Leighton Baines

Leighton John Baines (born 11 December 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left back.

He is currently the Professional Development Coach and U-18s head coach at Everton.

Baines started his career with Wigan Athletic, and was part of the team that won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season and was a runner-up in the 2004–05 Championship and the 2006 League Cup final.

Baines made his debut for Wigan Athletic in 2002 and was a member of the team that won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season.

He was a regular in the first team when Wigan earned promotion to the Premier League in 2004–05.

That season saw Baines score his first goal for the club, a long-range shot against Ipswich Town.

When he secured promotion with Wigan, he doubted he was good enough to play in the Premier League: "We won promotion to the Premier League and, straight away, I was thinking, 'Where am I going to go now?' I should have been celebrating but I spent a large part of that summer worrying about what it would be like spending the next year on the bench and in the reserves."

Baines signed a new contract with Wigan in February 2005 despite being linked to a number of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton, and extended his contract again after impressive displays in his first season in the Premier League.

Whilst at Wigan, he started in the 2006 League Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

He was only the fifth player since 2006–07 to score two direct free-kicks in one Premier League match (after Rooney, Ronaldo, Drogba and Larsson).

Baines suffered a toe injury in November which saw him miss a top flight fixture for the first time in 52 matches.

He joined Everton in 2007, helping them reach the 2009 FA Cup final.

He played for England at under-21 and senior levels.

In July 2007, Baines rejected a move to Sunderland, after their bid of a reported £6 million was accepted by Wigan Athletic FC.

In the following month he signed for Everton for an initial fee of £5 million, with another £1 million in add-ons, dependent on Baines's appearances for Everton.

In his first season, Baines made 29 appearances in all competitions, with his appearances limited by an injury and the good form of Phil Jagielka and Joseph Yobo at centre back which kept Joleon Lescott at left back.

His second season at Everton saw an increase in Baines's playing time.

Due to an injury to Yobo, Lescott moved to the centre of defence and Baines played at left back.

He was voted Player of the Month at Everton two months in a row in the 2008–09 season.

Baines scored his first ever Everton goal against Portsmouth on 21 March, at Fratton Park, after 57 matches (in all competitions) without scoring.

On 30 August 2009, he scored a last minute penalty in a 2–1 win over his former team Wigan.

A month later, he captained Everton for the first time in a UEFA Europa League match against AEK Athens.

In the 2010–11 season, Baines played every minute of Everton's Premier League matches, as well as scoring seven goals in all competitions.

His contribution was rewarded with the club's Player of the Season, Players' Player of the Season, and Goal of the Season awards.

His goal against Chelsea, scored from direct free kick, was voted Everton Goal of the Season.

He also contributed 11 assists throughout the season, 5th overall in the league, and was the league's highest assisting defender.

Baines scored five times during 2011–12, four of which were penalties.

He reached 99 consecutive league matches before ending his season early due to injury.

Baines was included in the England squads at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

His performance at left back was deemed impressive enough to be named in the PFA's Premier League Team of the Year in 2012, the first Everton player to do so for 22 years since Neville Southall in 1989–90.

During the 2012–13 season, Baines created 116 chances for his teammates, more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

When 2013's PFA Premier League Team of the Year was announced, Baines was again included, and he also won Everton's Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards.

Baines was the only outfield player to have played in every minute of every Premier League match during the season.

He was the subject of multiple bids during the 2013 summer transfer window from Manchester United but all were rejected by Everton.

Baines scored two free-kicks either side of goalkeeper Jussi Jääskeläinen from the same position as Everton beat West Ham United 3–2 in September.

On 27 January 2014, Baines signed a four-year deal to extend his contract at Everton.

He scored three penalties during the season to take his career tally to 13, becoming the first player in Premier League history to have taken more than 10 and never missed one.

He announced his retirement from football on 26 July 2020, going on to integrate into coaching.

Baines currently occupies a dual role at Everton, serving as the manager of Everton U18s and as a Professional Development Coach for the Everton Academy.

Born in Kirkby, England, Baines was part of the Everton youth system before departing for Wigan Athletic as a teenager.