Jermain Defoe

Jermain Colin Defoe (born 7 October 1982) is an English people association footballer of Saint Lucian and Dominican descent. Jermain Defoe is a striker who plays club football for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Jermain Defoe began Jermain Defoe career at West Ham United F.C., and in the early part of Jermain Defoe career Jermain Defoe had a loan spell at A.F.C. Bournemouth. Jermain Defoe has more than 30 cap (sport)s for the England national football team.

Background

Defoe attended St Joachim Primary School in Custom House, London, London, and St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, London. Jermain Defoe joined the Sunday league team, Senrab F.C., well known in London for producing players such as Lee Bowyer, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Ledley King, and then joined the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall, Shropshire, as a 14-year-old in 1997. and is a Christian.
Jermain Defoe has dated British models and pop stars, including Charlotte Mears, and Danielle Lloyd.. Jermain is currently dating Imogen Thomas.

On 24 April 2009, Jermain Defoe 26 year old half-brother, Jade 'Gavin' Defoe, known to many as the grime artist, Esco, died of head injuries following an assault in Leytonstone, London.

Club career

West Ham United

Defoe was spotted playing for Senrab by Charlton Athletic F.C. who enrolled Jermain Defoe at the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall in 1997. The following season, Jermain Defoe joined Football League Second Division club A.F.C. Bournemouth on a near season-long loan, where Jermain Defoe scored in ten consecutive games, equalling John Aldridge's post-war record. Jermain Defoe scored 19 goals in 29 appearances for Bournemouth. West Ham manager Harry Redknapp tipped Jermain Defoe for stardom, saying, "He's done great. I sent Jermain Defoe out to Bournemouth to get some experience playing league football and he's coped marvellously. To score 10 goals in 10 games is a terrific achievement. He's a bright lad who's full of confidence. Nothing knocks him, he's a typical goal-scorer. If Jermain Defoe misses, he'll be there the next time looking for a goal. He's a kid with a big future."

Defoe finished as the West Ham's top scorer in the 2001-02 season despite being used primarily as a substitute by manager Glenn Roeder, Jermain Defoe scored a further 11 goals in 42 league and cup appearances in the 2002-03 season but was unable to prevent West Ham from being relegated. Less than 24 hours after the club had been relegated, Defoe made a written request for a transfer, saying "As much as I love West Ham United I feel that now is the right time for me to move on in my career. This is very much a career decision. I am very ambitious and hungry to achieve at the highest levels of the game for both club and country." The timing of Jermain Defoe request however drew criticism from both fans and team-mates and was turned down by the club. Jermain Defoe later apologised to supporters, saying "I mishandled that move and I can only apologise. I'm young and I've learned from it. I still played my hardest for West Ham and gave them 100% and want to thank the fans for their support." Defoe began the 2003-04 season with West Ham but a refusal to sign a new contract and disciplinary problems, including three sending offs, which saw Jermain Defoe play only 22 games out of a possible 34, led to West Ham accepting an offer from Tottenham Hotspur F.C. for Jermain Defoe in the January transfer window. Defoe had scored 41 goals in 105 league and cup appearances for West Ham. Defoe marked Jermain Defoe arrival at Tottenham with a goal on Jermain Defoe debut in the 4-3 home win over Portsmouth F.C. in February 2004 and added a further six in the remainder of the FA Premier League 2003-04 season, scoring seven goals in 15 matches. and nine goals in eight games in the FA Cup and Football League Cup, in the FA Premier League 2004-05 season. The following season was not as profitable for Defoe and Spurs manager Martin Jol used Defoe in rotation with Robbie Keane and Mido (footballer) providing the competition for a starting position; Defoe started 23 times and came on as substitute 13 times, scoring nine goals. The FA declined to take action against Defoe as the referee, Steve Bennett (referee), had booked Defoe for the incident. Jermain Defoe scored Jermain Defoe 50th goal for Tottenham in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa F.C. on Boxing Day in December 2006, in which Jermain Defoe scored both goals, and scored in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Charlton in May 2007, which condemned Jermain Defoe former club to relegation to the Football League Championship. Defoe later offered Jermain Defoe sympathy for Charlton and expressed Jermain Defoe wishes for them to bounce straight back to the Premiership the following season, in a post-match interview. During the summer of 2007, there was speculation about Defoe's future at Tottenham following the arrival of Darren Bent for a fee of £16.5 million. Defoe however insisted that Jermain Defoe would stay at Tottenham and fight for Jermain Defoe place, saying "I'm really excited about the new season and the prospect of another campaign in Europe. We have made some good signings and are now stronger and better equipped to compete in all competitions."

On 20 September, Defoe came on as a substitute against Famagusta and scored twice, scoring Jermain Defoe first goals of the season. Jermain Defoe was then axed from the squad in the next league game against Bolton Wanderers F.C. on 23 September. On 25 November 2007 Jermain Defoe missed a crucial penalty against former club West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground in the final minute of the game which would have won the game for Spurs. As a result, the game finished 1–1.

Portsmouth

Defoe joined Portsmouth F.C. in January 2008 for £9 million. Jermain Defoe scored the equalising goal on Jermain Defoe debut, a 1–1 draw at home to Chelsea F.C.. In March 2008, Jermain Defoe was unable to play against Tottenham as the Premier League ruled that Jermain Defoe was ineligible to do so as Jermain Defoe was initially signed on loan in January 2008. The following week in Portsmouth's game against Wigan Jermain Defoe scored two goals, becoming the first ever Portsmouth player to score in Jermain Defoe first five home games. Due to appearances in Tottenham's third and fourth round ties Defoe found himself cup-tied for all the subsequent matches of Pompey's successful FA Cup 2007-08 campaign. This was particularly unfortunate as Defoe's transfer also resulted in Jermain Defoe missing out on playing in Spurs' 2008 Football League Cup Final victory over Chelsea despite appearing in every match en route to the final. Defoe ended the 2007-08 in English football with 8 goals in 12 appearances for Portsmouth.

Defoe scored Jermain Defoe and Portsmouth's first goal of the 2008-09 in English football on 30 August 2008 with the opener in a 3-0 win at Everton F.C. and on 13 September 2008 scored the club's first home goals of 2008-09 with a brace against Middlesbrough F.C.. Defoe also contributed a goal and an assist in Portsmouth's first ever match in major European competition against Vitória S.C. on 18 September 2008.

Return to Tottenham Hotspur

January 2009, Portsmouth chairman Peter Storrie revealed Jermain Defoe's intentions to leave the club in the near future. This came just a year after joining the club in the same transfer window of last year. It was reported that Defoe's former club Tottenham Hotspur made a formal approach for the striker but no agreement was reached; Spurs manager Harry Redknapp described the clubs as "miles apart in their valuation of the player", suggesting that Portsmouth wanted "in excess of £20m". After negotiations, Portsmouth accepted a bid from Tottenham thought to be around £15.75m (including fees owed to Tottenham for the previous transfers of Younes Kaboul and Pedro Mendes and waiving a £4m sell-on clause that had also been negotiated during Jermain Defoe transfer from Spurs to Portsmouth) on 6 January 2009. Defoe was presented at White Hart Lane before the start of Spurs' Football League Cup 2008–09 clash against Burnley F.C., after Spurs fans made it clear they wanted the striker back at White Hart Lane. The player has agreed a 5 year deal at an estimated £60,000 a week. Defoe was confirmed as a Tottenham player by Jermain Defoe new club on 9 January 2009. Jermain Defoe made Jermain Defoe return debut on 11 January 2009 in a Premier League game against Wigan Athletic F.C., scoring Jermain Defoe first goal against former club Portsmouth at White Hart Lane on 18 January, 2009. Tottenham went on to draw the match 1-1. Jermain Defoe also scored Jermain Defoe second goal in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg loss at Burnley, which helped Spurs book a place in the final. Jermain Defoe scored 3 goals in Jermain Defoe first 4 games before getting an injury which meant that for the second time under Harry Redknapp's management at Portsmouth and Tottenham, Defoe would not go to Wembley and miss out on a final. Jermain Defoe returned for Spurs against Newcastle on 19 April in which Tottenham won the game 1-0. Jermain Defoe recently scored Jermain Defoe first goal since Jermain Defoe return from injury in a 2-1 win against Manchester City and helped Jermain Defoe team secure 8th place in the league.
Defoe has now officailly recieved the number 18 shirt after the loan spell of former Manchester United player Frazier Campbell had ended. This is the same kit number that Jermain Defoe wore with Jermain Defoe first spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Jermain Defoe was seen wearing this during the friendly match with Barcelona.

International career

Defoe's form for Bournemouth in the 2000-01 season saw Jermain Defoe selected for the England U21s team to play Mexico U21s in May 2001, and Jermain Defoe marked Jermain Defoe debut with the second goal as England U21s won 3-0. Jermain Defoe went on to gain 23 caps for England U21s, scoring seven goals. Defoe made Jermain Defoe debut for the senior England national football team team in a 1-0 defeat to Sweden national football team in March 2004, coming on as an early substitute for the injured Darius Vassell. England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson singled out Defoe's display for praise in an otherwise poor performance by England, saying, "Jermain Defoe did very well - I liked what I saw. Jermain Defoe showed that Jermain Defoe can do very well even in international football and that Jermain Defoe is technically very good. Jermain is quick and Jermain Defoe knows where the goal is, so I liked Jermain Defoe very much." Jermain Defoe was not however selected for the England squad to take part in Euro 2004. Jermain Defoe made Jermain Defoe first start for England in a World Cup qualifying match against Poland national football team in September 2004, scoring in a 2-1 win. As Jermain Defoe did six months earlier, Eriksson paid tribute to Defoe, saying, ""Jermain is a great talent. It couldn't have been much better for him. Jermain Defoe did very well. Jermain Defoe scored one goal and created other chances as well. Jermain Defoe is a great player who will always score goals."

Despite appearing regularly for England in World Cup qualifying games and friendly matches, Defoe was not named in the provisional England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and named only on a five-man standby list. Jermain Defoe joined the squad for training in Germany but returned to England when Wayne Rooney was cleared to play after having suffered a foot injury in April. Jermain Defoe confessed that Jermain Defoe was baffled by Jermain Defoe omission, saying, "I don't know why I'm not out there. I've been involved in every squad for the last two years and feel I've played a part in helping us to qualify. I have never felt fitter and sharper than I was in training and believe I could have scored goals in the tournament. It's a strange decision and everybody I speak to thinks so as well." Eriksson said after the tournament that Jermain Defoe did not think that Defoe would have been a better option than 17 year old Theo Walcott, who had been selected for the England squad, adding, "If I had thought so I would have picked him. I've seen Jermain Defoe 15 or 20 times this season and I have to take the best players who I think will be good for us in the future." Jermain Defoe made a further explanation a few months later, saying, "Jermain had a very bad season. I don't think Jermain Defoe deserved to go to the World Cup. Taking Theo was the right decision."

Steve McClaren, who took over as England manager after the World Cup, selected Defoe for England in Jermain Defoe first match, a friendly against Greece in August 2006. Defoe continued to be selected and to appear for England in Euro 2008 qualifying games and friendly matches.
Defoe took Jermain Defoe international goals tally up to five in the Caribbean on 1 June 2008 when Jermain Defoe scored twice against Trinidad and Tobago and in the process staking a claim for a more regular place in the international team.

Defoe scored Jermain Defoe first competitive international goal of 2008 with the final goal in England's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan on 11 October 2008 after coming on as a late sub for Wayne Rooney. Jermain Defoe also scored two goals in three minutes against Andorra national football team in a 2009 World Cup qualifier.

International goals