Andy King: 2011/2012 Biography & Statistics

Club career

Early career

Born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, King joined Chelsea when he was nine years old. After being released in 2004 when he was 15 years old, he became a product of the Leicester City youth academy.

Leicester City

He was given a squad number for the 2006'07 season. During that season, King scored eight goals in 21 appearances for the Leicester academy side, which saw them win the FA Premier League Group B.

King was offered his first professional contract with Leicester on 5 May 2007. He also went on trial with Conference National team York City in August, and after playing in a pre-season friendly against Sheffield he turned down a possible loan move to the club on the advice of his agent. King made his first team debut in a 0'0 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 October 2007, before scoring his first senior goal with a 35 yard shot described as a "rocket" in a 2'1 defeat to Southampton on 1 December. He made 11 league appearances as Leicester were relegated to League One at the end of the 2007'08 season.

King's impressive start the following season earned him a new three-year contract on 21 August 2008. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3'2 League Cup defeat to Fulham on 27 August, scoring from 18 yards. He went on to score nine league goals to help Leicester secure their promotion as League One champions. His performances earned him the club's young player of the season award on 28 April 2009. He was also nominated for players' player of the season and player of the season awards, but lost out to teammates Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard. King dedicated his award to team captain Stephen Clemence, who missed the entire season through injury.

During pre-season, King believed the Leicester squad was good enough to challenge for promotion. He scored his first goal of the season in a 1'0 win over Plymouth Argyle at the Walkers Stadium on 21 November 2009. Following a fine start to the 2009'10 season, King said on 23 November there is a firm belief that the team can win promotion to the Premier League. He drew praise from then-manager Nigel Pearson after scoring his fourth goal of the season in a 2'1 FA Cup win over Swansea City on 2 January 2010. His overall performance earned him the players' player of the year award on 28 April 2010 which he shared with teammate Jack Hobbs.

King had his best season yet in terms of goalscoring in 2010'11, as he ended up the club's top scorer, netting 15 times in the league and 16 times in all competitions from midfield. He earned himself a four-year contract on 15 April 2011, keeping him at the club until 2015. Three days later, King's form that season was acknowledged by his fellow professionals as he was named in the Championship's PFA Team of the Year with teammate Kyle Naughton. He then took the club's players' player of the season award for the second season in a row.

King went on a goal drought in the beginning of the 2011'12 season, scoring just one goal in his first 14 games of the season, but got back on track, netting a brace against West Ham United on 29 October 2011,] before adding his fourth of the season at home to Blackpool a month later.

International career

King qualified to play for Wales through a Welsh grandfather and is a former Wales under-19 and under-21 cap. He scored his first goal in a 5'1 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying win over Luxembourg under-21 on 31 March 2009. He was in the squad that narrowly lost out to England in the play-offs for a spot at the 2009 European Championships.

On 22 May 2009, King received his first call up to the senior Wales squad when he was named in manager John Toshack's squad for a friendly match against Estonia.[25][26] Despite naming King in the squad, Toshack admitted King was not yet ready for international football. He made his debut as a second half substitute, replacing Ched Evans in the 89th minute as Wales beat Estonia 1'0.