Daniel Peter Simpson(born 4 January 1987) is an English former professionalfootballerwho played as aright-back.He started his career atManchester Unitedin thePremier League,later loaned forRoyal Antwerp,Sunderland,Ipswich Town,Blackburn RoversandNewcastle Unitedduring his professional development.
 Simpson in 2024. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Peter Simpson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 4 January 1987[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Eccles,England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.76 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2006 | Manchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2010 | Manchester United | 3 | (0) |
| 2006 | →Royal Antwerp(loan) | 30 | (1) |
| 2007 | →Sunderland(loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2008 | →Ipswich Town(loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | →Blackburn Rovers(loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | →Newcastle United(loan) | 20 | (1) |
| 2010–2013 | Newcastle United | 103 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Queens Park Rangers | 37 | (0) |
| 2014–2019 | Leicester City | 113 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Huddersfield Town | 24 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Bristol City | 7 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Macclesfield | 0 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:18, 20 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
He signed for Newcastle on a permanent basis in January 2010, before relocating toQueens Park Rangerson a free transfer in June 2013. He signed forLeicester Cityin 2014, then newly promoted to thePremier League.He was part of the Leicester squad that avoided relegation, in his first season, before winning the Premier League title in the2015–16 season.He left Leicester forHuddersfield Townin 2019, but was released a year later. He then joinedBristol Citywhere he made 7 appearances for the club between 2021-2022, after this he joinedMacclesfieldwhere he didn't make a single appearance, retiring after that.
He had anexhibition bo xing matchinAugust 2024against Danny Aarons at the3Arena.The bout ended in a split draw.
Football career
editManchester United
edit
Simpson was born inEccles,Greater Manchester,[2]to a Jamaican father and English mother.[4]Simpson played for Parkwyddn JFC inEcclesas a youth before being picked up byManchester United.He is a product of theManchester United youth system,having come up through the ranks into the reserve squad in 2005.
In early January 2006, he was sent on loan, along with three other United youths, to theBelgian Second DivisionclubRoyal Antwerpfor the remainder of the season, to gain match experience.[5]Simpson also spent the first half of the 2006–07 season at Antwerp before returning to United in January 2007.[6]
On 25 January 2007, he joinedSunderlandon loan for the rest of the season.[7]The loan move saw him link up with fellow Manchester United playerJonny Evans.He won the Championship title with Sunderland that season. Simpson returned to United at the start of the2007–08 seasonand signed a new contract in September 2007 that would keep him at the club until 2010.[8]He made his first competitive appearance for United on 26 September 2007 in the 2–0League Cuploss toCoventry City,[9]and soon after made hisPremier Leaguedebut on 6 October 2007 againstWigan AthleticatOld Trafford,coming on as a 30th-minutesubstitutefor the injuredJohn O'Shea.He set up the fourth goal with a well flighted cross forWayne Rooney.The match ended with a 4–0 win to United.[10]His European debut came on 23 October 2007, when he came on as an 80th-minute substitute forRyan GiggsagainstDynamo Kyiv.[11]His first European start was in the reverse fixture against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007; United won the game 4–0.[12]
On 21 March 2008, Simpson signed a loan deal withIpswich Town.WithGary Nevilleon the verge of returning to the Manchester United first team, United managerAlex Fergusondecided it was best for Simpson to get as much first team football as possible, something that would be quite hard to come by at Old Trafford with both Gary Neville andWes Brownahead of Simpson in the pecking order.[13]
On 4 August 2008, Simpson signed forBlackburn Roverson a season-long loan deal.[14][15]Simpson made his Blackburn debut on 27 August 2008, playing in Rovers' 4–1 win overGrimsby Townin theLeague CupSecond Round.[16]His Premier League debut for Blackburn Rovers came almost three weeks later, on 13 September 2008, in a 4–0 defeat at home toArsenal.[17] With the exception of Blackburn's League Cup Fifth Round defeat by Manchester United, which he was forced to miss because of a clause in his loan agreement, Simpson was ever-present for Blackburn during their League Cup and FA Cup campaigns. He also played in 11 out of the 14 league matches for which he was eligible prior to Christmas 2008, although he was named on the bench for the other three. After Christmas, Simpson only played in one further league match, another 4–0 defeat to Arsenal,[18]and in early May 2009, with his first team opportunities limited at Blackburn, the loan agreement was terminated early and he returned to train with Manchester United.[19]
Newcastle United
edit
On 14 August 2009, Simpson joinedNewcastle Unitedon loan until January 2010,[20]making his debut in a 1–0 victory overSheffield Wednesdayat St. James' Park. He scored his first goal for Newcastle against Peterborough United on 7 November 2009.
Following the completion of the loan deal, Newcastle made a bid to keep Simpson on a permanent basis. An undisclosed fee, reported as being in the region of £750,000,[21]was agreed between Newcastle and Manchester United and Simpson signed a three-and-a-half-year contract on 20 January 2010.[22]
He played a solid part in Newcastle's promotion to the Premier League, winning his second Championship title in the process, while forming a right flank partnership with January signingWayne Routledge.Towards the end of the season, he "played through the pain" with what he considered a small ankle injury. He only realised the full extent of the ankle injury at the end of the season, and he had an operation to correct it. He was out for three months, including the first month or so of Newcastle's season.[23]Simpson returned to action from his injury lay off, playing two reserve games in October. He made his first start of the new season in Newcastle's 2–1 victory overWest Ham United,replacingJames Perchat right back. Simpson kept his right-back spot with consistently strong performances, forming a strong partnership withJoey Bartonon the right flank.
On 20 September 2011, Simpson scored a curler in Newcastle's 4–3 win overChampionshipsideNottingham Forestin the third round of theLeague Cup.
On 10 December 2011, Simpson started alongsideJames Perchat center back in place of the injuredSteven TaylorandFabricio Coloccinifor Newcastle's 4–2 defeat atNorwich City.He had played at right back for the beginning of the season.
Queens Park Rangers
editAfter his contract with Newcastle expired at the end of the 2012–13 season, Simpson signed a three-year deal with Championship clubQueens Park Rangerson 27 June 2013.[24]He scored his first goal for QPR in aLeague Cuptie againstExeter Cityon 6 August 2013.[25]He made 36 Championship appearances for QPR as they earned promotion viathe play-offs.[citation needed]
Leicester City
edit
On 30 August 2014 signed a three-year contract for fellow promoted teamLeicester Cityfor an undisclosed fee.[26]Simpson made his Leicester debut in a 2–0 defeat againstCrystal Palaceoff the bench on 27 September 2014. However, he didn't make his second appearance for the club until 7 December againstAston Villa,as he often struggled to get into the side ahead of regular right backRitchie De Laet.Simpson made 14 appearances overall for Leicester in the 2014–15 season.[27]
In the2015–16 season,under the new management ofClaudio Ranieri,De Laet was again preferred ahead of Simpson to begin with. However, following a 5–2 defeat byArsenal,Ranieri changed his full backs bringing Simpson in for De Laet helping to shore up Leicester's defence, as Simpson was considered a much more defensive full-back than De Laet and "rarely ventured forward".[28]Leicester went on to win the2015–16 Premier Leaguetitle, and Simpson earned a winner's medal with 30 league appearances.[29]
He was released by Leicester at the end of the 2018–19 season.[30]
In February and March 2021, Simpson began playing with theLeicester City U23ssquad in order to regain match fitness.[31]
Huddersfield Town
editAfter being released by Leicester, Simpson signed a deal until the end of the 2019–20 season withEFL ChampionshipsideHuddersfield Town.[32]
Bristol City
editOn 26 March 2021, Simpson joinedBristol Cityon a deal until the end of the season. The move reunited him with former Leicester managerNigel Pearson.[33]
On 23 June 2021, it was announced Simpson had signed a new 1-year contract extension with the club. This was brought to an end early on 7 March 2022, when Simpson's contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[34]
As a free agent
editSimpson began making appearances as a TV pundit in 2022. Despite this, he confirmed in a December 2022 interview, whilst launching a campaign to better support players' mental health at the end of their careers, that he was not yet retired, and was still training in the hope of finding a new club.[35]As of May 2023, he was training withMacclesfield.[36]
By October 2023, he had returned to Manchester United to study for his coaching badges whilst weighing up the next step in his career, alongside fellow ex-United playerPhil Jones.[37]
Macclesfield
editIn December 2023, Simpson was signed byNorthern Premier LeaguePremier Division clubMacclesfield,making his debut on 5 December in theCheshire Senior CupagainstTranmere Rovers.[38]
On 26 July 2024, Simpson announced his retirement from professional football.[39]
Bo xing career
editSimpson vs Aarons
editOn 7 August 2024, it was announced that Simpson would partake in anexhibition bo xing matchheadliningMF & DAZN: X Series 17at the3ArenainDublin,Ireland against EnglishYouTuberandstreamerDanny Aarons.[40]During the leadup to the bout, Simpson and Aarons agreed that the winner will receive either Simpson's2015–16 Premier Leaguetitle winner’s medal or Aarons'YouTube Creator Award.[41]
The bout ended in asplit draw,with one judge scoring it 39–37 to Simpson, 39–37 to Aarons and 38–38.[42]Both men indicated they were interested in a rematch following the announcement of the result.[43]
Personal life
editSimpson has two daughters, Skye who was born six weeks prematurely in mid-2011 and Vienna born in 2020.[44][45]
On 20 May 2015, Simpson was found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend and mother of his child, Stephanie Ward, on 28 December 2014.[46][47]He was sentenced to 300 hours of community service.[48]On 12 May 2016, his sentence was reviewed in light of press intrusion into his community service, and replaced with a 22:00 to 06:00 curfew for 21 days.[49]
Career statistics
edit
- As of match played 23 October 2021[50]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other[a] | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United | 2005–06 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Royal Antwerp(loan) | 2005–06 | Belgian Second Division | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Belgian Second Division | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||
| Sunderland(loan) | 2006–07 | Championship | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Ipswich Town(loan) | 2007–08 | Championship | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers(loan) | 2008–09 | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Newcastle United(loan) | 2009–10 | Championship | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Newcastle United | 2009–10 | Championship | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 1 | |
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Total | 123 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 2 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2013–14 | Championship | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 1 | ||
| Leicester City | 2014–15 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | Premier League | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 113 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 0 | ||
| Leicester City U23 | 2018–19 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Huddersfield Town | 2019–20 | Championship | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | ||
| Bristol City | 2020–21 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 371 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 428 | 4 | ||
- ^Includes appearances in theFA Community Shield,UEFA Super Cup,FIFA Club World CupandFootball League play-offs
Bo xing record
edit| 1 fight | 0 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw | 0–0–1 | Danny Aarons | SD | 4 | 31 Aug 2024 | 3Arena,Dublin,Ireland | 2 minute rounds. |
Pay-per-view bouts
edit| No. | Date | Fight | Billing | Network | Buys | Revenue | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 August 2024 | AaronsvsSimpson | — | DAZN | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Honours
editSunderland
Newcastle United
Queens Park Rangers
Leicester City
References
edit- ^"Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed".Premier League. 2 February 2018.Retrieved11 February2018.
- ^abcdHugman, Barry J., ed. (2010).The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11.Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 379.ISBN978-1-84596-601-0.
- ^"Danny 'Aarons' Simpson".Leicester City F.C.Retrieved22 December2018.
- ^Limited, Jamaica Observer."JFF nets eight – Beckford, McAnuff among recruits from UK trip".Jamaica Observer.Archived fromthe originalon 11 September 2018.Retrieved16 December2016.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^Marshall, Adam (7 January 2006)."Another United loanee".Sky Sports.BSkyB.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^Bartram, Steve (18 August 2006)."Youngsters join Antwerp".Manchester United. Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2012.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^"Sunderland sign Simpson on loan".BBC Sport.25 January 2007.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^"Man Utd hand new deal to Simpson".BBC Sport.5 September 2007.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^"Man Utd 0–2 Coventry".BBC Sport.26 September 2007.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^Sinnott, John (6 October 2007)."Man Utd 4–0 Wigan".BBC Sport.Retrieved6 October2007.
- ^Chowdhury, Saj (23 October 2007)."Dynamo Kiev 2–4 Man Utd".BBC Sport.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^McNulty, Phil (7 November 2007)."Man Utd 4–0 Dynamo Kiev".BBC Sport.Retrieved10 November2008.
- ^Bostock, Adam (21 March 2008)."Simpson out as Nev nears return".Manchester United. Archived fromthe originalon 24 March 2008.Retrieved21 March2008.
- ^Bartram, Steve (4 September 2008)."Simmo joins Rovers on loan".Manchester United. Archived fromthe originalon 14 October 2008.Retrieved4 September2008.
- ^"Blackburn sign Man Utd's Simpson".BBC Sport.4 August 2008.Retrieved4 August2008.
- ^"Blackburn 4–1 Grimsby".BBC Sport.27 August 2008.Retrieved28 August2008.
- ^Lyon, Sam (13 September 2008)."Blackburn 0–4 Arsenal".BBC Sport.Retrieved13 September2008.
- ^Hughes, Ian (14 March 2009)."Arsenal 4–0 Blackburn".BBC Sport.Retrieved28 April2009.
- ^Burton, Chris (8 May 2009)."Home form gives Sam hope".Sky Sports.BSkyB.Retrieved14 August2009.
- ^"Simpson makes Magpies loan switch".BBC Sport.14 August 2009.Retrieved14 August2009.
- ^Jacob, Gary; Barrett, Tony; Caulkin, George (21 January 2010)."Everton keen on loan move for Arsenal's Philippe Senderos".The Times.London. Archived fromthe originalon 4 June 2011.Retrieved21 January2010.
- ^"Newcastle sign Manchester United defender Danny Simpson".BBC Sport.20 January 2010.Retrieved21 January2010.
- ^Mark Douglas (24 June 2010)."Danny Simpson reveals his full injury blow".Chronicle Live.Retrieved23 June2013.
- ^"Exclusive: Simpson Signs".Queens Park Rangers F.C. 27 June 2013.Retrieved28 June2013.
- ^"Exeter 0–2 QPR".BBC Sport.6 August 2013.Retrieved6 August2013.
- ^ab"Danny Simpson joins Leicester City from QPR on three-year deal".BBC Sport.30 August 2014.Retrieved21 May2015.
- ^"Danny Simpson".FoxesTalk – History.Archived fromthe originalon 24 October 2016.Retrieved12 June2016.
- ^Gill, JJ (30 April 2016)."How Claudio Ranieri's tactics put his rivals to shame at Leicester City".The Daily Telegraph.London.Retrieved12 June2016.
- ^ab"Danny Simpson: Overview".Premier League.Retrieved2 March2023.
- ^"Leicester's Christian Fuchs signs new deal as Danny Simpson & Shinji Okazaki leave".BBC Sport.8 May 2019.Retrieved9 May2019.
- ^"Why title-winner Danny Simpson is playing for Leicester City again".Leicestershirelive. 9 February 2021.Retrieved8 March2021.
- ^Ryder, Lee (27 September 2019)."Transfer: Danny Simpson signs for Town".Huddersfield Town AFC.
- ^"Danny Simpson: Bristol City sign ex-Leicester right-back until end of season".BBC Sport.26 March 2021.Retrieved26 March2021.
- ^"Danny Simpson: Bristol City cancel full-back's contract by mutual consent".BBC Sport.7 March 2022.Retrieved7 March2022.
- ^"Manchester United academy player won 'impossible' Premier League but is now facing an even bigger challenge".Manchester Evening News.4 December 2022.Retrieved27 December2022.
- ^"I was a Premier League title winner with Leicester – now I'm scared of retiring and help elite athletes deal with 'real world' after sport".talkSPORT.19 May 2023.Retrieved23 July2023.
- ^"Why Danny Simpson has returned to Manchester United".Manchester Evening News.6 October 2023.Retrieved4 November2023.
- ^"Former Manchester United player Danny Simpson makes football return".Manchester Evening News. 6 December 2023.Retrieved20 December2023.
- ^Harris, John (14 June 2017),"The football star",The English Premier League,Routledge, pp. 97–111,ISBN978-1-315-63669-6,retrieved27 July2024
- ^George, Glinski (7 August 2024)."Former Manchester United and Leicester footballer to make bo xing debut on KSI Misfits card".talkSport.
- ^Ellis, Jordan (30 August 2024)."Danny Simpson will lose his Premier League winner's medal if bo xing debut goes wrong".talkSport.
- ^Lee, Alexander K. (31 August 2024)."Misfits Bo xing 17 results: Danny Aarons battles Premier League champion Danny Simpson to draw".MMA Fighting.
- ^Schuller, Rudi (31 August 2024)."Danny Aarons and Danny Simpson fight to a draw".DAZN.
- ^Ryder, Lee (3 August 2011)."Danny Simpson reaching for Skye after birth".Evening Chronicle.Newcastle.
- ^"The Challenge 's Melissa Reeves Welcomes Baby Girl: 'I Feel So Happy and Blessed'".9 June 2020.
- ^"Danny Simpson convicted of assaulting ex-girlfriend".BBC Sport.20 May 2015.Retrieved20 May2015.
- ^"Danny Simpson convicted of assaulting ex-girlfriend".BBC Sport.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Danny Simpson to face Leicester hearing after assault sentence".BBC Sport.16 June 2015.Retrieved16 June2015.
- ^"Leicester City's Danny Simpson spared community service due to press intrusion".BBC Sport.12 May 2016.
- ^Danny Simpsonat Soccerbase
External links
edit
- Danny Simpson profileat the officialHuddersfield Town A.F.C.website
- Danny Simpsonat Soccerbase
- Bo xing record for Danny SimpsonfromBoxRec(registration required)
