Andre Wisdom
Full nameAndre Alexander Shaquille Wisdom[1]
Birth date9 May 1993 (age 33)[2]
Birth placeLeeds, England
Height6.1 ft (1.86 metres)[3]
PositionRight back, centre back[4]
CurrentclubFC United of Manchester
Youthyears 12004–2008
Youthclubs 1Bradford City
Youthyears 22008–2012
Youthclubs 2Liverpool
Years 12012–2017
Clubs 1Liverpool
Caps 114
Goals 10
Years 22013–2014
Clubs 2→ Derby County (loan)
Caps 234
Goals 20
Years 32014–2015
Clubs 3→ West Bromwich Albion (loan)
Caps 324
Goals 30
Years 42015–2016
Clubs 4→ Norwich City (loan)
Caps 410
Goals 40
Years 52016–2017
Clubs 5→ Red Bull Salzburg (loan)
Caps 516
Goals 50
Years 62017–2021
Clubs 6Derby County
Caps 697
Goals 61
Years 72023–2024
Clubs 7Warrington Town
Caps 734
Goals 71
Years 82024
Clubs 8Derry City
Caps 89
Goals 80
Years 92025–
Clubs 9FC United of Manchester
Caps 925
Goals 91
Nationalyears 12008
Nationalteam 1England U16
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22009–2010
Nationalteam 2England U17
Nationalcaps 215
Nationalgoals 23
Nationalyears 32010–2012
Nationalteam 3England U19
Nationalcaps 310
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42011–2013
Nationalteam 4England U21
Nationalcaps 410
Nationalgoals 40
Club-update09:15, 21 January 2025 (UTC)

Andre Alexander Shaquille Wisdom (born 9 May 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back or centre back for club FC United of Manchester.

Wisdom began his career at Bradford City before signing for Liverpool in 2008. He made his debut for the club in 2012 before enjoying loan spells with Derby County, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City, and Red Bull Salzburg. He left Liverpool in 2017 to spend four seasons with Derby County. Wisdom has also played for and captained the England youth teams at various levels, and was part of the squad which won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2010.

Club career

Early career

Wisdom was born to Jamaican parents in Leeds, West Yorkshire, and grew up in the suburb of Chapeltown.[5] He studied at Abbey Grange Church of England Academy.[6] In his youth, he excelled in the junior teams of Bradford City and regularly played a year above his age group up to the under-15s.[7] He signed for Liverpool as a 14-year-old in January 2008 for what his Bradford youth-team manager Peter Horne implied was an unprecedented fee for a League Two youngster.[7][8]

Liverpool

Wisdom progressed through the youth teams at Liverpool before featuring for the club's reserve team. In September 2010, manager Roy Hodgson called up Wisdom to his first-team squad for the League Cup match against League Two team Northampton Town.[9] He was rewarded for his progress with an extension to his contract by newly appointed manager Kenny Dalglish in the summer of 2011.[10]

2012–13

The appointment of Brendan Rodgers in June 2012 would be Wisdom's fourth manager during his time at Anfield and would present him with a fresh opportunity to stake a claim in the first team.[11] In September, Wisdom would travel with several other Liverpool youngsters to Switzerland for their UEFA Europa League group tie versus Young Boys. He was named in the starting line-up and scored on his debut as Liverpool won 5–3.[12] His impressive performance in Europe would lead to further opportunities for him in the first team in the following weeks; starting in the 2–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup on 26 September and making his Premier League debut from the start three days later in the 5–2 win away to Norwich City.[13][14] He retained his place in the first team for the following month, making his first appearance at Anfield in a goalless draw with Stoke City in doing so.[15] He was handed his first taste of a Merseyside derby for the 2–2 draw at Everton on 28 October 2012.[16]

On 9 January 2013, Wisdom signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool.[17]

2013–14: Loan to Derby County

On 22 October 2013, Wisdom signed a season-long loan at Championship club Derby County in order to progress his development.[18] He went straight into Derby's back four and made his debut in the 1–1 home draw against Birmingham City on 26 October.[19] An ever-present in the team, he left the club in May 2014 after playing at Wembley against QPR in the Championship play-off final, which Derby lost by the only goal of the game.[20]

2014–15: Loan to West Bromwich Albion

On 22 July 2014, Wisdom joined West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan and was assigned the number 2 shirt.[21] Having played 22 games under manager Alan Irvine, after a 0–3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 31 January 2015, he fell out of favour with new manager Tony Pulis and lost his starting place.[22]

2015–16: Loan to Norwich City

Having signed a new four-year contract with Liverpool ahead of the 2015–16 season on 26 May 2015,[23] Wisdom joined Premier League newcomers Norwich City on a season-long loan on 29 July 2015.[24]

2016–17: Loan to Red Bull Salzburg

On 31 August 2016, he joined reigning Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg on a season-long loan.[25]

Derby County

On 3 July 2017, Wisdom joined Derby County on a permanent basis.[26] He scored his first goal for Derby, and his first professional goal since his Liverpool debut in 2012, in a 4–2 FA Cup win over Northampton Town on 4 February 2020.[27] He scored his first ever league goal on 16 February 2021 to secure Derby's last-minute win away to Wycombe Wanderers in the Championship.[28] His contract expired at the end of the season, and although he trained with the financially struggling club ahead of the 2021–22 season, he did not re-sign.[29][30]

After his release by Derby County, Wisdom trialled with Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Sheffield United and Polish club Warta Poznań.[31][32]

Warrington Town

On 22 September 2023, Wisdom signed for National League North club Warrington Town.[33] He made his debut the following day when playing the entirety of Warrington's 1–0 home win over King's Lynn Town.[34]

Derry City

On 21 August 2024, Wisdom signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City until the end of their season in November.[35] He made a total of 12 appearances for the club, the last of those coming on 10 November 2024, in the 2024 FAI Cup final, which his side lost 2–0 to Drogheda United at the Aviva Stadium.[36]

FC United of Manchester

On 11 July 2025, Wisdom joined Northern Premier League Premier Division side FC United of Manchester.[37]

International career

England under-16s

Wisdom was called up to the England Under-16 squad for the Victory Shield tournament in the autumn of 2008. He started in the away fixture to Wales in a 1–0 victory at Stebonheath Park on 31 October.[38] He featured again in the tournament a month later as a substitute in the 2–0 victory over Scotland at Sincil Bank as England finished top of the group and took the 2008 Victory Shield title.[39]

England under-17s

The following year, Wisdom was called up to John Peacock's England Under-17 squads for their 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign. England breezed through the qualifying and elite rounds to qualify for the Championship in Liechtenstein. He was selected for the final squad along with fellow Liverpool teammate and captain Conor Coady.[40] He was an ever-present as England maintained their 100% record through to the knock-out round with victories over Czech Republic, Greece and Turkey in the group stage.[41][42][43] England defeated France 2–1 in the semi-final with both goals coming from Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham as they booked their place in the final for the second time in four years.[44] Wisdom started the final versus Spain and equalised for England on the half-an-hour mark with a header from a corner after initially going a goal down. Wickham put England ahead twelve-minutes later and the score remain unchanged as the Lions won the tournament for the first ever time.[45]

Wisdom would be one of many of the side's youngsters that would provide hope for the nation's future with the senior side crashing out of the World Cup in South Africa four weeks later after a humiliating 4–1 defeat to rivals Germany in the last-sixteen.[46]

England under-19s

After tournament success with the under-16s and 17s, Wisdom continued to progress through the national ranks and joined up with Noel Blake's Under-19 squad during the 2010–11 season. He made his debut versus Slovakia in October and went on to make ten appearances for the side over the following two years. He failed to add to his success at younger age groups after the side failed to qualify for the 2011 UEFA European Under-19 Championship tournament and Wisdom missed out on the final squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2012 tournament.[47]

England under-21s

Wisdom was named in a 27-man England Under-21 squad by manager Stuart Pearce in September 2011 for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match versus Azerbaijan Under-21s and the friendly match versus Israel Under-21s.[48] He made his debut at right back against Israel in a 4–1 victory, despite failing to have featured for Liverpool at a senior level.[49] He returned to the squad a year later for the crucial Play-off games versus Serbia but withdrew after sustaining a shoulder injury.[50] Wisdom was appointed as captain of the England U21 side in 2013, however in his first game in the role, a qualifier against Finland, he was sent off the pitch with a straight red card after kicking an opponent intentionally.[51] After the completion of a four-match suspension, Wisdom did not return to the squad.[52]

Personal life

In June 2020, Wisdom was taken to hospital after being stabbed in an "unprovoked assault and robbery" while visiting relatives in Toxteth, Liverpool.[53][54] He has stated that he never fully recovered from his injuries and still feels pain to this day, attributing the premature decline in his career to the attack, which caused nerve damage on his left side.[54]

As of September 2025, Wisdom is undertaking his UEFA B coaching license at Liverpool's Kirkby Academy.[54]

Aside from his football career, Wisdom maintains a property portfolio, owning several houses around Liverpool that he rents to Liverpool F.C. as accommodation for their younger players; his former tenants include his successor at right back Trent Alexander-Arnold.[54]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool2012–13[55]Premier League12020104[c]1191
2013–14[56]Premier League200010—30
Total140202041221
Derby County (loan)2013–14[56]Championship34010003[d]0380
West Bromwich Albion (loan)2014–15[57]Premier League2401010—260
Norwich City (loan)2015–16[58]Premier League1001030—140
Red Bull Salzburg (loan)2016–17[59]Austrian Bundesliga16030—5[c]0240
Derby County2017–18[60]Championship30010102[d]0340
2018–19[61]Championship1100020—130
2019–20[62]Championship1802100—201
2020–21[63]Championship3810020—401
Total9713150201072
Warrington Town2023–24[59]National League North341——1[e]0351
Derry City2024[59]LOI Premier Division9030——120
Career total23821411101512784
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup, Austrian Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup/EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  5. ^ Appearance in the FA Trophy

Honours

Red Bull Salzburg

England U16

England U17

Individual

  • UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2010[67]

References

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  2. ^ "Andre Wisdom: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Andre Wisdom: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Andre Wisdom: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  5. ^ Jolly, Richard (17 October 2012). "Andre Wisdom proving to be an apt pupil for Anfield". The National. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
    Sobot, Lee (4 March 2016). "Road to Rio: Usain Bolt's new buddy is making a splash for Jamaica". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Video: Goal machine boy hits the net 106 times". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
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  8. ^ "Andre Wisdom". The Football Association. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Liverpool 2–2 Northampton". BBC Sport. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Teenager Andre Wisdom signs Liverpool FC contract extension". Liverpool Echo. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers to 'fight for his life'". BBC Sport. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  12. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (20 September 2010). "Young Boys 3–5 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  13. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (26 September 2010). "West Brom 1–2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  14. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (29 September 2010). "Norwich 2–5 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  15. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (7 October 2010). "Liverpool 0–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  16. ^ Andy Hunter (29 October 2012). "Luis Suarez denied as Everton battle back to draw with Liverpool". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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  18. ^ "Andre Wisdom: Liverpool loanee happy with Derby County move". BBC Sport. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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  22. ^ Oscroft, Tim. "West Brom 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport
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  34. ^ Turner, Matt (23 September 2023). "Warrington Town 1 King's Lynn Town 0, match report". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  35. ^ "City add Wisdom for run-in". 21 August 2024.
  36. ^ Branigan, Peter (10 November 2024). "Drogheda outsmart Derry to land second FAI Cup". RTÉ.ie
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  67. ^ "2010 UEFA European Under-17 & Under-19 Championships technical reports - Page 37 of 97". UEFA. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  • Profile at the Football Association website