James Wesolowski
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| James Wesolowski | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Wesolowski | |
| Date of birth | August 25, 1987 | |
| Place of birth | ??, Australia | |
| Nickname | Weso | |
| Position | Centre Midfield | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Leicester City | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| Northern Spirit FC | ||
| Professional clubs* | ||
| Years | Club | Apps (goals) |
| 2004 - | Leicester City | 11 (0) |
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* Professional club appearances and goals |
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James Wesolowski (born 25 August 1987) is an Australian professional football (soccer) player. He currently plays for Leicester City in central midfield.
Wesolowski played for Australian side Northern Spirit FC before signing for the foxes in 2002. After showing a lot of potential in their reserves team, James played for Leicester in a pre-season friendly against Celtic in 2004, but broke a leg in that game, due to a challenge from Bobo Balde. Then City manager Craig Levein called Balde's tackle "disgraceful, disgusting and malicious" but the Guinea international stressed his intention to meet the Australian and apologize in person.
Wesolowski returned and impressed for the Leicester first team, making his debut at home to Cardiff City in January 2005. However, after only five appearances, he broke his same leg against Brighton in a freak incident.
'Jimbo' received international acclaim at the end of the 2004/2005 season after competing for Australia in the FIFA World Youth Championships and was labelled "a star in the making" by the Australian Football Federation.
In July 2006, James signed a 1 year extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2007/2008 season. Wesolowski recovered from his broken leg in time for the start 2006/2007 season, although a thigh injury kept him out of the side for the first month.
With the departure of midfield playmaker Joey Gudjonsson to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, it has opened the door for the tough-tackling Wesolowski to become a first team regular at Leicester, although he faces stiff competition from Gareth Williams, Steven Hughes and Andy Johnson for the central midfield spot.
James was called up to the Australian national first team on his 19th birthday for a friendly against Kuwait, but was withdrawn from the squad days later after consultation with medical staff from both parties on 'on precautionary grounds'. Leicester manager Rob Kelly maintains that Wesolowski will get his chance in the Australia first team again in the future.
| Leicester City F.C. - Current Squad |
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1 Douglas | 2 Maybury | 3 Kisnorbo | 4 Kenton | 5 McCarthy | 6 Hughes | 7 Hume | 8 Williams | 10 Johnson | 11 Tiatto | 12 Fryatt | 13 Henderson | 14 McAuley | 15 Johansson | 16 Low | 17 Stearman | 18 Hammond | 19 O'Grady | 20 Wesolowski | 21 Sheehan | 22 Sylla | 23 Welsh | 25 Logan | 26 Dodds | 27 Porter | 28 Gradel | 29 Lycett | 32 King | 33 Odhiambo | -- Chambers | Manager: Kelly |
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