Foxe: Hayden Vernon (Hayden)

2006-2007 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Sydney, Australia: 23-06-1977

Debut v Chester City (h) League Cup: 22-08-2006

6’2” 12st 1lb (2007)

Foxe began his career with local Sydney Junior clubs, Winston Hills and Blacktown City, before joining the senior ranks with Blacktown City in 1993. He progressed through the Australian Institute of Sport and twice represented Australia at Under-Seventeen level and participated in the 1993 World Youth Championship Finals in Japan. He was invited to join the Dutch side Ajax of Amsterdam at eighteen and stayed there for two seasons, from 1995 to 1997, but was too young to be selected for their first team. He then moved to German club, Arminia Bielefeld, where he stayed for one season, 1997-98, and made one League appearance. Foxe soon established a reputation as a talented young defender, earning a move to J-League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 1998-99. He became an important player both at club and international level. In 1998 he scored three goals in fifteen appearances in the J-League and followed this with two goals in twenty-two appearances in 1999, making a total of forty-five appearances and scoring eight times in all games during his two year stay with the club. Foxe represented his country at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics at Under-Twenty-three level and in the 1997 World Youth Cup Finals in Malaysia at Under-Twenty level. He attracted the attention of West Ham United, who he signed for on 13th March 2001. He was then immediately loaned to Belgian club Mechelen in order to build up his match fitness and after four games there, he returned to West Ham, but struggled in the Premiership and lost his place when then manager, Harry Redknapp, left the club later that year. After playing only twelve games, of which five were from the bench, for West Ham, he moved to Portsmouth (then managed by Harry Redknapp) for £400,000 on 29th May 2002. Foxe was an important player as Pompey won the 2002-03 First Division title, and in doing so were promoted to the Premiership. He was a regular in Portsmouth’s side until a fractured bone in his foot ended his campaign at Christmas. He spent the rest of that season, as well as the 2004-05 season, rehabilitating. New manager Alain Perrin elected not to renew his contract and he was released in June 2005. He had played forty-six times for Pompey, including five from the bench, and scored twice in all games. Foxe returned to Australia to undergo an operation in an attempt to resolve his ongoing injury problems. Foxe trained with Leeds United during their 2006 pre-season campaign and signed a five month permanent contract with the Yorkshire club on 11th August 2006. Foxe attempted to rebuild his career at Leeds and, after the departure of Kevin Blackwell, both care-taker manager John Carver and new manager Dennis Wise provided the Australian with chances to perform. Foxe however only ultimately played a bit part in the 2006-07 season and was released at the end of the season when Leeds where relegated to English League One. In 2007 he returned to Australia to play for Perth Glory in the A-League and missed the first half of the season due to a knee injury. However, he returned later and played the last six games of the season. He was released by Perth Glory at the end of the 2008-09 season after eight games with them. On 7th January 2010 he made a comeback with Sydney FC, initially on a short term deal, but then he signed a one year extension to cover the 2010-11 A-League season. He was also appointed Vice-Captain of the club. He went on to score a penalty in the grand final penalty-shoot-out win over the Melbourne Victory as Sydney FC won the A-League Premiership and the Championship in 2009-10. He had played in six substitute League appearances and three substitue play-off appearances, all of little significance, but in the 2010-11 season he played a much larger part with fourteen starts and two substitute appearances. On 22nd February 2011 Foxe announced his retirement. Foxe played for the full Australian team, between 1998 and 2003, on fifteen occasions, scoring twice. However four, against Brazil B, the World Stars, and twice against Manchester United did not count as full internationals. His older brother, Damien, also played in the NSW League Football competitions.