Darius Vassell
Darius Vassell is a Birmingham-born striker who came through Aston Villa's academy and played 22 times for England between 2002 and 2004. He scored on his England debut with an overhead kick, and missed the penalty that put England out of Euro 2004.
- Clubs
- Aston Villa (1998 to 2005), Manchester City (2005 to 2009), Ankaragücü (2009 to 2010), Leicester City (2010 to 2012)
- Premier League
- 265 appearances, 52 goals
- Honours
- Intertoto Cup 2001
- International
- England, 22 caps, 6 goals
- Fantasy price
- £8.0m in 2001/02
Who did he play for?
He grew up in Gravelly Hill and joined Villa's academy, where he scored 39 goals in one youth season, still a club record. His first-team debut came as a substitute against Middlesbrough on 23 August 1998.
His best season was 2001/02: 36 league games and 12 goals, joint top scorer with Juan Pablo Ángel. That summer Villa won the Intertoto Cup, and he scored in the semi-final at Rennes and in the final against Basel.
He made his England debut on 13 February 2002 against the Netherlands, scored with a bicycle kick and was man of the match. He played three games at the 2002 World Cup and four at Euro 2004.
Manchester City paid £2 million for him in July 2005. He scored eight league goals in his first season and six in 2007/08, and was released in June 2009.
He spent a season at Ankaragücü in Turkey, then two at Leicester from October 2010. He retired formally in January 2016.
The moment: Manchester United, 10 February 2008
Old Trafford, Sunday 10 February 2008. The game marked 50 years since the Munich air disaster, with wreaths, a piper and a minute's silence before kick-off.
After 24 minutes Martin Petrov found Stephen Ireland, the ball broke off Edwin van der Sar, Vassell's first shot was blocked and he put the rebound in from eight yards. Benjani added a second on the stroke of half-time and Michael Carrick replied in stoppage time. Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City.
It was City's first win at Old Trafford since Denis Law's backheel in April 1974, their first league double over United since 1969/70, and his 50th Premier League goal.
Why the streets won't forget
In 2002 he tried to relieve the pressure under a swollen big toe by boring through the nail with an electric drill. The toe got infected and he missed three games.
England's Euro 2004 quarter-final against Portugal in Lisbon went to penalties. Ricardo took off his gloves, saved Vassell's kick and then scored the winner himself. Vassell never played for England again.
Until April 2011 he had never been on the losing side in a league game in which he scored.
His autobiography, Road to Persia (2017), is named after his daughter.
Which seasons can you draft him in?
Five. The game's squads carry his full seasons only, from 2001/02 at Villa to 2006/07 at City, and list him as a midfielder, so each goal is worth five points.
| Season | Club | Price | His real league season | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001/02 | Aston Villa | £8.0m | 36 games, 12 goals | Pick him |
| 2002/03 | Aston Villa | £7.5m | 33 games, 8 goals | Worth a look |
| 2003/04 | Aston Villa | £7.5m | 32 games, 9 goals | Worth a look |
| 2005/06 | Manchester City | £9.0m | 36 games, 8 goals | Worth a look |
| 2006/07 | Manchester City | £6.0m | 32 games, 3 goals | Leave him out |
He never scored more than 12 in a league season, so he is a budget pick rather than a captain. 2001/02 is the year: 36 games, 12 goals, and his England form on top.
Want him in your retro fantasy football team for 2001/02? He'll cost you £8.0m.
Draft a squad from 2001/02