Jonathan Spector

For the CEO of The Conference Board, see Jon Spector.
Jonathan Spector

Spector with West Ham United in October 2009
Personal information
Full nameJonathan Michael Paul Spector[1]
Date of birthMarch 1, 1986[1]
Place of birthArlington Heights, Illinois, United States
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Playing positionDefender
Centre midfielder
Club information
Current team
Birmingham City
Number23
Youth career
2002–2003Bradenton Academy
2003Chicago Sockers
2003Chicago Fire
2003Manchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2006Manchester United3(0)
2005–2006→ Charlton Athletic (loan)20(0)
2006–2011West Ham United101(1)
2011–Birmingham City105(0)
National team‡
2003United States U1719(0)
2005United States U202(0)
2004–United States34(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 26, 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 26, 2015

Jonathan Michael Paul Spector (born March 1, 1986) is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club. He played on loan at Charlton Athletic, then in 2006 joined West Ham United, where he played over 100 games before he was released at the end of the 2010–11 season.

Although he began playing as a striker during his youth career, Spector was converted into a defender as a professional. He most commonly plays as a right fullback but is capable of playing across the defensive line and in central midfield.

Early life

Spector grew up in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois, which is also the hometown of former Fulham and US national team player Brian McBride. Jonathan went to St. Peter Lutheran school for elementary school and St. Viator for high school. The youngest of four siblings, he played high school soccer at St. Viator High School and started his club soccer career with Schwaben AC in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, before joining national power Chicago Sockers. He graduated from the United States Soccer Federation's Bradenton Academy at the age of 17 in the summer of 2003.[2] His father is of Russian Jewish, English, and Irish ancestry, and his mother was born in Siegen, Germany. Spector has acquired a German passport, enabling him to play in England without needing a work permit.[3][4]

Spector's grandfather was the NBA basketball player Art Spector, who was the first player to be signed by the Boston Celtics in 1946 and is known as the "Original Celtic".[5] He died in June 1987 when Jonathan was 15 months old.

Club career

Manchester United

Spector was discovered by a Manchester United scout while playing for the American Under-17 squad at the Milk Cup in 2003. Originally a striker, Spector was lined up in defense due to injuries for a game the scout had attended to scout other players. Impressed by Spector's defending, the scout alerted the club.[3][4]

Spector joined United in summer 2003.[4] He made his first appearance for the first team in the FA Community Shield match against Arsenal in August 2004.[6] In December, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced that Spector would be loaned out to fellow Premiership side Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.[7] However, Ferguson was soon forced to postpone the deal due to an injury crisis in the United defense.[8] The injury crisis continued and Spector was not able to make his loan move before the transfer window closed on January 31, 2005. Before the start of the 2005–06 season, Spector went on a season-long loan to another Premiership club, Charlton Athletic, to obtain more first-team experience.[9] He finished the season with sixteen starts and eight substitute appearances.

West Ham United

Spector was signed, by manager Alan Pardew, for West Ham United in a deal initially worth £500,000 in June 2006, ending his association with Manchester United after eight appearances.[10] He made his debut for the club in the first round defeat of the UEFA Cup against Palermo in Sicily on September 28,[11] going on to make twenty-eight appearances in all competitions in the 2006–07 season.[12] Spector had initially been brought as backup to the West Ham defense, but he had an extended run of games due to injury problems and his ability to play anywhere in the back four with equal ease. On November 10, 2007, it was believed that Spector had scored his first professional goal, in the 5–0 away win at Derby County.[13] However, this was later credited as an own goal by Derby County's fellow American international Eddie Lewis.[2][14]

He missed most of the 2008–09 season due to injuries, but following the departure of Lucas Neill, Spector played in 27 of a possible 38 games in the 2009–10 season.[15] Many of his appearances that year came at left-back, despite being a right footed player. When Gianfranco Zola left, new manager Avram Grant began deploying Spector in the midfield. He scored his first goals for West Ham and first in English soccer, scoring twice in a 4–0 home win over former club Manchester United in the League Cup on November 30, 2010.[16] He scored his first Premier League goal in the 2–2 draw away to Everton later that season.[17] Spector was released by West Ham in June 2011.[18]

Birmingham City

Spector playing for Birmingham City in 2012

Spector signed a two-year contract with Championship club Birmingham City in August 2011, four days before the opening of the league season.[19] He made his debut playing in central midfield in Birmingham's first match in major European competition for nearly 50 years, the Europa League play-off round first leg against Portuguese club Nacional, which finished goalless.[20] Three days later, he played his first League game in English soccer at a level below the Premier League, in a 3–1 defeat at Middlesbrough.[21] Spector was initially played in central midfield for the first few months of his Birmingham City career, which did not appear to suit him very well. Once moved to the right back position he established himself as a solid and reliable member of the first team, until injury meant he missed the last few months of the season. He scored his first goal for Birmingham against Coventry City in a 3-2 defeat in the League Cup on August 28, 2012.[22] In June 2013, Spector agreed a further two-year contract with Birmingham City.[23]

International career

In 2003, Spector played for the United States national team at the World Under-17 Championship in Finland and earned his first cap for the senior team on November 17, 2004, in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica.

In 2005, Spector was part of the U.S. Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands and as the 2005–06 Premier League season approached its conclusion, was considered a long shot to be included in the United States World Cup squad. However, a shoulder injury sustained on April 17 in a game against Portsmouth[24] ended his chances of playing at the World Cup.

Spector was a member of the U.S. team that beat Mexico 2–1 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in Chicago in June 2007. However, during the final, he had to be substituted by Frankie Simek as he collided heads with Mexican midfielder Andrés Guardado. Immediately after the substitution Benny Feilhaber struck the winning volley.[25]

Following injuries to Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk, Spector was included in the United States roster for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and took the chance to cement his place in the national team, starting at right back for the entire tournament. He assisted Clint Dempsey to score a vital goal against Egypt in the last group stage match as the US scraped through to the semifinals on the basis of goals scored. In the final against Brazil, Spector once again assisted Dempsey in scoring the opening goal with a similar long cross from the right flank.

Having returned from a long injury lay-off, Spector was ever present at right back for the remaining 2010 World Cup fourth round qualifiers in 2009 although he has also been partnered with captain Carlos Bocanegra in central defense occasionally due to Oguchi Onyewu's long-term injury.[26] He was rested for the USA's last qualifying match against Costa Rica on October 14 as qualification had already been secured and was recalled for friendlies in November and March. Coach Bob Bradley included him in the final 23-man squad for the World Cup although he did not appear in any games. Later in 2010, Spector was a starting right back in friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played April 25, 2015
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester United 2004–05[6] Premier League 3010102[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]080
Charlton Athletic (loan) 2005–06[28] Premier League 2002020——240
West Ham United 2006–07[12] Premier League 25020001[lower-alpha 3]0—280
2007–08[29] Premier League 260[lower-alpha 4] 1010——280
2008–09[31] Premier League 900000——90
2009–10[15] Premier League 2700020——290
2010–11[17] Premier League 1413142——214
West Ham United total 1011[lower-alpha 4]617210—1154
Birmingham City 2011–12[21][32] Championship 31050108[lower-alpha 5]02[lower-alpha 6]0470
2012–13[33] Championship 2900011——301
2013–14[34] Championship 2200020——240
2014–15[35] Championship2300020——250
Birmingham City total 1050506180201261
Career total 2291141163110302735
  1. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in FA Community Shield
  3. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Although Soccerbase and the statistics on Spector's West Ham profile give him two league goals for the club, his first West Ham "goal", against Derby County in November 2007, was credited as an own goal by the Dubious Goals Panel, so the figure of one league goal in total is correct.[2][30]
  5. ↑ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  6. ↑ Appearance(s) in Football League Championship play-offs

Honors

International

United States

Individual

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 388. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Player Profiles: Jonathan Spector". West Ham United F.C. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mature beyond his years". Yanks Abroad. November 9, 2005. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Winner, Andrew (September 19, 2005). "Spector aims to boost World Cup credentials". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  5. ↑ Arace, Michael (July 21, 2008). "Americans gain foothold in English Premiership". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Spector to join Blackburn on loan". BBC Sport. December 23, 2004. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  8. ↑ "Man Utd put Spector loan on hold". BBC Sport. January 1, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Charlton clinch Spector loan deal". BBC Sport. July 11, 2005. Retrieved June 21, 2007.
  10. ↑ "West Ham sign Man Utd's Spector". BBC Sport. June 15, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2006.
  11. ↑ "Spector staying positive after debut frustration". West Ham United F.C. September 29, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Derby 0–5 West Ham: Hammers slay Derby pride". ESPN Soccernet. November 10, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Jonathan Spector". Westhamstats.info. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  16. ↑ Whyatt, Chris (November 30, 2010). "West Ham 4–0 Man Utd". BBC Sport. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Players released from 2010/11 Premier League clubs". guardian.co.uk. June 16, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Birmingham City sign ex-West Ham man Jonathan Spector". BBC Sport. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  20. ↑ Tattum, Colin (August 19, 2011). "Nacional 0, Birmingham City 0". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  22. ↑ Evans, Gregg (August 29, 2012). "Coventry City 3 Birmingham City 2 aet". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Birmingham City: Jonathan Spector agrees new contract". BBC Sport. June 27, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  24. ↑ Wagman, Robert & Davidson, Gary (April 17, 2006). "Spector dislocates shoulder in Charlton victory over Portsmouth". SoccerTimes. Retrieved June 29, 2007.
  25. ↑ Dodd, Mike (June 25, 2007). "USA rallies to win Gold Cup". USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Spector revels in new role". West Ham United F.C. November 17, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  27. ↑ "2010 Lineups". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  30. ↑ Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 544. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  32. ↑ "2011/12 UEFA Europa League: Birmingham City FC: Squad: Qualifying phase". UEFA. May 17, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Jonathan Spector in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved April 26, 2015.

External links

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