Born September 1, 1989, in Birmingham, Daniel Andre Sturridge heads into the 2014 World Cup leading the star-studded Three Lions squad expected to light up the competition in Brazil. The 24-year-old 1.83 metres striker has played all across the English Premier League, starring for Manchester City, Bolton Wanderers, and Chelsea, before signing for the 18-time league champions, Liverpool, in January 2013.
England's World Cup journey was a rather bumpy one, though they grabbed the automatic qualifying spot for Brazil 2014, they received stiff competition from Ukraine, only finishing a point ahead in Group H, with Sturridge failing to impress. The former Blues attacker only scored two goals on their way to booking their World Cup spot, however, after a successful season at Liverpool, leading them back to Champions League football, much more is expected from the Merseyside forward come June 12.
Called a “nine-and-a-half” by Brendan Rodgers due to his ability to play in the number 9 and 10 spot, also playing wide at times, the versatile attacker has represented his national side at every level, making his senior debut in 2011. The Premier Leauge Golden Boot runner-up also featured for team Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics, scoring 2 goals as Stuart Pearce's side made it all the way to the quarter-final stage, before being knocked out by South Korea on penalties.
Although Liverpool ended their season without a trophy, stumbling in the race for the English Premier League title weeks before it's climax, Sturridge enjoyed a wonderful goal-scoring season, netting 21 times in 29 appearances, claiming the Barclays Player of the Month award twice, for August and February. His highlight goals include the winner at Old Trafford against Manchester United and a last minute equalizer at Goodison Park against Everton.
Sturridge doing his famous celebration: many expect to see this a lot in Brazil
The Liverpool striker didn't perform great in the World Cup qualifiers but will he carry his EPL goal-scoring form into the World Cup?
Did you know?
- Daniel Sturridge is the first and only player to score in the English Premier League, FA Cup, and FA Youth Cup in the same season, a feat he reached as a teenager at Manchester City during 2007-2008 season.
- Daniel Sturridge has a family of football players, with two of his uncles playing for Derby County and Stoke City, and his father, Michael, playing football in Finland.
- Daniel Sturridge is the first Liverpool player in the English Premier League history to score in seven consecutive games.
- Daniel Sturridge is only the second player in the English Premier League history to have scored in eight consecutive games.
Daniel Sturridge winning the August and February Barclays Player of the Month awards
