Michael Chopra

Rocky Michael Chopra (born 23 December 1983) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for West Allotment Celtic.

A product of the Newcastle United youth system, he spent six years at the club without managing to secure a regular first team place, instead spending time on loan at Watford, Nottingham Forest, and Barnsley.

Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, Chopra attended Gosforth High School in Newcastle, and owing to his goal-scoring exploits there, and later with the Montagu Boys' Club, was recruited to the Newcastle United academy in July 1993.

Being an unused substitute for Newcastle in a Premier League match against Charlton Athletic in October 2002, Chopra signed a three-year contract with the club on 30 October.

Chopra made his professional debut on 6 November, at St James' Park against Everton in the League Cup.

Coming on as a substitute for Lomana LuaLua, he missed a penalty kick in the shootout, sending Everton to the round of 16.

He made his UEFA Champions League debut in December 2002 against Barcelona.

Coming on as a substitute for Lualua, in the final minutes of the match, Newcastle was handed a 3–1 defeat.

Further playing once for the club against Bayer Leverkusen, Chopra was loaned to second-tier club Watford for five matches on 25 March 2003.

During his short loan spell, he scored five goals in as many matches, which included four goals against Burnley.

Being behind Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy, Shola Ameobi and LuaLua in the pecking order, Watford manager Ray Lewington expressed his desire to re-sign him on loan for the next season.

He said that Chopra "had an experience he wouldn't have believed a month ago having played in an FA Cup semi-final."

On 11 May 2003, Chopra made his Premier League debut as the season ended with a 1–1 draw at West Bromwich Albion, he again replaced LuaLua with eight minutes remaining.

In September of the same year, the BBC reported that Indian club Mohun Bagan was interested in signing him.

Failing to find a goal in the 2003–04 season, Newcastle loaned Chopra to Nottingham Forest for a month in February 2004.

He failed to find the net, as he ended the season playing eleven times without scoring.

At the start of the 2004–05 season, he was loaned for a month to League One club Barnsley in August.

Making his debut against Hull City, he would score his first goal for Barnsley against Hartlepool United, opening a 1–1 draw at Victoria Park.

Scoring a total of five goals, his loan was extended in November till the end of the season.

In the rest of the season, Chopra scored twelve times – including two hat-tricks, one against Peterborough United and another against Huddersfield Town.

New Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie intended to sign Chopra in the summer to play alongside Paul Hayes, but was unsuccessful.

Chopra began the 2005–06 season back in Newcastle's first team, scoring his first senior goal for Newcastle in the 3–1 away win to Slovak side Dubnica on 17 July in UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Making his second start for Newcastle, he opened the scoring in the fourth minute of the match.

In the second leg of the match, he suffered concussion, with Sky Sports reporting that he would miss the next game against Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruña.

Nevertheless, he played in that match where he "slid home Charles N'Zogbia's cross at the far post".

He was sold to Cardiff City for £500,000 in June 2006, and won a place on the PFA Team of the Year for his performances in the 2006–07 season.

In 2006, he scored what was then the fastest goal by a substitute in Premier League history, scoring after being on the pitch for 15 seconds.

A gambling addiction made him fall in severe debt and he had to seek professional help to overcome his addiction.

In a Tyne–Wear derby against Sunderland on 17 April 2006, Chopra scored his only Premier League goal and the fastest by a substitute – finding the net after coming on fifteen seconds earlier.

Later in that season Chopra injured his knee ligaments, which he claimed to be the "worst injury" he ever had.

After becoming frustrated at his failure to make an impact at Newcastle, Chopra signed for Cardiff City in June 2006 for £500,000.

On his decision to leave Newcastle, Chopra stated that he had shown loyalty to the club and expressed his desire to receive the same loyalty from the club.

He also added that he would love to return to Newcastle in the future.

He then made a £5 million move to Premier League side Sunderland in July 2007, before returning to Cardiff on a loan deal that was made permanent in July 2009 for £3 million.

He again was included in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2009–10 campaign, before being sold on to Ipswich Town for £1 million in June 2011.

He joined Blackpool on a free transfer in July 2013, before moving to the Indian Super League with the Kerala Blasters for the inaugural 2014 season.

Chopra signed for Scottish Championship club Alloa Athletic in March 2015, playing for the side for a year before being released in March 2016.

He returned to India to play for the Kerala Blasters again before retiring.

As of 2022 Michael has since come back out of retirement to play with West Allotment Celtic.

He has represented England at the under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels.