Joe Ledley

Joseph Christopher Ledley (born 23 January 1987) is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

He started his career with then Championship side Cardiff City where he spent six years.

Ledley was called into the first team during the 2004–05 season, while still only 17.

He made his debut in the League Cup, on 21 September 2004, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 4–1 win over Milton Keynes Dons He made his league debut the next month, on 16 October, in a 2–0 win over Rotherham United, again coming on as a substitute.

Three days later he had his first start for the club in a 1–1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, he had several chances to score during the match including a header that hit the woodwork.

After the match, Cardiff's goalscorer, Lee Bullock said that Ledley had been brilliant in his first start; creating chances as well as having some himself.

Manager Lennie Lawrence said that he thought Ledley hadn't been fazed at all by the occasion and didn't look like he was making his debut.

Ledley's first goal for Cardiff came, on 2 November, in a 4–1 victory over West Ham.

He brought the ball down from a cross before beating the keeper, Stephen Bywater, with a right foot drive.

After this match Ledley's manager and teammates were again full of praise for the youngster.

Striker Paul Parry said that Ledley's goal was brilliant and with the way he had been playing, creating so many chances for himself, it was no surprise that he had got his first goal.

Manager Lawrence also said that he was impressed with other aspects of Ledley's play.

He thought that Ledley had shown incredible maturity during the match, saying that Ledley had, "an old head on a young pair of shoulders".

He was also impressed with Ledley's positional play, pointing out how Ledley had tracked back late in the match to cut out a scoring opportunity for West Ham United, when other defenders hadn't seen the danger.

Ledley has played for Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his full debut in 2005.

He has since gone on to make over 70 international appearances and has captained his country on several occasions.

On 4 February 2005 he committed his future to Cardiff City, signing a new long-term contract with the club.

This was shortly after he had won a call up to the Wales under-21 squad.

A month later he scored a vital goal, to earn three points for Cardiff as they beat Sheffield United 1–0.

Ledley's season ended in April as he suffered a fractured metatarsal bone in training.

Before this he had played 32 times for Cardiff City and had also earned three Wales under-21 caps.

His performances had provided a major boost for Cardiff City in what was a poor season for them as they were in relegation trouble at the bottom of the Championship and were suffering financial troubles as well.

Lawrence said that he hoped Ledley would stay at Cardiff for the next few seasons and that he wouldn't be surprised if the 18-year-old earned a full Wales call-up in the near future.

Ledley's first goal of the 2005–06 season came in a 2–1 League Cup victory over Macclesfield Town.

He scored the equaliser after the League Two side had taken the lead.

A month later, on 18 October, he scored in Cardiff's 2–2 draw against Preston North End.

Four days later Cardiff beat Crewe Alexandra 6–1, with Ledley scoring the second to put them 2–1 up shortly after half time.

Cardiff had been tipped for relegation at the start of the season but this victory put them on the verge of the play-off places.

He helped the club to the FA Cup Final in 2008 and to the Championship play-off final in 2010.

In 2010, he moved to Celtic on a free transfer.

He won the Scottish Premier League title in his second season with the club in 2012 and both the league and the Scottish Cup in 2013.

He signed for Crystal Palace in January 2014 and played three and a half Premier League seasons for them.

Ledley was in the Welsh squad that reached the semi-final of UEFA Euro 2016.

Ledley was born in Cardiff, growing up in the Fairwater area.

He attended Cantonian High School, where he was captain of the school football team.

His schoolboy picture is displayed in the school to this day.

He played several sports when he was younger, but only ever wanted to be a footballer.

He grew up supporting Cardiff City and joined the club's youth system aged nine.

During his later years as a trainee he was in charge of cleaning then captain Graham Kavanagh's boots.

He continued to clean them for several months after breaking into the first team, this was to stop him from getting carried away with his new position.