Robert Green
 |
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Paul Green | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | West Ham United | ||
| Number | 1 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:00, 12 February 2009 (UTC) | |||
Robert Paul Green (born 18 January 1980 in Chertsey, Surrey) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for West Ham United as a goalkeeper. He has made four appearances for England, the latest being in June 2009. Also has been linkd to Arsenal Football Club and london rivals Tottenham Hotspur after delaying to sign a new contract with West Ham United
Club career
Norwich City
Green came through the youth ranks at Norwich City and made his first team debut on 11 April 1999 keeping a clean sheet in the 0-0 local derby draw against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road.[1] However, first-team opportunities were restricted by the presence of first-choice goalkeeper Andy Marshall[2] and it was not until Marshall's departure in the summer of 2001 that Green was able to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper for Norwich.
He was a star of the 2001–02 season play off campaign which culminated in a final loss to Birmingham City on penalties. During the extra time period of this match Green pulled off a top class save from Geoff Horsfield from point blank range. Commentating for ITV, Ron Atkinson mentioned of Green's heroics; "You talk about Robert Green being a promising young keeper, well that's as good a save as you'll see this season."[citation needed]
The following season Green was an ever present in a Norwich side that finished in a disappointing 8th position in the Championship table, missing out on the play offs by two places. Green made an impressive tally of 19 clean sheets during the campaign, beating the previous season's effort of 18 by one shut-out.
By 2003 Green was a key figure in the Norwich side. He played a key role in helping Norwich to the Championship in the 2003–04 season and promotion to the Premier League.[3] He came third in the supporters vote for Norwich City player of the year behind Craig Fleming and Darren Huckerby.[citation needed]
The Norwich number one was once again ever present, keeping another 18 clean sheets and conceding just 39 goals in 46 league appearances. Green put in many match winning performances during the campaign. These man of the match displays included home fixtures with Derby County and Stoke City, the Norwich custodian pulling off a world class save from Gerry Taggart during the latter. Performances of this high standard led to his first England international call up for the friendly in March 2004 versus Sweden. He was also included in the PFA first division XI for the season.
Norwich were relegated to the Championship the following season.[4] Green kept just 6 clean sheets and conceded 77 goals during the Premiership campaign despite many excellent individual performances. England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson continually picked Green for international squads on merit.
After relegation Norwich struggled to adjust back to Championship football. It proved to be Green's worst campaign as Norwich's number one, keeping just 7 clean sheets in 42 league appearances. Green missed the last few matches of the 2005–06 season after he sustained an injury in the warm-up prior to the away fixture at Sheffield Wednesday although he admitted that having recovered from the injury, he chose to miss the last fixture of the campaign to ensure his fitness for the World Cup.[citation needed]
In August 2006, Norwich accepted a bid of up to £2,000,000 from West Ham United for Green,[5] who had made 241 appearances for Norwich between 1999 and 2006.[1]
West Ham United
Green signed a four-year deal with West Ham[5] where he teamed up with former Norwich striker Dean Ashton who had been sold to West Ham in January 2006. Green made his debut for West Ham on 22 October 2006 in a 1–0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.[6] Two of his best performances were when West Ham won 1–0 against Arsenal at the Emirates[7] and against Manchester United where he helped West Ham United to a 1–0 win,[8] which preserved West Ham's Premier League status. Green kept 9 clean sheets in 26 appearances during the league campaign.
In the 2007–08 season season for West Ham United, Green saved the first three penalties taken against him. The first, against Kevin Doyle of Reading, the second, Benjani of Portsmouth in injury time, the third from Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe, again in injury time. The streak was ended by James McFadden of Birmingham on 9 February 2008. He played in every match and was named the West Ham Hammer of the Year with the Irons finishing in a respectable 10th place in the Premiership.[9]
In 2008-2009 season Green saved yet another penalty this time on 30 August 2008 against Jason Roberts of Blackburn Rovers, West Ham then went on to win the game 4-1. Green played all 38 league games for West Ham in season 2008-09 keeping 10 clean sheets.[10]
International career
Green earned his first call-up to the full England squad while at Norwich[11] and a year later became the sixth Norwich player in history to wear the Three Lions when he appeared as a substitute against Colombia in the United States.[12] Green remained in the England squad despite Norwich having been relegated to the Coca Cola Championship in 2005 and was selected for the England 2006 World Cup squad.[13] However, he ruptured his groin whilst taking a goal kick during the England B international against Belarus on 25 May.[14] He was replaced in the squad by Liverpool's Scott Carson.[15] The injury not only meant that Green missed the World Cup but also the start of the 2006-07 season.[16] After a prolonged absence from the international scene, Green was called up for the England "B" match in May 2007[17] and then named in the senior England squad to face Brazil and Estonia in June 2007.[18]Green did not make Fabio Capello's first England team in February 2008. Green showed a sense of humour about the international situation, sporting gloves with 'England's No.6' embroidered on them.[19] He was recalled to the squad by Fabio Capello in place of the injured Chris Kirkland for England's friendly with France on 26 March 2008.[20] On 12 February 2009, Green earned his 2nd cap, coming on as a second half substitute during England's 0-2 defeat to Spain in Seville. On 6 June 2009 Green made his first England start in their 4-0 win in Almaty against Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifying game.[21]
Personal life
In the summer of 2008, Green climbed Mount Kilimanjaro during a charity event for AMREF (the African Medical and Research Foundation).[22] He has stated that ex Stoke City reserve team goalkeeping coach Martin Phelan inspired him to become a goalkeeper after a talk at Greens primary school.
References
- ^ a b Soccerbase: Robert Green, Racing Post. Retrieved 22 June 2007.
- ^ "Green signs new Canaries deal". BBC Sport. 2001-01-24. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
- ^ "Green pens Norwich deal". BBC Sport. 2004-06-30. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
- ^ "Fulham 6-0 Norwich", BBC Sport, 15 May 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ a b "Hammer Green eyes England recall", BBC Sport, 16 August 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Tottenham 1-0 West Ham", BBC Sport, 19 October 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Green fingers revive Hammers' prospects", The Guardian, 9 April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Manchester United v West Ham United, 0-1", Premier League Official Site, 13 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ Green is Hammer of the Year
- ^ Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United statistics Robert Green
- ^ "Happy to be here", TheFA.com, 30 March 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Owen does it again", TheFA.com, 1 June 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "World Cup Squad", TheFA.com, 8 May 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Keeper Green set to miss finals", BBC Sport, 25 May 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Carson promoted to England squad", BBC Sport, 26 May 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Green gears up for playing return", BBC Sport, 3 August 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Injured Foster sent home", TheFA.com, 22 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007,
- ^ "McClaren names squad'"", BBC Sport, 26 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ Hammers keeper Robert Green pokes fun at England job
- ^ "Green called into England squad", BBC Sport, 23 March 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2008.
- ^ Green keeps it clean www.whufc.com
- ^ Robert Green's Kilimanjaro Climb