Will Smallbone
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William Anthony Patrick Smallbone[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2000-02-21) 21 February 2000 (age 24)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Basingstoke, England[3] | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[4] | ||
Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Southampton | ||
Number | 8 | ||
Youth career | |||
2008–2019 | Southampton | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019– | Southampton | 60 | (6) |
2022–2023 | → Stoke City (loan) | 43 | (3) |
International career‡ | |||
2017 | Republic of Ireland U18 | 1 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 5 | (2) |
2020–2022 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 8 | (3) |
2023– | Republic of Ireland | 9 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:17, 17 August 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:20, 12 June 2024 (UTC) |
William Anthony Patrick Smallbone (born 21 February 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Southampton and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Club career
Southampton
2017–2022
On 21 February 2017, Smallbone signed a professional contract with Southampton.[5] He made his professional debut for Southampton in a 2–0 FA Cup victory over Huddersfield Town on 4 January 2020, scoring the opening goal.[6] On 22 February 2020, Smallbone went on to make his Premier League debut in a 2–0 victory over Aston Villa.[7]
Having just started to appear regularly for the first team, on 16 January 2021, Smallbone suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a 2–0 defeat at Leicester. As a result, he was expected to be out of action for up to six months.[8] On 26 October 2021, Smallbone made his first professional appearance since his injury, replacing Stuart Armstrong in Southampton's defeat to Chelsea after a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup.[9]
2022–present
On 23 July 2022, Smallbone joined Stoke City on a season-long loan.[10] He scored his first goal for Stoke in a 2–0 win at Preston North End on 15 October 2022.[11] Smallbone was a regular under Alex Neil in 2022–23, making 46 appearances, scoring three goals as Stoke finished in 16th position.[12]
On 28 August 2023, Smallbone signed a three-year contract extension with Southampton.[13] He scored his first league goal for the club on 30 September 2023 in a 3–1 victory against Leeds United.[14]
International career
Smallbone qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his Kilkenny-born mother.[15] Smallbone made his debut for Republic of Ireland U21s against Italy U21s in October 2020.[16] On 3 June 2022, he scored his first goals for the Republic of Ireland U21 team, scoring a brace in a 3–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 at Tallaght Stadium.[17] He followed that up by scoring a volley from outside the box three days later, to open the scoring in an eventual 3–1 win over Montenegro U21.[18][19]
In November 2022, Smallbone was included in Stephen Kenny's senior squad for forthcoming friendlies. He made his debut on 22 March 2023 in a friendly match against Latvia, which ended in a 3–2 victory.[20] He won Player of the match award for his display against Latvia.[21]
Personal life
Smallbone was diagnosed with alopecia in 2021 whilst recovering from his ACL injury.[22][23] In December 2022, he became an ambassador for Alopecia UK.[24][25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 17 August 2024
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Southampton U21 | 2016–17[26] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
2017–18[27] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
2018–19[28] | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||||
2019–20[29] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
2021–22[30] | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
Total | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |||||
Southampton | 2019–20[29] | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 1 | |
2020–21[31] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
2021–22[30] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | ||
2023–24[32] | Championship | 43 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | 50 | 7 | |
2024–25[33] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
Total | 60 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 71 | 8 | ||
Stoke City (loan) | 2022–23[34] | Championship | 43 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 46 | 3 | |
Career total | 103 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 124 | 11 |
- ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
International
- As of match played 11 June 2024[35]
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Republic of Ireland | 2023 | 5 | 0 |
2024 | 4 | 0 | |
Total | 9 | 0 |
Honours
Southampton
References
- ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^ "Will Smallbone". 11v11. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Shoot For The Stars: Southampton's FA Cup Wonderkid Will Smallbone". Shoot. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Player profiles: Will Smallbone". Southampton F.C. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "Smallbone pens first professional deal". Southampton FC. 21 February 2017. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ "Southampton 2 Huddersfield Town 0". BBC Sport. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ Collins, Ben (22 February 2020). "Southampton 2–0 Aston Villa: Some of my team have played way out of EFL Cup final – Dean Smith". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "Will Smallbone: Southampton midfielder faces up to six months out with ACL injury". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Rose, Gary (26 October 2021). "Chelsea 1–1 Southampton (4–3 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ Cope, Niall (23 July 2022). "Welcoming Will". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Preston North End 0–2 Stoke". BBC Sport. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Stoke City loan star opens up about plans for next season". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Smallbone signs new three-year contract". Southampton FC. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Southampton 3–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "Will Smallbone won't be tempted by England switch". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "Italy U21 2–0 Republic of Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ O'Connor, Seán (3 June 2022). "Smallbone and Odubeko inspire Ireland U21s to victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
- ^ Diallo, Raf (6 June 2022). "Ireland see off Montenegro to boost Euro U-21 dreams". www.rte.ie.
- ^ "Smallbone continues scoring streak in Ireland win". Southampton FC. 6 June 2022.
- ^ Leahy, Ed (22 March 2023). "Chiedozie Ogbene secures hard-fought Ireland win against Latvia as Evan Ferguson opens his account". RTE.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ O'Hehir, Paul (22 March 2023). "Stephen Kenny full of praise for Will Smallbone after Ireland debut". Irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "Injury and alopecia: Smallbone's story". Southampton FC. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Will Smallbone opens up on alopecia and injury challenges". RTE. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
- ^ "Will Smallbone chats to Alopecia UK". Alopecia UK. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ House, Alfie (8 December 2022). "Inspiring Southampton midfielder opens up on Alopecia to help others". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Games played by Will Smallbone in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "Smallbone, Will". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Leeds United 0–1 Southampton: Line-ups". BBC Sport. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
External links
- Profile at the Southampton F.C. website
- v
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- 1 McCarthy
- 2 Walker-Peters
- 3 Manning
- 4 Downes
- 5 Stephens (c)
- 6 Harwood-Bellis
- 7 Aribo
- 8 Smallbone
- 9 Armstrong
- 10 Lallana
- 11 Stewart
- 12 Edwards
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- 33 Dibling
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- Manager: Martin