Steve Simonsen

Steve Simonsen
Personal information
Full name Steven Preben Arthur Simonsen[1]
Date of birth (1979-04-03) 3 April 1979[1]
Place of birth South Shields, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1994–1996 Nottingham Forest
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 Tranmere Rovers 35 (0)
1998–2004 Everton 30 (0)
2004–2010 Stoke City 166 (0)
2010 → Sheffield United (loan) 7 (0)
2010–2012 Sheffield United 89 (0)
2012–2013 Preston North End 10 (0)
2013 Dundee 8 (0)
2013–2015 Rangers 20 (0)
2015–2016 Pune City 10 (0)
National team
1999 England U21 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 December 2015.


Steven Preben Arthur "Steve" Simonsen (born 3 April 1979) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper.

Born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, he started his senior career at Tranmere Rovers before spells with Everton, Stoke City and Sheffield United, Preston North End and Scottish sides Dundee and Rangers. Whilst at Tranmere, he received four caps for the England U21s.

Club career

Early career

Simonsen grew up a supporter of Sunderland but was spotted by Nottingham Forest at the age of 15 whilst playing in his native South Shields. After a spell in Nottinghamshire, however, he was released in the summer of 1996.[2]

Tranmere Rovers

After being released by Nottingham Forest, Simonsen started his career at Tranmere Rovers in August 1996 as a trainee. By November 1996, he had already made his league début for the club against one of the clubs he would later sign for, Stoke City.[2] After just 42 league and cup appearances for the first team, he was bought by Everton. Both clubs were under the control of Peter Johnson at the time. It was reported by various media bodies that the transfer fee was worth £3.3m a England and a record fee for a goalkeeper. However Tramere Rovers' officially sanctioned Complete Record book states that this a myth and that the deal "was based on staged payments depending upon appearances, Everton's future success and international caps, none of which came" and that "Rovers never saw anymore than the initial £1m down payment"[3]

Everton

Simonsen struggled to make it into the Everton first team on a regular basis, only making the starting line-up 35 times with another two substitute appearances, in his five seasons at Goodison Park. His Everton début did not come until the 1999–2000 season, a League Cup tie against Oxford United. In July 2001, Simonsen was also rumoured to be involved in a transfer to Wigan Athletic, but the deal fell through.[4][5] In December 2001, Simonsen even considered making a move to a Danish club.[6]

Simonsen did not get a chance to prove himself again until the 2001–02 season, when he made 25 league starts for Everton and finally became a regular first team player. Following the appointment of new manager David Moyes, however, Simonsen rarely got a chance to play for Everton again, making only three league starts during his last two seasons. Simonsen later rejected a one-year contract extension[7] and was thus released by the club in May 2004. After his release, Simonsen was linked with the recent-relegated side Leeds United.[8]

Stoke City

Simonsen signed for Stoke City in July 2004 on a free transfer[9] and was the club's first choice goalkeeper until 2008, making more than 150 league appearances for the Potters. Simonsen was named as Stoke City players' player of the season for the 2004–05 season and was rewarded with a new three-year contract until July 2008.[10] During the 2006–07 season, Simonsen became the record holder for most consecutive clean sheets at Stoke City – seven – a feat he also achieved at Tranmere.[11] The clean sheets consisted of four home matches and three away matches.

In July 2007, Simonsen signed a new contract with Stoke keeping him at the club until June 2010.[12] On the first day of the following season he saved a Steven MacLean penalty in a 1-0 win over Cardiff City.[13] He went on to play an important part in Stoke's promotion to the Premier League, although he lost his place in the side towards the end of the campaign, when Carlo Nash was brought in on an emergency loan from Wigan Athletic.[14] Thomas Sørensen was then signed at the start of the 2008–09 season, so Simonsen played second fiddle to the Danish international throughout the year. He played only when Sørensen was injured, which amounted to just five appearances. The 2009–10 season started in the same manner for Simonsen until an injury to Sørensen at home to Chelsea meant that Simonsen made his first appearance of the season.

With their first choice keeper Paddy Kenny suspended and previous loanee goalkeeper Mark Bunn being recalled to Blackburn Rovers, Simonsen signed a one-month loan deal with Sheffield United in March 2010.[15] He made his début the following day against Doncaster Rovers, conceding an early goal in a game that finished 1–1.[16] Simonsen made seven starts for the Blades before returning to Stoke at the end of his loan period.

With his contract expiring, Simonsen left Stoke in July of that year on a free transfer after spending six years at City and making almost 200 appearances in total.[17]

Sheffield United

Released from his contract at Stoke, Simonsen returned to Bramall Lane and signed a two-year contract with Sheffield United in July 2010.[18] He was virtually ever present in his first full season at the club but the team suffered a torrid time as they went through four managers and were eventually relegated to League One. Simonsen remained first choice keeper for the Blades for much of the following season as an improved side contested an immediate promotion back to the Championship although ultimately finished in third place, going on to lose in the play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town with Simonsen missing the decisive kick.[19] After missing the penalty, Simonsen told BBC Radio Sheffield missing the penalty was his lowest part of his career and described this as "horrendous", in addition he mentioned it a million times in his head that he couldn't watch the moment.[20]

With the club needing to cut the wage bill, Simonsen was released a few days later when his contract expired.[21] Simonsen previously stated he wanted a new contract to stay at the club.[22]

Preston North End

In August 2012, Simonsen signed a one-year contract with Preston North End.[23] Simonsen made his debut for the club, replacing first-choice goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann, on 18 September 2012, where Simonsen kept a clean sheet, as Preston heavily destroyed Hartlepool United 5–0.[24] Manager Graham Westley praised Simonsen on his debut.[25] After making 17 appearances, Simonsen sustained an injury against Coventry City the following January ruling him out of action for several months,[26] after which he was released from his Preston contract.[27]

Dundee

In March 2013, Simonsen signed a short term contract with Scottish Premier League club Dundee until the end of the season.[28] His move caused a rift between first choice goalkeeper Robert Douglas and Manager John Brown.[29] Simonsen made his debut, in the Dundee derby, which ended 1–1.[30] Towards the end of the season, with Dundee facing relegation, Simonsen was the club's first choice goalkeeper. Dundee were relegated after a draw with Aberdeen on 5 May 2013.[31] Despite the relegation, Brown praised his performance and stated he would love Simonsen to stay for a further season.[32] However, Simonsen's time with Dundee was ended when he was not offered a further deal, having stayed at the club for two months.[33]

Rangers

On 13 September 2013, Scottish League One side Rangers announced that Simonsen had signed a contract until the end of the 2013–14 season.[34] He previously went on the trial with the club in mid-August.[35]

Simonsen was the back-up goalkeeper to Cammy Bell until making his debut for Rangers on 20 January against Forfar,[36] where he won praise for an outstanding reflex save during a 2–0 win for Rangers.[37] Simonsen's only other first team appearance that season for Rangers was in their Scottish Cup semi-final tie against Dundee United, where Simonsen's misplaced kick-out led directly to Dundee United's third goal in a 3–1 defeat for the Ibrox club.[38] After the match, Manager Ally McCoist said he has no sympathy to Simonsen following criticism was directly made to him.[39] Simonsen later described this as "cruel moment".[40] Despite on 3 May, Rangers players made history by becoming the first Rangers side in 115 years to go an entire league season unbeaten after a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline during which they clinched the Scottish League One championship. Following the end of the season, he was part of a young Rangers squad that featured in the HKFC International Soccer Sevens held in May.[41]

Simonsen was due to leave Rangers at the end of the 2013–14 season, however he re-signed in July 2014 for the following campaign.[42] He made his first start of the 2014–15 season in an 8–1 victory at Ibrox against Clyde in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[43] Simonsen became a second goalkeeper for the club following Bell's injury and went on to make thirty-three appearance in all competitions, including being in goal when Rangers faced rival's Celtic for the first time in three years in the Scottish League Cup semi-final, which Rangers lost 2–0.[44] His second season at Rangers was proven to be controversial when he charged for betting.[45] Simonsen received a two-match ban, though one man was suspended.[46] There were criticism to Simonsen's suspension made by SFA, as it was too lightly and too lenient.[47] As a result, SFA was considering to extending Simonsen's suspension, an action was criticised by PFA Scotland.[48][49] The SFA's attempts to extend Simonsen's suspension was rejected.[50]

As a result of ban, Simonsen feared that the betting incident could see his future ruined.[51] Eventually, Simonsen was released by Rangers at the end of the season, along with several other players, after the club failed to gain promotion to the Scottish Premiership.[52]

FC Pune City

Simonsen was signed by Indian Super League club FC Pune City on 20 July 2015 for the 2015 Indian Super League.[53][54]

International career

Simonsen appeared for the England Under 21s, winning four caps. The son of a Danish seaman,[55] he is eligible to represent Denmark at international level.[56]

Personal life

Simonsen is the son of a Danish seaman. He was married to Claire Simonsen, a travel presenter on Radio City 96.7, until 2014. Together, the couple have two children.[2]

In April 2014, Simonsen was fined £650, as well as being ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60. Not only that, Simonsen was banned from driving for twelve months.[57] Around that time, Simonsen and his wife were in process of divorce and up until now, "Simonsen has no previous record and is a man of previous good character".[58] Upon being charged for betting, Simonsen's action were revealed when his wife was declared bankrupt after having a debt of £22,000 and cited the bankruptcy over "reduction in household income" and "relationship breakdown."[59]

Career statistics

As of 9 June 2016[60]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tranmere Rovers 1997–98 First Division 3003000–330
1998–99 First Division 500040–90
Total 3503040–420
Everton 1999–00 Premier League 102000–30
2000–01 Premier League 100000–10
2001–02 Premier League 2505000–300
2002–03 Premier League 200000–20
2003–04 Premier League 100000–10
Total 3007000–370
Stoke City 2004–05 Championship 3101010–330
2005–06 Championship 4504010–500
2006–07 Championship 4602010–490
2007–08 Championship 3602000–380
2008–09 Premier League 501040–100
2009–10 Premier League 301030–70
Total 1660110100–1870
Sheffield United 2009–10 Championship 700000–70
2010–11 Championship 4501010–470
2011–12 League One 440402040540
Total 9605030401080
Preston North End 2012–13 League One 100202030170
Total 100202030170
Dundee 2012–13 Scottish Premier League 8000000080
Total 8000000080
Rangers 2013–14 Scottish League One 2010000030
2014–15 Scottish Championship 180205030280
Total 200305030310
FC Pune City 2015 Indian Super League 100000000100
Career total 37503102401004400
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League play-offs and Football League Trophy.

Honours

Stoke City

References

  1. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 562. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. 1 2 3 "The forgotten man cannot wait to jog Arsenal's memory". The Guardian. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Upton, Gilbert; Wilson, Steve; Bishop, Peter (2009). Tranmere Rovers : the complete record. Derby: Breedon. p. 190. ISBN 978-1859837115.
  4. ↑ "Simonsen set for Wigan switch". BBC Sport. 31 July 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  5. ↑ "LATICS CONFIRM SIMONSEN INTEREST". Sky Sports. 31 July 2001. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "SIMONSEN CONSIDERS DANISH MOVE". Sky Sports. 4 December 2001. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Simonsen confirms Toffees decision". Sky Sports. 20 February 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Leeds trail Simonsen". Sky Sports. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Simonsen seals Potters switch". Sky Sports. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  10. ↑ "Simonsen signs new Stoke contract". BBC Sport. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. ↑ Stevenson, Jonathan (15 February 2007). "Simonsen targets promised land". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  12. ↑ "Simonsen pens new Stoke contract". BBC Sport. 31 July 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  13. ↑ "Cardiff 0-1 Stoke". BBC. 11 August 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "Simonsen vows to fight for place". BBC Sport. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  15. ↑ "Simonsen brought in". Sheffield United FC Official Web Site. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  16. ↑ "Doncaster 1–1 Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 20 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  17. ↑ "Simonsen Departs on Free Transfer". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
  18. ↑ "Blackie gets his No. 1". Sheffield United F.C. official Web Site. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  19. ↑ "Danny Wilson stands by Steve Simonsen". BBC Sport. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "Sheffield United keeper Steve Simonsen laments penalty miss". BBC Sport. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Sheffield United release goalkeeper Steve Simonsen". BBC Sport. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Sheffield United keeper Steve Simonsen wants new deal". BBC Sport. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  23. ↑ "Simonsen Signs One Year Deal". Preston North End F.C. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "Preston 5 – 0 Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  25. ↑ "Preston: Steve Simonsen praised by boss Graham Westley". BBC Sport. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "Preston keeper Steve Simonsen set for prolonged injury absence". BBC Sport. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "Steve Simonsen: Preston North End terminate goalkeeper's deal". BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  28. ↑ "New Signing". Dundee Football Club. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  29. ↑ "Dundee derby: John Brown says injury forced him to drop 'legend' Rab Douglas". The Courier. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "Dundee Utd 1–1 Dundee". BBC Sport. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  31. ↑ "Dundee 1–1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Dundee boss John Brown focuses on First Division future". BBC Sport. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  33. ↑ "Dundee boss John Brown wields axe to squad". The Courier. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  34. ↑ "Simonsen Signs On". Rangers F.C. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "Rangers: Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen handed trial at Ibrox". BBC Sport. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  36. ↑ "Mac And Simmo Start". Rangers F.C. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  37. ↑ McCarthy, David (22 January 2014). "Ibrox keeper Steve Simonsen: My save may have been a stand-out but I am still the stand-in at Rangers". Daily Record. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  38. ↑ Forsyth, Roddy (12 April 2014). "Rangers 1 Dundee United 3: match report". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  39. ↑ "McCoist: I've no sympathy for Steve Simonsen after his Twitter abuse". The Herald Scotland. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  40. ↑ "Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen: Scottish Cup blunder was a cruel moment.. I'm determined not to let this chance slip". Daily Record. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  41. ↑ "Hong Kong Kids Return". Rangers FC. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  42. ↑ Dickson, Andrew (11 July 2014). "Simmo Signs On Again". Rangers FC. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "Rangers 8 - 1 Clyde". BBC Sport. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  44. ↑ "Celtic 2 - 0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  45. ↑ "Scottish Championship: Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen charged by SFA over betting". Sky Sports. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  46. ↑ "Rangers keeper Steve Simonsen receives two-match ban for betting on 55 games". Daily Mirror. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  47. ↑ "Rangers keeper Steve Simonsen's let off lightly over SFA betting charge because he didn't know the rules". Daily Record. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  48. ↑ "Seething SFA to fight Steve Simonsen one-match ban because they feel the punishment's too soft". Daily Record. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  49. ↑ "Union chiefs tell the SFA: You've blackened Steve Simonsen's name and damaged his career chances". Daily Record. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  50. ↑ "SFA FAIL to extend Rangers Steve Simonsen's betting ban". Daily Express. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  51. ↑ "SFA have ruined my Rangers career: Steve Simonsen fears for his Ibrox future after winning appeal over betting charge". Daily Record. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  52. ↑ Jack, Christopher (8 June 2015). "Mohsni, Black, Smith, Daly, Foster, Hutton, Simonson, Robinson and Faure have all left Rangers". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  53. ↑ http://www.indiansuperleague.com/press-releases/2133-a-double-strike-from-fc-pune-city-signs-2-prominent-english-players
  54. ↑ http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/245862-indian-super-league-fc-pune-city-sign-nicky-shorey-and-steve-simonsen
  55. ↑ "The forgotten man cannot wait to jog Arsenal's memory". Michael Walker. The Guardian. 8 January 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
  56. ↑ Simonsen considers Danish move
  57. ↑ "Rangers goalkeeper Simonsen banned for 12 months after admitting drink driving". Daily Mail. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  58. ↑ "Rangers' Steve Simonsen hit with drink-driving ban". The Scotsman. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  59. ↑ "Rangers star Steve Simonsen splurged cash at bookies but his wife Claire couldn't pay £22K creditors' bill". Daily Record. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  60. ↑ "Steve Simonsen". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
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