Leon Osman

Leon Osman (born 17 May 1981) is an English football player who plays for Everton in the Premier League. He has spent his whole career as an Everton player, though has spent time on loan at Carlisle United and Derby County.

Biography

Osman was born in Billinge Higher End, Wigan to a Turkish Cypriot father and an English mother. He grew up in Skelmersdale and Huyton, on Merseyside, attending Up Holland High School and Winstanley College. He joined the Everton Academy and was part of the team that won the 1998 FA Youth Cup. Following the cup victory Osman sustained a knee injury which kept him from playing for a year. Through his father he is eligible to play for Turkey or Cyprus. Through his mother he is able to play for England.

Senior career

Osman was loaned to Carlisle United in October 2002, where he scored once in the league against Macclesfield Town and a brace against Oldham Athletic in the LDV Vans Trophy and was awarded Player of the Year by the club. He was granted a one year extension to his Everton contract in the summer of 2003, but failed to break into the first team until the end of the 2003–04 season. Instead, he was again loaned out, this time to Derby County. He had an integral role in Derby's successful bid to avoid relegation, and manager George Burley tried to buy him from Everton. Instead, Osman returned to his parent club with three games remaining in...
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