Tag: Glenn Murray

That man from Argentina scored goals in the UK and Spain

LEONARDO ULLOA brought down the curtain on his playing career in Madrid, netting six goals in 20 appearances (plus 12 off the bench) for Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish second division.

It was to the delight of Brighton fans that 28 of his career 148 goals were scored for the Albion, where he quickly established himself as a fans favourite by scoring on his debut against Arsenal in the FA Cup.

Previously virtually unknown in England, Ulloa’s arrival in January 2013 provided the tall, goalscoring presence up front Brighton had been craving since Glenn Murray headed to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2011.

Within two months, Ulloa was cementing his place in Albion history by scoring the first ever hat-trick at the Amex, in a 4-1 win over Huddersfield Town, and it wasn’t long before fans were serenading him with his own terrace song: “Who’s that man from Argentina, who’s that man we all adore…..”

His efforts in the stripes got even better when he scored twice in a memorable 3-0 win over Palace that March giving the Seagulls their first home win over their bitter rivals for 25 years.

After the game, manager Gus Poyet told BBC Radio Sussex: “Leonardo Ulloa is making the difference. I am pleased for him. If he had been here for the first six months I can’t imagine where we would be right now.

“What a prize for him, scoring two goals against our biggest rivals. I am very happy for him.” By the season’s end, Ulloa had scored 11 goals in 16 starts (plus one substitute appearance).

While Poyet departed acrimoniously after defeat in the play-off semi-finals, Ulloa continued to thrive under new boss Oscar Garcia. Top-scoring with 16 goals, he’ll always most memorably be known for nodding in a last-gasp header from Craig Mackail-Smith’s left-wing cross to secure a 2-1 win at the City Ground, Nottingham on 3 May 2014.

It earned Albion another play-offs place in the bid to secure promotion to the Premier League, although a 6-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Derby County meant it didn’t end well.

Sadly, not only did it mark the end of Garcia’s reign, it also led to Ulloa’s exit from the club, but the £8m record fee newly-promoted Leicester City paid for his services was difficult to resist, quite apart from the player’s desire to play at the top level.

Switching to the East Midlands was a short hop compared to the journey he had to make when he was starting out in the game.

Born on 26 July 1986 in General Roca, a city in Argentina’s northern Patagonian province of Rio Negro, Ulloa moved 700 miles from home at the age of 15 to pursue his footballing dream, as he told Brian Owen of The Argus in a 2013 interview.

It was only when he wasn’t getting much playing time in Argentina that he took the opportunity to move to Spain, initially with Spanish second-tier side Castellon in the Valencia region.

When they were relegated in 2010, he stayed in the second tier by moving to the south east of the country to join Almeria, where he scored 39 times in 90 appearances. It was from there Albion bought him for an undisclosed sum, widely thought to be £2m.

The subsequent move to Leicester couldn’t have got off to a better start when Ulloa scored Leicester’s first Premier League goal for a decade in August 2014, hitting the net on his debut against Everton at the King Power Stadium. He also scored a brace of goals in a famous 5-3 victory over Manchester United.

Indeed at the end of that 2014-15 season, Ulloa was Leicester’s top scorer with 13 goals in 31 appearances (plus nine as a sub).

Few could have imagined it was going to get a whole lot better the following season, but as Claudio Ranieri’s City shocked the football world by climbing to the summit of the Premier League and staying there, Ulloa collected a title winners medal for his contribution.

Although he made just nine starts, as Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki took centre stage, he appeared 22 times as a substitute and, in his supporting role, chipped in with six – often vital – goals.

He scored an 89th minute winner to earn a 1-0 win over Norwich City after entering the fray as a 78th minute sub and, when defeat at home to West Ham looked on the cards after Vardy had been sent off, he coolly netted a penalty in the fifth minute of added on time to secure a 2-2 draw.

With Vardy suspended for the following game, Ulloa stepped up with two goals in a 4-0 win at home to Swansea City.

Phil McNulty, BBC Sport’s chief football writer, said Ulloa had fully repaid the faith shown in him by Ranieri. “When Ulloa earned the Foxes a vital point with a stoppage-time penalty last weekend against West Ham, he showed he was not a man to be perturbed by pressure – and he relished the responsibility put on his shoulders against Swansea,” he wrote, describing how Ulloa “ran selflessly all afternoon to compensate for the darting, pacy threat of Vardy, and most importantly contributed two goals that eventually made this a stroll for Leicester City”.

It all turned sour for him at the King Power Stadium the following season and with a lack of involvement his frustration went public as he sought a move away. Sunderland, fighting (ultimately in vain) relegation from the Premiership, reportedly had three bids to sign him turned down in the January 2017 transfer window.

Ulloa told Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett: “I’m a bit sad about the current situation. It’s been two wonderful years at the club but now, given my situation – not playing and not being part of the team’s plans – I feel that the best way forward is I leave and I can be happy somewhere else.”

He added: “They know I am not going to be used. The best thing for both parties is they sell me to another club and I can continue playing my football somewhere else.”

However, when Ranieri was sacked the following month, Ulloa found a path to first team football re-opened under new boss Craig Shakespeare. He only made four starts but he appeared off the bench 19 times, and, in August 2017, signed a new two-year contract with the Foxes.

Speaking to LCFC TV, Ulloa said: “I am so happy because I have lived massive moments with this club and it makes me happy to stay here and fight, to help the team and increase the club’s history. That is so important and I am so happy for this two-year contract. Now I have to fight to play. I will train and give my best. I appreciate it a lot to stay here and I am so happy here now. For that, I want to continue in this in the same way by working hard and working my best for the club.”

Shakespeare added: “Leo’s goals and performances have been key to some wonderful moments for this football club since he first joined and I’m delighted to have him with us for another two years. He’s a popular member of the squad and gives us an excellent option in attack.”

All of the words came to nought however, because Ulloa was barely involved, other than sitting on the subs bench and only getting on once. So, in January 2018, he was happy to return to Brighton on loan to supplement the striking options in Chris Hughton’s squad.

But with Glenn Murray in top form and Sam Baldock and Tomer Hemed as other striker options, Ulloa only made four starts plus eight appearances as a sub. He scored twice, including opening the scoring against Manchester City at the Etihad, but Albion didn’t share the striker’s enthusiasm for a permanent return to the Seagulls.

Instead of moving back to the south coast, Ulloa headed to Mexico to join Pachucha, and a year later he headed back to Europe, and back to Spain, to sign for Rayo Vallecano.

The striker spent eight months sidelined by a serious knee injury in 2020 but returned to action in October 2020 before retiring at the end of the 2020-21 season. Ulloa received a warm reception from Albion fans when he was interviewed on the Amex pitch in March 2023 when West Ham were the visitors.

Pictures from various online sources.

Unstoppable free kick earned Poco’s place in Albion folklore

SÉBASTIEN Pocognoli will forever be remembered by Brighton fans for a spectacular free-kick goal he scored against Queens Park Rangers en route to promotion from the Championship.

Glenn Murray had given the Seagulls the lead in the April 2017 encounter at Loftus Road before, as the BBC reported, Pocognoli “executed a pinpoint free-kick with his left foot which flew in off the crossbar for an unstoppable second”.

Although Rangers pulled a goal back, Albion’s advantage gave them their first win at QPR for nearly 60 years and sent them back to the top of the league.

It was Pocognoli’s first competitive goal for six years and such a sweet strike etched his name in Brighton folklore.

Injuries and suspension dogged the left-back slot during that promotion season. Pocognoli had signed on a season-long loan from West Brom in August 2016 as cover for Gaetan Bong; Liam Rosenior having suffered an ankle injury.

But the loanee himself was troubled by a groin injury and made only 18 appearances for the Seagulls (plus three as a sub).

“Sebastien has a vast amount of experience having played in some of the top divisions in Europe,” Brighton manager Chris Hughton said on the day Pocognoli signed. “He is the type of quality player we want to add to the squad, and we are looking forward to working with him.”

The Belgian international came to the UK in 2014 having played top-flight football in Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Injury denied him the chance of going to Brazil to play in that summer’s World Cup for his country, but his disappointment was tempered by securing a move to the Premier League.

Unfortunately for him, his West Brom career barely got off the ground because the head coach who signed him – Alan Irvine – was soon replaced by Tony Pulis, who preferred Chris Brunt, Chris Baird or Joleon Lescott as left-back.

According to the uefa.com website, Pocognoli is a “technically-assured player, primarily a left-back but can also operate in midfield and is a specialist from dead-ball situations”. You can say that again!

Born in Seraing, near Liege, on 1 August 1987, Pocognoli represented Standard Liège at junior level but joined Genk aged 15, making his first team debut a year later, in 2004.

However, he had to be content with reserve team football until the 2006-07 season when he became a first-team regular, helping the club finish second in the Belgian first division.

In June 2007, Pocognoli joined Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, and featured in 33 games under Louis van Gaal, later renowned for managing Holland and Manchester United.

“I was 19 years old, and I worked for two years under him,” he told the West Brom website. “He helped my formation as a footballer, pass-control-pass, tactically, because defensively I was not so strong. And also my personality, because he likes players with personality.

“He’s not only a good trainer but he’s also a good human being.”

After three years at AZ, his first club, Standard Liege, bought him and gave him a three-year contract. He became the established left-back for two seasons but in 2012-13 missed lots of games when sidelined by injury.

With only six months of his contract remaining, German club Hannover 96 took the opportunity to sign him in January 2013. He made an inauspicious start, getting sent off on his debut, and faced competition for the left-back spot.

Only 18 months into a three-year deal, he made the switch to the Premier League with West Brom, head coach Irvine telling the club website: “Sébastien is an experienced left-back who has played at a high level for many years.

“After being named in Belgium’s provisional World Cup squad, he just missed out on Brazil, mainly because he hadn’t played enough games towards the end of the season.

“But he’s joined us with a real hunger to prove himself at Albion and get back into the international set-up.

“We’ve done our due diligence on Sébastien in terms of people who have worked with him, including Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas.

“You make your own mind up about a player’s ability from watching him play but you put these calls in to find out about their personality. The feedback on Sébastien was very positive.”

The defender had gained international recognition from an early age and played for Belgium’s under 16s, under 17s, under 19s and under 21s. He was called up to the senior squad in 2008 and won 13 caps for his country.

After his Brighton loan expired, he returned to West Brom but was not retained. He expected to re-join Standard Liege when interviewed by the expressandstar.com, saying: “It all adds up: I will soon be a free agent, they need new blood and I’m an ex-player of Les Rouches. At the moment there is no contact, but the board is looking for players who are interested in their project.

“If I did go to Standard, I am one of the leaders in the dressing rooms anyway – not by shouting loudly, by setting a good example. I certainly would be an example for the young players.”

The move was duly confirmed and in his third spell with the club Pocognoli made 32 appearances, including, in March 2018, in the Belgian Cup Final, when Liege beat his former club Genk 1-0.

In 2020, Pocognoli switched to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the club owned by Albion owner and chairman Tony Bloom.

Leicester lad Matt Heath plugged Albion defensive gap

Heath celebratesDUCK-loving Matt Heath didn’t shirk a challenge and came to Brighton’s rescue in 2009 when injury and suspension decimated Albion’s available defenders.

Albion were fighting for their League One lives and were in between managers when Heath arrived in March to plug a gap caused by Tommy Elphick, Adam Hinshelwood and Adam Virgo all being sidelined.

Experienced former Leicester City central defender Heath joined on loan from Colchester United, signed at the same time as striker Lloyd Owusu, who undoubtedly made more of a noteworthy contribution with some vital goals and his famous ‘raising the roof’ goal celebration.

As well as defensive problems, Albion also had Nicky Forster, Glenn Murray and loan signing Calvin Andrew out injured as they approached a period of games vital to their chances of staying in the division.

On signing the pair, caretaker manager Dean White told the Argus: “The injury situation meant it was vital to bring players in and Matt and Lloyd are two good additions. They certainly strengthen the squad and both have good experience at this level and higher.”

The 6ft 4ins Heath had made 11 appearances for Colchester that season but only one start since the turn of the year.

He played in six games and scored on his debut away to Leyton Orient on 8 March, the game which marked the beginning of Russell Slade’s period in charge of the Seagulls. Ultimately a recurrence of groin trouble brought an end to his brief Albion career.

Ironically, it was Slade’s predecessor at the Withdean, Micky Adams, who’d been Heath’s manager at Leicester, Coventry City and Colchester.

Born in Leicester on 11 January 1981, Heath came through the Foxes academy, made his debut in the 2001-02 season and went on to play 60 first team games for the club, including 17 Premier League games alongside Ricardo Scimeca. During the 2003-04 season, he had an eight-game loan spell with Stockport County.

Heath scors 4 Leic

In 2005, Adams went back to his old club to take Heath to Coventry City for a £45,000 fee. He played 26 games for the Sky Blues in 2005-06 but only eight games the following season and, in November 2006, was loaned out to Leeds United who made the move permanent in January 2007.

Heath relished his time playing under manager Dennis Wise and his assistant Gus Poyet but after playing 50 games for Leeds, Wise’s successor Gary McAllister deemed him surplus to requirements at Elland Road and Heath once again went to play for Adams, this time at Colchester.

He initially joined on loan but then spent five seasons on the Us’ books, making a total of 106 appearances, albeit during his time with them he had a couple of spells out on loan.

One of those was that brief stint at Brighton and the following season he played four games for Southend United.

When his contract was up at Colchester, he switched to Northampton Town, where the manager was one of his old Colchester bosses, Aidy Boothroyd, but he didn’t make any first team appearances and left the club to join non-league Harrogate Town in January 2008 where he made 29 appearances. Next up was Harrogate Railway FC.

However, Heath simultaneously pursued an education role in sport, and he became a course manager and lecturer at Askham Bryan College in York having studied football coaching at the University of East Anglia.

In March 2019, Askham Bryan College announced it was becoming a sports hub for Leeds United, with Heath playing a prominent role.

Heath talked about the importance of former professional players having a plan for life after football in an interview with Non-League Yorkshire.

He said: “I’ve had so many good friends in the pro game and they’re all five years younger than me and I’ve told all of them to do something because you have so much time on your hands when you’re playing pro football.

“I’ve said: ‘Get a qualification or do something because when it all finishes, you either get lucky and fall into something like myself or you’ll be in a place where you’re not sure what to do’.

“I think most of the lads in the pro game don’t realise that it just stops like that.”

In 2015, Heath combined his day job with captaining Northern League – North West Division side Tadcaster Albion and then became assistant manager for two years, working under Billy Miller, who was his boss (head of sports and public services) at Askham before being promoted to a director.

Heath subsequently became a teacher-coach in Leeds’ education department, working with a group of would-be footballer students in Nottingham.

“The kids finish their GCSEs and want to carry on in education and the college provide a programme where they carry on with their education, get a Level 3 BTEC-extended Diploma and we link it alongside training every day and play in the National League as well, ” he explained to Jonathan Waldron of the Colchester Gazette, in a February 2021 interview.

“So the kids get the training, the education and luckily I’ve got a role there where I’m part of both of it, in the classroom and out on the training field as well and matchdays for our college.”

Telling the reporter that he still looks out for the results of all the clubs he used to play for, he added: “It’s nice to reminisce but my family just tell me to shut up if I go on about it!

“I was lucky; dedication and hard work gets you a long way in football and you have to have a bit of a rub of the green, along the way and managers and coaches who take an interest in you and see something and then roll with it a little bit.

“I’m proud of what I achieved.”

Heath college coach