Sam Tillen

Chelsea

A left back, Tillen joined the academy at Premier League club Chelsea at the age of 12.^[3] He completed a scholarship and signed his first professional contract in 2002,^[4][5] but his progress was hindered by 17 months out with a stress fracture in his back and a torn anterior cruciate ligament.^[6] Tillen progressed to the reserve team,^[7] but despite an injury crisis at full back in the first team ranks in late in February 2005,^[8] he did not receive a call into the first team squad before departing Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2004–05 season.^[9]

Brentford

On 27 May 2005, Tillen joined League One club Brentford on a one-year contract, with a one-year option.^[10] He was a regular in the promotion-chasing team throughout the 2005–06 season and manager Martin Allen took up the option on his contract in February 2006.^[7][11][12] Tillen finished the 2005–06 season with 43 appearances and experienced the disappointment of defeat to Swansea City in the play-off semi-finals.^[11][12] In July 2006, he signed a new undisclosed-length contract.^[13]

Tillen was again a regular under new manager Leroy Rosenior early in the 2006–07 season and retained his place after Rosenior was sacked and replaced with Scott Fitzgerald in November 2006.^[14][15] He scored the first senior goal of his career with a late equaliser to secure a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient on 9 September 2006.^[14] Brentford suffered relegation to League Two at the end of the 2006–07 season and Tillen finished the campaign with 38 appearances and one goal.^[14][16]

Aside from two early 2007–08 season substitute appearances,^[17] Tillen was frozen out of the first team squad by new manager Terry Butcher and failed to break back in after Butcher was replaced by Andy Scott in December 2007.^[18] On 10 January 2008, Tillen departed Brentford after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.^[19] During 2+1⁄2 seasons at Griffin Park, Tillen made 83 appearances and scored one goal.^[20]

Fram

In February 2008, Tillen moved to Iceland to join Úrvalsdeild club Fram on a one-year contract.^[21] He had been recommended to try Icelandic football by his former Brentford teammate Ólafur Ingi Skúlason.^[22] Tillen remained at Fram for five seasons, making 170 appearances, scoring 19 goals and eventually becoming club captain.^{[23][24][25][26]} He departed the club in October 2012.^[27]

FH

On 22 October 2012, Tillen moved to Úrvalsdeild club FH on a two-year contract.^[28] He had a good 2013 season, making 36 appearances and winning the Icelandic Super Cup.^[29] A broken leg suffered in 2014 saw Tillen miss 11 months of football and upon his return, he suffered a torn calf and a broken cheekbone and eye socket.^[30] He made just eight league appearances during FH's 2015 Úrvalsdeild title-winning season.^[25][31][32]

Tillen was not in manager Heimir Guðjónsson's plans for the 2016 and he spent the season away on loan back at 1. deild karla club Fram.^[31][33] His season was ended early due to a broken cheekbone suffered in August 2016 and he made 16 appearances during a mid-table season for the club.^[24][34] Tillen elected to retire from football in December 2016 and he finished his FH career with 65 appearances and two goals.^[25][35]

ÍH

In August 2020, Tillen came out of retirement to join 4. deild karla club ÍH.^[36] During what remained of the 2020 season, he made five appearances and helped the club to promotion via the 4. deild karla promotion play-offs.^[24][37]