Lloyd Sam

Lloyd Ekow Sam (born 27 September 1984) is a former Ghanaian international footballer who played as a winger.

Since 2023, he has been a match analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

He previously served as the color commentator for MLS club Charlotte FC.

As a player, he was comfortable playing on either side of the pitch.

Born in England to Ghanaian parents, Sam represented England internationally once at U20 level; however, he represented Ghana at the senior level.

Sam was born in Leeds, but his family moved to London when he was two months old.

Sam began his football career at Charlton Athletic but spent a portion of his childhood living in Senegal where he attended Dakar Academy.

In 1998, Sam was asked to attend a trial at Italian side Empoli, with his older brother Andrew.

However, neither was successful.

When Sam's family returned to London in 1998, he was offered trials at both Wimbledon and Arsenal, but instead re-joined Charlton on Academy terms.

Sam became a professional in 2003, at the age of 18.

His first involvement in a Charlton squad came after the Charlton youth team beat Leeds United.

His and Osei Sankofa's impressive form for the youth side resulted in a call up to the first team squad against Arsenal, but it was two years before he made his debut for Charlton against Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2004–05 season.

Before this, he spent time on loan with Leyton Orient in the Third Division.

He later had loan spells with Sheffield Wednesday and Southend United in the Championship.

This was his second relegation with Charlton, having played a minor part in the squad that was relegated from the Premier League in 2006–07.

He narrowly missed out on promotion the following season, when Charlton reached the League One playoff semi-finals, but ended up losing against Swindon Town.

Sam was not offered a new contract by Charlton after they failed to gain an immediate return to the Championship, as they could not afford his wages, which had been set during their final Premier League season in 2006–07 under Iain Dowie.

After Charlton were relegated from the Premier League following the 2007–08 season, Sam received an opportunity to break into Charlton's first team.

He was assigned the number 18 shirt.

He started the season well, scoring his first ever goals against Stockport County in the League cup and Coventry City but was sent off in October 2007 following a clash with Ian Ashbee of Hull City.

Sam suffered relegation with Charlton from The Championship to League One during the 2008–09 season.

Leeds had finished the 2009–10 season two points ahead of Charlton, and had gained automatic promotion from League One, as runners up.

The contract came with an option to extend it further than the initial two years.

Sam signed a two-year deal with his hometown club Leeds United on 9 July 2010 on a free transfer from Charlton Athletic.

He made his Leeds debut in the first game of the season against Derby County on 7 August 2010 which ended in a 2–1 defeat, with Sam conceding a penalty on his debut after fouling Tomasz Cywka.

Sam scored his first goal for Leeds in his second appearance, the goal came in the League Cup against Lincoln City.

He scored his first league goal in the following match against Nottingham Forest, he also received the man of the match award for his performance.

On 21 August 2010 he struck his second league goal and his third goal in all competitions for his new club against Millwall, cancelling out Richard Naylor's early own goal.

After being an ever-present for Leeds, Sam sustained a minor foot injury, was dropped for the game against Swansea City on 11 September and replaced in the starting lineup by Max Gradel.

Sam came on in the same game as a second-half substitute for Sanchez Watt.

Sam came back into the starting lineup for the following game against Barnsley.

After being an unused substitute vs Doncaster, Sam returned to the starting lineup against Sheffield United.

However, Sam suffered an ankle injury and was ruled out of a few games for Leeds.

Sam returned to a Leeds squad when he was named on the bench against Coventry City.

Sam made his playing return as a second-half substitute against Hull City.

Sam came on as a second-half substitute against Bristol City, had an impressive impact and helped assist one of Luciano Becchio's goals after David James parried Sam's shot.

Sam again made an impressive impact as a substitute against Crystal Palace helping Leeds earn a 2–1 win.

Sam came on as a substitute against Cardiff City, but picked up a thigh injury 6 minutes after coming on and had to be substituted himself.

Sam and Charlton narrowly missed out on promotion back to the Premier League, after poor end of season form saw them drop out of the play-off positions to 11th place.