2006–07 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2005–06 Wigan Athletic F.C. season was the club's 29th season in the Football League and their second season in the Premier League. The club struggled to repeat the successes of its previous season and fell victim to "second season syndrome
". They were knocked out of both domestic cups at the first round of entry, and finished 17th in the league after securing Premier League survival on the last day of the season in an away win against Sheffield United
, who were relegated instead on goal difference.
A day after the end of the season, manager Paul Jewell
resigned after six years in charge of the club. His assistant manager Chris Hutchings
was appointed as his replacement. Summer signing Emile Heskey
(signed for a record fee of £5.5 million) finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with a total of nine goals, and left-back Leighton Baines
won the Supporters' Player of the Year award, and the Players' Player award.
} || 04-09-2006 ||align="center"|
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Chris Kirkland
|| Liverpool
|| Undisclosed || 27-10-2006 ||align="center"|
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| David Unsworth
|| Sheffield United
|| Free || 07-01-2007 ||align="center"|
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Caleb Folan
|| Chesterfield
|| £500,000 || 26-01-2007 ||align="center"|
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Julius Aghahowa || 
Shakhtar Donetsk || Undisclosed || 30-01-2007 ||align="center"|
|}
} ||align="center"|
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Antonio Valencia || 
Villarreal
|| 11-08-2006 || End of season ||align="center"|
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Svetoslav Todorov
|| Portsmouth
|| 31-08-2006 || 31-12-2006 ||align="center"|
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Kristofer Haestad || Start || 01-01-2007 || 31-03-2007 ||align="center"|
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Andreas Granqvist
|| Helsingborg
|| 01-01-2007 || End of season ||align="center"|
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| Carlo Nash
|| Preston North End
|| 19-02-2007 || 18-03-2007 ||align="center"|
|}
} ||align="center"|
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| Mike Pollitt || Ipswich Town
|| 15-11-2006 || 23-11-2006 ||align="center"|
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Andy Webster || Rangers
|| 05-01-2007 || End of season ||align="center"|
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| Mike Pollitt || Burnley
|| 11-01-2007 || 10-02-2007 ||align="center"|
|}
Second season syndrome
Second season syndrome is the now-common phrase that is used to describe a downturn in fortunes for a football club two seasons after its promotion to the Premier League of English football - particularly if the first season after promotion had brought a strong finish...
". They were knocked out of both domestic cups at the first round of entry, and finished 17th in the league after securing Premier League survival on the last day of the season in an away win against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, who were relegated instead on goal difference.
A day after the end of the season, manager Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
resigned after six years in charge of the club. His assistant manager Chris Hutchings
Chris Hutchings
Christopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and former manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
was appointed as his replacement. Summer signing Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey
Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Born in Leicester, Heskey started his career with hometown club Leicester City after progressing through their youth system, making his first team debut in 1995...
(signed for a record fee of £5.5 million) finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with a total of nine goals, and left-back Leighton Baines
Leighton Baines
Leighton John Baines is an English footballer who plays for Everton and the England national football team.He started his career with Wigan Athletic, with whom he won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season and was a runner-up in the 2004–05 Championship and the 2006 Football League Cup Final....
won the Supporters' Player of the Year award, and the Players' Player award.
First-team squad
On loan
Starting 11
- Considering starts in all competitions
- GK: #13, Chris KirklandChris KirklandChristopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He also has one cap for the England national team....
, 26 - RB: #17,
Emmerson BoyceEmmerson BoyceEmmerson Orlando Boyce is an English-born professional footballer who has represented Barbados at international level. He is currently a player at Wigan Athletic, and usually plays as a right back, but can also play in the centre of defence.Boyce started his career at the age of sixteen as an...
, 35 - CB: #5, Fitz HallFitz HallFitz Benjamin Hall is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a central defender who can also play as a central midfielder. His nickname is "One Size" Fitz Hall, a pun on the phrase "one size fits all"...
, 24 - CB: #6,
Arjan De ZeeuwArjan de ZeeuwAdrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a centre-back.-Club career:...
, 21 - LB: #26, Leighton BainesLeighton BainesLeighton John Baines is an English footballer who plays for Everton and the England national football team.He started his career with Wigan Athletic, with whom he won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season and was a runner-up in the 2004–05 Championship and the 2006 Football League Cup Final....
, 37 - RM: #14, Denny LandzaatDenny LandzaatDenny Domingoes Landzaat is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente.-Early life:Landzaat is born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands...
, 31 - CM: #18,
Paul ScharnerPaul ScharnerPaul Josef Herbert Scharner is an Austrian footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League. He usually plays as a central defender or midfielder...
, 23 - CM: #24,
Josip SkokoJosip SkokoJosip Skoko is a former Australian football player who last played as a Central Midfielder for A-League club Melbourne Heart.-Early career:...
, 24 - LM: #8, Kevin KilbaneKevin KilbaneKevin Daniel Kilbane is an English-born Irish association footballer who plays as a left back or left winger for Derby County, on loan from Hull City....
, 28 - CF: #9, Emile HeskeyEmile HeskeyEmile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Born in Leicester, Heskey started his career with hometown club Leicester City after progressing through their youth system, making his first team debut in 1995...
, 34 - CF: #10, Lee McCullochLee McCullochLee Henry McCulloch is a Scottish association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers.He has been capped on 18 occasions by the Scotland national football team. During his career McCulloch has played for Motherwell, Wigan Athletic and Rangers as club level...
, 26
- GK: #13,
In
| Player | From | Fee | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitz Hall Fitz Hall Fitz Benjamin Hall is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers. He is a central defender who can also play as a central midfielder. His nickname is "One Size" Fitz Hall, a pun on the phrase "one size fits all"... |
Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
£3 million | 26-06-2006 | |
 Tomasz CywkaTomasz Cywka Tomasz Cywka , is a Polish footballer who plays for Derby County.-Club career:Cywka was part of the winning U-19 Gwarek Zabrze team which captured the 2006 Polish U-19 Championship.-Wigan:... |
Gwarek Zabrze Gwarek Zabrze Szkolny Klub Sportowy Gwarek Zabrze is a Polish football club based in Zabrze. The club are three-time youth champions of Poland, in 2002, 2003 and 2006. The club was established on June 12, 1974... |
Undisclosed | 05-07-2006 | |
| Emile Heskey Emile Heskey Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Born in Leicester, Heskey started his career with hometown club Leicester City after progressing through their youth system, making his first team debut in 1995... |
Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
£5.5 million | 08-07-2006 | |
| Denny Landzaat Denny Landzaat Denny Domingoes Landzaat is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente.-Early life:Landzaat is born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands... |
AZ Alkmaar |
£2.5 million | 18-07-2006 | |
| Emmerson Boyce Emmerson Boyce Emmerson Orlando Boyce is an English-born professional footballer who has represented Barbados at international level. He is currently a player at Wigan Athletic, and usually plays as a right back, but can also play in the centre of defence.Boyce started his career at the age of sixteen as an... |
Crystal Palace Crystal Palace F.C. Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in... |
£1 million | 01-08-2006 | |
| Kevin Kilbane Kevin Kilbane Kevin Daniel Kilbane is an English-born Irish association footballer who plays as a left back or left winger for Derby County, on loan from Hull City.... |
Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
£2 million | 31-08-2006 | |
 David CotterillDavid Cotterill David Rhys George Best Cotterill is a Wales international footballer who plays for Swansea City as a winger.-Bristol City:... |
Bristol City Bristol City F.C. Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City... |
£2 million | 31-08-2006 | |
| Andy Webster |
Hearts Heart of Midlothian F.C. Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian... |
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Chris KirklandChris Kirkland
Christopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He also has one cap for the England national team....
||
LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
|| Undisclosed || 27-10-2006 ||align="center"|
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David UnsworthDavid Unsworth
David Gerald Unsworth is an English former footballer who played in the position of centre-back or left-back, and is currently first team coach at Preston North End....
||
Sheffield UnitedSheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
|| Free || 07-01-2007 ||align="center"|
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Caleb FolanCaleb Folan
Caleb Colman Folan is an Irish footballer who plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer as a striker. He qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandfather, who was from Inis Mór, and his grandmother, from Galway.-Early career:Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Folan started...
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ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
|| £500,000 || 26-01-2007 ||align="center"|
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Julius Aghahowa || Shakhtar Donetsk || Undisclosed || 30-01-2007 ||align="center"| |}
Out
| Player | To | Fee | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jason RobertsJason Roberts (footballer) Jason Andre Davis Roberts MBE is an English-born Grenadian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Born in Park Royal, London, Roberts began playing football from an early age, and spent time in the youth academies at several professional clubs, but was not... |
Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
£3 million | 04-07-2006 | |
 Damien FrancisDamien Francis Damien Jerome Francis is a retired Jamaican international footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.-Early career:As a child Francis followed Wimbledon, and was a ball boy at their ground... |
Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
£1.5 million | 14-07-2006 | |
 Pascal ChimbondaPascal Chimbonda Pascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who currently plays for Doncaster Rovers, having been released early from a short term deal by Queens Park Rangers... |
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
Undisclosed | 31-08-2005 | |
| Graham Kavanagh Graham Kavanagh Graham Anthony Kavanagh is an Irish footballer. He is assistant manager for Carlisle United, having also played for Home Farm, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday... |
Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
£500,000 | 31-08-2006 | |
| David Connolly David Connolly David James Connolly is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton. He has previously played for various clubs including Feyenoord and Excelsior in the Netherlands as well as Wigan Athletic and Sunderland in the Premier League.Although born in England, Connolly has... |
Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
£1.4 million | 31-08-2006 | |
| David Wright David Wright (footballer) David Wright is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Crystal Palace. During his professional career, he has also played for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town, and had a loan spell at Norwich City.... |
Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
Undisclosed | 11-01-2007 | |
| Gary Teale Gary Teale Gary Teale is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for St. Mirren.Teale started his career in Scotland in 1995 with Clydebank before spending three years with Ayr United... |
Derby County Derby County F.C. Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English... |
£600,000 | 11-01-2007 | |
| Matt Jackson Matt Jackson Matthew Alan "Matt" Jackson is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender throughout his career and represented and captained England at U21 level.-Career:... |
Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
Free | End of season |
Released
| Player | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve McMillan |
04-03-2007 | |
| Arjan De Zeeuw Arjan de Zeeuw Adrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a centre-back.-Club career:... |
End of season | |
| David Unsworth David Unsworth David Gerald Unsworth is an English former footballer who played in the position of centre-back or left-back, and is currently first team coach at Preston North End.... |
End of season |
Loans in
| Player | From | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Kirkland Chris Kirkland Christopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. He also has one cap for the England national team.... |
Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
12-07-2006 |
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Antonio Valencia || VillarrealVillarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
|| 11-08-2006 || End of season ||align="center"|
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Svetoslav TodorovSvetoslav Todorov
Svetoslav Todorov is a Bulgarian International football player, who currently plays for Litex Lovech.-PFC Dobrudzha/Litex Lovech:...
||
PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
|| 31-08-2006 || 31-12-2006 ||align="center"|
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Kristofer Haestad || Start || 01-01-2007 || 31-03-2007 ||align="center"| |----
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Andreas GranqvistAndreas Granqvist
Andreas Granqvist is a Swedish footballer from Helsingborg, currently playing as a defender for Genoa.-Club career:Granqvist started his career with Påarps GIF, the local club of his home village Påarp. He later transferred to Helsingborgs IF and he made his debut in Allsvenskan, 2004...
||
HelsingborgHelsingborgs IF
Helsingborgs IF , commonly referred to as Helsingborg and locally HIF, is a Swedish football club located in Helsingborg. They are currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan...
|| 01-01-2007 || End of season ||align="center"|
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Carlo NashCarlo Nash
Carlo James Nash is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City as a goalkeeper.Nash started his career at non-League Rossendale United and Clitheroe before being signed by Crystal Palace and then moved back north to Stockport County...
||
Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
|| 19-02-2007 || 18-03-2007 ||align="center"|
|}
Loans out
| Player | To | Start Date | End Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Filan |
Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Rovers F.C. Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in... |
06-10-2006 | 05-11-2006 | |
| Tomasz Cywka Tomasz Cywka Tomasz Cywka , is a Polish footballer who plays for Derby County.-Club career:Cywka was part of the winning U-19 Gwarek Zabrze team which captured the 2006 Polish U-19 Championship.-Wigan:... |
Oldham Athletic |
01-11-2006 |
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Mike Pollitt || Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
|| 15-11-2006 || 23-11-2006 ||align="center"|
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Andy Webster || RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
|| 05-01-2007 || End of season ||align="center"|
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Mike Pollitt || BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
|| 11-01-2007 || 10-02-2007 ||align="center"|
|}