Emile Heskey is a retired English professional footballer who played for a variety of clubs over the course of his two-decade career, including Leicester City, Liverpool, and the England national team. He also spent the later half of his professional career with the Newcastle Jets of the Australian A-League. He was a striker who was recognized for his speed and physical strength, making him a dangerous target man. He has participated in almost 500 Football League and Premier League matches and has played 62 times for England’s national team. During his club career, he scored 130 goals and 7 goals for the national team. While he has routinely scored goals throughout his career, he is best known for his unselfish play style and his ability to help his teammates in scoring goals. His connection with Liverpool and England teammate Michael Owen helped both clubs win critical games with a clear advantage over the opposition. He was also capable of playing down the left wing, giving him extra versatility on the field. He and his England colleagues participated in the Shoe Aid for Africa campaign, which helped poor children in Africa.
Childhood and Adolescence
Emile William Ivanhoe Heskey was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, on January 11, 1978, into an Antiguan family. Tyrone Heskey, his father, worked as a security guard in Leicester nightclubs.
In Evington, he attended City of Leicester School. In April 1989, at the age of eleven, he had his debut appearance on television in the ‘Rod Hull and Emu Show.’
Career at Leicester City
Emile Heskey, who grew up playing for the local Leicester youth team Ratby Groby Juniors, was accepted into Leicester City’s football academy when he was nine years old. He made his first-team debut against Queens Park Rangers on March 8, 1995, at the age of 17, and signed a professional deal with the club on October 3, 1995.
He helped his team clinch promotion to the Premier League for the following season in 1995-96, and scored the game-winning goal in their 1997 League Cup Final victory over Middlesbrough. After scoring ten Premier League goals in two consecutive seasons, he was chastised for only scoring six times in 1998-99, but praised for his selfless assists.
At Liverpool Club
He moved to Liverpool for a record £11 million after winning the League Cup with Leicester City in 2000. On March 11, 2000, he made his Premier League debut against Sunderland and scored his first goal the following month.
With 22 goals in the 2000-01 season, he assisted Liverpool in winning the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup treble. Despite a £12 million bid from Tottenham Hotspur, he only scored 9 goals for Liverpool in 2002-03 and had an injury the following season, which exacerbated his competition in the team.
In 2002, he gave a six-figure donation to a consortium led by Gary Lineker in their bid to buy out his former club, Leicester City, who was in financial trouble.
At Birmingham City Football Club
On May 18, 2004, he signed a five-year contract with Birmingham City and made his debut against Portsmouth on August 14. Despite the fact that his team did not have a good season, he was the top scorer with 11 goals and was chosen ‘Player of the Season’ by his club’s peers and fans.
Wigan Athletic’s Career
Fans chastised and ridiculed him for his inconsistent performances during the 2005-06 season, which resulted in Birmingham’s relegation, and he departed the club on July 7, 2006 to join Wigan Athletic. Injury plagued his stint at the club, but he did manage to score a couple goals.
Aston Villa’s Career
Emile Heskey joined Aston Villa on a three-and-a-half-year deal on January 23, 2009, and scored his first goal four days later against Portsmouth. He had a strong season in 2010-11 under coach Gérard Houllier, who earlier handled him at Liverpool, and scored match-winning goals. He was released from the club in May 2012 after a poor 2011-12 season.
Newcastle Jets career
On September 21, 2012, he joined Newcastle Jets of the Australian A-League, where he scored nine goals in 23 games, earning him a nomination for the club’s ‘Player of the Year’ award. He only scored once the next season and left the club at the end of it.
Bolton Wanderers career
On December 24, 2014, he signed a short-term contract with Bolton Wanderers, and two days later, he scored in his debut match as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers. He was a member of the club until the end of the 2015-16 season, when his contract was up.
Career Opportunities on the Global Stage
Emile Heskey was a member of the national under-16 squad at the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 1994, as well as the national under-18 team at the European Championships in France, where they placed third. He scored six goals in 17 games for the national under-21 team, as well as one goal in his single appearance for the England B team in 1998.
On April 28, 1999, he made his senior-level debut in a friendly against Hungary, and was later selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when he helped his country reach the quarter-finals. He was also named to the UEFA Euro 2004 squad, however he was dropped after failing to perform well.
On Michael Owen’s recommendation, he returned to the squad for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, and wowed both fans and critics with a handful of outstanding displays. He forged a strong attack partnership with Wayne Rooney during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, scoring his first goal for England against Slovakia.
Achievements & Awards
Emile Heskey was a key member of Leicester City’s League Cup winning teams in 1996-97 and 1999-2000. In 2000-01, Liverpool won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup triple, with his 22 goals and numerous assists.
Emile Heskey was selected ‘Player’s Player of the Season’ and ‘Fan’s Player of the Season’ for Birmingham City in 2004-05. In 2012-13, he was nominated for the Newcastle Jets’ “Player of the Year” award.
Personal History and Legacy
Emile Heskey married Kylee Pinsent in 2004 and they have three children together. After his two-year affair with Chantelle Tagoe became public, she left him.
He began covertly dating Chantelle Tagoe in 2002, while still married to Pinsent. In May 2014, he married Tagoe and they have three children together.
Emile Heskey Net Worth
Trivia
Burglars held his fiancée Chantelle Tagoe at knifepoint at their home in Hale, Greater Manchester, in July 2008, when Emile Heskey was gone at a training session. Tagoe and her two children were uninjured as they plundered his residence and took his car.
Because of his resemblance to British professional boxer Frank Bruno, he is often referred to as ‘Bruno.’ With his massive frame, he is noted for slamming into the opposing team’s defense.