Leon Osman

Leon Osman is an English player of Everton, who can perform both as a winger and centre midfielder. He was born in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Leon has an ‘Ossie’ nickname.

Osman joined the Everton football academy in 1997. From 2000 the player was involved in the matches of ‘The Toffees’ first team, but due to high competition he failed to become a regular of the Liverpool side club at the dawn of his career.

In 2002 the midfielder was sent on a one-year loan to Carlisle United, which performed in the lower English divisions. Leon showed himself as a great footballer, returned to Everton and even could aspire to the place of a regular in his parent club, but he failed to clinch it.

Thereby, in January 2004 Osman was loaned again, this time to Derby County. The footballer made 17 appearances for ‘The Rams’ and scored three goals. The level of his skill impressed the temporary club management and they wanted to buy him from Everton, but ‘The Toffees’ rejected that offer.

In 2004/2005 the midfielder eventually got the solid place in the main squad of the Liverpool side club. At first he performed as a right halfback, but later the head coach decided to use him in the centre midfield. Osman netted seven goals that season, including a double in the game against Aston Villa. ‘The Toffies’ took fourth place in the Barclays and got an opportunity to play in the Champions League.

The 2005/2006 season was a bit contradictory for the footballer, because he showed a good play in one match and made terrible howlers in other games. As a result, Leon periodically made starts, but often stayed on the substitutes’ bench. Besides, then he could be put at the position of a winger, forward, defensive midfielder and so on. Though, that awful situation did not last long: in the 2006/2007 season Osman returned to the team as a regular and played as a right midfielder for it.

On 25 October 2007, Leon belted the ball into the Greek side Larissa’s net in the UEFA Cup match. That goal was voted the best Everton goal in 2007/2008. Osman made 39 appearances for the Merseyside club and kicked three goals during that season. On 23 September 2009, the footballer first came on the pitch as a captain of his team. ‘The Toffees’ played against Hull City and Osman celebrated his appointment by firing a goal.

On 23 October 2010, Leon penned a new contract with the Liverpool side club till the summer 2014. At the end of 2010/2011 the midfielder showed a wonderful play by chipping in goals to Aston Villa, Blackburn and Manchester City with a several-week interval. Those goals helped ‘The Toffees’ to take seventh place in the Barclays.

In the 2011/2012 season the footballer took part in 30 league matches and made five goals, which resulted in Everton taking seventh place once again. Besides, the Liverpool side club made its way through to the FA Cup semifinal not without Osman’s help. From 2002 till the summer 2012 Leon made 303 appearances for ‘The Toffees’ and amassed 42 goals in all tournaments.