Luis Linnell
Current Club
Daventry Town FC
Centre Back
Luis is a player defined by leadership and determination, consistently elevating those around him while holding himself to the highest standards. Composure is one of his key attributes, allowing him to remain unfazed by any opponent. A versatile defender, Luis is capable of performing across the entire back line and is equally proficient with both feet, maintaining a high level of quality in every position he occupies.
Athlete Information
Current Club(s): Daventry Town U18’s, Daventry Town Reserve’s & Pro Direct Northampton
Previous Club(s): Northampton Town Academy, Aston Villa Academy, Leicester Academy, Falcons Blacks, Bugbrooke St Michael’s
Athletic Achievements: Players Player (2024/2025), U19’s College National Champion (2025), PDA 11 Selection (2023/2024/2025), X5 Parents Player of the Year (2016/2017/2018/2020/2021), NYFA Cup Winner (2019), Managers Player of the year (2019), Northampton All Weather Cup Winner (2018/2019), U17’s County Cup Winner, NDYAL CUP WINNER (2016), Stan Air Cup Winner (2015/2016)
Academic Information
Study Major Preference: Engineering
SAT: 1000
GPA: 2.0
English Literature - 5
English Language - 3
Mathematics - 5
Combined Science - 4,4
Business - 3
Geography - 3
Sports - L2 Pass
Sports Coaching & Development - L3 Merit
Placement Year
Fall 2026
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
November 30, 2007
Place of Birth
United Kingdom
Height
6 foot 0 inches
Weight
160 lbs
Preferred Foot
Right
“I had the privilege of coaching Luis Linnell over a two-year period, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most impressive and talented players I’ve had the opportunity to work with. A no nonsense central defender and right back, Luis excels both defensively and with the ball at his feet. His technical ability, combined with his strong defensive instincts, makes him a versatile and dependable player in any defensive role. Luis is a natural leader, and his teammates look up to him, particularly in difficult moments on the pitch. His maturity and presence provide stability in high-pressure situations, and his calm, composed demeanor is something that everyone around him values. Notably, Luis was the only first year player in our under 19s 24-25 National Championship-winning side, a testament to his quality and potential. Beyond his defensive ability, Luis has an excellent ability to contribute at the other end of the pitch, regularly providing goals and assists. His all-around game makes him a constant threat, and his intelligence in both defending and attacking sets him apart from many players in his age group. Most importantly, Luis’s attitude is exemplary. His desire to learn, his openness to feedback, and his relentless drive to improve have been key factors in his development. This mindset was evident when he joined Pro Direct, where his hard work and attitude earned him a spot in PD11. He played against some of the top teams in the country, including Championship sides like Coventry and Stoke, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest level. In my years of writing references, I can confidently say that Luis is one of the highest talents I’ve encountered. His combination of skill, leadership, and attitude is second to none, and I have no doubt that he will continue to achieve great things in his footballing career. It has been a privilege to coach Luis, and I look forward to seeing where his future in football takes him. I will follow his progress closely as he’s a highly talented player.”
“I have been directly involved in Luis’ footballing journey since August 2024. Witnessing the development of a young, talented and passionate teenager with a lot of potential both personally and footballing-wise, in to a young man who has gained an absolute understanding of how his path in the game should look for the foreseeable future, which is a credit to him and his accelerated maturity over the last 2 years.
Luis is a complete defender, with an incredibly strong presence as a Centre Back and a continuously developing competency as a Fullback on both sides of the pitch.
Luis’ strengths lie in wherever they need to, depending on systems, tactics and the position asked of him. His ability to situationally adapt along with high technical and tactical understanding of the game equates to a highly dependable player, a pleasure to coach and often an easy selection for any squad.
On and off the pitch Luis is a great character, socially. A born leader with the perfect balance between confidence and arrogance. He will be the first to take responsibility for actions both positive and negative, keen to right his wrongs and only grow from and repeat his achievements. Within his age group there are few players who I have seen who drive others just as much as they drive themselves towards achievement, setting Luis apart from many in his peer/age group. Underage football holistically is very individual, Luis has broken the mould earlier than his years, with his experience in an adult changing room and squad environment allowing for a ‘team first’ mentality, leaving little room for faults in his attitude and application to the game.
Luis’ experience stretches from appearances against Category 1 & 2 Acadmies (Stoke City and Coventry City respectively) as part of a National Select squad in Pro:Direct 11. And during his first season as a Pro:Direct player was the one of the youngest to feature in National Cup winning campaign at Pro:Direct Northampton. Finally, during his time at Daventry Town he has been named as captain of the U18 side on many occasions, is a constant starter within the team and contributes highly at both ends of the pitch as well as in the high volume of minutes played. Further demonstrating the standing that Luis has both locally and nationally, as well as the reputation he upholds and only hopes to build on in the U.S.
I wish Luis the best in his future. I am glad to have been a small part in his journey and I hope to follow on and see what a great career he has.”