Michael Chopra is an English football striker, who was born on December 23, 1983 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Nicknamed “Rocky”, “Chopper”, “Chops” and “Shabbaz” in the football circuit, he became the first player of Indian parentage to appear and score in the Premier League.
Michael Chopra represented the England national team at all levels and was a part of the England Under-21 team, which played at the 2003 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Youth Championship.
Michael Chopra attended the Gosforth High School in Newcastle and proved to be a prospect footballer with his goal scoring ability. After a brief stint with Montagu Boys' Club, he joined the Newcastle United academy as a youth player in July 1993. He contributed 28 goals for the academy during the 2000-01 season and helped the team reached the FA Premier League Academy Under-17 playoff final. In December 2000, Michael Chopra signed a professional contract with the club and in the following season he scored 14 goals from 9 appearances. His impressive performance earned him a seat in the senior side of the club. Michael Chopra scored for the team that clinched the Northumberland Senior Cup after emerging victorious against Bedlington Terriers in September the following year. He made his way into the club’s squad in October and extended his contract with Newcastle for three years in November 2002. Michael Chopra made his first appearance for the senior team as a substitute for Lomana LuaLua in the League Cup match against Everton that month. In December, he represented the club for the first time in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League match against Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Michael Chopra went on a month’s loan to Watford in the end of March 2003 and played for the club in the Football Association (FA) Cup semifinal match against Southampton and netted four goals in its victory against Burnley.
Michael Chopra returned to Newcastle after his loan period and ended the 2002-03 season successfully by making his Premiership debut for the club against West Brom in May 2003. After brief stints on loan with Nottingham Forest, for which he made five appearances, he was loaned to Barnsley in August 2004. Michael Chopra made his presence felt by scoring hat-tricks against Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town and was a part of the team that played at the FA Cup and League Cup. Owing to his excellent performances, he became Barnsley’s top scorer and won its Player of the Season award.
On his return to Newcastle in the 2005-06 season, Michael Chopra scored his first senior goal for the club in its win over Dubnica in July 2005. In the Tyne-Wear derby match versus Sunderland, he came on as a substitute and within a span of ten seconds on the field, he netted his first Premiership goal for the club and created record by scoring the fastest goal in Premiership history.
Michael Chopra switched to Cardiff City in June 2006 for a fee of £500,000. The season began well and he won the Championship player of the month award for September and October owing to his brilliant goal scoring ability. His first hat-trick for the club came from the match against Leicester City, in which Cardiff emerged victorious. Michael Chopra extended his contract with the club in April 2007 and secured a place in the Professional Footballer’s Association (PFA) Championship Team of the Year.
Michael Chopra moved onto Sunderland in July 2007 for £5 million and made his debut in the club’s triumph against Bohemians. His maiden competitive goal for the club was instrumental in its win over Tottenham Hotspur. It was the first goal of the 2007-08 Premier League season, which he scored by coming on as a substitute. He played a crucial role for the club by scoring the winning goal against Aston Villa, which paved the way to their away victory in the Premiership since 2006. Michael Chopra became the second highest goal scorer for Sunderland that season, falling short of one goal to Kenwyne Jones.
