Sam Vokes

Samuel Michael Vokes (born 21 October 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Championship club Stoke City and the Wales national team.

Sam Vokes
Vokes with Wales, 2016
Personal information
Full name Samuel Michael Vokes[1]
Date of birth (1989-10-21) 21 October 1989[2]
Place of birth Southampton, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)[3]
Playing position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Stoke City
Number 9
Youth career
2005–2006 AFC Bournemouth
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 AFC Bournemouth 54 (16)
2008–2012 Wolverhampton Wanderers 47 (6)
2009 → Leeds United (loan) 8 (1)
2010–2011 → Bristol City (loan) 1 (0)
2011 → Sheffield United (loan) 6 (1)
2011 → Norwich City (loan) 4 (1)
2011–2012 → Burnley (loan) 9 (2)
2012 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 14 (3)
2012–2019 Burnley 230 (56)
2019– Stoke City 41 (7)
National team‡
2007–2010 Wales U21 14 (4)
2008– Wales 64 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:52, 27 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:45, 9 September 2019 (UTC)

Vokes began his professional career at AFC Bournemouth in League One, making his debut in 2006. His form there earned a move to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he helped them win promotion to the Premier League in his first season. In four seasons at Wolves, he played only 59 games, spending time on loan at six other clubs. In 2012, he transferred to Burnley, where he made 258 appearances and scored 62 goals, twice earning promotion to the Premier League. He signed for Stoke in January 2019.

He has become an established member of the Wales national team, who he has also represented at under-21 level. Born and raised in England, Vokes is eligible to represent Wales through a grandfather born there.[4] He has earned over 60 caps since his debut in 2008, and was part of their team that reached the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016.

Early life

Vokes was born in Southampton and raised in Lymington, and attended Priestlands School in Pennington.[5][6] Vokes began playing in the Southampton Academy but was released when he was ten-years-old.[7] Vokes took a BTEC at Brockenhurst College and was taken on by Bournemouth's Academy.[8]

Club career

AFC Bournemouth

Vokes stepped up into AFC Bournemouth's first team on 5 December 2006 in a 2–0 victory over Nottingham Forest.[9] His first senior goal came in a 1–1 draw at Gillingham on 16 December.[10] The club gave him a three-and-a-half-year professional contract during the following month.[11] He made 14 appearances and scored four goals in his debut season as the Cherries finished in 18th spot.[12]

Vokes remained at Bournemouth during the 2007–08 season, despite being linked to several other clubs, including Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Everton and Celtic.[13] He also turned down Crewe Alexandra in January 2008 who had made a £200,000 bid.[14][15] Vokes was a bright spark in an otherwise tumultuous season for the Cherries as they were embroiled in a club ownership saga. His 12-goal tally could not prevent Bournemouth from being relegated to League Two.[16]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

He eventually signed a four-year contract with Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 23 May 2008.[17] Vokes marked his debut for the club by coming off the bench to equalise in a 2–2 draw away to Plymouth Argyle on the opening day of the 2008–09 season.[18] With the goal-scoring form of Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake firing the club to the top of the table – that they led for almost the entire season – Vokes was mostly only employed as a substitute. Nonetheless he contributed to eight goals to help the team win promotion to the Premier League as champions.[19]

To gain playing time, Vokes moved to League One side Leeds United in October 2009 on loan until the New Year,[20] making his Leeds debut in a 2–1 victory over Norwich City on 19 October. He scored once for the club against Bristol Rovers[21] but competition between Leeds strikers meant Vokes returned to Wolves when the deal ended.

Vokes went out on loan once more in August 2010 when he moved to Championship side Bristol City.[22] He endured a miserable stay, tearing his hamstring within minutes of making his debut in a match against Millwall and re-aggravating the injury in a reserve match in December.[23] He returned to Wolves when his loan expired in January having played just 13 minutes of first team football.[24]

Once again fit, he moved on a month-long loan to another Championship side, Sheffield United, in February 2011[25] and made his début the same evening in a 1–1 draw with Reading.[26] With their other attacking options regaining fitness, the Blades elected not to extend Vokes' loan period,[27] meaning he was instead signed up by promotion-chasing Norwich City on 23 March on an emergency loan for the rest of the season.[28] However, an injury to Wolves' leading goalscorer Kevin Doyle saw the club recall him after just four appearances for the Canaries, during which he scored once.[29] Back at Molineux, he made two substitute appearances for the team during the run-in as they narrowly avoided relegation on the final day despite losing 3–2 against Blackburn Rovers.[30]

During the 2011–12 season, he made four Premier League appearances for Wolves, but did not start a league match. In November 2011 he once more went out on loan to a Championship side, this time joining Burnley until 15 January.[31] He played nine times for Burnley, scoring twice and impressed manager Eddie Howe.[32]

On 30 January 2012, Vokes joined Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion on loan until the end of the season.[33] He scored on his full home debut in a 2–2 draw with Millwall on 14 February 2012. He scored three goals in total during his 14 appearances for the Seagulls.[34]

Burnley

On 31 July 2012, Vokes joined Championship side Burnley permanently signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £350,000.[35][36] On 2 December, Vokes scored an equalising goal for Burnley in the 89th minute against fierce rivals Blackburn Rovers a match which ended 1–1.[37] Despite this goal, Vokes struggled to establish himself in the first eleven and was used predominantly as a substitute.[38] This was mainly down to the form of top scorer Charlie Austin, with manager Sean Dyche often opting to partner Austin with fellow strikers Martin Paterson or Danny Ings, both being quicker and more mobile than Vokes.[39]

On the eve of the 2013–14 Championship season, Burnley agreed a deal with Queens Park Rangers for the transfer of Charlie Austin, who had attracted lots of attention from Premier League teams throughout the summer.[40] With Austin moving out of the club, this gave Vokes his long-awaited chance in the starting eleven, and he formed a striking partnership with Danny Ings and he finished the season with 21 goals in 44 matches helping the Clarets finished 2nd, gaining promotion to the Premier League.[41] He missed the run in after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament which kept him out until December 2014.[42] He marked his return from injury with a goal against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup.[43] Vokes played 15 league matches in 2014–15 as Burnley suffered relegation back to the Championship.[44]

On 8 August 2015, on the opening day of the 2015–16 Championship season, Vokes scored his first league goal since returning from a knee injury for Burnley against former club Leeds United in a 1–1 draw.[45] Vokes signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Burnley in January 2016.[46] He scored 16 goals in 46 appearances as Burnley returned to the Premier League as Championship title winners.[47]

Vokes scored his first Premier League goal on 20 August 2016 at Turf Moor in a 2–0 win against Liverpool.[48] Vokes scored 12 goals in 36 games in 2016–17 helping the team avoid relegation, finishing in 16th.[49] Vokes scored twice in a 3–2 win away at champions Chelsea on the opening day of the 2017–18 season.[50] He made 32 appearances as Burnley had a successful campaign finishing in 7th, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.[51] In the 2018–19 season, Vokes scored the club's first European goal in over half a century from close range for an equaliser away to Aberdeen.[52] Burnley went out to Greek side Olympiacos in the play-off round.[53] In October 2018 Vokes signed new conract at Turf Moor keeping him contract until 2021.[54] However, in January 2019 manager Sean Dyche said he would allow Vokes to leave in the club in the January transfer window.[55]

Stoke City

Vokes joined Stoke City on 31 January 2019 on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[56] He made his debut two days later against Hull City, and missed a penalty in a 2–0 defeat.[57] Vokes scored his first goal for Stoke on 23 February in a 1–1 draw with Aston Villa.[58] Vokes ended the 2018–19 season with three goals from 12 appearances.[59]

International career
Vokes making his Welsh debut against Iceland in 2008

Born and brought up in England, Vokes is eligible to represent Wales through a grandfather born in Colwyn Bay.[60][4] He did not know he was eligible for Wales until manager Brian Flynn called him up to the Welsh under-21 team,[60] and he made his debut against Northern Ireland on 6 February 2007. The seventeen-year-old made an instant impression by scoring after 36 seconds, a team record, in a 4–0 victory.[61] He remained in the team and featured in their European U-21 Championship qualifying campaign.

He was soon called up to the senior squad and made his debut in a 1–0 friendly win over Iceland on 28 May 2008, coming on as a substitute for Freddy Eastwood early into the second half.[62] Vokes scored his first senior international goal when he netted the winner in a 1–0 win over Azerbaijan in their opening 2010 World Cup qualifier on 6 September 2008, striking seven minutes before the end at the Millennium Stadium.[63]

In May 2016, Vokes was listed for the 29-man squad for a pre-Euro 2016 training camp,[64] and was retained for the tournament final squad.[65] On 1 July, he came on as a substitute and scored for Wales in a 3–1 win over Belgium at the finals, sealing the victory to take Wales to their first ever semi-final appearance at a major tournament.[66]

At the 2018 China Cup, where Wales finished as runners-up, Vokes scored twice in a 6–0 win over the hosts in the semi-finals on 22 March.[67]

Vokes has scored more goals for Wales than any player born outside the country.[60]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 27 June 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
AFC Bournemouth 2006–07[12] League One 134100000144
2007–08[68] League One 411210102[lower-alpha 1]04512
Total 54162010205916
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2008–09[69] Championship 3662210—398
2009–10[70] Premier League 503010—90
2010–11[71] Premier League 2020——40
2011–12[34] Premier League 40—31—71
Total 4767251—599
Leeds United (loan) 2009–10[70] League One 81——2[lower-alpha 1]0101
Bristol City (loan) 2010–11[71] Championship 10—00—10
Sheffield United (loan) 2010–11[71] Championship 61———61
Norwich City (loan) 2010–11[71] Championship 41———41
Burnley (loan) 2011–12[34] Championship 92———92
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2011–12[34] Championship 14310——153
Burnley 2012–13[72] Championship 4641020—494
2013–14[73] Championship 39201140—4421
2014–15[44] Premier League 1502100—171
2015–16[74] Championship 43152110—4616
2016–17[49] Premier League 37104210—4212
2017–18[51] Premier League 3041010—324
2018–19[59] Premier League 20310106[lower-alpha 2]1284
Total 230561251006125862
Stoke City 2018–19[59] Championship 1230000—123
2019–20[75] Championship 2941033—337
Total 4171033—4510
Career total 41493237194101466105
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
As of match played 9 September 2019[76]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 200861
200981
201020
201132
201250
201361
201411
201560
2016112
201780
201853
201930
Total6411

International goals
As of match played 11 October 2018. Wales score listed first, score column indicates score after each Vokes goal.[76]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 6 September 2008Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales3 Azerbaijan1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification[77]
2 12 August 2009Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro11 Montenegro1–21–2Friendly[78]
3 12 November 2011Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales19 Norway3–14–1[79]
4 4–1
5 6 February 2013Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales25 Austria2–02–1[80]
6 5 March 2014Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales31 Iceland2–13–1[81]
7 1 July 2016Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France43 Belgium3–13–1UEFA Euro 2016[66]
8 5 September 2016Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales45 Moldova1–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification[82]
9 22 March 2018 Guangxi Sports Center, Nanning, China 57  China PR 3–0 6–0 2018 China Cup [83]
10 4–0
11 11 October 2018Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales60 Spain1–41–4Friendly[84]

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Burnley

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  2. Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. "S. Vokes: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  4. "Vokes looking forward to an England test". Bournemouth Echo. 15 May 2008.
  5. "Students at Priestlands School roar behind ex-pupil and Welsh hero Sam Vokes". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  6. "Vokes looking forward to an England test". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 15 May 2008.
  7. "Vokes holds no grudges against Southampton". Clitheroe Advertiser. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  8. "Burnley striker Sam Vokes delighted to be playing more than Mr Nice Guy". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  9. "Bournemouth 2–0 Nottm Forest". BBC Sport. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  10. "Gillingham v AFC Bournemouth, 16 December 2006". 11V11. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  11. "Vokes hailed after earning deal". BBC Sport. 22 January 2007.
  12. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  13. "Vokes unfazed by big club scouts". BBC Sport. 24 March 2008.
  14. "CREWE CLOSING IN ON VOKES". Daily Echo. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  15. "Vokes says no". Crewe Chronicle. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  16. "Mum's the word for Vokes". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 3 March 2008.
  17. "Vokes joins Wolves from Cherries". BBC Sport. 23 May 2008.
  18. "Plymouth 2–2 Wolves". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008.
  19. "Wolves 1–0 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 3 May 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  20. "Leeds sign Wolves' Vokes on loan". BBC Sport. 19 October 2009.
  21. "Bristol Rovers 0–4 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 27 October 2009.
  22. "Bristol City sign Wolves striker Sam Vokes on loan". BBC Sport. 5 August 2010.
  23. "Vokes suffers new setback". Bristol City. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010.
  24. "Vokes returns to Wolves". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  25. "Bjorn Helge Riise and Sam Vokes loaned to Blades". BBC Sport. 15 February 2011.
  26. "Sheff Utd 1 – 1 Reading". BBC Sport. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  27. "Vokes exit as Blades have change of heart". Sheffield Telegraph. 23 March 2011.
  28. "Dani Pacheco and Sam Vokes Norwich City bound". BBC Sport. 24 March 2011.
  29. "Play it again Sam". wolves.co.uk. 22 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2011.
  30. "Wolves 2–3 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  31. "Burnley sign Wolves striker Sam Vokes". BBC Sport. 18 November 2011.
  32. "Eddie Howe is impressed by loan striker Vokes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  33. "Seagulls swoop for Sam". Wolves FC. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012.
  34. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  35. "Burnley sign Wales international Sam Vokes from Wolves". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  36. "Burnley FC headlines". Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  37. "Burnley 1–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 2 December 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  38. "Sam Vokes says Burnley can mount promotion challenge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  39. "Wolves reject £10m bid for Fletcher " Express & Star". Express & Star. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  40. "Charlie Austin: QPR sign Burnley striker for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport.
  41. "Burnley: Danny Ings says Championship form not lucky". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  42. "Sam Vokes: Burnley striker ruptures anterior cruciate ligament". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  43. "Burnley 1–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  44. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  45. "United in opening day draw". Leeds United Official site. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  46. "Sam Vokes: Burnley striker signs three-and-a-half-year deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  47. "Charlton 0–3 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  48. "Burnley 2–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  49. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  50. "Chelsea 2–3 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  51. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  52. "Aberdeen 1–1 Burnley". BBC Sport. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  53. "Burnley 1–1 Olympiacos". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  54. "Sam Vokes: Burnley striker signs new deal at Turf Moor until 2021". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  55. "Sean Dyche on the decision to sell Burnley striker Sam Vokes". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  56. "Peter Crouch: Stoke City striker signs for Burnley with Sam Vokes moving to Potters". BBC Sport. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  57. "Hull 2–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  58. "Stoke 1–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  59. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  60. Wathan, Chris (14 June 2016). "How these nine English-born footballers came to be Wales' Euro 2016 heroes". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  61. "Sam impresses all with superb debut". Dorset Echo. 7 February 2007.
  62. Shuttleworth, Peter (28 May 2008). "Iceland 0–1 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  63. Shuttleworth, Peter (6 September 2008). "Wales 1–0 Azerbaijan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  64. "Gareth Bale left out of Wales' Euro 2016 training squad because of Champions League commitments". Wales Online. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  65. "Euro 2016: Huddersfield Town transfer target makes Wales squad but Emyr Huws cut". The Huddersfield Examiner. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  66. "Brilliant Wales stun Belgium to reach Euro 2016 semi-final". RTÉ Sport. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  67. Pritchard, Dafydd (22 March 2018). "China PR 0–6 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  68. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  69. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  70. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  71. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  72. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018."Games played by Sam Vokes in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  73. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  74. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  75. "Games played by Sam Vokes in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  76. "Vokes, Sam". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  77. "Wales 1–0 Azerbaijan". BBC Sport. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  78. "Montenegro 2–1 Wales". BBC Sport. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  79. "International friendly: Wales 4–1 Norway". BBC Sport. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  80. "BBC Wales Sport at the Liberty Stadium". BBC Sport. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  81. "Wales 3–1 Iceland". BBC Sport. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  82. James, Stuart (5 September 2016). "Gareth Bale-inspired Wales lead Moldova a merry dance". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  83. "China PR v Wales". BBC Sport. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  84. James, Stuart (11 October 2018). "Wales 1–4 Spain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  85. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2009). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2009–2010. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 44, 416–417. ISBN 978-0-7553-1948-0.
  86. Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 94–95. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
  87. Anderson, John, ed. (2014). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2014–2015. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-4722-1251-1.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.