2007–08 Wigan Athletic F.C. season
Encyclopedia
The 2007–08 Wigan Athletic F.C. season was the club's 30th season in the Football League and their third season in the Premier League. Under new manager Chris Hutchings
, the team started the season well, winning two of their opening three games. However, after going the next ten games without a win, Wigan found themselves in the bottom three. Hutchings was sacked and Steve Bruce
was appointed as the new manager a couple of weeks later. Results began to improve, and the club steadily pulled away from relegation before finally securing their survival in their penultimate game in a 2–0 away win against Aston Villa
. The club finished in 14th place at the end of the season.
Wigan had little success in the cups, and were knocked out of the League Cup
in their first game against Hull City
. The club also made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup
before losing 2–1 to Chelsea
. Marcus Bent
, on loan from Charlton Athletic
, finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with a total of seven goals, and Paul Scharner
was voted as the club's Player of the Year.
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...
, the team started the season well, winning two of their opening three games. However, after going the next ten games without a win, Wigan found themselves in the bottom three. Hutchings was sacked and Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
was appointed as the new manager a couple of weeks later. Results began to improve, and the club steadily pulled away from relegation before finally securing their survival in their penultimate game in a 2–0 away win against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. The club finished in 14th place at the end of the season.
Wigan had little success in the cups, and were knocked out of the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in their first game against Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
. The club also made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
before losing 2–1 to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. Marcus Bent
Marcus Bent
Marcus Nathan Bent is an English football striker who plays for Indonesian club Mitra Kukar. A former England under-21 international, the journeyman striker has played for fourteen different clubs, playing over 570 games and scoring 110 goals in the process.A England under-21 international, he...
, on loan from Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, finished the season as the club's top goalscorer with a total of seven goals, and Paul Scharner
Paul Scharner
Paul 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...
was voted as the club's Player of the Year.
First-team squad
(Sources)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....
, 38 - RB: #25,
Mario MelchiotMario MelchiotMario Deno Patrik Melchiot is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for Qatari Stars League club Umm Salal. He can play as either a right-back or a central defender, and has also occasionally played in midfield....
, 33 - 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: #19, Titus BrambleTitus BrambleTitus Malachi Bramble is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a defender. He is currently suspended by Sunderland after bring arrested for possession of a class A drug and sexual assault.-Ipswich Town:...
, 27 - LB: #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...
, 26 - RM: #16,
Antonio ValenciaLuis Antonio ValenciaLuis Antonio Valencia Mosquera , commonly known as Antonio Valencia, is an Ecuadorian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Manchester United and the Ecuadorian national team...
, 31 - CM: #11, Michael Brown, 29
- 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...
, 39 - 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....
, 36 - 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...
, 29 - CF: #23, Marcus BentMarcus BentMarcus Nathan Bent is an English football striker who plays for Indonesian club Mitra Kukar. A former England under-21 international, the journeyman striker has played for fourteen different clubs, playing over 570 games and scoring 110 goals in the process.A England under-21 international, he...
, 26
- GK: #13,