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
01 Feb 2003 Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City L 4-2 Premier League
04 Feb 2003 Birmingham City v Manchester United L 0-1 Premier League
08 Feb 2003 Birmingham City v Chelsea L 1-3 Premier League
23 Feb 2003 Birmingham City v Liverpool W 2-1 Premier League
03 Mar 2003 Aston Villa v Birmingham City W 0-2 Premier League
16 Mar 2003 Manchester City v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
22 Mar 2003 Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion W 1-0 Premier League
05 Apr 2003 Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City L 2-1 Premier League
12 Apr 2003 Birmingham City v Sunderland W 2-0 Premier League
19 Apr 2003 Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City W 0-2 Premier League
21 Apr 2003 Birmingham City v Southampton W 3-2 Premier League
26 Apr 2003 Birmingham City v Middlesbrough W 3-0 Premier League
03 May 2003 Newcastle United v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
11 May 2003 Birmingham City v West Ham United D 2-2 Premier League
23 Aug 2003 Southampton v Birmingham City D 0-0 Premier League
30 Aug 2003 Newcastle United v Birmingham City W 0-1 Premier League
14 Sep 2003 Birmingham City v Fulham D 2-2 Premier League
20 Sep 2003 Leeds United v Birmingham City W 0-2 Premier League
23 Sep 2003 Blackpool v Birmingham City L 1-0 League Cup 2nd round
27 Sep 2003 Birmingham City v Portsmouth W 2-0 Premier League
04 Oct 2003 Manchester United v Birmingham City L 3-0 Premier League
14 Oct 2003 Birmingham City v Chelsea D 0-0 Premier League
19 Oct 2003 Birmingham City v Aston Villa D 0-0 Premier League
25 Oct 2003 Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City W 0-1 Premier League
03 Nov 2003 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic L 1-2 Premier League
08 Nov 2003 Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
22 Nov 2003 Birmingham City v Arsenal L 0-3 Premier League
30 Nov 2003 Liverpool v Birmingham City L 3-1 Premier League
13 Dec 2003 Leicester City v Birmingham City W 0-2 Premier League
26 Dec 2003 Birmingham City v Manchester City W 2-1 Premier League
28 Dec 2003 Everton v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
03 Jan 2004 Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers W 4-0 FA Cup 3rd round
11 Feb 2004 Birmingham City v Everton 3- Premier League
14 Feb 2004 Sunderland v Birmingham City D 1-1 FA Cup 5th round
03 Mar 2004 Birmingham City v Middlesbrough W 3-1 Premier League
06 Mar 2004 Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers W 2-0 Premier League
13 Mar 2004 Birmingham City v Leicester City L 0-1 Premier League
20 Mar 2004 Middlesbrough v Birmingham City L 5-3 Premier League
27 Mar 2004 Birmingham City v Leeds United W 4-1 Premier League
03 Apr 2004 Fulham v Birmingham City D 0-0 Premier League
10 Apr 2004 Birmingham City v Manchester United L 1-2 Premier League
12 Apr 2004 Portsmouth v Birmingham City L 3-1 Premier League
17 Apr 2004 Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
25 Apr 2004 Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers D 2-2 Premier League
01 May 2004 Arsenal v Birmingham City D 0-0 Premier League
08 May 2004 Birmingham City v Liverpool L 0-3 Premier League
15 May 2004 Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
14 Aug 2004 Portsmouth v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
21 Aug 2004 Birmingham City v Chelsea L 0-1 Premier League
24 Aug 2004 Birmingham City v Manchester City W 1-0 Premier League
28 Aug 2004 Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
11 Sep 2004 Middlesbrough v Birmingham City L 2-1 Premier League
18 Sep 2004 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic D 1-1 Premier League
21 Sep 2004 Birmingham City v Lincoln City W 3-1 League Cup 2nd round
25 Sep 2004 Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
03 Oct 2004 Birmingham City v Newcastle United D 2-2 Premier League
16 Oct 2004 Birmingham City v Manchester United D 0-0 Premier League
24 Oct 2004 Southampton v Birmingham City D 0-0 Premier League
27 Oct 2004 Birmingham City v Fulham L 0-1 League Cup 3rd round
30 Oct 2004 Birmingham City v Crystal Palace L 0-1 Premier League
06 Nov 2004 Liverpool v Birmingham City W 0-1 Premier League
13 Nov 2004 Birmingham City v Everton L 0-1 Premier League
21 Nov 2004 Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City D 3-3 Premier League
27 Nov 2004 Birmingham City v Norwich City D 1-1 Premier League
04 Dec 2004 Arsenal v Birmingham City L 3-0 Premier League
12 Dec 2004 Aston Villa v Birmingham City W 1-2 Premier League
18 Dec 2004 Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion W 4-0 Premier League
26 Dec 2004 Birmingham City v Middlesbrough W 2-0 Premier League
28 Dec 2004 Fulham v Birmingham City W 2-3 Premier League
01 Jan 2005 Newcastle United v Birmingham City L 2-1 Premier League
04 Jan 2005 Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers L 1-2 Premier League
08 Jan 2005 Birmingham City v Leeds United W 3-0 FA Cup 3rd round
15 Jan 2005 Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City L 3-1 Premier League
30 Jan 2005 Chelsea v Birmingham City L 2-0 FA Cup 4th round
02 Feb 2005 Birmingham City v Southampton W 2-1 Premier League
12 Feb 2005 Birmingham City v Liverpool W 2-0 Premier League
26 Feb 2005 Crystal Palace v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
06 Mar 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
20 Mar 2005 Birmingham City v Aston Villa W 2-0 Premier League
02 Apr 2005 Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur D 1-1 Premier League
09 Apr 2005 Chelsea v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
16 Apr 2005 Birmingham City v Portsmouth D 0-0 Premier League
20 Apr 2005 Manchester City v Birmingham City L 3-0 Premier League
23 Apr 2005 Everton v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
30 Apr 2005 Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers W 2-1 Premier League
07 May 2005 Norwich City v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
15 May 2005 Birmingham City v Arsenal W 2-1 Premier League
13 Aug 2005 Fulham v Birmingham City D 0-0 Premier League
20 Aug 2005 Birmingham City v Manchester City L 1-2 Premier League
23 Aug 2005 Birmingham City v Middlesbrough L 0-3 Premier League
27 Aug 2005 West Bromwich Albion v Birmingham City W 2-3 Premier League
10 Sep 2005 Birmingham City v Charlton Athletic L 0-1 Premier League
17 Sep 2005 Portsmouth v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
20 Sep 2005 Scunthorpe United v Birmingham City W 0-2 League Cup 2nd round
24 Sep 2005 Birmingham City v Liverpool D 2-2 Premier League
02 Oct 2005 Arsenal v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
16 Oct 2005 Birmingham City v Aston Villa L 0-1 Premier League
22 Oct 2005 Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
26 Oct 2005 Birmingham City v Norwich City W 2-1 League Cup 3rd round
29 Oct 2005 Birmingham City v Everton L 0-1 Premier League
05 Nov 2005 Newcastle United v Birmingham City L 1-0 Premier League
26 Nov 2005 Sunderland v Birmingham City W 0-1 Premier League
29 Nov 2005 Millwall v Birmingham City W 2-2 (4-3) League Cup 4th round
05 Dec 2005 Birmingham City v West Ham United L 1-2 Premier League
10 Dec 2005 Birmingham City v Fulham W 1-0 Premier League
17 Dec 2005 Manchester City v Birmingham City L 4-1 Premier League
20 Dec 2005 Birmingham City v Manchester United L 1-3 League Cup 5th round
26 Dec 2005 Tottenham Hotspur v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
28 Dec 2005 Birmingham City v Manchester United D 2-2 Premier League
31 Dec 2005 Chelsea v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
02 Jan 2006 Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic W 2-0 Premier League
14 Jan 2006 Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City L 2-0 Premier League
17 Jan 2006 Birmingham City v Torquay United W 2-0 FA Cup 3rd round replay
21 Jan 2006 Birmingham City v Portsmouth W 5-0 Premier League
01 Feb 2006 Liverpool v Birmingham City D 1-1 Premier League
04 Feb 2006 Birmingham City v Arsenal L 0-2 Premier League
25 Nov 2006 Burnley v Birmingham City W 1-2 League Championship
02 Dec 2006 Birmingham City v Plymouth Argyle W 3-0 League Championship
09 Dec 2006 Birmingham City v Preston North End W 3-1 League Championship
16 Dec 2006 Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City W 0-3 League Championship
23 Dec 2006 Southend United v Birmingham City W 0-4 League Championship
26 Dec 2006 Birmingham City v Queens Park Rangers W 2-1 League Championship
29 Dec 2006 Birmingham City v Luton Town D 2-2 League Championship
01 Jan 2007 Ipswich Town v Birmingham City L 1-0 League Championship
06 Jan 2007 Birmingham City v Newcastle United D 2-2 FA Cup 3rd round
17 Jan 2007 Newcastle United v Birmingham City W 1-5 FA Cup 3rd round replay
27 Jan 2007 Birmingham City v Reading L 2-3 FA Cup 4th round
30 Jan 2007 Birmingham City v Southend United L 1-3 League Championship


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.