Grant Leadbitter
Grant Leadbitter (born 7 January 1986) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made more than 500 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, which included 212 for Middlesbrough, 180 for Sunderland and 116 for Ipswich Town. Leadbitter retired at the end of the 2021 season, having won the EFL Trophy in his final season with Sunderland.
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Leadbitter playing for Ipswich Town in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Grant Leadbitter | ||
| Date of birth | 7 January 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Chester-le-Street, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Sunderland | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2009 | Sunderland | 111 | (11) |
| 2005 | → Rotherham United (loan) | 5 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | Ipswich Town | 116 | (13) |
| 2012–2019 | Middlesbrough | 212 | (28) |
| 2019–2021 | Sunderland | 69 | (7) |
| Total | 513 | (60) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | England U16 | 10 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | England U17 | 9 | (0) |
| 2004–2005 | England U19 | 11 | (0) |
| 2005 | England U20 | 1 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | England U21 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 May 2021 | |||
Leadbitter played for Sunderland from 2003 until 2009 after rising as a product from the team's Youth Academy before signing for Ipswich Town. He spent seven seasons with Middlesbrough before finishing his career with Sunderland. In 2007 Leadbitter received a call-up for England U21, and featured for them three times.
Leadbitter spent the 2021/2022 season gaining his UEFA A License. Since October 2022, he has been part of the first-team coaching staff at Middlesbrough.