The burly forward, much maligned in the past, is currently enjoying a renaissance after a strong international return in England’s 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Emile Heskey’s game is based on pace, power and his ability to hold up the ball for his strike partners. He burst onto the scene as a precocious talent with Leicester before moving on to Liverpool — with whom he won a cup treble in 2001 — Birmingham and, most recently, Wigan.
Heskey grew up in Leicester and first came to the attention of the Foxes at the age of nine. He progressed through the club’s youth ranks and broke into the first team at the age of 17 in 1995. He became a first-team regular in the 1995-96 season and then helped the side to League Cup victory in the following season.
Heskey scored in the first final, a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough, before the Foxes won after a replay. With just 12 goals, however, and only 10 the following year, Heskey did attract criticism.
For all his potential it was felt he did not score enough and went to ground too easily. This has been a recurring theme throughout his career but his game does benefit the team in other ways.
Heskey was selected for England B and became an Under-21 regular before earning a first senior cap in 1999 and then winning a place in the squad for Euro 2000, in which he had limited involvement as a substitute.
He helped Leicester win a second League Cup in 2000, this time beating Tranmere in the final, before Liverpool swooped to take him to Anfield for GBP11million.
Heskey was superb in his first full season at Anfield during the 2000-01 campaign, scoring 23 goals and forming good partnerships with Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. It proved an outstanding season for the Reds, winning the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. Heskey also became a regular member of the England side and went to the World Cup in 2002 and Euro 2004.
Over time, however, he did not score the goals in abundance Liverpool required and was sold to Birmingham for GBP6.25 million in the summer of 2004. Heskey shone only sporadically for Blues and scored just five goals in his second season there as the club were relegated from the Barclays English Premier League.
Heskey left to join Wigan in a GBP5.5 million deal in 2006. He proved his worth for the Latics with his all-round game. He was crucial in Wigan’s successful campaign against relegation despite scoring just eight goals.
Injuries disrupted Heskey during the 2007-08 season but he still impressed enough to win an England recall for the final matches of the unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. He had been off the international scene for three years but has remained an important squad member since.
Heskey is currently very highly regarded in the EPL and there could be a scramble for his services during the January transfer window as his Wigan contract expires next summer.
Heskey was the target of some of the most abhorrent racist abuse of recent times when he was subjected to vile chants and monkey noises as England played Slovakia in Bratislava in 2002. “You feel hurt that they are looking at you for your colour, not you as a person,” said Heskey. “It’s very hard when that’s happening but sometimes you’ve just got to shut it out and try to put in a good performance.”
The Slovakian FA were eventually fined GBP27,000.
Heskey has five children with two different women. His first three children were born during his relationship with Kylee Pinsent, which ended four years ago. He is now engaged to Chantelle Tagoe. They live in a multimillion-pound, seven-bedroom mansion in Hale, Cheshire, with their two children.
Tagoe was held at knifepoint during a daylight raid on their property earlier this year. Raiders ransacked the house and escaped with jewellery and the couple’s BMW X5.
FactfileName: Emile HeskeyPosition: StrikerClub: WiganD.O.B.: 11/01/1978England senior caps: 49England senior goals: 5England debut: v Hungary, April 1999Moment to rememberHeskey has just one career hat-trick to his name, which came during his excellent 2000-01 season for Liverpool. He produced a ruthless display of finishing to destroy Derby at Pride Park, scoring three times in a 4-0 win.
Moment to forgetLeicester were involved in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Newcastle in November 1997, but the Foxes left the field disappointed after conceding a last-minute equaliser and seeing Heskey sent off late on for a bad challenge on Philippe Albert.
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