Top Ten: Wigan Exports

Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2005 few expected little Wigan Athletic to maintain their top flight status and even fewer would have anticipated them remaining in the top division of English football over seven years later.

In that time period it has been a real roller-coaster ride for the Latics from their first ever match in the Premier League when then champions Chelsea broke blue and white hearts with a lasp-gasp injury time winner courtesy of Hernan Crespo, through to numerous heroic relegation battles, a 9-1 thrasing at White Hart Lane and a carling cup final appearance.

Chairman David Whelan has been praised for his approach, a realist who knows his club cannot compete with the big boys in terms of finance and on-the-field success offers players the chance to develop and hone their talents at Wigan before allowing them to move onto bigger clubs.

Here at Tibs News we look at those who used Wigan as a ladder up the football league and rank them based on ability as well as how good a business deal their departure was for the club, of course there are so notable and controversial exclusions whose inclusion you could make a case for.

So here are the top 10 Wigan exports who have benefited from this strategy!

10) Mohamed Diame

A signing in the summer of 2009 from Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano the Senegalese powerhouse has been instrumental in securing the Lactics Premier League status ever since, despite Roberto Martinez Folking out £3.3m for the midfielder his incredible performances helped galvanise the club last season who embarked on an incredible run before narrowly avoiding the drop.

Although Dave Whelan made a big loss on Diame who joined West Ham United last year on a free transfer, Diame’s sheer influence on the side over the past few seasons see him make it into our list at number 10 ahead of fellow free transferer Hugo Rodellega.

9) Nathan Ellington

Now plying his trade on loan at Scunthorpe United, once upon a time this fresh faced 21-year old joined Paul Jewell’s Wigan revolution for a then club record of £1.2m. Ellington was a revelation for Wigan  netting  59 goals in  130 league matches during his two-and-a -half year stint at the club and his deadline goalscoring form in League 1 and the  Championship was a major factor in the Lactics reaching the Premier League for the first time in their history.

The 2004-05 season saw the striker strike up a deadly partnership with Jason Roberts as he ended the campaign as the highest goal-scorer in England’s second tier of football. However despite firing Jewell’s men to the top flight and becoming an indemand forward he opted to leave the club before kicking a ball in the Premier League in a Wigan shirt  for West Bromwich Albion for a £3m fee.

His career path didn’t go according to plan and after struggling to establish himself at the Baggies he slowly slipped to mediocrity and since leaving Wigan some seven-and-a-half years ago has managed to score just 25 league goals but his contribution for Wigan and his sell on value are what get him in our list.

8)  Lee Cattermole

A bit of weird one on the surface to make it to number eight considering the tough-tackling midfielder remained at the then JJB stadium for just one season following a £3.5m move from Middlesborough in 2008. But Cattermole was a good short-term signing for the club  on a playing and business perspective.

After impressing for Steve Bruce’s side which managed to finish in 11th position their second best Premier League positioning, Cattermole’s future was subject to much speculation and after Bruce became the new Sunderland boss the midfielder quickly followed suit by completing a £6m move to link up with his former manager.

A good piece of business in my eyes £2.5m profit in 12 months and a good season from the player ensure his place into my top 10.

7) Jimmy Bullard

The joker who has a place in the hearts of all English football fans joined Wigan for just £275k from Peterborough and after three seasons spent helping the club into the Premier League, Bullard saved his best performances for the Premier League helping him earn a £2.5m move to Fulham 10 times the amount he cost the club.

His time at the Lactics is looked upon as a success despite netting 10 goals Bullard won the admiration of fans with his energentic and hearty performances and one or two long range strikes along the way.

6) Charles N’Zogbia

Disillusioned with life at Newcastle United the young frenchman linked up with Steve Bruce at Wigan in a january move in 2009 and remained with the club for 2-and-a-half seasons during that time he scored memorable goals for the club including a solo effort against Sunderland and a dramatic curling effort in May 2011 versus West Ham United to dramatically secure the Latics top flight status.

A tricky and skillful winger he finished the 2010-11 season as the clubs top goal scorer five of which coming in the last six matches of the campaign before moving to Aston Villa for a fee of £9m in what was a good deal the club financially and for his contribution to the cause.

5) Pascal Chimbonda

Yes Pascal! Bet you didn’t see that one coming, despite his failures post Wigan, Chimbonda was actually a brilliant acquisition for the club. Costing as little as £500k from French outfit Bastia the defender remained at north-west outfit for just the one season but what a season it was.

Not only did the full-back feature in all of Wigan’s Premier League matches in the 2005-06 season his performances earned praise from fellow professionals as he made it into the PFA team of the season in 2006. But along with the hype came a £4.5m offer from European qualifiers Tottenham Hostpur who forced Whelan’s hand.

In short Chimbonda did fantastically well in the clubs first season helped them to their highest ever Premier League finish (10th) and his sale left the club with a £4m profit in one year. Pascal’s career spiralled downhill after this and now plays for Doncaster Rovers, but that’s no skin off Wigan’s back!

4) Wilson Palacios

The 1-year stint theme of players at Wigan continues and in at number 4 is Wilson Palacios a january 2008 signing by Steve Bruce for just £1m  but during that time Palacios estbablished himself as one of the best performing midfielder in the country, drawing speculation from some of Europe’s top clubs.

It quickly became clear that he was a much sought after talent and in the following january transfer window Tottenham tested those at boardroom level’s resolve with a sizeable £12m bid for his services.

The rest they say is history and whilst Palacios went onto have an unsuccessful time establishing himself at both Spurs and Stoke City, Whelan must be revelling in the money he got for somebody who cost just him £1m 12 months previously.

3) Leighton Baines

A trainee turned England international, there is no doubt Leighton Baines has been one of the best performing Englishmen in the Premier League this season. But it was his time at Wigan as a trainee and first team player from the depths of division two which helped hone his international talent at the start of his career.

A quiet and often self-doubting player Baines helped Wigan into the Premier League before spending a further two seasons at the club then  a £6m offer from Everton in his hometown Liverpool tempted the left-back to return home in 2007.

A massive talent and attacking minded left-back with an eye for a ferocious set-piece he racked up 145 league appearances at the JJB before joining the Toffees and will be always remembered fondly by Lactics fans.

2) Victor Moses

At just 19 Moses was earning rave reviews with Crystal Palace and during the january 2009 transfer window it was Wigan who took a plunge on the youngster with a £2.5m bid and boy did they reap the rewards.

The forward was always destined for a top club but his time at the Lactics that really proved crucial in his development years as he slowly established himself as a first team regular during the 2011-12 season where he terrorised defences with his pace trickery and brute strength.

It was only a matter of time before a top club came calling and after a  good service under Roberto Martinez he joined Chelsea for £9m leaving Wigan with a nice pot of money to help the club move forward.

Controversial putting a 22-year old ahead of the likes of Leighton Baines who is undoubtedly a great player but for me I just feel Moses can go even further in the game.

1) Luis Antonio Valencia

Well here it is! Number one step forward Valencia!

The speedy winger joined Wigan on what was an initally a season long loan in august 2006 after impressing at the World Cup for Ecuador against England ironically and featured in over 20 league matches in his first spell.

Once his loan spell came to an end the club were impressed with what they saw and Valencia was due to spend the 2006-07 season again on loan at the club but come january Wigan were keen to make the switch permanent and the Ecuadorian signed for a fee of £5m despite an injury hit season.

In his final season at Wigan Valencia was becoming hard to ignore and in January 2009 decided against joining Spanish giants Real Madrid but whilst the winger kept turning heads with his quick turn of pace and pin-point crosses it was only a matter of time when another big club came calling and that happened to be Manchester United in june 2009 when they submitted a huge £16m offer.

Since he has gone on to become a brilliant player for Alex Ferguson’s side despite an ankle break has gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club, feature in a PFA team of the season, win multiple honours such as the Premier League and feature in a champions league final. He also recieved the Manchester United players’ player of the season award, fans player of the season award and Manchester United goal of the season for the 2011-12 campaign.

A fantastic player who not only helped Wigan on the pitch but enormously given the £16m transfer fee the club recieved for him.

By Simon Blaquiere

@simonblaquiere

This photo was taken by Magnus D