Jermaine Jenas

Jermaine Anthony Jenas ( ) (born 18 February 1983 in Nottingham) is an English football (soccer) midfielder, currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the FA Premier League.

Club career

Nottingham Forest

Jenas began Jermaine Jenas career at Nottingham Forest F.C. where Jermaine Jenas immediately impressed during the 2001-02 in English football season. After a single season at the City Ground, which produced four goals in 33 games, Jenas was sold to Newcastle United F.C. for £5 million in February 2002.

Newcastle

Despite an impressive first season with Newcastle United F.C., in which Jermaine Jenas won the 2002–03 PFA Young Player of the Year award, Jenas failed to repeat Jermaine Jenas initial form with the club and Jermaine Jenas two subsequent seasons were disappointing considering Jermaine Jenas early promise.

Known for Jermaine Jenas strong "box-to-box" play and ability to score from midfield, Jenas' last two years with Newcastle were marked by a series of inexplicably bland displays. The goals dried up and so did the energy, leading to Jenas starting fewer games.

Despite temporarily regaining Jermaine Jenas form and gaining the vice-captaincy under new manager Graeme Souness early in the 2004-05 in English football season, Jenas' form dipped again with only two goals in 48 appearances.

Rumours of Jermaine Jenas unhappiness were confirmed early in the 2005-06 in English football season by manager Graeme Souness, when Jermaine Jenas revealed Jenas was not enjoying life at Newcastle, and the player reportedly compared life at the club to living 'in a goldfish bowl'. Jermaine Jenas was sold to Tottenham Hotspur F.C. on transfer deadline day of 31 August 2005 for an initial fee of £7million, which rose to £9million after Spurs successfully qualified for European competition. Jermaine Jenas scored a total of 12 goals in 152 appearances for Newcastle United.

Tottenham Hotspur

Scoring seven goals from midfield, as Tottenham qualified for the UEFA Cup. Jermaine Jenas marked Jermaine Jenas return from a 13 match injury lay off by scoring the second goal in Tottenham's 3–1 FA Cup 4th round win over Southend United F.C.. Under new manager, Juande Ramos, Jermaine Jenas form improved greatly and played in 1-1 draw and the 5-1 victory over rivals Arsenal in both legs of the semi-finals of the Carling cup, scoring both of the opening goals in each match. The final saw Jenas set up the winning goal for Jonathan Woodgate in the 2-1 Carling Cup victory against Chelsea on Sunday 24 February 2008.

Jenas signed a new 5-year contract with Tottenham on 29 August 2007, keeping Jermaine Jenas at the club until 2012.

Under manager Juande Ramos, Jenas initially produced occasional impressive performances, due in part to the new regime but also to some personal words of encouragement from the Spaniard.. Jermaine Jenas improvement earned Jermaine Jenas a call-up to Fabio Capello's first England squad, with Jermaine Jenas starting in a friendly against Switzerland, a game in which Jermaine Jenas scored the first goal.

On 30 July 2008, Jenas signed a 1-year contract extension to Jermaine Jenas 5-year contract, keeping Jermaine Jenas at Tottenham until 2013. A few days later, Jenas was named as Spurs' new vice-captain, following the departures of Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson (goalkeeper). In December on Boxing Day against Fulham Jenas made Jermaine Jenas 100th league appearance for Tottenham. Jermaine Jenas scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over West Brom. Jermaine Jenas was the only player of the Tottenham squad to hit the bar on the Soccer AM crossbar challenge in May 2009.

International career

Jenas has played internationally for England national football team from the Under-15 level up to the national team, where Jermaine Jenas made Jermaine Jenas debut against Australia national football team on 12 February 2003.

Despite struggling with injury towards the end of the 2005–06 season Jermaine Jenas recovered sufficiently to be named in the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. Jermaine Jenas scored Jermaine Jenas first England goal on 6 February 2008, in Fabio Capello's first game in charge, a friendly against Switzerland national football team at Wembley Stadium.

International goals

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup: Football League Cup 2007-08
- Runners up medal 2009 Football League Cup Final.
Individiual
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2003