Stewart Downing Biography

Stewart Downing nationality

is English. The former footballer established himself as a professional footballer at Middlesbrough and over the years he came a long way while making a name for himself as a talented winger. At such a young age he became a key role player at the club. The former Liverpool player made an impact during his days on the field.

As they say behind every successful man there is woman. The same goes for the former winger as well. Aside from his career in football we will also provide some interesting details about the footballer’s personal life. Stay tuned and find out all the details in this article. Now without further adding let’s begin.

Details About Stewart Downing Biography You Probably Didn’t Know 

Stewart made a good Impact in his days on the field. Brendan Rodgers, the Irish manager stated about him: “He has done very well at West Ham. He is a really gifted player technically, he has a wonderful technique, he plays games and trains every day and is a good guy, so it's not surprising to me how well he has done. Andy is a fantastic football player. He has quality and ability around the box.”

Stewart Downing Information

Before we get into the details of

Stewart Downing childhood

and early life we will fill you in with the details of his bio and other information. 

Stewart Downing Bio

• Full name: Stewart Downing

Personal information

• Stewart Downing date of birth: 22 July 1984

• Zodiac sign: Cancer

• Place of birth: Middlesbrough, England

• Stewart Downing religion: Christian

• Father’s name: Stewart Downing

• Mother’s name: Kerry Downing

• Stewart Downing nationality: British

• Marital status: married

• Wife’s name: Michelle Downing

• Children: Francesca Downing

Football Information

• Position: Winger, attacking midfielder

• Debut in profession: 6 September 2001                                                                 

• Clubs served: Middlesbrough, Sunderland (loan), Aston Villa, Liverpool, West Ham United, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers

Stewart Downing Early Life

The former footballer was born on 22 July 1984 in Middlesbrough, Cleveland to his father Stewart Downing and his mother Kerry Downing. According to

Stewart Downing date of birth

his zodiac sign is cancer. As a child he was very passionate about football and his childhood was filled with chasing the ball along with his friends.Just like any other boy he dreamed of one day becoming a professional footballer. But this wasn’t just a passing fantasy. Stewart completed his education and got graduated from the Middlesbrough Academy.

Stewart Downing Profile

Over the years the footballer came a long way and made a name for himself as a skilled footballer. Based on Stewart Downing bio he played as a Winger and attacking midfielder in his days on the pitch. We have gathered all the details about his career both in clubs and on the international level. Join us in this journey and find how the footballer set foot on the road to fame in the following.

Middlesbrough

Stewart officially signed a contract with Middlesbrough and joined the side for the 2001-02 season. He debuted for the team on 24 April 2002 in a Premier League game away to Ipswich Town. He played the whole 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss at Portman Road. During the 2001-02 season he only made appearances in 3 games and later he made three other appearances in the 2002-03 season. The footballer worked hard and fully dedicated himself to the task. He managed to aim the net for his first senior goal on 1 October 2002 in a 4-1 League Cup away win against

.

He featured in the game as a substitute. On 30 October 2003, the winger was loaned for one month to Sunderland, of the First Division. He showcased his talent on the pitch by scoring three goals in seven games, including an equalizer in a 3-1 victory at Gillingham. He also provided an assist for John Oster in that game. Downing proved himself worthy by scoring as many goals on his loan as Middlesbrough's top scorer Szilard Nemeth had recorded all season.

Later on 11 December as Juninho was injured his loan was cut off short. For the rest of the season he was a regular player on the field however on 29 February 2004 he was an unused substitute as the side won the 2004 League Cup Final over

. Find out more details about Stewart Downing biography in the following.

Stewart Downing a Real Team Player 

In the 2004-05 season the winger’s performance improved as he aimed the net for six goals. Aside from scoring goals himself he also provided assists for his teammates. During the UEFA Cup game over Lazio on November 2004, Downing along with his teammate Zenden played well for the team. Although Zenden grabbed a brace in a 2-0 win it was Downing who was praised for his great performance. He provided numerous assists for his teammates especially Zenden to score goals.

His performance saw him be called up to the Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad in February 2005 for a friendly game over the

. At the end of 2005, an injury prevented Downing to feature in the games for five months. Following his recovery, he got back on the pitch during the 2006 UEFA Cup final. He provided three assists in the 4-2 win against Steaua Bucuresti in the semi-final second leg. He also featured in the final as the side was defeated by Sevilla 4-0 at the Philips Stadium. Stay tuned for more details about Stewart Downing biography.

Middlesbrough's Second Longest Serving Player

On 26 February 2008, the footballer extended his spell at the club for another five years, keeping him until the summer of 2013. As Mark Schwarzer left the club in May 2008, Downing became Middlesbrough's second longest serving player after Brad Jones. The 2008-09 season wasn’t such a pleasant season for Middlesbrough. The season started very well and it was their best start in six years as they marked the acme by climbing to 8th place in the table. However, things took another course and they had the worst run in November 2008 struggling in the relegation zone.

On 5 January 2009, Downing wanted to be transferred to another club however his request was rejected. At the end of the season the British footballer sustained an injury in his foot following a challenge from Stiliyan Petrov in a home game over

in May 2009. His injury was severe and his condition required surgery which prevented him from playing for at least four months. As for the club’s situation

 eventually was relegated after a 2-1 loss at West Ham United. Downing ended the season without any league goals.

Aston Villa

After Middlesbrough was relegated, Downing reached an agreement with Aston Villa while signing a four-year contract with the side. He joined the club in the 2009 Summer transfer window under the supervision of Martin O'Neill. After recovering from his injury at Middlesbrough, on 7 November 2009 O'Neill declared that the footballer would be returning to the training. He made his debut for the side while going on the pitch as a 69th-minute substitute for Steve Sidwell during an away game over Burnley. The footballer managed to aim the net for his first goal in the League Cup fourth-round tie over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on 1 December 2009.

As Downing returned he took a position in his favorite role on the left-wing along with his teammate James Milner moving to the central midfield for Villa. On 12 December 2009, the footballer featured in the side’s first victory at Old Trafford over Manchester United since 1983 which was an eventual 1-0 win. Downing showcased his goal-scoring abilities while scoring his first and second league goal for Villa in a 5-2 victory over Burnley on 2 February 2010. Stay tuned for more details about

Stewart Downing biography

in the following.

Stewart Downing Is Not for Sale

In his second season at Aston Villa things got better and Downing’s performance improved. He managed to score the first Premier League goal of the season over West Ham United at Villa Park on 14 August in a 3–0 victory. During the final game of the season the footballer aimed the net for his eighth goal in a game over Liverpool which was a 1-0 win. Downing’s performance drew attention from England top flight club Liverpool and there were speculations that he was going to join them.

On 6 July, Liverpool officially made a move as they offered £15 million for Downing. However, Aston Villa rejected their offer claiming that they will not let Downing go for less than £20 million. Villa manager stated that the footballer was not for sale and he will not be leaving for another club under any circumstances. However, on 13 July 2011, the side agreed with

’s offer and Downing joined the Reds. Learn more details about Stewart Downing biography in the following.

Liverpool

On 15 July 2011, Downing officially joined Liverpool for £20 million. He debuted for the side on 13 August 2011 in the first game of the 2011-12 premier league during a 1-1 draw over Sunderland at Anfield. On 20 August 2011 he played the whole 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Arsenal. On 6 January 2012 he managed to score his first goal for the side in a game over Oldham Athletic at Anfield in the third round of the FA Cup.

On 26 February he won the League cup with the reds while scoring a penalty. His great form on the field didn’t go unnoticed as he won the Alan Hardaker Trophy as Man of the Match. On 18 March 2012, he managed to score the winning goal in a 2-1 win against

in the FA Cup quarter-final. His performance was described to be “his most telling Liverpool contribution” so far.

West Ham United

On 13 August 2013, Downing reached an agreement with West Ham United and signed a four-year contract with the side. He debuted in a 2-0 home victory coming in as a substitute against Cardiff City at Upton Park. He scored his first goal for West Ham United on 3 May 2014 during a 2-0 home victory over

. In the 2014-15 season the footballer scored his first goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Crystal Palace.

Downing’s fine form saw him be positioned in the central role. On 1 November 2014, he aimed the net for a goal in a 2-2 draw with Stoke City. He scored his third goal for the side in another draw this time with Sunderland. The next week he scored in a 2-0 victory against Leicester City while curling a left-footed shot from 20 yards. Stay tuned for more details about

Stewart Downing biography

.

Return to Middlesbrough

On 16 July 2015, Downing decided to go back to his former club Middlesbrough while signing a four-year contract with the side. On 12 September 2015, he scored the first goal since he came back to the club in a 2-0 victory against Milton Keynes Dons at the Riverside. On the last day of the season, Middlesbrough got promoted following a 1-1 draw with righton & Hove Albion securing their position as runners-up. Later Middlesbrough faced relegation in January 2017 and they announced that they are willing to let him go during the transfer window.

Crystal Palace showed interest in signing with the footballer. However, no move was finalized.  After the second relegation Downing was informed by Garry Monk the manager that he could leave the club. Birmingham City manager

was interested in signing a contract with Downing and offered him a two-year contract and stated that he is a "keen admirer" of the player. However, the transfer never took place.

Blackburn Rovers

On 21 June 2019, the footballer signed a contract with Championship club Blackburn Rovers for one year. On 13 August, he aimed the net for his first goal in an EFL Cup second round tie against Oldham Athletic which was a 3-2 victory. Following the 2019-20 season Downing decided to part ways with the club. Although his departure was finalized, he signed a new contract with the club that November. After another season, the footballer decided to hang his boots and say goodbye to the football world and retire. 

International Career 

Downing earned his first call up to the national team while he was 19 years old, featuring in the 2003 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. While earning 7 caps he made his debut on 9 February 2005 in a friendly game against Netherlands. Following his transfer to Liverpool, Downing made appearances in two qualifying games. One of them was in a 3-0 victory against

, and a 1–0 win over Wales in which he provided the assist for the only goal of the match scored by former Aston Villa teammate Ashley Young.

Following his retirement, the former footballer stated: “I look back on the 35 times that I played for England with immense pride and I made some incredible memories that will last a lifetime. I feel very lucky and fortunate to have had the career I had. I am excited for the future whether that be in the media, coaching or management. I have learned a lot from the game over the years and gained a lot of experience that hopefully I can pass on to others. Thanks for everything.”

Style of Play 

A simple attacking midfielder with excellent teamwork. Aside from scoring goals himself he also provided assists for his teammates. Downing is a player with natural confidence. His mentality was a barrier for him during his time on the field. BBC Sport quotes Allardyce as saying: “Stewart is one of the best attacking players in the Premier League with the way he is playing, and he is getting goals on the back of that. It is a very big win for us before we have Chelsea next.” Learn more details about

Stewart Downing biography

in the following.

Reception 

Downing managed to win the Alan Hardaker Trophy as Man of the Match during his time at Liverpool. On 30 August 2012, in a game over Hearts he aimed the net for the winning goal over Anzhi Makhachkala at Anfield in the Europa League. Following his great performance Brendan Rodgers praised him by stating: “It's been a tough time. He's had a rough ride but he's an important member of our team.”

Goal Celebration 

When it comes to celebrating goals Downing runs in joy and he does the iconic move of making a fist in the air as a sign of victory.

Stewart Downing Outside Football

Now let’s get into the details of Stewart Downing life outside football. Looks like the former footballer is an outdoor person who likes to hang out on the shores of Ibiza. Find out more details about

Stewart Downing life story

in the following.

Stewart Downing Personal Life 

As for the footballer’s personal life, he prefers to keep the details of his life private. He doesn’t share pictures on Instagram. You can find the footballer signed up by the username of @stewartdowning on Instagram. Overall he has shared four pictures with nearly 2500 followers. Unlike other football players, Downing is not fond of sharing pictures of his family and activities on social media.

Family, Children and Relationships 

From 2003 until 2007 the former footballer dated Michaela Henderson-Thynne. However, their relationship didn’t work out and they parted ways due to the fact that she found out Downing fathered a child with another woman named Donna Moloney. Now he is married to his longtime girlfriend Michelle, since 2018.

Philanthropy 

Stewart Downing religion

is Christian and the good hearted footballer took part in many charitable projects aside from his football career. He supports the nationwide No Messin'campaign, along with freestyler Colin Nell and boxer Amir Khan, warning youngsters against playing on railway lines. In February 2008, Downing held a charity dinner with the boxer Ricky Hatton as a guest to raise money for the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The hospital had cared of Downing’s sister Vicky who died from leukemia back in 1993 while she was four years old.

Legal Issues  

In September 2008 Downing’s former agent Ian Elliott was arrested after the former footballer himself reported to the police that he had concerns "regarding the way his and his company's affairs [had] been handled". Prior to the whole issue Downing told everything to Middlesbrough and they advised him to involve lawyers and accountants to investigate, while The Football Association acted as liaison between the police and the club.

Also back in 2012, Downing was arrested for assault in the Cross Keys pub on Yarm High Street. A 32-year-old woman who believed to be his ex-girlfriend was arrested as well for the same accusation. One source, quoted on an online newspaper website, said: “She went over to one of his friends and said something she shouldn’t have. He butted in and they were arguing.” Apparently it was Donna Moloney his ex-girlfriend who he had a child with.

Stewart Downing Career Statistics 

Club

The footballer officially joined Middlesbrough in 2001 and started his professional career. He stayed 8 seasons at his boyhood club while making 234 appearances and scoring 22 goals for the side. For the 2003-04 season he was loaned to the first division club

while making only 7 appearances and scoring 3 goals. In 2009 the premier club Aston Villa showed interest in signing a contract with the player. He stayed there for two seasons and featured in 79 games while scoring 11 goals. For the 2011-12 season Downing joined the Reds.

He stayed there for two seasons and played in 91 games while aiming the net for 7 goals. In 2015 he returned to his boyhood club Middlesbrough and stayed there for 4 seasons. Downing was one of four players released by Middlesbrough at the end of the 2018–19 season, having made 404 appearances in his two spells at the club. For the 2019-20 season Downing joined

. Overall he made 62 appearances while scoring 3 goals for the side.

Upon his retirement he stated: “I would like to thank all the football clubs I have played for during my career and all of their fantastic fans and staff. I’d also like to thank all of the great managers I have played for. As a kid I could have only dreamed of playing for the teams I played for and of getting to share the pitch with some of the players I shared a pitch with. I played with and against some unbelievable players of the years.”

International

On the international level he made 35 appearances without scoring any goals.

Stewart Downing Honors

Over the years the footballer made an impact and set up a good idol for all the attacking midfielders. We have gathered a list of his achievements both on club level and individually.

Middlesbrough

• Football League Cup: 2003–04

• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2005–06

• Football League Championship runner-up: 2015–16

Aston Villa

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2009–10

Liverpool

FA Cup runner-up: 2011–12

Individual

Alan Hardaker Trophy: 2012

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