Leon Best

Position
Forward
Nationality
Place Of Birth
Nottingham
Date Of Birth
September 19, 1986
Age
38
Height (cm)
185
Games Played
104
-
Per Game
Games Started
79
0.8
Per Game
Minutes
6929
66.6
Per Game
Goals
23
0.2
Per Game
Assists
11
0.1
Per Game
Notes
Stats
Matches
Transfers
Gallery
Internationals

Coca-Cola Championship Player of the Month September 2009

A dynamic striker known for his physical presence and work rate. Beginning his career with Southampton, he had several loan spells before making a mark with the Sky Blues in 2007. Best became a fan favorite for his ability to lead the line with strength and determination, often showcasing his knack for scoring important goals. His performances for the Sky Blues earned him recognition as a reliable forward, and he attracted interest from higher-tier clubs. After leaving Coventry in 2010, Best joined Newcastle United, where he enjoyed Premier League exposure and continued to demonstrate his goal-scoring abilities. Subsequent stints included moves to Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, and other clubs, but his time at Coventry remains a highlight. Best also represented the Republic of Ireland at international level, though injuries sometimes hindered his consistency.

• Striker
• Joined from Southampton for £650,000 (aged 20 years 9 months) under Iain Dowie
• Left for Newcastle United for £1,500,000 (aged 23 years 4 months) under Chris Coleman
• Substitute appearances: 25
• Unused substitute: 3
• Bookings: 18

Penalties (1 - missed)
2009-10
26 December 2009 v Doncaster Rovers H, missed - hit right post

Free kick goals (1)
2009-10
15 August 2009 v Barnsley A

Football League Championship winner 2009-10 with Newcastle United

Championship (England)
2009-2010
Coventry City
27
25
2
2198′
4
9 (0)
4
2008-2009
Coventry City
31
16
15
1439′
2
2 (0)
1
2007-2008
Coventry City
34
29
5
2446′
10
8 (0)
4
92
70
22
6083′
16
0
0
19 (0)
9
0
FA Cup (England)
2009-2010
Coventry City
2
1
1
108′
1 (0)
2008-2009
Coventry City
4
3
1
307′
1
2 (0)
2007-2008
Coventry City
3
2
1
181′
1
9
6
3
596′
1
0
0
3 (0)
1
0
Carling Cup (England)
2007-2008
Coventry City
3
3
250′
1
1 (0)
1
3
3
0
250′
1
0
0
1 (0)
1
0
Totals:
104
79
25
6929′
18
0
0
23 (0)
11
0
Date
For
Against
H/A
Result
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2009-2010
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2009-2010
Coventry City
Blackpool
H
D 1:1
75`
Coventry City
Swansea City
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 3:2
21`
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 3:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
A
L 2:0
83`
Coventry City
Doncaster Rovers
H
W 1:0
80`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
A
W 0:1
90`
Coventry City
Peterborough United
H
W 3:2
85`
1
Coventry City
Newcastle United
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Scunthorpe United
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
D 2:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Derby County
A
L 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Reading
H
L 1:3
33`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
L 2:0
65`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Watford
A
W 2:3
90`
2
Coventry City
Middlesbrough
H
D 2:2
90`
1
1
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 3:2
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
H
W 3:2
90`
1
Coventry City
Bristol City
H
D 1:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Blackpool
A
L 3:0
90`
Coventry City
Swansea City
H
L 0:1
85`
Coventry City
Doncaster Rovers
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
W 0:2
80`
1
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
W 2:1
61`
FA Cup 2009-2010
FA Cup 2009-2010
Coventry City
Portsmouth
H
L 1:2
92`
1
Coventry City
Portsmouth
A
D 1:1
16`
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2008-2009
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2008-2009
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 2:1
65`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 1:1
4`
Coventry City
Reading
H
D 0:0
45`
Coventry City
Doncaster Rovers
H
W 1:0
28`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
A
W 1:2
86`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
H
W 1:0
88`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
D 1:1
73`
1
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
W 2:1
3`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
D 1:1
66`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Swansea City
A
D 0:0
13`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
H
D 2:2
Coventry City
Watford
A
L 2:1
15`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
W 1:2
7`
Coventry City
Nottingham Forest
H
D 2:2
14`
Coventry City
Reading
A
L 3:1
31`
Coventry City
Swansea City
H
D 1:1
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
A
W 0:1
11`
Coventry City
Plymouth Argyle
H
L 0:1
66`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 0:2
62`
Coventry City
Birmingham City
A
W 0:1
86`
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 1:1
21`
Coventry City
Derby County
H
D 1:1
80`
Coventry City
Burnley
H
L 1:3
66`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
W 4:1
81`
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
A
L 2:1
17`
Coventry City
Blackpool
A
D 1:1
3`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
W 1:0
14`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
D 1:1
16`
Coventry City
Preston North End
H
D 0:0
83`
Coventry City
Doncaster Rovers
A
L 1:0
25`
FA Cup 2008-2009
FA Cup 2008-2009
Coventry City
Chelsea
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
H
W 1:0
90`
1
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
A
D 2:2
37`
Coventry City
Kidderminster Harriers
H
W 2:0
90`
1
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2007-2008
Coca Cola Football League Championship 2007-2008
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
H
D 1:1
90`
Coventry City
Colchester United
A
W 1:5
87`
1
Coventry City
Stoke City
H
L 1:2
85`
Coventry City
Watford
A
L 2:1
90`
1
Coventry City
Southampton
A
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield Wednesday
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Sheffield United
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Norwich City
H
W 1:0
87`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Scunthorpe United
A
L 2:1
78`
Coventry City
Burnley
A
L 2:0
90`
Coventry City
Leicester City
H
W 2:0
84`
1
1
Coventry City
Cardiff City
H
D 0:0
90`
Coventry City
Preston North End
A
L 1:0
90`
Coventry City
Barnsley
H
W 4:0
90`
2
1
Coventry City
Hull City
A
L 1:0
4`
Coventry City
Leicester City
A
L 2:0
71`
Coventry City
Bristol City
A
L 2:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
H
L 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Blackpool
A
L 4:0
76`
Coventry City
Southampton
H
D 1:1
72`
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
A
W 2:4
90`
2
1
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:4
45`
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
A
W 1:2
75`
1
Coventry City
Stoke City
A
W 1:3
81`
Coventry City
Colchester United
H
W 1:0
66`
Coventry City
Watford
H
L 0:3
18`
Coventry City
Wolverhampton Wanderers
A
L 1:0
1`
Coventry City
Blackpool
H
W 3:1
57`
Coventry City
Charlton Athletic
H
D 1:1
63`
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
A
L 4:1
90`
Coventry City
Crystal Palace
A
D 1:1
28`
1
Coventry City
Hull City
H
D 1:1
Coventry City
Barnsley
A
W 1:4
18`
FA Cup 2007-2008
FA Cup 2007-2008
Coventry City
West Bromwich Albion
H
L 0:5
90`
Coventry City
Millwall
H
W 2:1
1`
Coventry City
Blackburn Rovers
A
W 1:4
90`
1
Carling Cup 2007-2008
Carling Cup 2007-2008
Coventry City
West Ham United
H
L 1:2
70`
Coventry City
Manchester United
A
W 0:2
90`
Coventry City
Notts County
H
W 3:0
90`
1
1
Club Out
Club In
Transfer Date
Fee
Club Out / Club In
Transfer Date / Fee
Coventry City
Newcastle United
Mon, 01 Feb, 2010
£1,500,000
Coventry City
Newcastle United
Mon, 01 Feb, 2010
£1,500,000
Southampton
Coventry City
Fri, 06 Jul, 2007
£650,000
Southampton
Coventry City
Fri, 06 Jul, 2007
£650,000

Republic of Ireland - 6 caps

2008-09
29 May 2009 Nigeria v Republic of Ireland, Fulham, friendly, 1-1
6 June 2009 Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland, Sofia, 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 8, 1-1, substitute
2009-10
8 September 2009 Republic of Ireland v South Africa, Limerick, friendly, 1-0, substitute
10 October 2009 Republic of Ireland v Italy, Dublin, 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 8, 2-2, substitute, booked
14 October 2009 Republic of Ireland v Montenegro, Dublin, 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group 8, 0-0, substitute
14 November 2009 Republic of Ireland v France, Dublin, 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-Off, 0-1, substitute

1 further cap with Newcastle United (total 7 caps).

Caps for Republic of Ireland at U17, U19 and U21 levels before joining City.