most fouled players.[15]

During a post-match interview with the BBC after a match againstArsenalin January 2009, during which he had been accused of deliberately trying to injureGaël Clichyin a challenge, he replied that some Arsenal players tried to "con the referee". He added"A few of them let out a big scream, which is a bit embarrassing because it is a man's game... in my eyes that is cheating the referee... you just have to get on with the game."[16]On 10 September 2011, he received his 100th yellow card in the Premier League for a foul on Manchester United'sPatrice Evraand when he received another booking againstWigan Athleticon 11 February 2012, he became the joint holder of the record for most yellow cards in Premier League history, alongsideLee Bowyer.[citation needed]Paul Scholeshas equaled his Premier League yellow card record andGareth Barryhas surpassed this record.[citation needed]

On 8 November 2007, Davies scored a goal away toBayern Munichat theAllianz Arena.[citation needed]Davies's late effort earned Bolton a crucial away point from the 2–2 draw in the UEFA Cup group stage.[citation needed]

On 12 April 2008, Davies scored his 100th career goal in a 1–0 win over West Ham at theReebok Stadium,despite dislocating a finger during the match and having it placed back into its socket allowing him to play on.[17]

On Saturday 3 May 2008, he made his return from a broken hand to help Bolton retain their Premier League status.[citation needed]

Over the summer of 2008,Hull Citytried to sign Kevin Davies from Bolton, but the club turned down their offer.[18]Davies then signed a new contract with Bolton would keep him at the club until 2011.[19]

On 31 January 2009, Davies became captain of Bolton following the sale ofKevin NolantoNewcastle United.[2]The same day, Davies' first match as captain saw him score two goals in Bolton's 3–2 victory overTottenham Hotspuras well as equalling his record for goals in a Premier League season.[20]In the following match, at home against West Ham, he scored his 50th goal for Bolton, and his 10th of the season.[21]

In August 2009, Davies stated that he would like to stay at Bolton for the rest of his career.[22]On 13 March 2010, Davies scored the first penalty of his career, netting the second from the spot in a 4–0 home win over Wigan.[23]

Davies set a Premier League records for the most fouls in a season in 2009–10, committing 120 such offences.[citation needed]In the 2010–11 season he went on to break his own record with 121 fouls.[24]

Davies was relegated with Bolton at the end of the 2011–12 season, but shortly after, he signed a new one-year deal with the club and assured the fans he would stay to get Bolton back to the Premier League.[25]He made his 400th appearance for the club atWatfordon 2 February 2013.[citation needed]

On 26 March 2013, Bolton announced that they would not be offering Davies a new contract, which would make that season his final for the club.[26]Following this announcement, Davies played no further matches that season, being initially dropped to the bench before eventually being left out of match day squads completely, with reserve-team strikers being preferred instead.[citation needed]

Preston North End

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On 10 July 2013, Davies signed a two-year contract withLeague OneclubPreston North End.[27][28]He made his league debut for Preston on 3 August in a 0–0 draw againstWolverhampton Wanderers,and drew praise from his manager for his performance.[29]His first goal for Preston was a penalty in a 2–1 win overOldham Athleticon 9 September 2013.[30]He went on to score the only goal in a 1–0 win overWycombe Wanderersin the FA Cup on 9 December 2013.[31]

On 7 February 2015, he scored his 150th career goal and his first of the season, heading inPaul Gallagher's cross to win a home match againstCoventry City.[32]He played 22 minutes as a substitute for hat-trick scorerJermaine Beckfordon 24 May as Preston won 4–0 in theplay-off finalagainstSwindon TownatWembley Stadium.[33]

On 4 September 2015, Davies announced his retirement from football after 22 years in the game.[34]

International career

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Davies was asked near the end of the 2009–10 season if he was eligible to play forScotland.[citation needed]Davies is, to his own knowledge, ineligible to represent Scotland, but further explained he would reject any call-up to the Scottish or Welsh teams even if it was possible.[35]

At the age of 33, Davies was called up to the England squad for the first time in his career for theUEFA Euro 2012 qualifyingmatch againstMontenegroon 12 October 2010.[36]He made his debut as a 69th-minute substitute forPeter Crouchand received ayellow card.[37]At 33 years and 200 days, he became the oldest England debutant since the 38-year-oldLeslie Comptonin 1950.[38]

Style of play

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Davies was known for his bustling, physical playing style; he has committed morefoulsthan any other player in the history of the Premier League, although conversely he is also one of the most fouled.[2]He was more of a "goal architect" than a goalscorer.[39]

Managerial career

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Davies was appointed manager ofNational League NorthclubSouthporton 18 October 2017 on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[40]

On 30 April 2018Southportannounced that Davies had been released from his managerial duties.[41]

Personal life

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He is the half brother of fellow footballerJamie Jackson.[42][43]

In July 2020 Davies set up KCD Management, a FootballAgency.[44]

He is married to Emma Davies.[45]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chesterfield 1993–94[4] Third Division 24 4 0 0 2 0 2[a] 0 28 4
1994–95[46] Third Division 41 11 1 0 3 1 4[b] 1 49 13
1995–96[47] Second Division 30 4 2 2 2 0 4[a] 0 38 6
1996–97[48] Second Division 34 3 7 4 2 0 0 0 43 7
Total 129 22 10 6 9 1 10 1 158 30
Southampton 1997–98[49] Premier League 25 9 1 0 4 3 30 12
Blackburn Rovers 1998–99[50] Premier League 21 1 2 1 3 0 1[c] 0 27 2
1999–2000[51] First Division 2 0 2 0
Total 23 1 2 1 3 0 1 0 29 2
Southampton 1999–2000[51] Premier League 23 6 1 0 1 0 25 6
2000–01[52] Premier League 27 1 2 1 1 0 30 2
2001–02[53] Premier League 23 2 1 0 3 1 27 3
2002–03[54] Premier League 9 1 4 1 13 2
Total 82 10 8 2 5 1 95 13
Millwall(loan) 2002–03[54] First Division 9 3 9 3
Bolton Wanderers 2003–04[55] Premier League 38 9 0 0 5 1 43 10
2004–05[56] Premier League 35 8 4 1 2 0 41 9
2005–06[57] Premier League 37 7 3 1 2 0 5[c] 0 47 8
2006–07[58] Premier League 30 8 2 1 1 0 33 9
2007–08[59] Premier League 32 3 0 0 1 0 8[c] 1 41 4
2008–09[60] Premier League 38 12 1 0 1 0 40 12
2009–10[61] Premier League 37 7 3 1 2 1 42 9
2010–11[62] Premier League 38 8 6 2 1 0 45 10
2011–12[63] Premier League 31 6 4 2 2 0 37 8
2012–13[64] Championship 35 6 2 0 1 0 38 6
Total 351 74 25 8 18 2 13 1 407 85
Preston North End 2013–14[65] League One 38 3 4 2 2 0 2[d] 0 46 5
2014–15[66] League One 32 1 5 0 2 0 5[e] 0 44 1
Total 70 4 9 2 4 0 7 0 90 6
Career total 689 123 55 19 43 7 31 2 818 151
  1. ^abAppearances inFootball League Trophy
  2. ^Two appearances and one goal in Football League Trophy, two appearances inThird Division play-offs
  3. ^abcAppearance(s) inUEFA Cup
  4. ^Appearances inLeague One play-offs
  5. ^Four appearances in Football League Trophy, one in League One play-offs

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
England[67] 2010 1 0
Total 1 0

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 28 April 2018
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L Win %
Southport 18 October 2017 30 April 2018 31 9 7 15 029.0 [40][68]
Total 31 9 7 15 029.0

Honours

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Chesterfield

Southampton

Bolton Wanderers

Preston North End

Individual

References

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  1. ^abcdefHugman, Barry J., ed. (2010).The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11.Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 108.ISBN978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^abcdMagowan, Alistair (21 January 2010)."Football – An old-fashioned centre-forward".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 January2010.
  3. ^Tomlinson, Adam (4 September 2015)."Kevin Davies announces retirement from football".Sky Sports.Retrieved15 April2016.
  4. ^abRollin, Jack, ed. (1994).Rothmans Football Yearbook 1994–95.London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 166–167, 616–622, 637–638, 655.ISBN978-0-7472-7857-3.
  5. ^Hewitt, Jamie (13 April 1997)."Season of dreaming Spireites".The Independent.London.Retrieved28 September2012.
  6. ^"Middlesbrough v Chesterfield, 22 April 1997".11v11.com.AFS Enterprises.Retrieved1 July2013.
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  8. ^"Dell hell for off-colour Red Devils".Irish Independent.Dublin. 20 January 1998.Retrieved29 March2018.
  9. ^Moore, Glenn (30 December 1997)."Davies' strike is decisive as Saints defy Chelsea".The Independent.London.Retrieved1 October2012.
  10. ^Harris, Nick (21 September 1997)."Liverpool bow to Saint Davies".The Independent.London.Retrieved1 October2012.
  11. ^Hadfield, Dave (5 December 1998)."Davies scores – and no kidding".The Independent.London.Retrieved15 February2010.
  12. ^Hadfield, Dave (3 January 1999)."FA Cup: Ilic error covers up Charlton deficiency".The Independent.London.Retrieved15 February2010.
  13. ^"2007/2008".Premier League. Archived fromthe originalon 30 December 2010.Retrieved22 January2010.
  14. ^FOOTBALL: TODAY'S TOP 20: HIGHEST FOULS PER GAME RATIO SO FAR THIS | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.comArchived13 February 2009 at theWayback Machine
  15. ^"Bolton don't play proper football, says Van Persie".Evening Standard.London. Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2013.Retrieved22 January2010.
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  17. ^"Kev's only gone and ton it!".The Sunday People.London. 13 April 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 4 February 2009.Retrieved22 January2010.
  18. ^Bolton News ignore Kevin Davies to Hull storyArchived14 July 2011 at theWayback Machine.Manny Road. 1 August 2008.
  19. ^Bolton's Kevin Davies signs lucrative new contract.Daily Mirror.London. 29 August 2008.
  20. ^Lyon, Sam (31 January 2009)."Bolton 3–2 Tottenham".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 January2010.
  21. ^Shea, Julian (21 February 2009)."Bolton 2–1 West Ham".BBC Sport.Retrieved22 January2010.
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  24. ^@OptaJoe (22 May 2011)."121 - Kevin Davies has just committed his 121st foul of the season; a PL record since Opta began analysis in the mid 1990s. Hatchet"(Tweet).Retrieved17 September2020– viaTwitter.
  25. ^"Davies signs new one-year deal".Bolton Wanderers F.C. 18 May 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 20 May 2012.Retrieved18 May2012.
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  27. ^"Kevin Davies signs!".Preston North End F.C. 10 July 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2013.Retrieved10 July2013.
  28. ^"Kevin Davies: Preston North End sign ex-Bolton & England striker".BBC Sport. 10 July 2013.Retrieved10 July2013.
  29. ^"Grayson expects Davies impact".Sky Sports. 3 August 2013.Retrieved4 August2013.
  30. ^"Preston 2–1 Oldham".BBC Sport. 9 September 2013.Retrieved4 January2014.
  31. ^"Wycombe 0–1 Preston".BBC Sport. 9 December 2013.Retrieved4 January2014.
  32. ^"Preston 1–0 Coventry".BBC Sport. 7 February 2015.Retrieved26 May2015.
  33. ^abMiddleton, Nathan (24 May 2015)."Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town".BBC Sport.Retrieved15 April2016.
  34. ^"Kevin Davies: Ex-Preston, Bolton and England striker retires".BBC Sport. 4 September 2015.Retrieved4 September2015.
  35. ^Iles, Marc (2 August 2010)."Davies rejects Scotland offer".The Bolton News.Retrieved13 October2010.
  36. ^"England boss Fabio Capello calls up Kevin Davies".BBC Sport. 4 October 2010.Retrieved4 October2010.
  37. ^McNulty, Phil (12 October 2010)."England 0 Montenegro 0".BBC Sport.Retrieved12 October2010.
  38. ^BBC Sport "Kevin Davies: Ex-Preston, Bolton and England striker retires"
  39. ^Magowan, Alistair (8 October 2010)."Davies call-up long time in the making".BBC Sport.Retrieved17 September2020.
  40. ^abLopez, Jamie (18 October 2017)."Former Bolton and England striker Kevin Davies named new Southport FC manager".Southport Visiter.Retrieved18 October2017.
  41. ^"Southport Football Club And Kevin Davies Part Company".Southport F.C. 30 April 2018.Retrieved30 April2018.
  42. ^"Two Jamies get their chance".Chesterfield F.C. Archived fromthe originalon 4 October 2011.Retrieved18 August2009.
  43. ^"Blues add teen spirit".Derbyshire Times.Chesterfield. 13 April 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 29 July 2012.Retrieved18 August2009.
  44. ^Derbyshiretimes: "Loyalty and trust are hard to find in football' - Chesterfield hero Kevin Davies launches new business"
  45. ^"Why ex-Bolton Wanderers ace Kevin Davies quit the town following row with council over eco-home".Manchester Evening News.30 January 2020.Retrieved1 May2022.
  46. ^abRollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (1995).Rothmans Football Yearbook 1995–96.London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 124–125, 552–553, 578–584, 608–611, 597–599.ISBN978-0-7472-7823-8.
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  49. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 1997/1998".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  50. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 1998/1999".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  51. ^ab"Games played by Kevin Davies in 1999/2000".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  52. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 2000/2001".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  53. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 2001/2002".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  54. ^ab"Games played by Kevin Davies in 2002/2003".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
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  57. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 2005/2006".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
  58. ^"Games played by Kevin Davies in 2006/2007".Soccerbase.Centurycomm.Retrieved15 April2016.
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  67. ^"Davies, Kevin".National Football Teams.Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann.Retrieved15 April2016.
  68. ^"Southport FC: Matches".Soccerway.Perform Group.Retrieved6 December2017.
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