Sam Hutchinson

Sam Hutchinson
Hutchinson in 2012
Personal information
Full name Samuel Edward Hutchinson[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-03) 3 August 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Windsor, England[3]
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[4]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Youth career
1999–2007 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Chelsea 3 (0)
2011–2014 Chelsea 2 (0)
2012–2013Nottingham Forest (loan) 9 (1)
2013–2014Vitesse Arnhem (loan) 1 (0)
2014Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 10 (1)
2014–2020 Sheffield Wednesday 133 (3)
2020 Pafos 5 (0)
2021–2022 Sheffield Wednesday 50 (2)
2022–2024 Reading 23 (0)
International career
2006–2007 England U18 1 (0)
2007–2009 England U19 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:32, 4 July 2024 (UTC)

Samuel Edward Hutchinson (born 3 August 1989) is an English professional footballer who primarily plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder, most recently for EFL League One club Reading.

Early and personal life

Hutchinson was born in Windsor, Berkshire, in England. He is the son of Eddie Hutchinson, who had played for Chelsea's youth team, before a career in non-League football.[5]

As of June 2019, Hutchinson had one daughter and two sons with his wife, Jennifer.[6]

Club career

Chelsea

Hutchinson joined the Chelsea Academy at the age of nine,[5] and made his senior debut in May 2007, at the age of 17.[5] Hutchinson signed a new four-year contract in August 2007.[7] Later that month, Plymouth Argyle manager Ian Holloway announced his interest in signing Hutchinson on loan.[8] Hutchinson retired from professional football at the age of 21 in August 2010, due to a recurring knee injury.[5]

In December 2011 he came out of retirement and signed a new one-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea following a "significant improvement" with his knee.[9] He made his return as a substitute on 29 April in a 6–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.[10] In August 2012, Hutchinson joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan deal.[11][12]

Loan to Nottingham Forest

On 16 August 2012, Hutchinson signed on loan for Football League Championship side Nottingham Forest.[12] He made his debut on 21 August, in a 1–1 draw away to Huddersfield Town.[13] He scored on his home debut in a 2–1 win against Charlton Athletic on 1 September 2012.[14] Following another knee injury, Hutchinson went back to Chelsea in September for an injection that was intended to clear up the problem by the October international break; the treatment did not work and he was still out through mid-December, missing fifteen games.[15] After a long break, Hutchinson returned to training with Forest at the beginning of the March 2013.[16]

Loan to Vitesse

On 2 September 2013, Hutchinson joined Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan.[17] On 31 October he made his debut for the club in a league cup game against VV Noordwijk which Vitesse won 5–0.[18] Hutchinson made his league debut on 2 November in a 1–0 win over Ajax coming on as a late substitute.[19] On 2 January 2014 it was announced that he was recalled from his loan spell.[20]

Hutchinson warming up for Vitesse in October 2013.

Sheffield Wednesday

On 14 February 2014, Hutchinson joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a 28-day loan.[21] On 14 March 2014, Hutchinson extended his loan with the "Owls" until 9 April 2014.[22]

On 23 May 2014, Chelsea released Hutchinson and made him available for free transfer.[23][24]

Hutchinson signed a permanent two-year contract with Sheffield Wednesday, on 8 July 2014.[25] In the 2016–17 season, Hutchinson picked up three Player of the Month awards, before signing a new two-and-a-half-year contract in January 2017.[26]

On 24 June 2020, it was announced that he would leave the club when his contract expired on 30 June 2020.[27]

Pafos

On 21 September 2020, following his release from Sheffield Wednesday, Hutchinson joined Cypriot club Pafos.[28] After 7 appearances in all competitions, it was announced that his contract has been terminated on 26 December 2020, following links that he could be about to return to his old club Sheffield Wednesday.[29]

Return to Sheffield Wednesday

After speculation linking him with a return to Sheffield Wednesday,[30] he signed for the club on 25 January 2021.[31][32] He would make his third debut against Coventry City a few days later.[33] His first goal on his return to the club would be against Derby County on the final day of the season, but the result would eventually see Sheffield Wednesday relegated back to League One.[34] After playing 22 games and only missing one match on his return to the club, it was reported that he had triggered a one-year option in his contract due to the number of games he had played,[35] which was confirmed by the club on 20 May 2021.[36] On 21 May 2022, it was confirmed he would leave the club following the expiration of his contract.[37]

Reading

Hutchinson had a trial with Championship club Reading in July 2022, training with the first team and playing in a few pre-season friendlies. After impressing manager Paul Ince, Hutchinson signed a two-year contract on 20 July 2022, which runs till June 2024.[38][39][40] He was released by Reading at the end of the 2023–24 season.[41]

International career

Hutchinson played for England at under-18 and under-19 youth international level; he missed the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship tournament through injury, and would have been the country's captain.[42] Hutchinson was called up to the England under-21 squad on 1 October 2009 for the European Championship qualifier against Macedonia,[43] but withdrew injured.

Style of play

Hutchinson broke through as a defender. His manager at Forest, Sean O'Driscoll, remarked that Hutchinson "can play right-back or right centre-half", adding "he's a bit John Terry-esque".[12] However, during his time at Sheffield Wednesday, he evolved into "an old-fashioned midfielder who marauds into tackles"; Hutchinson believes that since the recovery from his knee injury, he has become "even more full-blooded".[26] After his trio of Player of the Month accolades in 2016–17, the Guardian referred to him as "probably Wednesday's best player [...] and one of the best midfielders in the Championship".[26]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 2006–07[44] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2007–08[45] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2008–09[46] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10[47] Premier League 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0
Total 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
Chelsea 2011–12[48] Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2012–13[49] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14[50] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2012–13[49] Championship 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Vitesse (loan) 2013–14[51] Eredivisie 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2013–14[50] Championship 10 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 1
Sheffield Wednesday 2014–15[52] Championship 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
2015–16[53] Championship 25 0 0 0 3 1 2 0 30 1
2016–17[54] Championship 33 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 34 2
2017–18[55] Championship 8 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 9 1
2018–19[56] Championship 24 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 27 0
2019–20[57] Championship 23 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 24 1
Total 133 3 3 0 5 2 3 0 144 5
Pafos 2020–21[51] Cypriot First Division 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2020–21[58] Championship 22 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 1
2021–22[59] League One 28 1 0 1 0 0 2[a] 0 31 1
Total 50 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 53 2
Reading 2022–23[60] Championship 11 0 1 0 0 0 - 12 0
2023–24[61] League One 12 0 1 0 0 0 1[b] 0 14 0
Total 23 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 26 0
Career total 236 7 6 0 7 2 8 0 257 9
  1. ^ Appearances in the League One Play-offs.
  2. ^ Appearance in the EFL Trophy.

References

  1. ^ "EFL Released and Retained List 2017-18" (PDF). English Football League. p. 37. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Sam Hutchinson". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 452. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  4. ^ "Sam Hutchinson: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Wallace, Sam (20 August 2010). "The 21-year-old whose Chelsea career is over before it began". The Independent. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  6. ^ Howson, Dom (2 June 2019). "Sheffield Wednesday: Family man Sam Hutchinson looks to the future". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Makelele extends Chelsea contract". BBC Sport. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  8. ^ "Plymouth want Hutchinson on loan". BBC Sport. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Chelsea give defender Sam Hutchinson new contract". BBC Sport. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Chelsea 6 QPR 1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  11. ^ "Hutchinson Loan Deal". chelseafc.com. Chelsea F.C. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  12. ^ a b c "Chelsea's Sam Hutchinson joins Nottingham Forest on loan". BBC Sport. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  13. ^ Woodcock, Ian (21 August 2012). "Huddersfield 1–1 Nott'm Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  14. ^ "Nott'm Forest 2–1 Charlton". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  15. ^ Percy, John (12 December 2012). "Chelsea at centre of row with Nottingham Forest over defender Sam Hutchinson's fitness". The Telegraph.
  16. ^ "Defensive Duo Back in Training". nottinghamforest.co.uk. 1 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Sam Hutchinson on loan to Vitesse". vitesse.nl/. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Vitesse met 5-0 langs Noordwijk in bekerduel". vitesse.nl/. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Ajax verliest opnieuw van Vitesse". ajax.nl/. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  20. ^ "TRAORE TO JOIN VITESSE ON LOAN". Chelsea FC. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Chelsea stopper joins Owls". Sheffield Wednesday FC. 14 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Hutchinson stays". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 14 March 2014.
  23. ^ "Clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  24. ^ "HUTCHISON, PIREZ RELEASED BY CHELSEA". tribalfootball.com. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  25. ^ "Sam Hutchinson signs permanent Sheffield Wednesday deal". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  26. ^ a b c Miller, Nick (23 January 2017). "Sam Hutchinson: 'I just wanted to stop the pain and never come back'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  27. ^ "Owls 2019/20 player update". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  28. ^ "Club confirm Sam Hutchinson signing after midfielder's six-year spell at Sheffield Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday News. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Sam Hutchinson's deal TERMINATED amid talk of a Sheffield Wednesday return". Sheffield Star. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  30. ^ "Every word Tony Pulis said in his final interview as Sheffield Wednesday manager". ExaminerLive. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  31. ^ "Sam Hutchinson rejoins Wednesday!". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  32. ^ "Wednesday re-sign defender Hutchinson". BBC Sport.
  33. ^ "Report: Coventry 2-0 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Report: Derby 3-3 Wednesday". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Key update emerges on Sam Hutchinson's future as Sheffield Wednesday finalise retained list". ExaminerLive. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  36. ^ "Owls confirm 2020/21 retained list". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Owls confirm retained list". www.swfc.co.uk. 21 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Murphy, Ward, Jones - the 8 trialists hoping to earn permanent Reading FC contracts this summer". getreading.co.uk. Berkshire Live. 9 July 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  39. ^ "SAM HUTCHINSON SIGNS UNTIL 2024". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  40. ^ "Reading sign ex-Wednesday midfielder Hutchinson". BBC Sport.
  41. ^ "Clinton Mola and Sam Hutchinson among four released by Reading". BBC Sport. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  42. ^ "Tough Decisions". The Football Association. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  43. ^ "Sam Hutchinson called up to England Under-21s". telegraph. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  44. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  45. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  46. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  47. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  48. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  49. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  50. ^ a b "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  51. ^ a b Sam Hutchinson at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  52. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  53. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  54. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  55. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  56. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  57. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  58. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  59. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  60. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  61. ^ "Games played by Sam Hutchinson in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 February 2024.