Jermaine Pennant

Jermaine Lloyd Pennant (born 15 January 1983) is an England football (soccer) who plays for Real Zaragoza. Jermaine Pennant signed for the La Liga side in July 2009 after Jermaine Pennant contract at Liverpool F.C. expired. Jermaine Pennant has previously played for Notts County F.C., Arsenal F.C., Watford F.C., Leeds United A.F.C., Birmingham City F.C. and Portsmouth F.C..

Jermaine Pennant gained notoriety in 2005, when Jermaine Pennant had to play a match while on probation, wearing an electronic tagging, following a drink-driving conviction.

Biography

Born in Nottingham, Pennant is of Jamaican descent, but has opted to represent England national football team internationally; although Jermaine Pennant has played at England national under-21 football team, Jermaine Pennant has not played for the senior team.

Arsenal

Pennant was signed at the age of 15 by Arsenal F.C. from Notts County F.C. for £2 million, a record fee for a trainee at the time, but failed to fulfil Jermaine Pennant promise amidst a string of disciplinary problems. These included being sent home by England national under-21 football team coach Howard Wilkinson for breaking a curfew before an important game against Turkey, and being Misconduct (football) for punching Niko Kranjčar in a game against Croatia national under-21 football team. However, Jermaine Pennant did manage to make 24 appearances for the U21s in total, making Jermaine Pennant one of the five most-capped Englishmen at this level.

Pennant's career seemed promising following Jermaine Pennant move to Arsenal. Jermaine Pennant made Jermaine Pennant debut aged 16 years and 319 days against Middlesbrough F.C. in the Football League Cup on 30 November 1999, at the time making Jermaine Pennant Arsenal's youngest-ever first team player, beating Gerry Ward's long-standing record by two days; Pennant's record has since been surpassed by Cesc Fàbregas. Jermaine Pennant continued to make League Cup appearances over the next few seasons, but had to wait two-and-a-half years for Jermaine Pennant league debut, as a substitute against West Ham United F.C. on 24 August 2002 in the Premier League.

Jermaine Pennant scored a hat-trick on Jermaine Pennant full league debut, against Southampton F.C. in May 2003. However, these were also Jermaine Pennant only Arsenal league goals and Jermaine Pennant did not manage to secure a regular place in an Arsenal side that went on a run of 49 consecutive games without defeat. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger appeared to have eventually lost patience with Pennant, who had a history of turning up late to training. Pennant spent spells on loan to Watford F.C. and Leeds United A.F.C. and it was at Leeds where Jermaine Pennant became noticed. Jermaine Pennant was one of the only highlights of Leeds United's dismal relegation season. Pennant became a Leeds fans favourite scoring fantastic goals against Chelsea and Charlton. Leeds fans were even offering their own money for United to sign Jermaine Pennant permanently.

Birmingham City

Pennant was loaned to Birmingham City F.C. for the 2004–05 season. In light of Jermaine Pennant drink-driving conviction, Jermaine Pennant signed for them permanently in April 2005. In the 2005–06 season, Birmingham City were relegated to the Football League Championship (the second level of English football), and speculation grew that Pennant would leave the club.

Drink-driving conviction

On 23 January 2005, Pennant was arrested and charged with drink-driving after crashing Jermaine Pennant Mercedes-Benz into a lamp-post in Aylesbury, while serving a sixteen month driving ban and uninsured. Pennant pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving whilst disqualified, and Jermaine Pennant was sentenced to ninety days in prison on 1 March. Jermaine Pennant was released on parole after 30 days and immediately returned to playing for Birmingham, although Jermaine Pennant had to wear an Electronic tagging at all times, including while on the pitch.

Liverpool

Pennant signed for Liverpool on 26 July 2006, on a four year contract for a fee of £6.7 million, potentially rising to £8 million with add-ons. It is understood that Arsenal will receive around 25% of the fee. After impressing in pre-season, Pennant made Jermaine Pennant Liverpool F.C. debut against Maccabi Haifa F.C. in a UEFA Champions League 3rd round qualifying match at Anfield where Jermaine Pennant went on to win the fans' Star Man award. Such an impressive start to Jermaine Pennant Liverpool career has seen Jermaine Pennant being compared to Jermaine Pennant boyhood heroes John Barnes (footballer) and Robbie Fowler. On 20 January 2007, Jermaine Pennant scored Jermaine Pennant first goal for Liverpool in their 2–0 home victory over Chelsea in the Premier League. Pennant would later go on to produce an excellent performance against former club Arsenal, playing a key part in three of the four goals the Reds produced as they won 4–1. After not being chosen for the England squad to play Israel and Andorra in March 2007, Pennant expressed the lack of recognition from England manager, Steve McClaren, as 'frustrating'. Pennant was critically acclaimed for Jermaine Pennant performance against AC Milan in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final. Arguably one of the best players on the Liverpool team that night, Pennant made dashing runs on the right flank, and supplied a number of good crosses in towards the strikers.

Pennant started the 2007–08 season in the same fine form with which Jermaine Pennant had finished the previous season, putting in good performances on either flank as Liverpool surged to the top of the league table in the first month. Jermaine Pennant was however, again ignored by McClaren for the England team in their UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches against Israel and Russia, despite the backing of Liverpool manager Benitez. As Liverpool struggled to regain their good early season form following the international break, Pennant too could not maintain Jermaine Pennant excellent start to the season, culminating in a needless sending off—the first Penalty card Red card of Jermaine Pennant career—against Futebol Clube do Porto in Liverpool's opening UEFA Champions League 2007-08 match of the season. This was also Liverpool's first red card in five years in the Champions League. Pennant made Jermaine Pennant return from injury after being ruled out in November 2007 against Wigan, where Jermaine Pennant started the game and played until the 86th minute, when Jermaine Pennant was substituted for striker Dirk Kuyt. Jermaine Pennant scored Jermaine Pennant second goal for Liverpool against Newcastle on 8 March 2008 in a 3–0 win. Jermaine Pennant scored Jermaine Pennant third goal for Liverpool in the 2–0 away victory against Fulham on 19 April 2008.

Portsmouth

On January 20 2009 Jermaine Pennant left Liverpool F.C to join Portsmouth F.C. on loan, where spent the second half of the 2008-9 season.

Real Zaragoza

Pennant was not offered a new contract by Liverpool following Jermaine Pennant return, and subsequently became a free agent when Jermaine Pennant contract expired on 1st July 2009. On 9 July, Pennant passed a medical and signed a three year deal at Real Zaragoza.