Jlloyd Samuel Bio Send To Friend  

Defender Jlloyd Samuel joined Bolton Wanderers on a four-year deal in July 2007 after being released by Aston Villa, becoming Sammy Lee's first signing as Bolton boss. And one of the last.

The former England U-21 international spent 10 years with Villa after emerging through the club's YTS trainee scheme and was given his first professional contract at the beginning of the 1999/2000 season

He made almost 200 appearances for the Midlands outfit, but during the 2006/07 season under manager Martin O'Neill made just two starts and was deemed surplus to requirements at the end of his contract.

He became a regular under Graham Taylor in the 2002/03 campaign, although he looked far from assured in the Premiership and when David O'Leary took over in the summer of 2003 there were doubts about his Villa Park future, but he soon silenced the critics.

However, soon after signing a new Villa contract in November 2004, his career dipped as a result of injury and competition for places thanks largely to the arrival in 2005 of Netherlands international defender Wilfred Bouma.

Short of confidence and match-sharpness when called upon by O'Neill Samuel recognised his time at Villa was up. He played 20 times for Wanderers in his first season.