Matthew Upson

Date of birth18 April 1979
Place of birthStowmarket
NationalityEnglish
Weight72 kg
Height1.85 m
PositionDefender

Many observers believe Arsene Wenger was rather hasty in allowing the former Luton Town centre-back to join Birmingham City.

Matthew Upson went on to win England international honours.

Matthew spent the first part of the 2000-01 season battling back to full fitness after rupturing a cruciate ligament in December 1999.

He made a handful of appearances for Arsenal in the autumn, featuring in the defeats against Ipswich Town and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Worthington Cup and Champions' League competitions, but made only one substitute appearance in the Premiership away at Everton.

He subsequently joined Nottingham Forest on loan where he made a single appearance against Portsmouth in an unfamiliar midfield role before returning early to North London with a back injury.

He later moved to Crystal Palace for another loan period and featured regularly for the Eagles in the run-in to the end of the season, contributing to their struggle to avoid relegation.

Back at Highbury, he added a further appearance from the subs' bench when he replaced Robert Pires in the final stages of the last game of the season at Southampton.

Matthew is a strong, intelligent central defender who is comfortable on the ball and has good distribution skills.

He continued to feature in the England Under-21 squad winning a further three caps.

Matthew's contract at Birmingham City was extended to June 2008 in April 2006.

He joined West Ham United in January 2007 with a contract to June 2011.

Matthew joined Stoke City in August 2011 with a two-year contract.

After a loan spell, he joined Brighton & Hove Albion in July 2013 with a one-year contract.

Matthew joined Leicester City in July 2014 with a one-year contract.

He joined Milton Keynes Dons in July 2015 with a one-year contract.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Luton Town 24 Apr 1996 10 May 1997
Arsenal 10 May 1997 23 Jan 2003
Nottingham Forest 12 Aug 2000 20 Dec 2000 L
Crystal Palace 02 Mar 2001 07 May 2001 L
Reading 05 Sep 2002 08 Dec 2002 L
Birmingham City 23 Jan 2003 31 Jan 2007
West Ham United 31 Jan 2007 30 Jun 2011
Stoke City 09 Aug 2011 30 Jun 2013
Brighton and Hove Albion 31 Jan 2013 31 May 2013 L
Brighton and Hove Albion 10 Jul 2013 30 Jun 2014
Leicester City 01 Jul 2014 30 Jun 2015
Milton Keynes Dons 30 Jul 2015 30 Jun 2016

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1997-98 Arsenal FA Cup 1
1
1997-98 Arsenal League Cup 2
1
1997-98 Arsenal Premier League 5
1998-99 Arsenal FA Cup 1
1998-99 Arsenal League Cup 2
1998-99 Arsenal Premier League
5
1998-99 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 1
1999-00 Arsenal League Cup 2
1999-00 Arsenal Premier League 5
3
1
1999-00 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 1
1
2000-01 Arsenal League Cup 1
2000-01 Arsenal Premier League
2
2000-01 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 1
2000-01 Crystal Palace League Division 1 7
1
2000-01 Nottingham Forest League Division 1 1
2001-02 Arsenal FA Cup
1
2001-02 Arsenal League Cup 1
1
2001-02 Arsenal Premier League 10
4
2
2001-02 Arsenal UEFA Champions League 5
1
2
2002-03 Arsenal FA Cup 1
2002-03 Birmingham City Premier League 14
1
1
2002-03 Reading League Cup 1
1
2002-03 Reading League Division 1 13
1
3
2003-04 Birmingham City FA Cup 2
2003-04 Birmingham City League Cup 1
2003-04 Birmingham City Premier League 30
2
2004-05 Birmingham City FA Cup 2
2
2004-05 Birmingham City League Cup 2
2004-05 Birmingham City Premier League 36
2
5
2005-06 Birmingham City FA Cup 1
1
2005-06 Birmingham City League Cup 4
2
2005-06 Birmingham City Premier League 24
1
2
2006-07 Birmingham City FA Cup 3
1
2006-07 Birmingham City League Championship 8
1
2
1
2006-07 West Ham United Premier League 2
2007-08 West Ham United FA Cup 2
2007-08 West Ham United League Cup 2
2007-08 West Ham United Premier League 29
1
2
2008-09 West Ham United FA Cup 2
2008-09 West Ham United League Cup 2
2008-09 West Ham United Premier League 37
2
2009-10 West Ham United FA Cup 1
2009-10 West Ham United League Cup
1
2009-10 West Ham United Premier League 33
3
3
2010-11 West Ham United FA Cup 1
2010-11 West Ham United League Cup 3
2010-11 West Ham United Premier League 30
4
2011-12 Stoke City FA Cup 2
2011-12 Stoke City League Cup 1
2011-12 Stoke City Premier League 10
4
1
1
2011-12 Stoke City UEFA Europa League 8
1
2
1
2012-13 Brighton and Hove Albion League Championship 18
1
2
2012-13 Brighton and Hove Albion League Championship Play-Offs 2
2012-13 Stoke City League Cup 1
2012-13 Stoke City Premier League 1
1
2013-14 Brighton and Hove Albion FA Cup 3
2013-14 Brighton and Hove Albion League Championship 43
2
3
2013-14 Brighton and Hove Albion League Championship Play-Offs 1
2014-15 Leicester City FA Cup 1
2014-15 Leicester City Premier League 5
2015-16 Milton Keynes Dons FA Cup 1
1
2015-16 Milton Keynes Dons League Championship 1
2
2015-16 Milton Keynes Dons League Cup 2
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

Club matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
14 Oct 1997 Arsenal v Birmingham City W 4-1 League Cup 3rd round
18 Nov 1997 Arsenal v Coventry City W 1-0 League Cup 4th round
17 Jan 1998 Coventry City v Arsenal D 2-2 Premier League
21 Feb 1998 Arsenal v Crystal Palace W 1-0 Premier League
25 Feb 1998 Crystal Palace v Arsenal W 1-2 FA Cup 5th round replay
02 Mar 1998 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
18 Apr 1998 Arsenal v Wimbledon W 5-0 Premier League
06 May 1998 Liverpool v Arsenal L 4-0 Premier League
28 Oct 1998 Derby County v Arsenal W 1-2 League Cup 3rd round
11 Nov 1998 Arsenal v Chelsea L 0-5 League Cup 4th round
09 Dec 1998 Panathinaikos v Arsenal W 1-3 UEFA Champions League Group E
09 Jan 1999 Arsenal v Liverpool D 0-0 Premier League
16 Jan 1999 Nottingham Forest v Arsenal W 0-1 Premier League
24 Jan 1999 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal W 1-2 FA Cup 4th round
31 Jan 1999 Arsenal v Chelsea W 1-0 Premier League
28 Feb 1999 Newcastle United v Arsenal D 1-1 Premier League
13 Mar 1999 Everton v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
10 Aug 1999 Derby County v Arsenal W 1-2 Premier League
14 Aug 1999 Sunderland v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
22 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Manchester United L 1-2 Premier League
25 Aug 1999 Arsenal v Bradford City W 2-0 Premier League
12 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Preston North End W 2-1 League Cup 3rd round
19 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Barcelona L 2-4 UEFA Champions League Group B
30 Oct 1999 Arsenal v Newcastle United D 0-0 Premier League
02 Nov 1999 AIK Solna v Arsenal W 2-3 UEFA Champions League Group B
20 Nov 1999 Arsenal v Middlesbrough W 5-1 Premier League
28 Nov 1999 Arsenal v Derby County W 2-1 Premier League
30 Nov 1999 Middlesbrough v Arsenal L 2-2 (1-3) League Cup 4th round
04 Dec 1999 Leicester City v Arsenal W 0-3 Premier League
01 Nov 2000 Arsenal v Ipswich Town L 1-2 League Cup 3rd round
07 Nov 2000 Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal L 3-0 UEFA Champions League Group B
18 Nov 2000 Everton v Arsenal L 2-0 Premier League
19 May 2001 Southampton v Arsenal L 3-2 Premier League
19 Sep 2001 Arsenal v Schalke 04 W 3-2 UEFA Champions League Group C
22 Sep 2001 Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers D 1-1 Premier League
26 Sep 2001 Panathinaikos v Arsenal L 1-0 UEFA Champions League Group C
29 Sep 2001 Derby County v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
13 Oct 2001 Southampton v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
16 Oct 2001 Arsenal v Panathinaikos W 2-1 UEFA Champions League Group C
20 Oct 2001 Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers D 3-3 Premier League
27 Oct 2001 Sunderland v Arsenal D 1-1 Premier League
30 Oct 2001 Schalke 04 v Arsenal L 3-1 UEFA Champions League Group C
21 Nov 2001 Deportivo La Coruña v Arsenal L 2-0 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group D
25 Nov 2001 Arsenal v Manchester United W 3-1 Premier League
01 Dec 2001 Ipswich Town v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
04 Dec 2001 Arsenal v Juventus W 3-1 UEFA Champions League Phase 2 group D
09 Dec 2001 Arsenal v Aston Villa W 3-2 Premier League
11 Dec 2001 Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal L 4-0 League Cup Quarter-final
23 Dec 2001 Liverpool v Arsenal W 1-2 Premier League
13 Jan 2002 Arsenal v Liverpool D 1-1 Premier League
23 Jan 2002 Leicester City v Arsenal W 1-3 Premier League
27 Jan 2002 Arsenal v Liverpool W 1-0 FA Cup 4th round
30 Jan 2002 Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal W 2-3 Premier League
02 Feb 2002 Arsenal v Southampton D 1-1 Premier League
10 Feb 2002 Everton v Arsenal W 0-1 Premier League
04 Jan 2003 Arsenal v Oxford United W 2-0 FA Cup 3rd round


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1996-97 England UEFA Under-18
1
1997-98 England UEFA Under-18 6
1998-99 England UEFA Under-18 3
1998-99 England UEFA Under-21 3
1
1998-99 England Under-21 1
1
1999-00 England UEFA Under-21 2
1
1999-00 England Under-21 1
2000-01 England UEFA Under-21 1
2000-01 England Under-21 1
2
2002-03 England International Friendly 1
1
2002-03 England UEFA European Championship 1
2003-04 England International Friendly 1
1
2003-04 England UEFA European Championship 1
2004-05 England International Friendly
1
2007-08 England International Friendly 1
2008-09 England FIFA World Cup 3
1
2008-09 England International Friendly 2
1
1
2009-10 England FIFA World Cup 3
1
2009-10 England International Friendly 3


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
13 May 1997 Portugal v England L 3-0 UEFA U18 2nd round group 3
09 Sep 1997 England v Yugoslavia D 0-0 UEFA U18 Preliminary
11 Oct 1997 Yugoslavia v England W 0-4 UEFA U18 Group 5
26 Oct 1997 Russia v England L 2-1 UEFA U18 Group 5
14 Nov 1997 England v Russia W 3-2 UEFA U18 Group 5
26 Mar 1998 England v France W 3-0 UEFA Under 18 2nd round group 3
23 Apr 1998 France v England L 1-0 UEFA U18 2nd round group 3
19 Jul 1998 Cyprus v England W 1-2 UEFA Under 18 Final group B
21 Jul 1998 Republic of Ireland v England W 0-1 UEFA U18 Final group B
23 Jul 1998 England v Croatia L 0-3 UEFA U18 Final group B
04 Sep 1998 Sweden v England W 0-2 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
09 Oct 1998 England v Bulgaria W 1-0 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
13 Oct 1998 Luxembourg v England W 0-5 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
09 Feb 1999 England v France W 2-1 Under-21
03 Sep 1999 England v Luxembourg W 5-0 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
07 Sep 1999 Poland v England L 3-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 5
08 Oct 1999 England v Denmark W 4-1 Under-21
14 Nov 2000 Italy v England D 0-0 Under-21
27 Feb 2001 England v Spain L 0-4 Under-21
24 May 2001 England v Mexico W 3-0 Under-21
05 Jun 2001 Greece v England L 3-1 UEFA Under-21 Group 9
22 May 2003 South Africa v England W 1-2 International Friendly
03 Jun 2003 England v Serbia and Montenegro W 2-1 International Friendly
11 Jun 2003 England v Slovakia W 2-1 UEFA European Championship Group 7
20 Aug 2003 England v Croatia W 3-1 International Friendly
10 Sep 2003 England v Liechtenstein W 2-0 UEFA European Championship Group 7
16 Nov 2003 England v Denmark L 2-3 International Friendly
17 Nov 2004 Spain v England L 1-0 International Friendly
06 Feb 2008 England v Switzerland W 2-1 International Friendly
10 Sep 2008 Croatia v England W 1-4 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
11 Oct 2008 England v Kazakhstan W 5-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
15 Oct 2008 Belarus v England W 1-3 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
19 Nov 2008 Germany v England W 1-2 International Friendly
11 Feb 2009 Spain v England L 2-0 International Friendly
28 Mar 2009 England v Slovakia W 4-0 International Friendly
06 Jun 2009 Kazakhstan v England W 0-4 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
05 Sep 2009 England v Slovenia W 2-1 International Friendly
09 Sep 2009 England v Croatia W 5-1 FIFA World Cup Europe group 6
14 Nov 2009 Brazil v England L 1-0 International Friendly
03 Mar 2010 England v Egypt W 3-1 International Friendly
23 Jun 2010 Slovenia v England W 0-1 FIFA World Cup Finals Group C
27 Jun 2010 Germany v England L 4-1 FIFA World Cup Finals - Round of 16


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.