Ledley King Bio Send To Friend  

Long earmarked as a star for the future, Ledley King has matured into a player of considerable poise and his calm approach in defence makes him the ideal captain for his club, where he is the longest serving player.

A prodigiously talented defender, King's career has been blighted by injury, with rumour circulating in recent years that persistent knee trouble could bring about a premature end to a promising career.

The 2006-2007 season was tough for King as he struggled with injuries; Spurs played 59 games in all competitions that season, but King featured in less than half of them.

King returned from injury on Boxing Day in the 2007/08 season and stayed fit and healthy long enough to captain the club as Spurs went on to win the League Cup at Wembley in February 2008.

With Tottenham out of the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, save from relegation and unable to reach the Champions League places in the league the club decided to rest King from April until the new season with a view to get the talismanic player 100% fit for the 2008/09 term.

He began his career by making just one full appearance in the 1999/2000 season as Tottenham won 1-0 at Derby, after which injury problems curtailed his progress.

But his strength and growing confidence meant it would not be long before he was pushing for a regular place. And he found a new niche in midfield in the 2000/01 season to become a regular in the side.

Sol Campbell's exit to Arsenal gave King the opportunity he needed to return to the heart of the defence and become a real rock.

He was shortlisted for the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the 2002/03 campaign, when his season came to a premature end due to an Achilles injury.

The 2003/04 term saw him come on leaps and bounds - but back in a holding midfield role rather than defence. He also started his 100th Premiership game, and signed a new four-year contract.

King was named in England's squad for Euro 2004 and when John Terry pulled a hamstring in the run-up to the opening game of the tournament King was thrust into the limelight.

King's place as an England squad member was secured by his ability to play as a defensive midfielder, a role he performed in the Sven Goran Eriksson era, and he was back-up to the first-choice partnership of Terry and Ferdinand after the winding down of Sol Campbell's career.

A broken foot saw him miss out on the 2006 World Cup finals and he will need to prove himself to be consistently fit and on form for Fabio Capello to consider him for a recall to the England scene.