Full name Lewis John Cook 2004–2014 Leeds United Weight 70 kg Number 23 Height 1.75 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth York, England Name Lewis Cook | |
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Current teams Leeds United F.C. (#23 / Midfielder), England national under-18 football team (Midfielder) Awards LFE Championship Apprentice Award Similar People Alex Mowatt, Sam Byram, Charlie Taylor, Sol Bamba, Moussa Dembele Date of birth (1997-02-03) 3 February 1997 (age 23) Profiles | ||
Lewis John Cook (born 3 February 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Bournemouth. Cook has represented England at various youth levels. He has won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup with his country, captaining the team in the latter tournament
Contents
- Leeds United
- 201415 Season
- 201516 Season
- Bournemouth
- International career
- 2017 FIFA U 20 World Cup
- Career statistics
- Honours
- References
He is a former graduate of Leeds United's academy.
Leeds United
Cook was born in York, North Yorkshire. He graduated through the Leeds United Academy and was playing for the Leeds under-18s team when he was just 15 years old. Cook scored in a 3–1 loss against Liverpool under-18s on 1 March 2013 at Anfield for Leeds under-18s in the FA Youth Cup.
2014–15 Season
After breaking into the side during the 2014–15 pre season, he made his first team debut for Leeds United in the first game of the season, coming on in the 64th minute against Millwall. Cook made his first start for Leeds on 12 August 2014, starting the League Cup match against Accrington Stanley.
He made his first League start for Leeds on 30 August against Watford. Cook became one of the first names on the teamsheet for Leeds becoming part of a homegrown contingent in the first team alongside Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram. On 28 March 2015, he picked up an ankle injury on international duty for England U19's which ruled him out of the final games of the season for Leeds.
On 9 April, after rumoured Premier League interest in Cook and teammates Alex Mowatt, Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram, head coach Neil Redfearn challenged Leeds United's owners to keep a hold of their home grown talents.
On 19 April, he cemented his place as one of the top prospects outside the Premier League when he won the Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year Award for the 2014–15 season. On 1 May 2015, Cook was named as the Runner Up to Winner Alex Mowatt in the Yorkshire Evening Post's Player of the Year for the 2014–15 season. On 2 May 2015, he won the Young Player of the Year Award and also finished as runner up to Alex Mowatt in the Fans Player of the Year Award at Leeds United's official end of 2014–15 season awards ceremony.
2015–16 Season
On 11 May 2015, Cook signed a new contract at Leeds, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2017. On 12 August 2015, he scored his first ever Leeds goal against Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup, but was also sent off in the first half for a straight red card, with Leeds eventually losing 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. As a result of his first ever red card, Cook received a three-match suspension.
After being subject to bids from Premier League clubs, On 7 January 2016, Leeds manager Steve Evans revealed that they had rejected bids for Cook and that club owner Massimo Cellino had assured him that the player would not be sold. On 24 February 2016, Cook scored a stunning long range goal from 35 yards to earn his first 'league goal' for Leeds in a 1–1 draw against Fulham.
On 17 April 2016, he won the Football League Young Player of the Year Award, with previous winners of the award including the likes of Gareth Bale & Dele Alli. On 19 April, Cook was nominated for the Leeds United Player of the Year Award, alongside Mirco Antenucci, Liam Bridcutt, Gaetano Berardi and Charlie Taylor.
On 30 April 2016, at the clubs' annual Player of the Year Awards, after missing out on Player of the Season to Charlie Taylor, Cook was named The Young Player of the Year for the 2015–16 season. In addition to this he was presented with the award for Goal of the Season for his stunning strike against Fulham.
On 15 June 2016, Leeds owner Massimo Cellino revealed he had entered into talks with Cook's agent about extending the player's contract.
Bournemouth
On 8 July 2016, he joined Premier League side Bournemouth on a four-year deal. Cook was in the starting XI for the pre-season friendly game for Bournemouth against Reading away from home at the Madejski Stadium. The 19-year-old midfielder impressed with his performance, scoring Bournemouth's goal in a 1–1 draw.
Cook was in the starting lineup for AFC Bournemouth when they lost 1–3 at home to Manchester United in their first Premier League game of the 2016–2017 season. Cook made two further appearances in the League Cup before being sidelined until 2017 by a persistent ankle problem. Cook returned to the first team on 15 April 2017 coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
International career
In May 2014, Cook was part of the England under-17 squad that won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, starting three of England's five games including the semi-final and the final.
In August 2014, he was called up to the England under-18s for a match against the Netherlands.
In March 2015, Cook was called up to Sean O'Driscoll's England under-19 squad to face Denmark, Azerbaijan and France in the last three remaining European Under-19 Championship qualifiers. He made his debut on 28 March, playing 78 minutes against Azerbaijan in a 1–0 win for England before being replaced by Charlie Colkett of Chelsea. Cook had to withdraw from the squad on 31 March after suffering an ankle knock in training meaning he missed the match against France as the Young Lions looked to secure a place at the summer’s showpiece tournament in Greece. He was withdrawn from the squad for the 2016 UEFA European Under-19 Championship by his club manager Garry Monk who wished to work with the player for a full pre season.
2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Cook was selected for the England under-20 team in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was made captain. He played in six of the seven England matches in the tournament (rested for the match against South Korea), and scored a goal in the draw against Guinea, his first goal in an international game. England beat Venezuela in the final 1–0, which is England's first win in a global tournament since their World Cup victory of 1966, and Cook became the first England captain to lift a world trophy since Bobby Moore.