Sam McQueen

English footballer

Sam McQueen

McQueen playing for Southampton in 2017

Personal information
Full name|  Samuel James McQueen[1]
Date of birth|  (1995-02-06) 6 February 1995 (age 30)
Place of birth|  Southampton, England
Height|  5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)[2]
Position(s)|  Left-back, winger
Youth career
2003–2014|  Southampton
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2014–2022|  Southampton|  20|  (0)
2016|  → Southend United (loan)|  18|  (2)
2018|  → Middlesbrough (loan)|  5|  (0)
Total|  |  43|  (2)
International career
2017|  England U21|  1|  (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Samuel James McQueen (born 6 February 1995) is an English former professional footballer. Other than loan periods at Southend United in 2016 and Middlesbrough in 2018, he spent his career at hometown club Southampton, having joined the club's academy at the age of eight. He played primarily as a left-sided full-back or winger.

McQueen was forced to retire at the age of 26 in 2022 after failing to recover from a knee injury experienced while on loan at Middlesbrough. McQueen initially ruptured the ACL in his right knee but experienced a series of setbacks culminating in his retirement.[3]

## Early life

[edit]

McQueen was born in Southampton[4] and attended The Mountbatten School in Romsey, Hampshire.[5] Southampton scouted him when he was eight years old whilst playing for Oakwood Rangers, a local youth side.[6] He was part of the Southampton F.C. Academy U13 side that were runners-up in the prestigious Dr Pepper Dallas Cup Tournament in Texas where they lost 1–0 to FC Barcelona California in 2008.[7] The same team included other academy products James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers, Harrison Reed, Jordan Turnbull, Jake Sinclair and Dominic Gape all who gained professional contracts in later years with the club.[8]

## Club career

[edit]

McQueen was named in the Southampton senior team for the first time on 15 February 2014 for the FA Cup fifth round match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light; he came on in the second half for his debut, playing the last eight minutes of the 0–1 defeat, in place of Adam Lallana.[9] McQueen signed a new four-year contract on 17 June 2014.[10]

In January 2016, McQueen completed a loan move to League One side Southend United until the end of the season.[11][12] He made his league debut in the 3–0 home win over Coventry City, coming on as a substitute in the 86th minute.[13] He scored his first league goal as a professional 11 days later in his first full league start in the Essex derby against Colchester United on his 21st birthday.[14]

He made his Premier League debut for Southampton on 16 October 2016, when he replaced Matt Targett at left-back after 14 minutes of a 3–1 win over Burnley, winning a penalty for the third goal.[15] Four days later, he made his 2016–17 UEFA Europa League debut[16] and first senior start for the Saints on 20 October versus Inter Milan at the San Siro.[17] This was followed three days later by his first league start for them in a 1–1 away draw with Manchester City.[18]

On 5 December 2016, McQueen signed a new long-term contract with Southampton, penning a deal until 2021.[17][19]

On 30 August 2018, McQueen signed for Middlesbrough on a season-long loan.[20] In October 2018, he suffered a serious knee injury in a game against Crystal Palace. McQueen's recovery was disrupted by recurring infections of his knee construction, which required additional surgeries.[21] In April 2021, Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhüttl said it would be a "miracle" if McQueen played again.[22] McQueen retired from professional football as a result of his injuries on 1 January 2022.[3]

## International career

[edit]

McQueen received his first call-up for the England under-21 side as a squad member for a pair of friendly matches against Germany and Denmark in March 2017.[23] McQueen was an unused substitute in the Germany match[24] but was handed his debut on 27 March, starting at left-back in the game against Denmark. Aidy Boothroyd, the manager, was quoted as saying "Sam McQueen was excellent" in the 4–0 victory against Denmark.[25]

## Coaching career

[edit]

Following his retirement from professional football, he returned to Southampton in a coaching role, predominantly working with the under-18s.[26]

## Career statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | Division  | League  | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
Southampton | 2013–14[27] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0
2014–15 | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0
2015–16[28] | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0
2016–17[29] | Premier League  | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | — | 20 | 0
2017–18[30] | Premier League  | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0
2018–19[31] | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0
2019–20[32] | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0
2020–21[33] | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0
2021–22[34] | Premier League  | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0
Total  | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0
Southampton U21s | 2016–17 EFL Trophy[29] | — | — | — | — | 2[b] | 1 | 2 | 1
Southend United (loan)  | 2015–16[35] | League One | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2
Middlesbrough (loan)  | 2018–19[36] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0
Career total  | 43 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 56 | 3

1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy

## Honours

[edit]

Southampton U21

* U21 Premier League Cup: 2014–15[37]

Southampton

* EFL Cup runner-up: 2016–17[38]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
2. ^ "Premier League Player Profile Sam McQueen". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
3. ^ a b "Sam McQueen announces his retirement". Southampton FC. 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
4. ^ "Youth focus will be key for remainder of season, says Saints' assistant manager". Southern Daily Echo. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
5. ^ "Summer Term 2012 Newsletter". The Mountbatten School. July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
6. ^ "Oakwood Under 8s (Photograph ref code h9a75814)". Southern Daily Echo. Southampton. January 2003. p. 20.
7. ^ "2008 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXIX: Southampton FC". Archived from the original on 18 December 2014.
8. ^ "Mauricio's minors: Saints Academy is the best in the league". Metro. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
9. ^ "Sunderland 1–0 Southampton". BBC Sport. 15 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
10. ^ "McQueen signs four year contract". Southampton FC. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
11. ^ "Sam McQueen: Southend United sign Southampton midfielder". BBC Sport. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
12. ^ "McQueen joins Southend on loan". Southampton FC. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
13. ^ "Southend United 3–0 Coventry City – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
14. ^ "Southend United 3–0 Colchester United – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
15. ^ "Southampton 3 Burnley 1". BBC Sport. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
16. ^ Robinson, Neil (18 October 2016). "Southampton on Claude nine ahead of dream Inter tie". Reuters. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
17. ^ a b "Sam McQueen: Southampton defender agrees long-term contract until 2021". BBC Sport. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
18. ^ "Manchester City 1 Southampton 1". BBC Sport. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
19. ^ Vinnell, Paul (5 December 2016). "Southampton full-back Sam McQueen signs new long-term contract". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
20. ^ "Sam McQueen: Middlesbrough sign Southampton defender on loan". BBC Sport. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
21. ^ Sheldon, Dan. "An infected screw has extended Sam McQueen's ACL misery to two years". The Athletic. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
22. ^ "Southampton: Sam McQueen might never play again". Football Fan Cast. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
23. ^ "Aidy Boothroyd names U21s squad to face Germany and Denmark". The Football Association. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
24. ^ "Germany U21 1–0 England U21". BBC Sport. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
25. ^ "England under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd happy with his squad's progress in March games". The Football Association. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
26. ^ House, Alfie (23 September 2022). "Retired star McQueen honest on 'scary world' as Southampton confirm his return as coach". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
27. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
28. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
29. ^ a b "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
30. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
31. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
32. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
33. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
34. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
35. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
36. ^ "Games played by Sam McQueen in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
37. ^ "Report: Southampton 2–1 Blackburn Rovers (Under-21 Premier League Cup final second leg)". Southampton FC. 20 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
38. ^ McNulty, Phil (26 February 2017). "Manchester United 3–2 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Sam McQueen at Soccerbase
* England profile at The FA

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals