Zak Whitbread
Encyclopedia
Zak Benjamin Whitbread (born March 4, 1984) is an American soccer player who plays for English
Premier League club Norwich City
as a defender
.
, United States, Whitbread has spent most of his life in England and Singapore
. He has lived in Runcorn
for the majority of his life, except for the five years he spent in Singapore when his father, Barry Whitbread
, was the coach of the Singapore national football team
during the late 1990s. While in Singapore, Whitbread attended the United World College of South East Asia
.
, Whitbread was a fan of Manchester United
, but because Liverpool
was his father's team of choice, he joined the club's Centre of Excellence at the age of eight, and eventually worked his way through the Academy from under-15s through under-19s before joining the reserve team
in 2003.
His first match in a Liverpool jersey took place in 2003 in an exhibition match against Thailand during the club's Far East
Tour. He came on to the pitch after the start of the second half. Whitbread made his first team debut in the 2004–05
season, and played a number of games alongside Sami Hyypiä
in Liverpool's 2005–06
UEFA Champions League
qualification campaign. He spent much of the season on loan at Millwall
.
season, before injuring himself in September 2006. The injury sidelined him for the rest of that season.
Over the course of the 2008–09 season, Whitbread made 44 appearances, including the League One
play-off
Final
at Wembley Stadium
, which Millwall lost 3–2 to Scunthorpe United
.
on a two-and-a-half year contract on 8 January 2010, making his debut in the 5–0 win over Colchester United
on 16 January as a substitute for Chris Martin, but featured little thereafter due to an injury. He played 3 games in pre-season 2010–11 before he sustained another injury, which ruled him out of the start of the new league season. Whitbread was expected to return to training near the time of the international break in September, however a further setback kept him out until the new Year. Whitbread returned to full training near Christmas 2010 along with Adam Drury
He made his long awaited return from injury in a 4–2 win over Sheffield United on 28 December 2010, coming on as an 85th minute substitute for Anthony McNamee
. He made his first start of the season in a 1–0 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers
, helping Norwich to a first clean sheet in 10 games. Due to Leon Barnett
's hamstring injury, Whitbread developed a centre back partnership with Elliott Ward
. He scored his first goal for Norwich in a 1–1 draw against Hull City
at the KC Stadium
on 19 March 2011.
Whitbread started in the Canaries' first game back in the Premier League, partnering Ritchie De Laet in a 1–1 draw at Wigan Athletic
. However he picked up a knee injury in this match, meaning he was ruled out for the following match against Stoke City
. He returned for the League Cup
match against MK Dons
, and started against Chelsea
, but was withdrawn after 30 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury. Whitbread returned to training in November. Him and Dani Ayala got through a practice match, improving their fitness. Zak is expected to be back in the squad in early December.
's squad played. Owing to his solid performance he was named in Rongen's side for the 2003 World Youth Championships in December. He started every match and scored his first goal for the U.S. to help the squad reach the Quarter Finals.
His play led to his inclusion with the mostly Major League Soccer
based side that unsuccessfully tried to qualify the U.S. for 2004 Summer Olympics
. Unfortunately, he was only able to play in one match for Glenn Myernick
due to an injury he suffered during training.
He played for the United States under 20s team in the 2003 World Youth Championship
, and has since been promoted to the under 23 squad.
On 16 March 2011, Whitbread was called into the United States
camp for its friendlies against Argentina
and Paraguay
, but was unable to feature due to sustaining an injury while on club duty.
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...
Premier League club Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Early life
Although born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, United States, Whitbread has spent most of his life in England and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He has lived in Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
for the majority of his life, except for the five years he spent in Singapore when his father, Barry Whitbread
Barry Whitbread
Barry Whitbread is an English coach who led the Singapore national football team to the country's first ever international trophy in association football, the 1998 Tiger Cup, now known as the AFF Suzuki Cup.-Playing career:...
, was the coach of the Singapore national football team
Singapore national football team
The Singapore national football team is the national association football team of Singapore. The team comes under the organization of the Football Association of Singapore...
during the late 1990s. While in Singapore, Whitbread attended the United World College of South East Asia
United World College of South East Asia
The United World College of South East Asia is an independent, international school in Singapore. The school's main campus is in Dover Road. A second campus was opened in 2008 in Ang Mo Kio...
.
Liverpool
While growing up in RuncornRuncorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
, Whitbread was a fan of Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, but because Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
was his father's team of choice, he joined the club's Centre of Excellence at the age of eight, and eventually worked his way through the Academy from under-15s through under-19s before joining the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
in 2003.
His first match in a Liverpool jersey took place in 2003 in an exhibition match against Thailand during the club's Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
Tour. He came on to the pitch after the start of the second half. Whitbread made his first team debut in the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season, and played a number of games alongside Sami Hyypiä
Sami Hyypiä
Sami Tuomas Hyypiä is a retired European Cup winning Finnish footballer who played in the centre back position. He last played for German Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen and was the captain of the Finland national football team. He joined Leverkusen in summer 2009, ending a ten year spell at...
in Liverpool's 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualification campaign. He spent much of the season on loan at Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
Millwall
After signing for Millwall permanently on a three-year contract in June 2006, he featured frequently in the team's first eleven, starting 18 games for his new club in the 2006–072006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, before injuring himself in September 2006. The injury sidelined him for the rest of that season.
Over the course of the 2008–09 season, Whitbread made 44 appearances, including the League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
play-off
Football League One play-offs
The Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
Final
2009 Football League One play-off Final
The 2009 Football League One play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 24 May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season. The match determined the third and final team to gain promotion from League One to the Championship, and was contested by Millwall, who finished fifth during...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, which Millwall lost 3–2 to Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
.
Norwich City
Whitbread signed for Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on a two-and-a-half year contract on 8 January 2010, making his debut in the 5–0 win over Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on 16 January as a substitute for Chris Martin, but featured little thereafter due to an injury. He played 3 games in pre-season 2010–11 before he sustained another injury, which ruled him out of the start of the new league season. Whitbread was expected to return to training near the time of the international break in September, however a further setback kept him out until the new Year. Whitbread returned to full training near Christmas 2010 along with Adam Drury
He made his long awaited return from injury in a 4–2 win over Sheffield United on 28 December 2010, coming on as an 85th minute substitute for Anthony McNamee
Anthony McNamee
Anthony McNamee is an English footballer. He is a left-sided midfielder and currently plays for on loan from Milton Keynes Dons.-Watford:...
. He made his first start of the season in a 1–0 victory over league leaders Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, helping Norwich to a first clean sheet in 10 games. Due to Leon Barnett
Leon Barnett
Leon Peter Barnett is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Norwich City. Although primarily a central defender, he has also played at left back, right back, central midfield and up front...
's hamstring injury, Whitbread developed a centre back partnership with Elliott Ward
Elliott Ward
Elliott Leslie Ward is an English professional footballer currently playing for Norwich City. He signed for the Canaries on a free transfer from Coventry City in May 2010; officially joining them on 1 July....
. He scored his first goal for Norwich in a 1–1 draw against 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...
at the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
on 19 March 2011.
Whitbread started in the Canaries' first game back in the Premier League, partnering Ritchie De Laet in a 1–1 draw at Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
. However he picked up a knee injury in this match, meaning he was ruled out for the following match against Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. He returned for the League Cup
League Cup
In association football, a League Cup or Secondary Cup generally signifies a cup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946/47 and was entitled the Scottish...
match against MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
, and started against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, but was withdrawn after 30 minutes with a suspected hamstring injury. Whitbread returned to training in November. Him and Dani Ayala got through a practice match, improving their fitness. Zak is expected to be back in the squad in early December.
International career
Whitbread's opportunity came in August 2003 when he traveled to Spain to join the U.S. under 20s at the L'Alcudia International Tournament, where he started three of the five matches Thomas RongenThomas Rongen
Thomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...
's squad played. Owing to his solid performance he was named in Rongen's side for the 2003 World Youth Championships in December. He started every match and scored his first goal for the U.S. to help the squad reach the Quarter Finals.
His play led to his inclusion with the mostly Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
based side that unsuccessfully tried to qualify the U.S. for 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
. Unfortunately, he was only able to play in one match for Glenn Myernick
Glenn Myernick
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick was an American soccer player and coach. He won the 1976 Hermann Trophy as that year’s outstanding collegiate player. He then spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. Myernick also earned 10 caps with the U.S. national...
due to an injury he suffered during training.
He played for the United States under 20s team in the 2003 World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
, and has since been promoted to the under 23 squad.
On 16 March 2011, Whitbread was called into the United States
United 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...
camp for its friendlies against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
, but was unable to feature due to sustaining an injury while on club duty.
External links
- Zak Whitbread profile at the Norwich City website