Steven Whittaker

Steven Gordon Whittaker (born June 16 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scotland professional football (soccer) who currently plays for Rangers F.C. in the Scottish Premier League. He is seen as the first-choice right back at the club, but has played in a number of positions including as a right midfielder and left-back.

Club career

Hibernian

In 2001, Whittaker joined the likes of Kenny Miller and Derek Riordan in signing for Hibernian F.C. from Hutchison Vale Boys Club. He made his debut against St Johnstone F.C. in a 1-0 win on the May 12 2002. The following 2002-03 in Scottish football he went on to make another six top team appearances before finally become a regular starter the season after. Though with him lacking a defined position his form suffered as he was deployed at right-back or on either side of midfield under Bobby Williamson. However, he did score his first career goal during this poor spell, against Partick Thistle F.C. in a 3-2 win on January 3 2004. He was an unused subsitutite when Hibernian F.C. lost the Scottish League Cup final in 2004.

The arrival of Tony Mowbray later that year saw Whittaker confirmed in the team's right-back role, and with this new certainty, he flourished, becoming a regular in the Scotland national under-21 football team team and helping Hibs to a third place league finish. He made 173 appearances for Hibernian F.C and scored five times.

Rangers

Whittaker completed a £2m move to Rangers F.C. on August 1 2007, signing a five-year contract. On August 18, 2007, he started his first game for Rangers against Falkirk F.C. in the Scottish Premier League and marked his debut with the second goal in a 7-2 win for Rangers.

Whittaker scored the second goal of Rangers F.C. 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Cup quarter final second leg. He picked the ball up on the half way line and weaved through several players before capping it off with a cool finish. He stated after the match that it was the best goal he had scored in his career.

International career

In October 2006 Whittaker was brought into the Scotland national football team squad for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group B match against Ukraine national football team after the suspension of Christian Dailly following a yellow card in 1-0 win over France national football team. Although he did not feature in the match.

Whittaker was called into the Scotland B side to face Republic of Ireland's B team on 20 November 2007. He played the first sixty-eight minutes but was replaced by Ross McCormack. He also played in the 0-0 draw in November 2006.

Honours

With Hibernian F.C.

With Rangers F.C.