Charlie Savage (footballer)

Charlie William Henry Savage (born 2 May 2003) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Reading. Born in England, he plays for the Wales national team.

For other people with the same name, see Charles Savage.

Charlie Savage
Charlie Savage with Manchester United in 2021
Personal information
Full name Charlie William Henry Savage[1]
Date of birth (2003-05-02) 2 May 2003[2]
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Reading
Number 8
Youth career
0000–2021 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Manchester United 0 (0)
2023 → Forest Green Rovers (loan) 15 (1)
2023– Reading 12 (1)
International career‡
2019 Wales U17 3 (0)
2021 Wales U18 1 (0)
2021 Wales U19 5 (1)
2022– Wales U21 4 (0)
2023– Wales 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:38, 9 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:30, 11 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Savage was born in Leicester, Leicestershire,[2] and was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[3] He followed in the footsteps of his father, former Wales international footballer Robbie Savage, by joining the youth ranks of Manchester United.[4][5]

Club career

Savage signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021.[6][7] He made his first-team debut for United on 8 December 2021, replacing Juan Mata in the 89th minute of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys,[8] while his father, Robbie Savage, was co-commentating on the match for BT Sport.[9] On 22 May 2022, Savage was named in a Premier League matchday squad for the first time, against Crystal Palace.[10]

In January 2023, Savage joined Forest Green Rovers for the remainder of the 2022–23 season,[11] making his debut for the club on 14 February 2023 in a home defeat to Charlton Athletic[12] and scoring his first league goal in a 3-1 defeat by Bristol Rovers on 11 March 2023.[13]

On 22 July 2023, Savage signed for Reading on a four-year contract.[14][15] He scored his first goal for Reading in a 4-0 win over Millwall in the EFL Cup on 8 August 2023.[16]

International career

Savage has represented Wales at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels.[17] He was called up to the under-19 team for a friendly tournament in Croatia in September 2021,[18] and scored in a 3–2 defeat to Austria.[19] In September 2022, Savage was called up to the Wales under-21 squad for the first time.[20]

In October 2023, Savage received his first call-up to the Wales senior national team for a friendly match against Gibraltar and an UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia.[21][22] He won his first cap for Wales in the former match, on 11 October, starting in a 4-0 win over Gibraltar.[23]

Style of play

A central midfielder like his father, Savage is comfortable both defending and going forward.[24] Despite the similarities, Savage has said that he does not see the likeness, stating that he is more of a technical, ball playing midfielder, rather than a tenacious player like his father was.[25]

Career statistics
As of match played 7 October 2023[26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United U21 2021–22[27] —————3[lower-alpha 1]030
2022–23[28] —————4[lower-alpha 1]040
Total ————7070
Manchester United 2021–22 Premier League 0000001[lower-alpha 2]0—10
Forest Green Rovers (loan) 2022–23[28] League One 151————151
Reading 2023–24[29] League One 11100210000132
Career total 26200211070363

International

As of matches played 11 October 2023.

National Team Year Apps Goals
Wales 2023 1
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearance in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Individual

See also

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". Premier League. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  2. Charlie Savage at WorldFootball.net
  3. @MGSMagic (23 January 2018). "MGS's Charlie Savage and Drew Baker have both been selected for the England @isfafootball Under-15s team and will travel to a camp in Scotland this April. Well done to both" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. "Charlie Savage". ManUtd.com. Manchester United FC. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. Whitwell, Laurie (13 March 2021). "'I want to be known for being me' – Savage Jr making own mark at Manchester United". The Athletic. Retrieved 4 August 2021. (subscription required)
  6. "Charlie Savage signs first professional Man Utd deal". BBC Sport. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  7. "Robbie Savage's son Charlie signs first professional deal with Manchester United". The Athletic. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. Stone, Simon (8 December 2021). "Man Utd 1–1 Young Boys: Youthful United side held in final Champions League group game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  9. "Charlie Savage: Robbie Savage watches son make his Man Utd debut". BBC Sport. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. "United team to face Palace confirmed". ManUtd.com. Manchester United FC. 22 May 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  11. Savage loan to Forest Green
  12. "Forest Green Rovers 0-1 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  13. "Forest Green Rovers 1-3 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  14. Nelson, Joe (22 July 2023). "Savage completes permanent transfer". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  15. "Savage signs! Charlie becomes newest Royal recruit". Reading F.C. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  16. "Millwall 0-4 Reading". BBC. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  17. "C. Savage". besoccer.com. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  18. "U19 squad announced for Croatia tournament". Football Association of Wales. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  19. @charliesavage84 (4 September 2021). "Good experience today vs Austria, was also a proud moment for me to have scored my first goal for Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. "Matthew Jones: Ex-international midfielder named Wales Under-21 boss". BBC Sport. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  21. Ellis, Callum (6 October 2023). "Senior call-ups another proud moment for Matty Jones". FAW. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  22. "Senior call-ups Beck and Savage in Wales U21 squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  23. Wales debut
  24. Okey, Paul (10 April 2021). "Savage: Being my son means Charlie will face difficult obstacles at United". football365.com. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  25. Williams, Glen (7 April 2021). "Robbie Savage's son Charlie signs professional contract at Man Utd". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  26. Charlie Savage at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  27. "Games played by Charlie Savage in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  28. "Games played by Charlie Savage in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  29. "Games played by Charlie Savage in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  30. "McGeouch wins Player of the Season". Forest Green Rovers. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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