Nathan Dyer

Nathan Antone Jonah Dyer /ˈdaɪər/ (born 29 November 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swansea City. He started playing as a teenager at Southampton, making the first team. He has also had loan spells with Sheffield United, Burnley and Leicester City.

Early life

Dyer was born and raised in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. His father played cricket, and his mother was naturally athletic as well. According to Dyer, his mother could run 100 metres in 11.6 seconds.^[3]

Career

Southampton

Dyer joined the Southampton F.C. Academy as a teenager and was a member of the Southampton youth team that reached the finals of the FA Youth Cup in 2005, although he did not make his playing debut until the following season. Ultimately, the team lost on aggregate to Ipswich Town.

Dyer made his first team debut for Southampton on 26 December 2005,^[4] as a substitute after 87 minutes, in a game that resulted in a 2–0 win over Crewe Alexandra. In late 2005, he enjoyed a successful spell on loan to Burnley,^[5] where he scored two goals against Millwall and Crewe during a total of five appearances. He was recalled,^[6] despite pleas from Steve Cotterill to stay until the end of the season.^[7] After his loan to Burnley, Dyer signed a new contract at Southampton,^[8] where he played on the first team squad for the rest of his time with the club.

Dyer scored his first league goal for Southampton during a game that ended in a 3–2 defeat against Watford in September 2007.^[9] This took his Southampton goal tally up to three, having already scored in League Cup games against Southend United^[10] and Yeovil Town.^[11] His performance earned him the interest of Southampton's rival in the South Coast derby, Portsmouth football club. Portsmouth was keen to sign him,^[12] but their public pursuit of him drew criticism from Southampton manager George Burley.^[13]

On 24 July 2008, after a long period of uncertainty and an extended contract dispute, Dyer signed a new three-year deal with Southampton, keeping him at the club until 2011.^[14] Dyer was excluded from the first team and left out of the pre-season preparations until he signed the contract.^[15]

Sheffield United (loan)

In September 2008, after failing to make it onto Southampton's first team and establish himself under managers Jan Poortvliet and Mark Wotte, Dyer was sent to Sheffield United on loan until December, with the option of a permanent deal in January 2009.^[16] The move was part of a loan swap deal, with Jordan Robertson joining Southampton for the same duration.^[17]

Dyer made his first appearance for the Blades the next day as a late substitute in a game that resulted in a 2–1 victory over Watford.^[18] He was unable to gain a permanent place on the Sheffield team, and he played less than thirty minutes in a Blades shirt over the next three months.^[19] He made the first team starting line-up on 20 December, when he scored his first goal for the club in a game that resulted in a 2–2 draw with Palace.^[20][21]

Swansea City

Dyer along with Neil Taylor attempt to tackle Robin van Persie.

Dyer attempts to get past Mikel Arteta.

Dyer returned to Southampton following the end of his three-month loan and was immediately loaned out again, this time to Swansea City until the end of the 2008–09 season.^[22] He impressed his new coach in his debut game with a 2–0 win at home to Reading.

On 24 January 2009, Nathan Dyer scored in Swansea's FA Cup victory over Portsmouth, resulting in the FA Cup-holders Portsmouth's exit from the tournament.^[23] On 28 February 2009, Dyer scored his first league goal for Swansea, scoring the only goal in the game against Charlton Athletic.

On 5 April 2009, hecscored the opening goal for Swansea against their archrivals Cardiff City.^[24]

On 2 June 2009, Nathan Dyer joined Swansea City on a permanent basis after the Welsh side agreed to pay a £400,000 fee to Southampton.^[25] He made his debut in the opening game of the 2009–10 season against Leicester City, playing the full 90 minutes. He scored his first goal as a permanent member of the squad, a game winning score against Sheffield United, on 26 September 2009. On 7 November 2009, Dyer scored his second goal in two games against Cardiff City, when his header from close range helped the Swans claim a 3–2 victory in the local derby. He scored again in a 1–1 draw against Queens Park Rangers.

Dyer started the 2010–11 season with strong performances, including during the new coachBrendan Rodgers' home game for Swansea City: a 4–0 rout against Preston in which Dyer scored one goal and set up a goal for David Cotterill. His second goal of the season came when he scored the opening goal in a 4–3 victory over Middlesbrough on 12 February 2011. His form was sustained throughout the campaign, and he was eventually named Swansea City Supporters' Player of the Year 2010–11.^[26] Dyer played an important role in the Football League Championship's play-off final in which he made a double assist, for both Stephen Dobbie and Scott Sinclair, in a 4–2 win over Reading. That victory earned Swansea a promotion to the Premier League, making them the first Welsh club to ever play in the league.^[27]

Before the start of the 2011–12 season, Dyer signed a new contract with the Swansea club that expired in 2014.^[28] Dyer was in fine form for much of the 2011–12 season, in which Swansea City had an impressive run for a promoted side in the Premier League. Dyer scored his first Premier League goal in a 3–0 win over West Bromwich Albion on 17 September 2011. In a 3–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers, Dyer's pace and trickery on the field were extremely effective and earned him praise from his coach, Brendan Rodgers.^[29] Dyer contributed to a 3–2 victory over Arsenal by winning a controversial penalty and by scoring a goal,^[30] his third in three games (including goals in a 4–2 win against Barnsley that sent Swansea to the next round in the FA Cup,^[31] and in 2–0 victory over Aston Villa).^[32] Dyer earned press attention in the 3–2 win over Arsenal when Arsène Wenger accused Dyer of purposely diving onto the ground to draw a foul.^[30] On 3 March 2012, Dyer received a red card for a foul on Jordi Gómez during a game which resulted in a 2–0 win over Wigan Athletic. After the match, Dyer defended his tackle, stating he was not a 'malicious player', but the league suspended him for three games.^[33] On 14 April 2012, Dyer scored in a 3–0 win over Blackburn Rovers, bringing his league goal tally to four for the season. On 24 April 2012, Dyer scored his fifth goal of the season and set up another goal for Danny Graham in a game that ended in a 4–4 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On the opening day of the new Premier League campaign at Queens Park Rangers, Dyer scored a brace of goals, and Swansea achieved a 5–0 victory.^[34]

On 22 September 2012, Dyer came on as a half-time substitute for Swansea in a match against Everton at Liberty Stadium. He was booked in the 55th minute for dissent. Three minutes later, he received a second yellow card after a late tackle on Everton defender Leighton Baines. He was sent off for his second booking, having been on the pitch for only 12 minutes. Swansea lost the game 0–3.^[35]

On 24 February 2013, Dyer started the League Cup final for Swansea and netted the opening goal as well as the third in a 5–0 thrashing of opponent Bradford City. His goals thus helped Swansea win their first major trophy. Dyer's involvement was also notable as he was seen arguing with teammates over the taker for the spot kick early in the second half. Dyer was awarded the Man of the Match.^[36] After the match was over, Dyer said that not scoring a hat-trick was a disappointment, wanting a hat-trick to be a penalty, though the victory was the club's "massive" achievement.^[37] Afterwards, Dyer expressed a desire to stay at the club and described Michu as the calmest player he knew.

On 6 August 2013, Dyer signed a new four-year deal with the club, keeping him at the Liberty Stadium until June 2017.

Leicester City (loan)

On 1 September 2015, Dyer joined Leicester City on a season-long loan deal.^[38] He made his debut on 13 September 2015 as a half-time substitute in Leicester's home match against Aston Villa, and he scored the winning goal in the 89th minute as Leicester came from 2–0 down to win the match 3–2.^[39]

At Leicester, he was a member of the team that won the club's first top-flight title of their 132-year history.^[40]

International career

In October 2012, Dyer was approached by the Jamaica Football Federation to play for Jamaica during their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.^[41]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 April 2016^[42][43]

Honours

Swansea City

• Football League Cup: 2013
• Football League Championship play-offs winner: 2011

Leicester City

• Premier League: 2015–16

Individual

• Alan Hardaker Trophy: 2013^[44]

Conviction for theft

On 9 March 2008, Dyer and Southampton teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips were accused of stealing money, mobile phones, and other items from bar staff at Bar Bluu in Southsea in the early hours of 28 February 2008. CCTV footage taken at the time appeared to show a theft taking place.^[45] They were arrested on 25 March and were questioned at a Portsmouth police station.^[46] They were formally charged with burglary on 17 June and ordered to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on 8 July 2008.^[47] The pair's actions were criticised, and they were disciplined by Southampton's manager at the time, Nigel Pearson.^[48] Dyer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 hours of community service.^[49] He was also ordered to pay compensation to his victims, along with costs.^[50]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nathan Dyer.

• Nathan Dyer profile at Swansea City A.F.C.
• Nathan Dyer career statistics at Soccerbase
  
• Nathan Dyer profile at Soccerway