Where Are Coventry City’s 2017/18 Play-Off Winning Players Now?
Coventry City came within a penalty shootout of returning to the Premier League last season, but just five years ago the club was playing in League Two. Where is the team now?
The game we’ll be looking at is the 2017/18 League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium between Coventry City and Exeter City, which the Sky Blues won 3-1 to claim their first piece of trophy since their memorable 1987 FA Cup success.
Coventry City came within a penalty shootout of returning to the Premier League last season, but just five years ago the club was playing in League Two. Where is the team now?
The game on which we will concentrate is
Coventry City had a challenging encounter against Notts County in the play-offs, with the Sky Blues drawing the first leg 1-1 after converting a late penalty. However, the Sky Blues were released in the second leg, winning 4-1 away from home to secure their return to Wembley after a one-year absence.
With that stated, let’s take a look at the team that won the 2017/18 play-off final and where each player is today…Following his heroics in the previous season’s EFL Trophy final, goalkeeper Lee Burge had a relatively quiet play-off final. The Sky Blues academy graduate was nominated to the League Two team of the season and stayed with the club for another season before joining Exeter City in 2019. He had spent
Full-bacChelseaa fan favorite at the Ricoh Arena, scored the club’s third goal in the play-off final. The Scottish defender stayed with the Sky Blues until June 2019, however he was replaced by Chelsea loanee Dujon Sterling. Grimmer was released and signed for League One side Wycombe Wanderers, where he played a major role in their promotion to the Championship. He just signed a new deal at Adams Park but is now out due to injury.Jordan Willis is the center-back for the team.
Jordan Willis, another Sky Blues academy product, scored Coventry’s first goal in the play-off final with an exquisite shot from beyond the penalty area. Willis led the team to EFL Trophy victory in the
In the 2016/17 season, he played a significant part in the final. Before joining Sunderland in 2019, he has made over 180 first-team appearances. Willis, despite early promise, sustained a devastating knee injury and lost nearly three years of action. He spent last season at Wycombe Wanderers in League One before becoming a free agent.
Chelsea is the centre-back.
Chelsea joined the Sky Blues with the intention of playing for the club’s U21s but swiftly advanced to the first squad. Hyam was instrumental in the club’s promotion from League Two to the Championship, as well as his approach to the Scottish national squad. However, Hyam was sold to Blackburn Rovers last summer owing to financial concerns with a pitch, resulting in a £3 million profit for the club. He is now in the heart of Blackburn’s defense and earned his Scottish national team debut in a June qualifier against Norway.
Chris Stokes plays left back.
Left-back Chris Stokes, who joined the Sky Blues from Forest Green Rovers in 2015, was another popular character. The defense triumphed.
He made 90 appearances for the club, but the play-off final was his final encounter. A few weeks later, Stokes secured a permanent move to Bury, where he helped the club win the league title. He’s subsequently played for Stevenage, Kilmarnock, and Forest Green Rovers before joining Morecambe in League Two.
Tom Bayliss plays right midfield.
The third Sky Blues academy product, playmaker Tom Bayliss, leads the midfield charge. The midfielder made his debut for Sky Blues in December 2017, scoring against Cheltenham Town, and stayed with the club until August 2019, when he was sold to Championship side Preston North End, making their record signing. His stint with the club, however, did not work out, and he instead won a league title on loan with Wigan Athletic before joining Shrewsbury on a free transfer last summer, where he remains to this day.
Liam Kelly (Central-Midfield)
Liam Kelly, the first half of the renowned midfield combination, is the only member of the squad who is still with the Sky Blues today.
Irish midfielder Michael Doyle, who captained the Sky Blues in the League Two play-off final, completed the historic midfield tandem. Doyle stayed with the club until January 2019, when he departed to join Notts County in an attempt to keep them in the football league, fulfilling his dream of gaining promotion with the club. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain, and after a number of games the following season, Doyle departed to become a coach at Notts County and Forest Green Rovers, although he currently works as a youth coach at Portsmouth.
Jordan Shipley plays left midfield.
The Sky Blues’ second goal was scored by the fourth academy graduate. Shipley, a Coventry City supporter from childhood, rapidly established himself in League One and played an important role.
To begin the strikers, we have Coventry’s highest scorer from the 2017/18 season, who managed 28 league goals. McNulty got off to a rocky start, but after Jodi Jones’ horrific ACL injury, McNulty’s form improved and he rapidly established himself. McNulty was transferred to Reading at the end of the season for £1.5 million, but the deal did not pan out. After stints with Dundee United, Hibernian, and Sunderland, the Scottish attacker is presently playing for American second-tier club Orange Cou
nty SC after taking a year off.Max Biamou is the striker.
Max Biamou, a French attacker who became an immediate fan favorite with the club, rounds out the starting eleven. Biamou was highly involved in League One and scored five goals in his first season in the Championship.
To begin the strikers, we have Coventry’s top scorer from last season, who managed 28 league goals. McNulty had a shaky start, but following Jodi Jones’ devastating ACL injury, McNulty’s form improved and he quickly established himself. McNulty was sold to Reading at the conclusion of the season for £1.5 million, but the transaction fell through. After playing for Dundee United, Hibernian, and Sunderland, the Scottish forward is now back in action for American second-tier team Orange County SC after taking a year off.
The striker is Max Biamou.
Max Biamou, a French forward who quickly became a fan favorite at the club, rounds out the starting lineup. Biamou was active in League One, scoring five goals in his first season.
Substitute: Liam O’Brien
Substitute goalkeeper Liam O’Brien made a number of appearances for the club before being dismissed in June 2019 as part of a significant overhaul in the club’s goalkeeping department. O’Brien joined Yeovil Town in the National League for the 2019/20 season before making a surprise appearance in the Non-League with Stratford Town. He’s spent the last three years at Stratford Town, who presently play in England’s seventh division.
Substitute: Rod McDonald
Centre-back Rod McDonald joined the club from Northampton Town, becoming the first player to be paid a fee by the club since Jodi Jones in 2016. McDonald started off as one of the
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