Emil Heskey is an English striker who shone in Liverpool at the beginning of the 2000s. Together with Michael Owen, they formed a formidable attacking duet, scoring many goals for rivals. He played for England for many years, was a member of two European Championships and one World Cup. Today, the age striker ends his career in the modest Bolton, which is staying in the second strongest English division.
Player Feature
Emil Heskey, whose photo eloquently speaks of his physical condition, is an example of a reference central striker. Tall, powerful, he is able to win power combat against any defender, indispensable for air duels. Heskey earned the nickname "Rhinoceros" for his ability to push the defense players around him and forcefully complete the attack with a powerful blow.
The flip side of the coin is the lack of dexterity and sharpness of the forward, not the most outstanding technique, for which he was often criticized. At the same time, Emil was not as simple as he seemed. Having a good distance speed, he could close the position of the left striker, relentlessly straining the defenders on the flank.
In addition, Heskey did not suffer from selfishness, he never tried to hit on goal himself if he saw a more advantageous continuation of the attack in the form of a transfer to his partner. Often this is what their relationship with Michael Owen in Liverpool did. The overall forward pulled the defenders onto himself, held the ball, and then gave a pass to the brisk and fast Michael, who completed the combination with a goal. As a result of this, he was highly appreciated by the coaches and attack partners who relied on him with the outward dimming of his actions.
Bombardier Leicester
Football player Emil Heskey was born in Leicester in 1978, was a pupil of the club of the same name from this city. In 1995, a young and daring striker for the first time played for the main team, which failed that season and flew out of the Premier League. Due to demotion, some key players left the team, so Emil got a chance to prove himself on the field. In thirty matches for the club, he scored seven goals and helped the club return to the top division.
A powerful center forward gradually becomes the main star of Leicester, in every season he scores at least ten goals, which was not bad for a humble team striker from the middle of the tournament table. Gradually, the player’s agent began to talk about that Heskey’s ambitions already exceeded the capabilities of Leicester, and interest in the Heskey figure appeared among the strong clubs of the Premier League.
In the middle of the 1998/1999 season, he suffered a back injury and was eliminated, but managed to recover by the fall of 1999 and again began to score regularly, having knocked four goals in the starting five games.
Liverpool
In the spring of 2000, the inevitable happened - Emil Heskey left the Leicester. The new club of the overall footballer was Liverpool, where the company in the attack was made up of the magnificent Michael Owen, with whom they already played together in the youth team of England.
The remaining segment of the season, Emil adapted to the new realities and scored three goals in twelve games. The first full season for Liverpool was perhaps the best in the career of Emil Heskey. Forward statistics were excellent - 22 goals in various tournaments, 14 of which he scored in the national championship.
The Heskey-Owen team was great, even if Emil didn’t score, he diverted the attention of the defenders, thanks to which Michael Owen had many opportunities to break through on goal.
However, this did not last long, Emil Heskey got a serious competitor for the forward position in the person of Czech Milan Baros. He began to appear less often on the field, and the Englishman's performance fell sharply.
Club wanderings
The 2003/2004 season was the last for Emil Heskey in a Liverpool T-shirt, then he went to the modest Birmingham City. The first time things went well, he scored 10 goals in the 2004/2005 season and was named the best player on the team. However, a series of minor injuries followed, which made Heskey less mobile. The team flew out of the Premier League, and a hail of criticism fell upon Emil for an unconvincing game.
The forward again changed his club affiliation and joined Wigan, for which he played for less than three years. During this time, he managed to finally lose the confidence of the national team coaches who preferred more productive strikers. Nevertheless, in Aston Villa there was a certain revival of the best qualities of Emil Heskey. Despite the small number of goals scored, he played well and earned an invitation to the 2010 World Cup, but did not commit any special feats there.
Last years
In 2012, Emil Heskey went to play in Australia, signing a contract with the local club “Newcastle Jets”. The arrival of the famous English striker aroused great interest among the public, a special camera was even installed at the stadium, recording all the player's actions.
Emil spent two seasons on the Green Continent. Not so long ago, he returned home and is now a Bolton player who plays in the second division of the national championship.