Name: Jlloyd Samuel.
Position: Defender.
Club: Bolton Wanderers (England, 25-May-2007 to present).
Previous Clubs: Gillingham FC (Loaned from Villa in 2001/2002), Aston Villa (England, 1999 to 24-May-2007).
DOB:  29-March-1981 - San Fernando, Trinidad.
NOTE: Called up by England national senior team once, but was an un-used sub vs Sweden in March 2004. Played for England Under-21 & Under 18 teams. Samuel joined Villa on a YTS in July 1997 and turned professional on the 25th of January 1999. His big break came in the 2001/02 season, after a succesful loan spell at Gillingham, he was brought into the Villa first team by Graham Taylor, and kept the experienced Alan Wright out of the side. A call-up for the England Under 21s followed, and Samuel signed a long-term deal with Villa at the end of the season.

Related News:

Lee brings Jlloyd to the Reebok.

By: Soccernet.com.
25-May-2007 - Jlloyd Samuel will become Sammy Lee's first signing as Bolton manager after agreeing a free transfer from Aston Villa. The 26-year-old defender will join the club on July 1 on a four-year deal.
The former England under-21 international joined the midlands club as an apprentice in 1997, making almost 200 appearances for the club.
However, he fell out of favour under new manager Martin O'Neill, making just two starts this season.
Lee said on Bolton's official website: 'I'm delighted that Jlloyd will join us and I think he will be an excellent signing.
'He's versatile and will offer us quality in a number of positions, which is vital for our squad. 'He's English, has youth on his side and I think he will give us a lot.'
Samuel is Wanderers' fourth summer signing, joining Zoltan Harsanyi, Blerim Dzemali and Gerald Cid at the Reebok Stadium and will not be the last, according to Lee.
'There's activity going on all the time, even though it's the close season,' he said.
'Just because there are no games, it doesn't mean that there isn't any activity.
'We are always looking to strengthen the squad with quality additions.'

Villa preparing to cash in on Jlloyd.

By: Gary Jacob.
06-Jan-2006 - Aston Villa are prepared to let Jlloyd Samuel leave the club if they receive an acceptable offer for the left back. Charlton Athletic, Fulham and Portsmouth are among the clubs chasing the defender, who has been frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities. Villa want about £1.5 million for Samuel, who has had a bristly relationship with David O’Leary, the Villa manager, this season. Samuel was taken off at half-time against Manchester City in October and has played only one match since then.

TTFF looks to bring in Zamora, Samuel, Warner.

T&T Guardian Reports.
03-Dec-2005 - The T&T football team could look significantly different from the one which defeated Bahrain when it takes the field in its first World Cup game in Germany.
This was confirmed by Special Adviser to the T&T Football Federation Austin Jack Warner who revealed that TTFF has already applied to Fifa for West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora and Fulham FC goalkeeper Anthony Warner to play for T&T and has also appealed Fifa’s decision to dis-allow an earlier application from Aston Villa left back defender Jlloyd Samuel.
Warner said: “We have not closed the door to any player and I can tell you that we have gone to FIFA and requested permission to allow Bobby Zamora and Anthony Warner to play for us while we have appealed the decision against Jlloyd Samuel.”
The CONCACAF President who left yesterday to witness the drawing for next year’s World Cup finals in Germany said local players in the Professional Football League as well as other players who qualify to play for this country will be considered.
“A coach will be looking at the local players in action to see if any of them can make the team and also a scout will be looking at footballers playing in the US to see if they can also make the team.

FIFA law blocks Samuel from playing for T&T.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
03-Nov-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago’s National Senior Team will have to do without the services of Aston Villa player Jlloyd Samuel after a FIFA ruling has prevented him from switching associations.
The 24-year-old player indicated his willingness to represent this country recently and appeared to be on the verge of lining up in the upcoming matches against Bahrain despite having represented England at the Under 21 and Under 18 level.
However, the English FA informed Aston Villa that the player was ineligible of representing T&T and following a letter to the TTFF from the Premiership club, the matter was carried to FIFA. The  world governing body then  responded on Wednesday by explaining the reason for Samuel’s ineligibility.
Heinz Tannler Director Legal Division for FIFA, stated “We have noted that the player has not performed for the A-representative team of the English FA. We understood however, that the player was born on 29 Match 1981. In principle, a player may only once request changing the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches, but only up to his 21st birthday (article 15 3 A). Regulations governing the application of the FIFA Statutes). For this reason, the 24-year-old Samuel is not entitled to this decision anymore.
Tannler further went on to explain that the clause of article 15 3 b does not apply for Samuel.
“In accordance with this provision a player who has already acquired eligibility to play for one association but has another nationality imposed upon him by a government authority, is entitled to change associations. This provision refers to the situation where several new states and consequently several new Football Associations arise from one former centralized state, for example, today’s state Slovenia arose from the former state Yugoslavia. A player who had the nationality of Yugoslavia and was entitled to play for the team of the Yugoslavian FA receipt the nationality of the new state Slovenia and was then entitled to play for the team of the new Football Federation of Slovenia. But this change of Association based not on the free decision of the player but was imposed by government authorities. These requirements are not given in the case of England in Trinidad and Tobago,” the statement read.
“This letter is without prejudice and is no formal decision. As a matter of fact, you may submit this issue to the FIFA Players’ Status Committee” the letter concluded.
It had also been noted that However, it has since been noted that a new FIFA ruling introduced in 2004 could have made Samuel eligible for T&T. It allowed 26-year-old  Freddie Kanoute to play for Mali’s senior team despite having represented France at the Under 21 level.
The switch was allowed under new rules introduced by FIFA in October 2003, allowing under-21-year-olds with dual nationality to switch national sides under certain conditions.  However that rule only allowed the change to take place during a one-year window after FIFA made the announcement.

I might play for Trinidad and Tobago.

By: Icons.com.
02-Nov-2005 - Jlloyd Samuel: There has been a lot speculation about my future in international football and I want to set the record straight.
It is true that I may qualify to play for Trinidad and Tobago. I was born in Trinidad and it would make me proud to play for them. Yes, I have played for England Under-21s, but there may be a possibility that I'm able to switch allegiance.
I am sure some people will accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon, but I only think that would be the case if I said I wanted to play for them only after they had qualified for the World Cup. In fact, I would like to contribute in their efforts to qualify. I was born in Trinidad and it would make me proud to play for them.
As it stands they haven't made it yet, and they are not sure to get through. I want them to qualify, but if they don't it does not mean I will regret my decision. I feel Trinidadian and want to play for them.
It would be a dream to make my debut against Bahrain in the World Cup play-off next week. This could be possible if I'm proved eligible to play, because there is no truth whatsoever in the story that Aston Villa are preventing me from playing for my country. I spoke to our assistant manager Roy Aitken and he said the club had no problem with it, and were just waiting for official confirmation. He was all for it.
The team is doing well and they are in with a good chance of beating Bahrain, but I hope I can bring something different to the side than what they've already got if everything comes together. I've been playing in the Premiership for a long time, and am the only Trinidadian playing at that level at the moment, so I'd like to think I could bring some experience and added quality to the side.
I've spoken to the Trinidad and Tobago assistant manager and he's been very positive as well. He's been to see me play a few times, and I believe he liked what he saw, so hopefully everything will come off and I'll get to play next week.
On the domestic front, things didn't go very well against Manchester City last night. The result was disappointing and I was hauled off at half-time. I definitely feel I was made a scapegoat. We all make mistakes, and you need time to put them right, but I didn't get that.
Football is all about confidence and the more time you are on the field, the more confident you become. And that's what I need at the moment - game time - because my confidence isn't as sky high as it should be.
I didn't talk to the manager about it, because at the end of the day it's his decision. And also in the heat of the moment, things can come out wrong so I thought it best not to say anything. I'll just knuckle down now and try and make sure I'm in the starting line-up for Liverpool at the weekend.

Jlloyd Samuel’s eligibility not certain yet.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
01-Nov-2005 - The National Team management is still awaiting final confirmation on whether Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel is eligible to represent this country’s senior team in the upcoming 2006 World Cup qualifier against Bahrain.
Following his expressed interest in representing T&T, it was then brought to the TTFF’s knowledge following a correspondence from Aston Villa football club, that Samuel would not be able to make the switch due to an article in the FIFA statutes which states that any player of dual citizenship  who has represented a country at a younger age group must make his request to play for another country by age turning 21. Villa is claiming that the 24-year-old  Samuel who has represented England at the Under 21 and Under 18 levels, is as such not eligible for T&T.
However, it has since been noted that a new FIFA ruling introduced in 2004 could yet make Samuel a new “Warrior”.
This new ruling allowed Freddie Kanoute to play for Mali’s senior team despite having represented France at the Under 21 level. Kanoute’s switch was made at the age of 26.
Back then, World football’s governing body said in a statement that Kanoute, Mohamed Lamine Sissoko, both from Mali, as well as Lamine Sakho of Senegal were given the green light to play for the African sides.
The switch was allowed under new rules introduced by FIFA in October 2003, allowing under-21-year-olds with dual nationality to switch national sides under certain conditions. The ruling makes the players eligible to take part in the African Nations Cup, a FIFA spokesman said, in Tunisia from January 24 to February 14.
Under a new FIFA ruling which will come into force on January (2004), in order to change allegiances from France to Mali, Kanoute must have sent a 'written and substantiated request to the FIFA general secretariat' for approval by the players' status committee.
English-based agent Mike Berry is currently looking into the matter and Samuel continues to keep his fingers crossed.
“It’s my wish to play for Trinidad and Tobago and try to help them qualify for a World Cup. I have made up my mind to play for them and hopefully once things can be finalized, I’ll get the chance to do so,” Samuel told TTFF Media.

Jack Warner to fight Villa for Samuel.

By: Curtis Williams (Guardian).
30-Oct-2005 - Fifa Vice President Austin Jack Warner has said he will be going to football’s governing body to force Aston Villa to allow its left back Jlloyd Samuel to play for Trinidad and Tobago in its crucial World Cup play-off against Bahrain.
Warner confirmed that Leo Beenhakker has was impressed with Samuel and wants him to be part of the team for the home match on November 12.
Warner said that while it was up to Fifa to make a final decision, he was confident that the world governing body would decide in this country’s favour.
He said: “Once the coach say he wants him, then he will have him and the coach says he wants him.”
Samuel, a 24-year-old defender from Aston Villa, is qualified to play for both Trinidad and Tobago and England and has recently indicated a willingness to represent T&T.
However, Warner says Aston Villa is insisting that Samuel is not qualified to play for this country because they “do not wish to release him.”
He said: “Aston Villa tell us he is not available. Who is Aston Villa? They say he is not qualified. Who is Aston Villa? Give me a break.”
Warner also said it was pressure from the public in Jamaica which in part led to Bahrain calling off the camp in Jamaica.

Guess what Jlloyd Samuel’s favourite meal is.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
26-Oct-2005 - Possible national team addition Jlloyd Samuel says his long time idol is former England and Liverpool standout John Barnes. The 24-year-old Aston Villa star announced on the weekend that he has committed himself to this country’s national team and is hoping to be selected by Leo Beenhakker for the upcoming matches against Bahrain. Assistant coach Wim Rijsbergen was expected to be in the stands looking on at Aston Villa’s Carling Cup match with Burnley yesterday.
Samuel, after delaying his decision, having been eligible for England selection, said he was looking forward to the T&T experience. “It’s something I’m looking forward to with great interest because I think I can make a good contribution and hopefully I can get selected and play a part in the country’s bid to qualify for the next World Cup,” he said.
Samuel, whose family is from San Fernando, was on the bench on the England squad which included the likes of Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, John Terry and Phil Neville in a 1-0 win over Sweden in March 2004.
He also states in his personal Web site profile that he grew up playing in the famous Senrab boys team of East London alongside John Terry and Bobby Zamora, another player eligible and willing now to play for the “Warriors”. Samuel added that his favourite meal is curry-goat and rice, Caribbean style.

Aston Villa’s Jlloyd Samuel commits to T&T Warriors.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
22-Oct-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago could end up having the services of two English-based Premiership players in the near future. And one of them is hoping to earn selection in the squad for the upcoming 2006 World Cup playoff with Bahrain on November 12 and 16.
Aston Villa defender Jlloyd Samuel is expected to be seen in action by national head coach Leo Beenhakker this coming week and is hoping that he will do enough to earn a call from the Dutchman, while West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora told the English Press that he is willing to play for T&T. Both players were earlier on holding on to their hopes of making the England team. Samuel did in fact earn a call from Sven Erikkson for a friendly 1-0 win over Sweden in March, 2004 at the Nya Ullevi Stadion, Göteborg.
Samuel, a former England Under 21 and Under 18 international made his intentions clear during recent communication with the T&T management team and  English-based associate Mike Berry and after missing recent action due to a shoulder injury, he decided to take an injection and play against Wigan Athletic on Saturday in order to improve his chances of making the T&T team to face Bahrain. It was either that or surgery which would have put him out for some time. The left sided player was on the field for 90 minutes in Villa’s eventual 2-0 loss on Saturday.
“It’s definitely a huge honour for me to play for Trinidad and Tobago,” Samuel told TTFF Media on Saturday. “My family is from there, San Fernando to be exact,  and obvious my heart is there too even though I haven’t played for them before. Obviously it’s going to be a chance to better my experience and also a chance for me to give what I could to try and help Trinidad get to the World Cup. I think this will be a great thing for the country and I want to be part of it.”
The 24-year-old Samuel, who broke into the Villa first team under Graham Taylor, said he was delighted on hearing of T&T’s recent progress in the qualifying campaign.
“It’s been really good to hear the news because my family from back there has been keeping me updated and hopefully I can now be part of this experience. Definitely the chance to play with Dwight who has been through it all and the other guys who have made a name for themselves in the UK will be a big deal for me.
“I’m going to be seen by the coach (Leo Beenhakker) in one of the games coming up next week. Part of the reason for me taking the injection and playing today (Saturday) rather than having surgery was so that I could get back on the pitch and hopefully I’ll be good enough for him to select me to represent the country. I felt good out there today (against Wigan) and things should get better from here on.”
When asked if it was fair to say that he has now given a firm commitment to T&T, the former Gillingham player replied “Certainly it is. I have taken this decision to commit myself to Trinidad and Tobago.”
A report on Soccernet.com stated “The Trinidadian player (Samuel) was one of the best left-backs in the Premiership in 2003/04, picking up his first full England cap in the friendly with Sweden in March.His driving style and willingness to get forward is very similar to Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge although he remains behind them in the England pecking order.
The 24-year-old Zamora on the other hand, told the Sun newspaper on Saturday,  “If I got the call to play against Bahrain or at the finals I'd certainly consider it. Every player dreams of playing in the World Cup and I'm no different. The Trinidad coach hasn't been in touch, but their keeper Shaka Hislop is at West Ham and I've spoken to him so we'll have to wait and see."
Zamora, another ex-England Under 21 player, also cleared the air on the reason behind him turning down the T&T call in August.
“The timing wasn't right then as I would have missed pre-season. It wasn't a snub to Trinidad and I never said I wouldn't ever want to play for them in the future. I felt it was more important at the time to stay at West Ham, to get fit and try to impress the gaffer," he said.

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