Samir Carruthers
Personal information
Full name Samir Badre Carruthers[1]
Date of birth (1993-04-04) 4 April 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Islington, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chelmsford City
Youth career
Cambridge United
2005–2009 Arsenal
2009–2012 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Aston Villa 3 (0)
2013–2014 → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 23 (2)
2014–2017 Milton Keynes Dons 94 (4)
2017–2019 Sheffield United 28 (1)
2018–2019 → Oxford United (loan) 10 (0)
2019–2020 Cambridge United 10 (0)
2020–2022 Hemel Hempstead Town 26 (0)
2022 → Dartford (loan) 6 (0)
2022–2023 Dartford 35 (10)
2023– Chelmsford City 26 (3)
International career‡
2011–2012 Republic of Ireland U19 10 (1)
2012–2013 Republic of Ireland U21 10 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:55, 18 February 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:59, 14 August 2013

Samir Badre Carruthers (born 4 April 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League South side Chelmsford City. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 and U21 level.

With over 160 Football League appearances, his former clubs include Aston Villa, Sheffield United, Milton Keynes Dons, Oxford United, Cambridge United and Dartford.

Club career

Early career

Born in Islington, London, Carruthers was playing football local to his hometown of Hatfield, Hertfordshire when he was signed by Cambridge United's under-10 side.[3] He trained frequently with Manchester United, but when Cambridge United abandoned their youth team set-up he signed for Arsenal, the team he supported as a child.[3] He went on to represent Arsenal at under-18 level and captained the club's under-16 side. However, in 2009 Carruthers rejected offers from Fulham and Arsenal in favour of a move to Aston Villa.[4]

Aston Villa

Carruthers signed for Aston Villa in June 2009, aged 16. He made his name playing for the club's reserve and academy sides as an attacking midfielder and winger. Following a number of injuries to Alex McLeish's first team squad in the latter stages of the 2011–12 season, the young midfielder was brought in to train with the first team on a number of occasions.

Carruthers made his first-team debut in Villa's 1–1 Premier League draw at Liverpool on 7 April 2012, replacing Barry Bannan for the final four minutes.[5] He made two further substitute appearances that month.

On 1 April 2013, Carruthers captained Aston Villa's youth squad to the final of the NextGen Series where they beat Chelsea 2–0, at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, in Como, Italy.[6]

Milton Keynes Dons

Carruthers was sent out on loan to League One side Milton Keynes Dons on 10 August 2013 on a youth loan until 4 January 2014.[7] He made his debut against Preston North End on 17 August. Coming on as a substitute in the 56th minute, Carruthers won a penalty, which was in turn converted by Shaun Williams, levelling the score at 2–2.[8] A week later he scored within 15 minutes of coming on as a substitute against Bristol City, hitting a left-footed effort into the top corner to earn another 2–2 draw.[9] On 8 January 2014, he extended his loan spell until 3 April.[10] However, on 18 February, he withdrew from a match against Preston North End with a knee injury in the 13th minute, ending his season.[11]

On 6 August 2014, Carruthers signed for Milton Keynes Dons on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[12] He scored his first goal of the season on 13 September in a 5–3 away win against Barnsley, and on 25 April 2015, he scored a second goal, opening a 3–2 win over Rochdale at Spotland.[13] Eight days later the team earned their first promotion to the Championship with a 5–1 home win over Yeovil Town on the final day, with Carruthers setting up the first goal from Carl Baker.[14]

On 19 September 2015, Carruthers received a straight red card for a foul on Stuart Dallas in a 2–1 home loss to Leeds United.[15] He scored once in 39 appearances – opening a 3–2 loss at Blackburn Rovers on 27 February 2016[16] – as Milton Keynes were relegated.

Sheffield United

On 3 January 2017, it was announced that Carruthers had signed for League One leaders Sheffield United on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee, thought to be worth £250,000.[17][18] He made his debut four days later in a 4–2 win at Southend United, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Mark Duffy but lasting only 15 minutes before withdrawing with injury.[19] He totalled 14 appearances for the Blades, who won the league title with 100 points.[20]

Again as Duffy's replacement, Carruthers scored his first goal for the Blades on 21 November 2017 in a 5–4 loss to Fulham at Bramall Lane.[21] He was transfer-listed by Sheffield United at the end of the 2017–18 season.[22]

Carruthers joined Oxford United in June 2018, on loan for the 2018–19 season.[23] He suffered a knee injury during the first game of the season, and his recovery was interrupted by a recurrence of the injury later in the autumn that required surgery.[24]

Cambridge United

On 29 August 2019, Carruthers joined League Two side Cambridge United on a one-year deal following his release by Sheffield United.[25] He was released by the club at the end of the season.[26]

Non-League

Carruthers dropped down into non-league football with Hemel Hempstead Town for the start of the 2020–21 season. On 24 March 2022, he joined Dartford on loan.[27]

On 9 June 2022, Carruthers joined Dartford on a permanent deal ahead of the 2022–23 season.[28]

On 22 May 2023, Carruthers joined Chelmsford City on a permanent deal ahead of the 2023–24 season.[29]

International career

Carruthers is of Irish, Italian and Moroccan descent and is eligible to play for Italy, Morocco, England and the Republic of Ireland, the country of his grandparents.[3][30][31] In 2011, he made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19 team. On 10 September 2012, Carruthers made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U21 team away to Italy.

Controversy

On 15 March 2016, whilst attending the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Carruthers and Northampton Town's James Collins were photographed urinating into a beer glass whilst standing on a balcony. The following day, Carruthers apologised for his behaviour,[32] and following a meeting with MK Dons manager Karl Robinson and chairman Pete Winkelman he was fined two weeks' wages and suspended by the club.[33] He pledged his fine to charities, including one chosen by the racecourse.[34]

Career statistics

As of 7 November 2023.[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 2011–12 Premier League 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2012–13 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan) 2013–14 League One 23 2 3 0 1 0 1 0 28 2
Milton Keynes Dons 2014–15 League One 32 2 2 0 3 0 1 0 38 2
2015–16 Championship 39 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 43 1
2016–17 League One 23 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 28 1
Total 94 4 6 0 5 0 4 0 109 4
Sheffield United 2016–17 League One 14 0 — — — 14 0
2017–18 Championship 14 1 2 0 1 0 — 17 1
Total 28 1 2 0 1 0 — 31 1
Oxford United (loan) 2018–19 League One 10 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 12 1
Cambridge United 2019–20 League Two 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Hemel Hempstead Town 2020–21 National League South 6 0 0 0 — 2 0 8 0
2021–22 National League South 20 0 0 0 — 1 0 21 0
Total 26 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 29 0
Dartford (loan) 2021–22 National League South 6 0 — — 2 0 8 0
Dartford 2022–23 National League South 35 10 1 0 — 3[b][c][d] 0 39 10
Total 42 10 1 0 0 0 5 0 47 10
Chelmsford City 2023–24 National League South 15 1 2 0 — 0 0 17 1
Career total 252 18 14 0 7 0 15 1 288 19
  1. ^ Includes Football League Trophy, FA Trophy, National League South play-offs and the Kent Senior Cup
  2. ^ One appearance in the FA Trophy
  3. ^ One appearance in the London Senior Cup
  4. ^ One appearance in the National League South Play-Offs

Honours

Aston Villa U19

Milton Keynes Dons

Sheffield United

Dartford

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Cambridge United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 13. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 423. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ a b c Gold, Alasdair (6 July 2009). "Samir turns down Arsenal but signs for Aston Villa instead". hertfordshiremercury.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  4. ^ Howell, Bill (26 June 2009). "Villa close in on Arsenal teenager Samir Carruthers". birminghammail.net. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa". BBC News. 7 April 2012.
  6. ^ Percy, John (1 April 2013). "NextGen Series Final: Chelsea U19 0 Aston Villa U19 2". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ^ "Villa starlet completes loan switch". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Preston 2-2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  9. ^ "MK Dons 2–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Villa's Samir Carruthers extends MK Dons stay". ITV. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Carruthers returns to Aston Villa". MK Citizen. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Aston Villa's Samir Carruthers joins MK Dons". BBC Sport. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Rochdale 2-3 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  14. ^ "MK Dons 5-1 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 3–2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  17. ^ "Samir signs". Sheffield United Official Site. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Samir Carruthers: Sheffield United sign MK Dons midfielder for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  19. ^ Shield, James (7 January 2017). "REPORT: Blades 4, Southend 2 – Chris Wilder's Blades go four points clear at top of League One". The Star. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  20. ^ Bradley, Mark (2 May 2017). "Sheffield United 2016/17 season review". JUS News. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  21. ^ "Cottagers edge nine-goal thriller". Sky Sports. PA Sports. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Clayton Donaldson: Sheffield United release striker and transfer list seven". BBC Sport. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  23. ^ "Carruthers joins Oxford". Oxford United F.C. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Samir Suffers New Setback". Oxford United F.C. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Samir Carruthers: Cambridge United sign midfielder after Sheffield United release". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Cambridge United: Paul Lewis, Samir Carruthers & Reggie Lambe among nine players leaving in June". BBC. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  27. ^ "Carruthers joins Dartford on loan". Hemel Hempstead Town. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Dartford manager Alan Dowson on his new office, building a squad and having to deal with agents at National League South level". Kent Online. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  29. ^ "CARRUTHERS IS A CLARET". Chelmsford City Official Site. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Irish u19 squad profiles". fai.ie. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  31. ^ Fitzmaurice, Aiden (2 April 2012). "Villa's green teens step up". herald.ie. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  32. ^ "Samir Carruthers: My apology". MK Dons. 16 March 2016.
  33. ^ "Milton Keynes Dons player Samir Carruthers suspended by club after Cheltenham Festival 2016 photos". onemk.co.uk. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  34. ^ "Cheltenham urine row: Samir Carruthers and James Collins apologise". BBC News. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  35. ^ "Samir Carruthers". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  36. ^ "The five best young Irish players". Goal. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Oxford United was the best place for me to come and play, says new signing Samir Carruthers". Oxford Mail. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  38. ^ "Sheffield United 3-2 Chesterfield". BBC. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2020.

External links

2022–23 National League South Team of the Year
Categories