The brilliant “Crown Jules” of a number of City’s campaigns, Julian erected remarkable foundations to his career before reaching the age of 21, and as genuinely exciting striker has won himself a rare degree of hero-worship from the Filbert Street crowd.. Signed professionally only two months into the second year of his trainee contract, having scored ten times in the first five youth games, plus the reserves only goal to that date, he made an early senior bow, too, following injuries to David Lowe and Phil Gee.
His first goal came three days later, in a League Cup tie in the city of his birth, and by then of the 1992-93 term Julian was a name noted nationally. For heading the list of his several spectacular strikes was the individal strike against Barnsley in City’s FA Cup exit which took the BBC’s goal of the month award, and was runner-up in the Goal of the Season rating.
Further evidence of his scintillaiting pace, forceful strength, and controlled direct dribbling skills had amassed almost weekly. Another solo rampage from the half way line led to the goal advantage over Portsmouth which eventually saw City to Wembley in 1993, and Julian also led the fightback there agqainst Swindon. His progress was maintained in the following successful promotion campaign, when he came on as sub and promoted the move which led to Steve Walsh winning goal against Derby at Wembley and he had claimed both City’s first Premiership goal (against Newcastle) and a sparkling double in the opening victory over Spurs before a serious foot injury saw him sidelined for the bulk of the season.
At representative level, Julian starred for Engalnd in both the 1993 World Youth Championships (scoring against Turkey to put them into the quarter finals, and against Australia to beat the hosts to third place) and the European U.18 Championships a few months later, when he collected a winner’s medal after being down for the match-winning penalty against Turkey at Nottingham.
His U.21 debut came in March 1994 (hitting the bar after coming on as sub against Denmark), and his first goal at that level (against Malaysia in the Toulon tournament) helped index his eagerly awaited 1995 return to fitness.
Julian left Leicester in 1996, joining Aston Villa for a fee of £1.5 million. He played on at Villa Park for five more years, then joining Coventry and later Leeds. He kept on playing and looks like he will never retire, as his life in football is rare and very special and to date at the age of 48 still listed as a player for Bourne Town.
His only stint abroad came in 2019 when joining Gibralter club Europa Point, but his stay was short as non-league football has been his trade since leaving profesional football at the age of 32. He has also played for a number of Leicestershire based clubs such as Oadby Town, Quorn and Shepshed Dynamo.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Julian Kevin Joachim
- Position: Forward
- Date of Birth: 20.09.1974
- Birthplace: Peterborough
- Nation: England
- Caps / Goals: –
- Major League Career:
- 1992-96, Leicester City (99/25)
- 1996-01, Aston Villa (141/39)
- 2001-04, Coventry City (56/11)
- 2004-05, Leeds United (27/2)
- Links
- Category
TCF - FILBERT WAY 
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