Sam Tillen

English footballer

Samuel Lee Tillen (born 16 April 1985) is an English professional footballer, most notable for his eight years in as a left back in Icelandic football with Fram and FH. He also played in the Football League for Brentford. Tillen was capped by England at U19 level and represented the Football League at U21 level. He is currently youth development phase lead coach and U18 head coach at Lincoln City.

A left back, Tillen joined the academy at Premier League club Chelsea at the age of 12. He completed a scholarship and signed his first professional contract in 2002, but his progress was hindered by 17 months out with a stress fracture in his back and a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Tillen progressed to the reserve team, he did not receive a call into the first team squad before departing Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2004–05 season.

On 27 May 2005, Tillen joined League One club Brentford on a one year contract, with a one year option. 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. 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. 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. Aside from two early 2007–08 season substitute appearances, 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. On 10 January 2008, Tillen departed Brentford after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. During 2 1/2 seasons at Griffin Park, Tillen made 83 appearances and scored one goal.

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

On 22 October 2012, Tillen moved to Úrvalsdeild club FH on a two year contract. He had a good 2013 season, making 36 appearances and winning the Icelandic Super Cup. He made just eight league appearances during FH's 2015 Úrvalsdeild title winning season. 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. 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. Tillen elected to retire from football in December 2016 and he finished his FH career with 65 appearances and two goals.

In August 2020, Tillen came out of retirement to join 4. deild karla club ÍH. 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.

Tillen won caps for England in two 2004 European U19 Championship first qualifying round wins in September 2003. He made one appearance for the Football League U21 representative team in a 1–0 victory over Serie B U21 on 21 February 2006.

Tillen began coaching the FH U12 team while recovering from a broken leg in 2014. After returning to England, he joined the coaching team at Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division club Cottesmore in September 2022. As of January 2024, Tillen held the combined roles of youth development phase lead coach and U18 head coach at Lincoln City.

Tillen's brother Joe was also a professional footballer. He is married and after retiring from football, he settled in Iceland.