Mikele Benjamin Leigertwood (born 12 November 1982) is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born in England, he represented the Antigua and Barbuda national team at international level. He is currently a first team coach at Reading.
Born in Enfield, Leigertwood began his career with Wimbledon. After progressing through the ranks at Wimbledon, he was one of a number of youngsters called up to the first team by the manager Terry Burton in September 2001. After his loan spell at Leyton Orient ended, he was given his first game for Wimbledon at the end of the 2001âÂÂ02 season in a 1âÂÂ0 defeat against Barnsley.
In November 2001, Leigertwood was loaned out to Leyton Orient and made his professional debut in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Oxford United. His performances quickly led to the extension of his loan spell at Leyton Orient on two occasions. Leigertwood went on to make eight appearances for Leyton Orient before returning to his parent club.
At the start of the 2002âÂÂ03 season, Leigertwood began to establish himself in the starting eleven for the side. However, it wasn't until 1 October 2002 that he scored his first goal for Wimbledon against Portsmouth in the League Cup. Leigertwood continued to hold down a first team spot until he suffered injuries in early March. While on the sidelines, he signed a contract extension that tied him to the club until 2006. He returned from injury on 7 April 2003, starting a 1âÂÂ0 win over Sheffield United. By the end of the 2002âÂÂ03 season, Leigertwood had made thirtyâÂÂthree appearances, scoring once in all competitions.
At the start of the 2003âÂÂ04 season, Wimbledon entered administration. Up until his departure from the club, Leigertwood started every match in the first half of the season. On 26 August 2003, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3âÂÂ2 loss against Norwich City. and his second of the season on 25 October 200, in a 3âÂÂ1 loss against Watford. When leaving Wimbledon, he had played 65 games, scoring three times.
He transferred to Crystal Palace for ã155,000 in January 2004, becoming the first permanent signing of Iain Dowie. Upon joining Crystal Palace, Leigertwood revealed he had turned down move to other clubs in order to join The Eagles.
Leigertwood made his Crystal Palace debut as a late substitute in a 6âÂÂ3 win over Stoke City on 14 February 2004. After making his debut, he played in 10 league games during the remainder of the 2003âÂÂ04 season, helping Crystal Palace secure promotion to the FA Premier League after defeating West Ham United in the play-off final to win promotion to the Premiership.
In the 2004âÂÂ05 season, Leigertwood didn't make his first start of the season until 26 October 2004 in a 2âÂÂ1 win over South London rivals, Charlton Athletic in the third round of the League Cup. Following his first appearance of the season, Leigertwood began to enjoy a run of first team football. On 22 January 2005, he scored his first goal for the club against Tottenham Hotspur. Leigertwood spent the rest of the 2004âÂÂ05 season playing in defence and midfield, but he was unsuccessful in helping to prevent Crystal Palace from being relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season. By the end of the 2004âÂÂ05 season, Leigertwood had made 23 appearances, scoring once.
In the 2005âÂÂ06 season, Leigertwood continued to feature in the first team, playing four matches for the side. However, he was kept out by an ankle injury for two months. and did not return to first team action 22 November 2005, coming on as a late substitute in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Coventry City. After making his return to the first team, Leigertwood held his place until he suffered a thigh injury in midâÂÂJanuary. After recovering from a thigh injury, Leigertwood retained his place for the rest of the season. Around this time, the club began negotiations with Leigertwood over a new contract. However, it was reported in the British newspaper that he had refused to sign. At the end of the 2005âÂÂ06 season, which saw Palace miss out on a return to the Premier League after losing 1âÂÂ0 to Watford in the play-offs, Leigertwood went on to make thirty appearances in all competitions. Shortly after the play-offs, he was offered a new contract by the club.
After Palace's relegation Crystal Palace, he joined Sheffield United on a three-year deal after the Blades paid a fee of ã600,000. Although Leigertwood was out of contract, compensation was due as he was under 24 years of age at the time.
Leigertwood made his Sheffield United debut as a 75th-minute substitute in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Liverpool in the opening game of the season, quickly establishing himself a first team regular, until he suffered an ankle injury in early December. It wasn't until on 30 December 2006 when he made his return from injury, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Arsenal. His return was shortâÂÂlived, however, when Leigertwood suffered an ankle injury that kept him out for months and was subsequently plagued with injuries later in the 2006âÂÂ07 season. Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League after losing 2âÂÂ1 to Wigan Athletic in the last game of the season, making it the second time that Leigertwood had suffered relegation from the Premier League. By the end of the 2006âÂÂ07 season, he had made nineteen appearances for the side.
At the start of the 2007âÂÂ08 season, Leigertwood made four appearances, despite struggling to hold down a first team place since the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Leigertwood joined Queens Park Rangers for a fee of ã900,000 on 31 August 2007.
Leigertwood made his Queens Park Rangers debut the next day on 1 September 2007, starting a 3âÂÂ0 loss against Southampton. He scored his first Queens Park Rangers goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Leicester City. A week later, on 22 September, Leigertwood was sentâ ff in the 81st minute of a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Watford for a second bookable offence. Leigertwood scored his second goal for the club in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Hull City on 3 November 2007. A month later, on 27 December 2007, he was sent off for the second time that season in the final minutes f a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Plymouth Argyle, as a result of which Leigertwood served a three match suspension. He scored three more goals in the 2007âÂÂ08 season, including a brace in a 3âÂÂ0 win over Stoke City on 2 March 2008. Leigertwood became a first team regular for the side, finishing his first season at the club with forty appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.
In the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Leigertwood continued as a first team regular, playing either as rightâÂÂback or in midfield. Leigertwood started the season well when he set up three goals in as many matches between 23 August 2008 and 14 September 2008. Leigertwood received a red card and four match ban in a match against Birmingham City on 28 October 2008 for a challenge on Lee Carsley. His performance at Queens Park Rangers attracted interest in the January transfer window, when he was reportedly "wanted by three clubs ready to shell out a ã1m-plus" for him. It wasn't until on 17 January 2009 when Leigterwood scored his first goal of the season, in a 2âÂÂ0 win over Derby County. Two months later on 17 March 2009, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Swansea City. By the end of the 2008âÂÂ09 season, Leigertwood had made fortyâÂÂsix appearances, scoring twice in all competitions.
In the 2009âÂÂ10 season, Leigterwood started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Nottingham Forest on 23 August 2009. His second goal came on 26 September 2009 in a 5âÂÂ2 win over Barnsley. His 100th appearance for the club came on 30 October 2009 in a 2âÂÂ1 loss against Leicester City. He continued to regain his first team place for the side. Leigterwood also captained the side in the number of matches in the absence of Martin Rowlands. Leigterwood scored two goals in two matches on 19 December 2009 and 26 December 2009. Shortly after, he signed a threeâÂÂyear contract, keeping him at the club until 2012. In a 1âÂÂ0 win over Peterborough United on 6 February 2010, he was sent off for a professional foul on Tommy Rowe. Two months later on 24 April 2010, Leigertwood scored his fifth goal of the season in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Barnsley. Despite missing several matches due to injury and suspension, he went on to make fortyâÂÂfive appearances, scoring five times in all competitions.
In the 2010âÂÂ11 season, Leigertwood found his playing time at Queens Park Rangers reduced and mostly came on as a substitute. As a result, he fell out of favour with Neil Warnock. By the time of his departure, he had made nine appearances for the side in the 2010âÂÂ11 season. During his time at Queens Park Rangers, he made 141 appearances and scored 12 goals.
Leigertwood went on loan to Reading for two months on 23 November 2010. On 27 November 2010, he made his Reading debut, coming off in the 77th minute in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Leeds United. Leigertwood quickly became a first team regular for the side. After a series of consistently good performances, this was extended to the end of the 2010âÂÂ11 season. He scored his first goal for the club against Stevenage in the FA Cup on 29 January 2011. A week later Leigertwood added another goal to his tally with a 21st minute deflected strike against Cardiff City in a 2âÂÂ2 draw. During the match, Leigertwood punched Michael Chopra "after a confrontation involving both sets of players, but immediately admitted his part in the melee" and served a three match suspension. After serving his suspension, his performance earned him the Reading Post AHG Group-sponsored Player of the Month award for February. He helped the side reach fifth place and qualify for the Championship playâÂÂoffs. Leigertwood played all three matches in the Championship playâÂÂoffs, as Reading lost 4âÂÂ2 against Swansea City in the Championship play-off final. Despite missing out several matches due to injury and suspension, he went on to make twentyâÂÂnine appearances, scoring twice in all competitions.
In May 2011, it was announced that Reading had signed Leigertwood on a three-year contract. Leigertwood's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis was the opening game of the season, a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Millwall. After joining the club on a permanent basis, he quickly established him in the starting eleven. However, his performances at the start of the season came under criticism from Reading supporters. Despite this, Leigertwood's first goal of the 2011âÂÂ12 season came at home to Southampton in a 1âÂÂ1 draw on 22 October 2011. Leigertwood started in every match until he suffered a thigh injury that saw him miss three matches. After returning to the first team from injury, he quickly regained his first team place for the side. His second goal of the campaign came at home to Leicester City in a 3âÂÂ1 win, and this was followed up with strikes against Blackpool and West Ham United as Reading surged towards promotion with an incredible run of games of which Leigertwood was an important figure in. After returning from a knee injury, he returned to the starting line-up, where he key role Leigertwood had played was rewarded when he scored the winning goal in a 1âÂÂ0 victory at home to Nottingham Forest, which secured Reading's promotion back to the top flight after a four-year absence. At the end of the 2011âÂÂ12 season, he went on to make fortyâÂÂtwo appearances, scoring five times in all competitions.
In the 2012âÂÂ13 season, Leigertwood regained his first team place, with the club playing in the Premier League. In earlyâÂÂOctober, however, he suffered ankle injury that saw him sidelined for one match. After returning from injury, he scored his first Premier League goal for Reading in a 3âÂÂ3 draw with Fulham with a superb strike from 20 yards on 27 October 2012. Three days later, on 30 October 2012, he scored his second goal for the club, in the League Cup campaign, as Reading lost 7âÂÂ5 against Arsenal in a match in which Arsenal were 4âÂÂ0 down before coming back to win 7âÂÂ5 after extra-time. After being sidelined in earlyâÂÂ2013 due to injury, Leigterwood then captained the side for the first time and scored his third goal of the season, in a 4âÂÂ0 win over Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup. He continued to be in the starting line-up until he was dropped from the first team for the rest of the 2012âÂÂ13 season, as Leigterwood went on to make thirtyâÂÂfour appearances and scoring three times in all competitions. Metro named Leigertwood among the Premier League's worst XI of the season.
Prior to the 2013âÂÂ14 season, Leigertwood suffered an ankle injury during preâÂÂseason, having been under the knife since May. In September 2013, he returned to training after recovering from the ankle injury. Upon returning to training from injury, Leigterwood's return was praised by Manager Nigel Adkins. However, his return was shortâÂÂlived and his injury plagued was plagued throughout 2013 and early 2014. By March, Leigterwood returned to training. After a year out injured, Leigertwood made his Reading return on 8 April 2014. In the followâÂÂup match, however, he came on as a substitute for Danny Williams in the 61st minute but was sent off for a second bookable offence in a 1âÂÂ1 draw against Leicester City. After missing out two matches, Leigertwood went on to play the final two matches for the side. By the end of the 2013âÂÂ14 season, Leigertwood had made four appearances for the side.
On 6 May 2014, Leigertwood was released from Reading, along with five other players and in July joined Nottingham Forest on trial. Whilst on trial, Leigertwood sustained a hip injury which forced him to retire from the game, although this was not officially confirmed until the following year.
Leigertwood is eligible to represent Antigua and Barbuda. Willie Donachie, Antigua and Barbuda's manager, tried to bring Leigertwood into the squad for a World Cup qualifier in June 2008, but the player had a wedding to attend. He was also eligible to represent Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
While serving a four match ban after receiving a red card against Birmingham City on 28 October 2008, he accepted a call up for the 2008 Caribbean Championship to represent Antigua and Barbuda. He made his international debut on 5 November 2008 in a 3âÂÂ2 loss against Trinidad and Tobago and scored his first goal in their next match against Guyana. In November 2010, he returned to the national team and participated in the second stage of the 2010 Caribbean Championship, playing in all three matches.
After retiring from professional football, Leigertwood took up a coaching role at Maccabi London Lions as their Sunday Team Coach.
On 19 July 2016 Leigertwood returned to Reading as Academy Loan Manager.
On 13 December 2024 Leigertwood became a first team coach at Reading.
In March 2010, Leigertwood was involved in Kick It Out's latest campaign, which aimed to raise awareness of homophobia in football. During his time at Reading, he became the Royals' 'Reading Stars' ambassador.
Growing up, he supported Arsenal. Leigertwood is good friends with Jobi McAnuff, the two having known each other since school and been teammates at Wimbledon, Crystal Palace and Reading. He has two children.
Crystal Palace
Queens Park Rangers
Reading