I’m a former Premier League striker but played my best ever game in completely different position – it was easy
Troy Deeney has admitted he found it easy playing out of position in a one-off match during his career. The former Premier League footballer spent almost the entirety of his playing days as a striker. Deeney had his ‘best ever game’ playing out of positionGetty The ex-striker once played in defence during his time at WalsallGetty Images - Getty However, he was once asked to fill in in defence during his time at Walsall. Deeney spent four years with the Saddlers between 2006 and 2010. During that time, he scored 27 goals in 135 appearances and won promotion to League One in 2007. However, one match sticks out to him after playing at centre-back against Bradford. The 36-year-old told talkSPORT: “I got put in the centre half at Walsall against Bradford away, I’ll never forget it. “In my opinion, it was my best ever game. I just head it, kick it, and put people in the stands. It was lovely. Clean sheet as well.” Asked if his comments meant he felt the position required no finesse, he added: “Absolutely, yeah. All these guys now try to play out from the back. “They’ll just kick it in the corner, and then even if you kick it out of play, it’s somebody else’s fault anyway. Have you not realised that?” Deeney’s defensive display was not enough to earn him a permanent move to the back line, though. Instead, he returned to the attack before earning a move to Watford in 2010. Deeney scored 47 goals in 165 Premier League appearancesGetty Images During 12 years with the Hornets, he twice won promotion to the Premier League, where he scored 47 goals in 165 top flight appearances. Overall, the forward scored 182 times in 628 senior matches for Walsall, Watford, Birmingham and Forest Green. He left Forest Green in January last year after just six matches as manager. Deeney had previously been an assistant manager under David Horseman alongside his playing commitments. His first spell in the dugout has not put Deeney off, though, having previously revealed returning is a ‘when’ not an ‘if’. When asked by talkSPORT in September if he would get back into management, he replied: “When I go back into management.”
Troy Deeney has admitted he found it easy playing out of position in a one-off match during his career.
The former Premier League footballer spent almost the entirety of his playing days as a striker.
However, he was once asked to fill in in defence during his time at Walsall.
Deeney spent four years with the Saddlers between 2006 and 2010.
During that time, he scored 27 goals in 135 appearances and won promotion to League One in 2007.
However, one match sticks out to him after playing at centre-back against Bradford.
The 36-year-old told talkSPORT: “I got put in the centre half at Walsall against Bradford away, I’ll never forget it.
“In my opinion, it was my best ever game. I just head it, kick it, and put people in the stands. It was lovely. Clean sheet as well.”
Asked if his comments meant he felt the position required no finesse, he added: “Absolutely, yeah. All these guys now try to play out from the back.
“They’ll just kick it in the corner, and then even if you kick it out of play, it’s somebody else’s fault anyway. Have you not realised that?”
Deeney’s defensive display was not enough to earn him a permanent move to the back line, though.
Instead, he returned to the attack before earning a move to Watford in 2010.
During 12 years with the Hornets, he twice won promotion to the Premier League, where he scored 47 goals in 165 top flight appearances.
Overall, the forward scored 182 times in 628 senior matches for Walsall, Watford, Birmingham and Forest Green.
He left Forest Green in January last year after just six matches as manager.
Deeney had previously been an assistant manager under David Horseman alongside his playing commitments.
His first spell in the dugout has not put Deeney off, though, having previously revealed returning is a ‘when’ not an ‘if’.
When asked by talkSPORT in September if he would get back into management, he replied: “When I go back into management.”
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