Zat Knight
Knight training with Aston Villa in 2008
Personal information
Full name Zatyiah Knight[1]
Date of birth (1980-05-02) 2 May 1980[2]
Place of birth Solihull, England
Height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre back[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
0000–1999 Rushall Olympic
1999–2007 Fulham 150 (3)
2000 → Peterborough United (loan) 8 (0)
2007–2009 Aston Villa 40 (4)
2009–2014 Bolton Wanderers 168 (4)
2014–2015 Colorado Rapids 4 (0)
2015 Reading 2 (0)
Total 372 (11)
International career
2002 England U21 4 (0)
2005 England 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zatyiah Knight (born 2 May 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

Knight had extended spells at Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Fulham in the Premier League and the Championship. He finished his career at Reading in the Championship. Knight represented England at under-21 and senior international levels.

Club career

Fulham

Knight was born in Solihull, West Midlands.[2] Fulham signed him from Rushall Olympic on 19 February 1999.[2] As Knight was not a professionally contracted player to Olympic, Fulham were not obliged to pay a fee for him, but owner Mohamed Al-Fayed sent the club 30 tracksuits as a gesture of thanks.[3] After five years at Fulham, Knight signed a contract extension that would keep him at Craven Cottage until 2008, having established himself under Chris Coleman's management.[4]

Knight scored four goals for Fulham, two in the 2004–05 season and two in 2006–07. The first was in a FA Cup match against Watford in a 1–1 draw,[5] his second was a Premier League goal against Norwich City in a 6–0 win.[6] His last goal for Fulham came against Bolton Wanderers in a 2–1 loss.[7] He was arguably Fulham's most consistent player in 2006–07, a reward for this was being given temporary captaincy of the club while regular skipper Luís Boa Morte was out injured.[8]

Before a match against West Ham United, it was announced that he had broken his jaw in two places while messing around with his brother. Chris Coleman has been quoted as saying that it takes more than horseplay to break one's jaw in two places, but Knight insists there was "nothing sinister" about the incident.[9]

At the start of 2007–08, Knight signed a two-year contract extension with Fulham, contracting him until the summer of 2010.[10] Prior to signing a new contract, Knight was linked with a move away from Fulham, but insisted he wanted to stay at the club and win trophies.[11]

Aston Villa

Knight playing for Aston Villa in 2008

On 29 August 2007, Knight signed a four-year contract with the club he supported as a boy, Aston Villa, for a £3.5 million fee.[12] His last Fulham match was the 2–1 defeat against Villa, in which he played a part in Villa's equaliser when an Ashley Young shot deflected off him into the net, although this was later given as Young's goal. In the early hours of the day of his transfer (29 August), Knight and his brother Carlos were arrested in a drugs raid on their family home.[13] Knight was released on police bail while Carlos was remanded in custody. Police said that a quantity of drugs were seized at the home. Knight feared that he might miss the press conference announcing his signing but his agent bailed him out and no mention of the incident was made at the press conference.[14] Knight scored a headed goal on his Villa debut in a 2–0 win against Chelsea on 2 September 2007.[15] Knight's next goal for Villa did not come until the following season, on 26 December 2008, when Villa were trailing 2–1 against Arsenal at Villa Park. Knight scored the equaliser in the 91st minute of the match, in front of the Holte End, to make it 2–2.

Bolton Wanderers

On 25 July 2009, Knight signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £4 million.[16] Knight made his Bolton debut in the 1–0 defeat to Sunderland on 15 August 2009. He scored his first goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on 27 February 2010 and this led to a crucial 1–0 home win which lifted the team out of the relegation zone.[17]

Knight's contract expired at the end of 2011–12, making him a free agent. However, on 9 July 2012, Bolton announced that he had signed a further two-year contract.[18] Knight often took the captain's armband at Bolton when usual skipper Kevin Davies was off the pitch. When Davies left at the end of 2012–13, Knight was named as the new captain for 2013–14.[19] Jay Spearing took the armband when Knight came out of the team and Spearing retained it when Knight returned. On 8 March 2014, Knight scored his first goal in three and a half years when scoring Bolton's third in their 5–1 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road. At the end of that season, he was released by the club along with Chris Eagles, Tyrone Mears and Jay Lynch.[20]

Colorado Rapids and Reading

On 1 October 2014, Knight signed for Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids.[21] He played all four of their remaining matches of the season as they finished outside the play-offs, and had his contract terminated by mutual consent on 2 February 2015.[22]

Following his release from the Rapids, Knight went on trial with Watford,[23] before signing with fellow Championship club Reading on 12 March 2015.[24][25] He was released by Reading on 21 May 2015.[26]

International career

Knight made his England debut on 28 May 2005 as a substitute against the United States in a friendly match. He gained his second cap in a friendly against Colombia on 31 May.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Knight training with Bolton Wanderers in 2011
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fulham 1999–2000[28] First Division 000000—00
2000–01[29] First Division 000030—30
2001–02[30] Premier League 1003020—150
2002–03[31] Premier League 17010105[lower-alpha 1]0240
2003–04[32] Premier League 3106000—370
2004–05[33] Premier League 3515120—422
2005–06[34] Premier League 3001010—320
2006–07[35] Premier League 2321000—242
2007–08[36] Premier League 40———40
Total 150317190501814
Peterborough United (loan) 1999–2000[28] Third Division 80———80
Aston Villa 2007–08[36] Premier League 2710010—281
2008–09[37] Premier League 13130109[lower-alpha 2]0261
Total 402302090542
Bolton Wanderers 2009–10[38] Premier League 3513030—411
2010–11[39] Premier League 3413020—391
2011–12[40] Premier League 2502020—290
2012–13[41] Championship 4303010—470
2013–14[42] Championship 3122020—352
Total 1684130100—1914
Colorado Rapids 2014[43] Major League Soccer 40———40
Reading 2014–15[44] Championship 20———20
Career total 372933121014044010
  1. ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, one in UEFA Cup
  2. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Intertoto Cup, seven in UEFA Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England[45] 200520
Total20

Honours

Fulham

References

  1. 1 2 "Zat Knight". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  3. ↑ Leach, Jimmy (24 July 2009). "The strangest transfer fees in history". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Knight signs extension". Fulham F.C. 22 July 2004. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Watford 1–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  6. ↑ "Fulham 6–0 Norwich". BBC Sport. 15 May 2005. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Holt, Sarah (11 February 2007). "Bolton 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 February 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Knight's verdict". Fulham F.C. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Knight plays down injury incident". BBC Sport. 14 December 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  10. ↑ "Knight commits". Fulham F.C. 6 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Future Goals". Fulham F.C. 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Knight moves to Villa". Aston Villa F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  13. ↑ "Aston Villa star's drug dealer brother jailed". 30 April 2008.
  14. ↑ Ducker, James (30 August 2007). "Knight's arrival at Villa tainted". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  15. ↑ McKenzie, Andrew (2 September 2007). "Aston Villa 2–0 Chelsea". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
  16. ↑ "Bolton sign Knight and Ricketts". BBC Sport. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2009.
  17. ↑ "Bolton 1–0 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. 27 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "Bolton Wanderers defender Zat Knight signs new contract". BBC Sport. 9 July 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "New skipper confirmed". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Four senior players to be released". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 5 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "New signing Zat Knight returns and is cleared to feature for the Colorado Rapids". Colorado Rapids. 1 October 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Defender Zat Knight departs the Colorado Rapids". Colorado Rapids. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Former Aston Villa and Bolton defender Knight on trial at Watford". Talk Sport. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Zat Knight to join Reading FC on a free transfer". Reading Post. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Zat Knight signs for the Royals". Reading F.C. 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  26. ↑ "Contract Update". Reading F.C. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "Zat Knight England stats". Englandstats.com. Davey Naylor. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2007.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Zat Knight in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  36. 1 2 "Games played by Zat Knight in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  41. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  43. ↑ "Z. Knight". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Zat Knight in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  45. ↑ "Knight, Zat". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  46. ↑ "Fulham clinch Euro glory". BBC Sport. 27 August 2002. Archived from the original on 14 July 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
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