52 Facts About Joe Ledley

Joseph Christopher Ledley was born on 23 January 1987 and is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Joe Ledley started his career with then Championship side Cardiff City where he spent six years.

Joe Ledley helped the club to the FA Cup Final in 2008 and to the Championship play-off final in 2010.

Joe Ledley won the Scottish Premier League title in his second season with the club in 2012 and both the league and the Scottish Cup in 2013.

Joe Ledley signed for Crystal Palace in January 2014 and played three and a half Premier League seasons for them.

Joe Ledley has played for Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels, before making his full debut in 2005.

Joe Ledley has since gone on to make over 70 international appearances and has captained his country on several occasions.

Joe Ledley was in the Welsh squad that reached the semi-final of UEFA Euro 2016.

Joe Ledley was born in Cardiff, growing up in the Fairwater area.

Joe Ledley attended Cantonian High School, where he was captain of the school football team.

Joe Ledley played several sports when he was younger, but only ever wanted to be a footballer.

Joe Ledley grew up supporting Cardiff City and joined the club's youth system aged nine.

Joe Ledley continued to clean them for several months after breaking into the first team, this was to stop him from getting carried away with his new position.

Manager Lennie Lawrence said that he thought Joe Ledley hadn't been fazed at all by the occasion and didn't look like he was making his debut.

Joe Ledley brought the ball down from a cross before beating the keeper, Stephen Bywater, with a right foot drive.

Striker Paul Parry said that Joe Ledley's goal was brilliant and with the way he had been playing, creating so many chances for himself, it was no surprise that he had got his first goal.

Joe Ledley thought that Ledley had shown incredible maturity during the match, saying that Ledley had, "an old head on a young pair of shoulders".

Joe Ledley was impressed with Ledley's positional play, pointing out how Ledley had tracked back late in the match to cut out a scoring opportunity for West Ham United, when other defenders hadn't seen the danger.

Joe Ledley's performances had provided a major boost for Cardiff City in what was a poor season for them as they were in relegation trouble at the bottom of the Championship and were suffering financial troubles as well.

Lawrence said that he hoped Joe Ledley would stay at Cardiff for the next few seasons and that he wouldn't be surprised if the 18-year-old earned a full Wales call-up in the near future.

Joe Ledley scored the equaliser after the League Two side had taken the lead.

Joe Ledley was identified as one of the key players in Cardiff City's team, his pace on the left wing being vital to their tenacious style of play.

Cardiff City offered the deal to Joe Ledley who turned the move down in order to stay with the Bluebirds.

Joe Ledley returned to the side in time for the Semi Final against Barnsley where he scored the only goal to send Cardiff to their first Final since 1927, a goal which later earned him 'Player of the Round'.

On 2 September 2009 Joe Ledley was offered a new four-year contract by Cardiff City, which was later rejected.

However, Joe Ledley received backing from both Cardiff City manager Dave Jones and club captain Mark Hudson, before later stating that he needed surgery on a hip injury that had plagued him for the previous three months and subsequently hindered his performances.

Joe Ledley's contract expired at the end of the season and he moved to Scottish Premier League club Celtic.

Joe Ledley was played in an unfamiliar role at left-back during his first month at Celtic, a position he had only previously played in once or twice.

Joe Ledley regained his place in the team on his return from suspension and continued to play regularly.

Joe Ledley was all over the place, winning tackles, making passes and getting up and down the park and it was great to see.

On 20 March 2011, Joe Ledley played in the second cup final of his career, this time the Scottish League Cup Final against Rangers.

Joe Ledley played at left back but had to come off at half time due to a groin injury.

On 18 March 2012, Joe Ledley played in another Scottish League Cup Final.

On 31 January 2014, Joe Ledley joined Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Joe Ledley's transfer move was completed with only minutes to spare before the conclusion of the transfer window.

Joe Ledley revealed that if he had not joined Crystal Palace, he would have signed a new contract with Celtic.

Joe Ledley helped Crystal Palace to eventually finish the season in eleventh place in the Premier League, in mid-table and comfortably clear of relegation.

On 9 June 2017, Joe Ledley was released by Crystal Palace at the end of his contract.

On 6 December 2019, Joe Ledley joined Charlton Athletic on a short-term deal.

On 23 February 2020, with his one-month contract at Charlton having expired, Joe Ledley trained with Newport County but turned down a contract.

In February 2021, Joe Ledley was training at League One club Bristol Rovers.

On 14 November 2021, Joe Ledley announced his retirement from football.

Joe Ledley played at several youth levels for Wales as a youngster, eventually winning his first senior Wales cap in an away World Cup qualifying match against Poland on 7 September 2005.

Joe Ledley was called up for UEFA Euro 2016 in France, despite only returning from a broken leg a month earlier.

Joe Ledley played all six games in a run to the semi-finals, starting each except the opener.

Joe Ledley is comfortable on the ball and is a decent passer.

However, John Hartson has said that pace is not necessarily the most important thing, especially when Joe Ledley is good in so many other aspects of the game.

Joe Ledley has said that he thinks Ledley would be able to play in the Premier League and compared his style of play to that of players like Xabi Alonso and Frank Lampard.

Joe Ledley and his wife Ruby have two daughters, named Layla and Reeva, born in October 2010.

In March 2011, Joe Ledley's house was broken into while he was in Hamilton and his wife and daughter were in Cardiff.

Joe Ledley was a Liverpool supporter as a youngster and Ryan Giggs was his hero.

Joe Ledley was named part of ITV's UEFA Euro 2020 coverage.