Theodore Whitmore
Encyclopedia
Theodore Whitmore is a football midfielder
from Jamaica
. He is currently manager for the Jamaica national football team
.
and Seba United
in his native Jamaica. He was signed on a free by English league side Hull City
where he played together with compatriot Ian Goodison
until the accident in Jamaica cut short his Hull career. Scottish team Livingston
acquired his services in 2003, and in June 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers
. He had his contract terminated in January 2006 by mutual consent. He returned to Jamaica to become player/coach for his former team Seba United
.
, coming on as a late substitute for Hector Wright
. He's earned 105 official international caps and scored 24 goals for the Jamaican national team
. He was the Reggae Boyz' midfield general during the second half of the 1990s, playing as a major catalyst for the Jamaicans as they advanced to their first and only World Cup in 1998
. Although Jamaica was eliminated in the first round, Whitmore scored two goals in Jamaica's lone win of the competition, a 2-1 victory against Japan
. In that same year he was named Caribbean Footballer of the Year. His last international match was also against the United States, a 1-1 away draw on 17 November 2004 during 2006 World Cup qualification
in which he was substituted for Jason Euell
in the 72nd minute.
and Guatemala
, under his watch. He was then retained as an assistant under new coach Renê Simões
. Simões lasted nine months as manager due to poor play in the third round
of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers
, and upon his release on 11 September 2008, Whitmore was again appointed interim manager until newly appointed manager John Barnes
would be available in November. As interim manager in October 2008, Whitmore guided the Reggae Boyz to back-to-back 1–0 wins against Mexico
and Honduras
that gained him tremendous support as a manager and put the Jamaicans into range for advancement with one game remaining in semifinal round group play. He again took the rein
s of the national team when John Barnes
left the position in June 2009, to take up a management job at Whitmore's former club Tranmere Rovers in the English
League. Whitmore's team struggled during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
and were eliminated in the first round. As a part of the national team rebuilding efforts which started in August 2009, Whitmore has led the squad to three draws and one win to end 2009. In December 2010, Whitmore led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Cup title. In 2011, Whitmore brought a new era to Jamaican football emphasizing ball possession, team unity, flair and speed. He has since been duly rewarded with a three year contract through 2014.
. After the accident he was charged with manslaughter
, of which he was later acquitted.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. He is currently manager for the Jamaica national football team
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
.
Club career
Whitmore attended St. James High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica, before moving on to play in the Jamaica National Premiere League. As a very skillful and creative for a player of his tall frame, he started his club career at Montego Bay Boys Club, and has since played for Violet KickersViolet Kickers F.C.
Violet Kickers F.C. is a club team in Jamaica, that competes in the Western Confed. At level 2 in the National leagues. They won the Jamaican National Premier League Title on two occasions in 1993/1994 and 1995/1996, but fell from grace and now no longer compete at that level of football.They only...
and Seba United
Seba United F.C.
Montego Bay United Football Club is a Jamaican football club based in Montego Bay, which played in the Western Confederation Super League, when they were relegated from the Digicel Premier League for the first time in their storied history in season 2007-2008 having placed 11th. On June 1, 2011,...
in his native Jamaica. He was signed on a free by English league side Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
where he played together with compatriot Ian Goodison
Ian Goodison
Ian De Souza Goodison is a football defender from Jamaica. He has been playing for Tranmere Rovers since 2004 and has amassed more than 300 appearances for the club.-Hull City:...
until the accident in Jamaica cut short his Hull career. Scottish team Livingston
Livingston F.C.
Livingston Football Club is a Scottish association football club based in Livingston, West Lothian. The club currently plays in the Scottish Football League First Division.The club was founded in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle, a works team...
acquired his services in 2003, and in June 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
. He had his contract terminated in January 2006 by mutual consent. He returned to Jamaica to become player/coach for his former team Seba United
Seba United F.C.
Montego Bay United Football Club is a Jamaican football club based in Montego Bay, which played in the Western Confederation Super League, when they were relegated from the Digicel Premier League for the first time in their storied history in season 2007-2008 having placed 11th. On June 1, 2011,...
.
International career
Whitmore made his debut in a November 1993 friendly match against the United StatesUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, coming on as a late substitute for Hector Wright
Hector Wright
Hector Wright is a retired Jamaican football midfielder.The attacking midfielder has played for Seba United F.C. in his native country, but his career was cut short by injuries...
. He's earned 105 official international caps and scored 24 goals for the Jamaican national team
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. He was the Reggae Boyz' midfield general during the second half of the 1990s, playing as a major catalyst for the Jamaicans as they advanced to their first and only World Cup in 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. Although Jamaica was eliminated in the first round, Whitmore scored two goals in Jamaica's lone win of the competition, a 2-1 victory against Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
. In that same year he was named Caribbean Footballer of the Year. His last international match was also against the United States, a 1-1 away draw on 17 November 2004 during 2006 World Cup qualification
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 197 teams entered the qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, competing for a total of 32 spots in the final tournament. Germany, as the host, qualified automatically, leaving 31 spots open for competition...
in which he was substituted for Jason Euell
Jason Euell
Jason Joseph Euell is a Jamaican-English football player who plays for Charlton Athletic. He can play as either a forward or a midfielder...
in the 72nd minute.
Management
When Whitmore returned to Seba United in 2006 he returned as both a player and a coach. He was then brought on as interim manager of the Jamaica national team after the firing of former manager Bora Milutinović in November 2007; Jamaica won both games, friendlies against El SalvadorEl Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
and Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, under his watch. He was then retained as an assistant under new coach Renê Simões
Renê Simões
René Rodrigues Simões is a Brazilian football head coach and former footballer.- Coaching career :Born in Rio de Janeiro, he guided Jamaica to the World Cup in France in 1998...
. Simões lasted nine months as manager due to poor play in the third round
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. The 12 winners from the Second Round contested this round. The draw took place on 25 November 2007 in Durban, South Africa.- Format :...
of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...
, and upon his release on 11 September 2008, Whitmore was again appointed interim manager until newly appointed manager John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
would be available in November. As interim manager in October 2008, Whitmore guided the Reggae Boyz to back-to-back 1–0 wins against Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
and Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
that gained him tremendous support as a manager and put the Jamaicans into range for advancement with one game remaining in semifinal round group play. He again took the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s of the national team when John Barnes
John Barnes (footballer)
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE is an English football manager and former player.During his playing career, Barnes had successful periods at Watford and Liverpool in the 1980s and 1990s, winning the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and playing for England 79 times...
left the position in June 2009, to take up a management job at Whitmore's former club Tranmere Rovers in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
League. Whitmore's team struggled during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
and were eliminated in the first round. As a part of the national team rebuilding efforts which started in August 2009, Whitmore has led the squad to three draws and one win to end 2009. In December 2010, Whitmore led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Cup title. In 2011, Whitmore brought a new era to Jamaican football emphasizing ball possession, team unity, flair and speed. He has since been duly rewarded with a three year contract through 2014.
As a manager
- As of 6 September 2011`.
Team Nation From Jamaica Jamaica national football teamThe Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
20 November 2007 20 December 2007 2 2 0 0 100.0 Jamaica Jamaica national football teamThe Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...20 October 2008 20 November 2008 3 3 0 0 100.0 Jamaica Jamaica national football teamThe Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...16 June 2009 Present 32 15 2 13 46.8 Career Total 37 20 2 13 54.0
Achievements
- Caribbean CupCaribbean CupThe Caribbean Cup, formerly known as the Copa Caribe, is the championship tournament for national association football teams that are members of the Caribbean Football Union. The first competition was contested in 1989 in Barbados. The Caribbean Cup also serves as a qualification tournament among...
: 4
-
- 1998, 2005, 2008 (as assistant), 2010 (as manager)
- JFF Champions Cup: 1
-
- 1999
- Western Confederation Super LeagueWestern Confederation Super LeagueThe Captain's Bakery Western Confederation Super League is a second division football league in the nation of Jamaica. The twelve teams that currently compete in the league are based in the parishes of Hanover, St...
: 1
-
- 2009
Personal
He was injured in the car accident that led to the death of Reggae Boyz' teammate Stephen MalcolmStephen Malcolm
Stephen Malcolm was a Jamaican international football player. His position was defensive midfielder or defender.During his club career he played for Seba United....
. After the accident he was charged with manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
, of which he was later acquitted.