James Maddison: A Journey to Football Stardom

James Maddison is one of those players who rise above the rest, leaving an indelible mark in the vast and exhilarating world of football.  From humble beginnings to gracing the grand stages of the Premier League and international football, Maddison’s journey to stardom is nothing short of captivating.

From kicking a ball around in the backyard to joining local youth teams, his journey into the beautiful game began at an early age.  Let’s explore Maddison’s adventure of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, traits that would later define his footballing career.

Player Profile – James Daniel Maddison

James Maddison fondly called “Madderz” was born and raised in Coventry, England on 23 November 1996. He had a strong love for football from an early age. He displayed a natural talent and passion for football, honing his skills in the youth team of Coventry City.  He plays primarily as an attacking midfielder from the middle of the pitch.

Maddison can also play on either wing as a left or right-sided midfielder. He is an intelligent player making well-timed runs and taking up positions in dangerous areas. He is a setpiece expert and can strike the ball cleanly from outside the box.

Player Profile Overview

Early Life

James Maddison was born to Gary and Una Maddison, who supported his footballing aspirations from an early age. He joined the Coventry youth side when he was 7 years old. Their apartment was literally in front of the Coventry City training ground.

His entire family including his brother Ben and his uncle were the solid support foundation that spurred Madderz to pursue his football career. His father documented the progress of his son’s progress, creating video highlights of James Maddison.

The videos show a young Madderz cutting through much larger boys. Madderz had it all at that age, the cutbacks, the nutmegs, the tricks, the swift take of the ball on the turn off his back foot, and the finishes to the delight of his family and teammates.

Maddison started his career with Coventry City’s youth team progressing through the ranks at the club’s academy, showcasing his talent and potential along the way.  He also went on several loan spells to gain experience to help him develop and break into the first team.

These loan moves proved instrumental in shaping Maddison into the player he is today, exposing him to different styles of play and the rigours of senior football.

Even after breaking into the first team at Coventry City, he continued to play for the youth sides. Upon signing for Norwich as a teenager, he was loaned back to his former club. He also spent some time playing for the Norwich City U21s before breaking into the team as a mainstay.

Senior Career

After joining the Coventry City youth team, James Maddison was promoted and included in the first team roster for the 2013–14 campaign. However, he did not make a single appearance for the first team.

In August 2014 of the following season, he earned his first-team debut after substituting in a 2-1 League Cup loss to Cardiff City on 13 August 2014. His league debut came as a substitute in a 3-0 home loss to Bristol City. He made his full league debut starting the next game.

James Maddison signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in November 2014, but he was sidelined for a large part of the 2014–15 season due to a back injury.

Signing For Norwich City And The Loan Spells

Maddison’s talent was evident and several clubs scrambled for his signature. On February 1, 2016, Norwich City signed Maddison as one for the future on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed sum. However, he was loaned back to Coventry City for the remainder of the 2015–16 campaign.

Maddison’s Norwich debut came in an EFL Cup matchup with his old team, Coventry, recording two assists in a 6-0 victory at home. Afterwards, Maddison was loaned to Aberdeen of the Scottish Premiership for the first half of the 2016–17 campaign on August 31, 2016.

After making his debut against Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a substitute, he started and scored in the following game, a 3-1 victory against Dundee. On September 25, he scored the winning goal against Rangers in the final seconds. Maddison scored two goals in 17 appearances for Aberdeen during the loan spell.

Norwich City Debut

Following his return from his Aberdeen loan, Maddison made his Norwich League debut on April 17, 2017, against Preston North End. He entered as a 79th-minute substitute and scored the team’s third goal in the second minute of stoppage time during a 3–1 victory away from home.

His impressive performances for Norwich saw Maddison sign a fresh four-year deal with the club. The appointment of Daniel Farke as head coach during the 2017–18 season saw Maddison start regularly for Norwich. He rewarded the manager’s faith by putting up impressive performances from the middle of the park for the club.

James Maddison’s form for Norwich was rewarded as he was voted Norwich’s Player of the Season and received a nomination for the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season. He was also included in the EFL Championship Team of the Year and PFA Championship Team of the Year.

Signing For Former Premier League Champions Leicester City

James Maddison agreed to a five-year contract with Premier League team Leicester City on June 20, 2018, for an unknown sum believed to be in the neighbourhood of £20 million. His debut for Leceister City came in a 2-1 loss to Manchester United on 10 August 2018.

He scored his first Premier League goal in a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers On August 18, 2018. Subsequently, he built on his strong start to the season by scoring back-to-back Premier League goals against AFC Bournemouth and Huddersfield Town, both from set pieces.

James Maddison and Leicester agreed on a new four-year contract on July 29, 2020. He showed he merited the new contract putting up impressive performances including one against Manchester City.

Maddison’s curler outside the box in a 5-2 victory over Manchester City was reminiscent of one David Beckham. The goal was voted as the Premier League Goal of the Month by the fans.

Maddison enjoyed a good spell with Leicester City. They won the 2020/2021 FA Cup with Maddison starting the final match against Chelsea on the bench and entered as a substitute in the 67th minute.

Making The Move To Tottenham Hotspur

After speculations linking Maddison with a host of top clubs, he finally signed a five-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur on June 28, 2023, for around £40 million. Before the start of the season, Maddison was named co-assistant captain with Cristian Romero to support club captain Son Heung-min.

Maddison made his Tottenham debut in the team’s away game against Brentford in the 2023–24 Premier League season opener on August 13.

On August 26, he netted his first goal for the team in a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth away from home. After registering two assists and one goal in his first three league games for Tottenham, Maddison won the August Player of the Month award from the Premier League.

Maddison’s start to life at Tottenham was cut short by an ankle injury he sustained in a Premier League home encounter against Chelsea on November 6, 2023. He has since returned from injury hoping to recapture his early season form.

James Maddison’s Playing Style

James Maddison’s Goals And Set Piece Prowess

James Maddison is regarded as one of the best setpiece takers, not named James Ward-Prowse. He scored his first league goal with a free kick. Furthermore, he has a penchant for scoring the spectacular as evidenced in his sublime curler against Man City.

Maddison is a threat to every opposition. He can bend the ball around defensive walls with power and accuracy from his free kicks. Furthermore, his ability to deliver pinpoint crosses and corners into the box puts opposing defenses under pressure allowing his teammates to capitalize on scoring chances.

Maddison is also a capable goalscorer himself. He has a keen eye for goal and is known for his ability to score from inside and outside the penalty area. His technical skill, composure in front of goal, and ability to find space make him a constant threat to opposing defenses.

International Career

James Maddison’s international career started with the England U21s. He was called up to the U21s in March 2016, however he was forced to withdraw due to injury. He joined up with the squad for the first time to the England under-21 squad in November 2017.

He made his debut in a 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Ukraine. While still eligible for the U21s, he was called up for the first time to the senior squad for the UEFA Nations League matches against Spain and Croatia in October 2018.

Maddison made the 23-man England roster for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He scored his first international goal for the U21s in a 3-3 draw with Croatia at the San Marino Stadium.

James Maddison made his debut for England in UEFA Euro 2020 qualification on November 14 2019. He replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 56th minute of the 7-0 victory over Montenegro.

After a three-year absence from the international team, Maddison made the 26-man England squad for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, Maddison failed to make a single appearance in the global showpiece. His international future is on track starting for England against Ukraine in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match.

Personal Life

Maddison is a father of three kids with his model girlfriend Kennedy Alexa. Their first son Leo is 18 months older than their twin kids Delilah and Rome born days after finalizing his transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

James Maddison participates actively in charitable work. He contributes to several charity projects, such as programmes that aid impoverished children and children’s hospitals. His charitable endeavours show how dedicated he is to changing society for the better.

Recently, he organised his first charity golf tournament, raising money for a cause near and dear to his heart. The event was also dedicated to Super Strong Sophie, a mascot who meant a lot to him during his time at Norwich.

Milestones and Personal Achievements

• Professional First Team Debut – vs Cardiff City, 13 August 2014
• First Professional Senior Goal – vs Oldham Athletic, 21 October 2014
• EFL Championship Player of the Month (January, 2018)
• EFL Championship Team of the Year (2017/2018)
• PFA Championship Team of the Year (2017/2018)
• Norwich City Player of the Season (2017/2018)
• Premier League Debut – vs Manchester United, 10 August 2018
• First Premier League Goal – vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 18 August 2018
• England Three Lions Debut – vs Montenegro, 14 November 2019
• Premier League Goal of the Month (September 2020)
• Leicester Player of the Year (2021/2022)
• Premier League Player of the Month (August 2023)

Conclusion

James Maddison’s journey to football stardom is a testament to his talent, dedication, and unwavering determination. From his early beginnings at Coventry City to gracing the hallowed turf of Premier League stadiums, Maddison’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric.

As he continues to etch his name in the annals of football history, the future holds boundless possibilities for this gifted midfielder.