Josh McEachran
Encyclopedia
Joshua Mark "Josh" McEachran (born 1 March 1993 in Oxford
, England
) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea
. He is a left-footed central creative midfield player.
Mceachran made his Chelsea debut aged 17 years and six months in September 2010, coming on as a substitute in a 4-1 away Champions League win in Zilina.
with his brothers Will and George. He began playing football for Garden City F.C. in the Oxford Mail Boys League, where he was spotted by a Chelsea
scout. He then joined the Blues as an academy player at the age of 8 and rose through the ranks while juggling his academic responsibilities at Marlborough School
in Woodstock
.
on 15 September 2010 as a substitute. He became the first player to be born after the UEFA Champions League
started on 25 November 1992 to take part in the competition. McEachran made his home debut in a League Cup
tie against Newcastle United
, where he again came on as a substitute.
He made his Premier League debut on 25 September in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City
. On 23 November 2010 manager Carlo Ancelotti
announced that McEachran would make his first start against MŠK Žilina
in which he did. He followed this up by playing the entire game away to Marseille
in a UEFA Champions League
group game.
McEachran started for Chelsea against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge
on 15 May 2011, a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle and in total, he made nine starts and 13 sub appearances in campaign with then manager Carlo Ancelotti preferring to use him in a deep midfield role. His inclusion in the line-up was viewed by pundits as a suggestion that the Chelsea administration are keen to retain McEachran and that they recognise the importance of younger players in an otherwise ageing team. He then came off the bench to make his ninth league appearance away to Everton F.C.
in the final game of the 2010-11 Premier League season. In his debut season in the Chelsea first team, McEachran was awarded the Chelsea Young Player of The Year award on 19 May 2011.
On 15 July 2011, he signed a new five-year deal, alongside team-mate Ryan Bertrand
who signed a four-year deal with Chelsea. Fifteen days later, he scored his first Chelsea
senior team goal against Aston Villa with a first minute tap-in to open the scoring. Chelsea went on to win the game 2-0 after a 58th minute Fernando Torres
roundup and won the Barclays Asia Trophy. On 12 August 2011, Chelsea announced he would wear the number 20 shirt, last worn by Deco
, for the 2011/12 season
. He requested a loan transfer to Wigan Athletic but Chelsea turned down his request, with Chelsea citing him in their first team plans. He started the Carling Cup match against Fulham which Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties. Josh McEachran made his first Premier League appearance of the season as he came on as a 82 minute substitute in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Swansea. Josh McEachran started the Carling Cup match against Everton and won a penalty for Chelsea.
side to win the 2010 European Under-17 Football Championship
. He quickly progressed through the ranks and has since and has gone on to become a regular in the England U19
side and was further rewarded for his good early season form with Chelsea's first team by making his debut for England U21
against Germany
on 16 November 2010 at the age of 17. Mceachran has become a full England U21
international at 18 years of age.
McEachran has said he idolized Zinedine Zidane
and Andrés Iniesta
growing up. McEachran has been likened as a blend of Iniesta and Xavi
by pundits.
Former Chelsea player and former Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins
recalled the first time he laid eyes on McEachran saying: "A couple of years back, when I had just joined Chelsea, I was watching an Under-17 match between us and Racing, a club side from Argentina. Josh was playing, despite only being 15; I'd never seen him play before, but in the first half he cut inside someone and played an inch-perfect pass inside the full-back. I turned to the other Chelsea coaches next to me and said, 'That's Liam Brady
!' It was the biggest compliment I could think of at the time."
Stuart Pearce
, the England national football team
under-21 manager, praised McEachran after a friendly against Italy
. He said, "Chelsea think extremely highly of him (Josh) and you can see why. He's got the ability and the vision that you know, if players run off of him, he's got the ability to find them with passes. All of our cutting passes probably came from him. I think, in Josh, he's got a really outstanding talent, similar to Jack Wilshere
, and it bodes well for us."
Under the management of Carlo Ancelotti
, McEachran was deployed mainly as a defensive midfielder in his appearances for the first team, usually replacing Michael Essien
or John Obi Mikel, although his preferred position is as a centre or attacking midfielder.
However, under the new Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas he was given a more advanced attacking role. Villas-Boas commented on McEachran saying "This is a youngster with so much talent, Physique-wise, there is nothing to him at the moment. In the changing room you see him getting ready to go and train and he looks nothing like a footballer. His power and pace is in his head. He went on "But you could say the same about Luka Modric
, Jack Wilshere
or Samir Nasri
. All are built with slight physiques but they are all among the finest midfield players in the world. Josh is going that way. His brain is always five yards ahead of the rest. I see in him very much as part of the future of this club."
star Brooke Vincent
since May 2011.
Discipline
As of 28 August 2011
Kingdom of England England U-17
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. He is a left-footed central creative midfield player.
Mceachran made his Chelsea debut aged 17 years and six months in September 2010, coming on as a substitute in a 4-1 away Champions League win in Zilina.
Early life
McEachran was born in Oxford to Scottish parents. He grew up in the village of KirtlingtonKirtlington
Kirtlington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Bicester.-Archaeology:The Portway is a pre-Roman road running parallel with the River Cherwell on high ground about east of the river. It bisects Kirtlington parish and passes through the village. A short stretch of it is now...
with his brothers Will and George. He began playing football for Garden City F.C. in the Oxford Mail Boys League, where he was spotted by a Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
scout. He then joined the Blues as an academy player at the age of 8 and rose through the ranks while juggling his academic responsibilities at Marlborough School
Marlborough School (Woodstock)
The Marlborough School is a co-educational Church of England comprehensive school in the small market town of Woodstock, about northwest of Oxford. The school's catchment area includes Woodstock itself and surrounding villages. The school is named after the Duke of Marlborough whose ancestral...
in Woodstock
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon....
.
Chelsea
McEachran made his competitive first team debut for Chelsea against MŠK ŽilinaMŠK Žilina
MŠK Žilina is a Slovak football club, based in the town of Žilina. They play in the Slovak Superliga and are one of the most successful clubs in this competition, having won five championships since the league's inception in 1993. The club and their supporters alike are nicknamed Šošoni...
on 15 September 2010 as a substitute. He became the first player to be born after the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
started on 25 November 1992 to take part in the competition. McEachran made his home debut in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, where he again came on as a substitute.
He made his Premier League debut on 25 September in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. On 23 November 2010 manager Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
announced that McEachran would make his first start against MŠK Žilina
MŠK Žilina
MŠK Žilina is a Slovak football club, based in the town of Žilina. They play in the Slovak Superliga and are one of the most successful clubs in this competition, having won five championships since the league's inception in 1993. The club and their supporters alike are nicknamed Šošoni...
in which he did. He followed this up by playing the entire game away to Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
in a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group game.
McEachran started for Chelsea against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge could be* Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England** The Battle of Stamford Bridge* Stamford Bridge , in London** by metonymy, Chelsea F.C., football club based in the stadium...
on 15 May 2011, a 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle and in total, he made nine starts and 13 sub appearances in campaign with then manager Carlo Ancelotti preferring to use him in a deep midfield role. His inclusion in the line-up was viewed by pundits as a suggestion that the Chelsea administration are keen to retain McEachran and that they recognise the importance of younger players in an otherwise ageing team. He then came off the bench to make his ninth league appearance away to Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in the final game of the 2010-11 Premier League season. In his debut season in the Chelsea first team, McEachran was awarded the Chelsea Young Player of The Year award on 19 May 2011.
On 15 July 2011, he signed a new five-year deal, alongside team-mate Ryan Bertrand
Ryan Bertrand
Ryan Dominic Bertrand is an English footballer who plays for Chelsea. He is a left back converted from a winger.Bertrand began his career at Gillingham, before being signed by Chelsea in July 2005. After graduating from the Chelsea youth system, Bertrand was sent on to loan to various club between...
who signed a four-year deal with Chelsea. Fifteen days later, he scored his first Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
senior team goal against Aston Villa with a first minute tap-in to open the scoring. Chelsea went on to win the game 2-0 after a 58th minute Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
Fernando José Torres Sanz , nicknamed , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker....
roundup and won the Barclays Asia Trophy. On 12 August 2011, Chelsea announced he would wear the number 20 shirt, last worn by Deco
Deco
Anderson Luís de Souza, OIH , commonly known as Deco, is a Brazilian-born Portuguese professional footballer who currently plays for Fluminense....
, for the 2011/12 season
2011–12 Chelsea F.C. season
The 2011–12 season is Chelsea Football Club's 97th competitive season, 20th consecutive season in the Premier League, and 106th year in existence as a football club.-Key dates:...
. He requested a loan transfer to Wigan Athletic but Chelsea turned down his request, with Chelsea citing him in their first team plans. He started the Carling Cup match against Fulham which Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties. Josh McEachran made his first Premier League appearance of the season as he came on as a 82 minute substitute in Chelsea's 4-1 win over Swansea. Josh McEachran started the Carling Cup match against Everton and won a penalty for Chelsea.
International career
McEachran represented and captained England at U-16 level and played a key role in the England U17England national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
side to win the 2010 European Under-17 Football Championship
2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout Map:-Semifinals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:6 goals Francisco Alcácer3 goals Connor Wickham Gerard Deulofeu Artun Akçakin2 goals Ross Barkley Anthony Koura Paul Pogba Yaya Sanogo Ricardo Esgaio...
. He quickly progressed through the ranks and has since and has gone on to become a regular in the England U19
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
side and was further rewarded for his good early season form with Chelsea's first team by making his debut for England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
against Germany
Germany national under-21 football team
The Germany national under-21 football team represents the under-21s of Germany in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and is controlled by the German Football Association , the governing body of football in Germany....
on 16 November 2010 at the age of 17. Mceachran has become a full England U21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
international at 18 years of age.
Style of play
McEachran's best attributes are his ability of unlocking defenses with his close control on the ball, vision and composure.McEachran has said he idolized Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
and Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta Luján is a Spanish football player. He currently plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, and the Spanish national team....
growing up. McEachran has been likened as a blend of Iniesta and Xavi
Xavi
Xavier Hernández i Creus , commonly known as Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi , is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, where he has spent his entire 14-year career....
by pundits.
Former Chelsea player and former Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins
Ray Wilkins
Raymond Colin Wilkins MBE , often known as "Butch" Wilkins, is an English former footballer and at present a television pundit...
recalled the first time he laid eyes on McEachran saying: "A couple of years back, when I had just joined Chelsea, I was watching an Under-17 match between us and Racing, a club side from Argentina. Josh was playing, despite only being 15; I'd never seen him play before, but in the first half he cut inside someone and played an inch-perfect pass inside the full-back. I turned to the other Chelsea coaches next to me and said, 'That's Liam Brady
Liam Brady
Liam Brady is a former Irish association football player, and former assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national football team....
!' It was the biggest compliment I could think of at the time."
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce
Stuart Pearce OBE is an English football manager and former player. He is currently the manager of the England national under-21 team and the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team...
, the England national football team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
under-21 manager, praised McEachran after a friendly against Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He said, "Chelsea think extremely highly of him (Josh) and you can see why. He's got the ability and the vision that you know, if players run off of him, he's got the ability to find them with passes. All of our cutting passes probably came from him. I think, in Josh, he's got a really outstanding talent, similar to Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team....
, and it bodes well for us."
Under the management of Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
, McEachran was deployed mainly as a defensive midfielder in his appearances for the first team, usually replacing Michael Essien
Michael Essien
Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play...
or John Obi Mikel, although his preferred position is as a centre or attacking midfielder.
However, under the new Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas he was given a more advanced attacking role. Villas-Boas commented on McEachran saying "This is a youngster with so much talent, Physique-wise, there is nothing to him at the moment. In the changing room you see him getting ready to go and train and he looks nothing like a footballer. His power and pace is in his head. He went on "But you could say the same about Luka Modric
Luka Modric
Luka Modrić is a Croatian footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and for the Croatia national football team.Modrić's childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence. After showing promise in hometown club Zadar's youth team, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager in 2002. His...
, Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere
Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Arsenal and the England national team....
or Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri
Samir Nasri is a French international footballer who plays for English club Manchester City in the Premier League and the France national team. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger, although he has also been deployed in central midfield. Nasri is known for his technical...
. All are built with slight physiques but they are all among the finest midfield players in the world. Josh is going that way. His brain is always five yards ahead of the rest. I see in him very much as part of the future of this club."
Personal life
McEachran has been dating Coronation StreetCoronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
star Brooke Vincent
Brooke Vincent
Brooke Levi Vincent is an actress in the British soap opera Coronation Street. She joined the soap in 2004, taking over from Emma Woodward in the role of Sophie Webster.- Career :...
since May 2011.
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup1 | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
2010–11 2010–11 Chelsea F.C. season The 2010–11 season is Chelsea Football Clubs 96th competitive season, 19th consecutive season in the Premier League, and 105th year in existence as a football club... |
9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011–12 2011–12 Chelsea F.C. season The 2011–12 season is Chelsea Football Club's 97th competitive season, 20th consecutive season in the Premier League, and 106th year in existence as a football club.-Key dates:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | |
- 1Also includes other competitive competitions, including the FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, Carling Cup, and FA Community ShieldFA Community ShieldThe Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
.
Discipline
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 |
| Fouls | 5 |
| Fouls/Cards Ratio | 0.2 |
As of 28 August 2011
Club
ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
- FA Youth CupFA Youth CupThe Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
: 20102009–10 FA Youth CupThe FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON 2009–10 was the 58th edition of the FA Youth Cup.467 Clubs were initially accepted, although there was one withdrawal, Worcester City, with 53 of the remaining 466 being new entries.... - Barclays Premier League: Runners Up 2010-11
- Premier League Asia TrophyPremier League Asia TrophyThe Premier League Asia Trophy is a friendly four-team pre-season football tournament held in Asia every two years. The competition is contested by three Premier League football clubs and the home team...
: 20112011 Barclays Asia Trophy- Third-place playoff :- Final :-Ticket sales:Ticket prices for each match day in Hong Kong dollars were: $130 , $210 , $270 , $330 , $460 ....
International
Kingdom of England England U-17England national under-17 football team
-Elite Qualifying Group 3:-Group stage:-Fifth place play-off:-FA International U17 Tournament:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2012 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round....
- UEFA Under-17 ChampionshipUEFA European Under-17 Football ChampionshipThe UEFA U-17 Championship is an annual football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. From 1982 to 2001 it was an Under-16 event.This meeting serves as a preliminary competition for the FIFA U-17 World Cup every other year....
: 20102010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship-Group B:---------------------Knockout Map:-Semifinals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:6 goals Francisco Alcácer3 goals Connor Wickham Gerard Deulofeu Artun Akçakin2 goals Ross Barkley Anthony Koura Paul Pogba Yaya Sanogo Ricardo Esgaio...
Individual
- Chelsea Young Player of the Year: 2011
- Oxfordshire Sport Award: Sport Man of the Year 2010