1. Mathew John Sadler was born on 26 February 1985 and is an English former professional footballer who is currently head coach of Walsall.
28 Facts About Mat Sadler
1. 2.
Mat Sadler played as a left-footed defender, capable of playing either at full-back or as a centre-back.
3.
Mat Sadler spent most of his career in the Football League, for Northampton Town, Watford, Stockport County, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall, Crawley Town, Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic.
4.
Mat Sadler began his career as a junior with Birmingham City.
5.
On 21 November 2003, having not played for Birmingham that season, Mat Sadler went on a two-month loan to Northampton Town, playing eight games, seven of which in the Third Division.
6.
Mat Sadler stayed in the starting line-up for the remaining games, as the season ended with relegation.
7.
However, Sadler suffered a groin injury in training, resulting him missing out for four matches.
8.
However, Mat Sadler struggled for the first team place after losing his left-back position to Franck Queudrue and Liam Ridgewell.
9.
However, on his next appearance against Reading, Mat Sadler came under criticism when his back-pass short led to goalkeeper Maik Taylor brought down Stephen Hunt in the penalty box, leading Hunt to take the penalty himself and converted the penalty successfully.
10.
Ahead of the match, Sadler stated he hope the club regain back to the Premier League.
11.
Mat Sadler then joined Stockport County on loan in January 2010 and remained at Edgeley Park until the end of the League One season.
12.
Mat Sadler became a first team regular for the club, where he made twenty appearances.
13.
Mat Sadler joined League Two club Shrewsbury Town on 7 July 2010 on loan for six months.
14.
Since then, Mat Sadler made an impressive display at Shrewsbury Town, having established himself in the first team and expressed interests of extending his loan spell at the club for the remainder of the season.
15.
On 6 January 2011 saw Mat Sadler's loan spell at Shrewsbury Town extended until the end of the season.
16.
Mat Sadler hoped to make a new start after a lack of first-team opportunities at Watford.
17.
Mat Sadler knows the game, is intelligent and has a fantastic attitude.
18.
Mat Sadler cited manager Sean O'Driscoll's winning mentality as the reason he joined.
19.
Mat Sadler made his 200th consecutive league appearance on 12 April 2014 against MK Dons.
20.
Mat Sadler joined newly promoted Championship side Rotherham United on a free transfer from Crawley Town on 17 June 2014.
21.
Mat Sadler was linked with a loan move to Notts County and Crewe Alexandra.
22.
Mat Sadler then had a run in the first team, which lead to extending his loan spell for another month.
23.
Mat Sadler was named team-captain for the first time, in the absence of Abu Ogogo and Adam El-Abd, in February 2017, and went on to win the Player of the year, Players' player of the year and Player in the community awards at the conclusion of the season, after helping Shrewsbury avoid relegation to League Two.
24.
Mat Sadler subsequently signed a two-year contract extension, committing him to the club until summer 2019.
25.
Mat Sadler played nine times for England under-17, including at the 2002 European Under-17 championships, appeared once for the under-18s, and played four times at under-19 level.
26.
On 7 January 2025, with Walsall sitting top of the league, ten points clear of second place, Mat Sadler signed a new three-and-a-half year contract.
27.
Mat Sadler said in 2012 that when he retired from playing football, he might go back to education to get a degree.
28.
Mat Sadler co-founded a property investment company in 2017 while still playing for Shrewsbury Town.