Robert Green

Robert Paul Green (born January 18, 1980 in Chertsey, Surrey) is an England professional football (soccer) who currently plays for West Ham United F.C. as a goalkeeper. He has made one appearance for the England national team.

Club career

Norwich City

Green came through the youth ranks at Norwich City F.C. and made his first team debut on 11 April 1999 keeping a clean sheet in the 0-0 local derby draw against Ipswich Town F.C. at Carrow Road. However, first-team opportunities were restricted by the presence of first-choice goalkeeper Andy Marshall 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 the Canaries.

By 2003 Green was a key figure in the Norwich City side. He played a key role in helping Norwich to the Football League First Division Championship in the 2003-04 in English football and promotion to the Premier League. He came third in the supporters vote for Norwich City player of the year behind Craig Fleming and Darren Huckerby.

Norwich were relegated to the Coca Cola Championship the following season. 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 F.C. 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.

In August 2006, Norwich accepted a bid of up to £2,000,000 from West Ham United F.C. for Green, who had made 241 appearances for Norwich between 1999 and 2006. Two of his best performances were when West Ham won 1-0 against Arsenal F.C. at the Emirates Stadium and against Manchester United F.C. where he help West Ham United to a 1-0 win, which preserved West Ham's Premier League status.

International career

Green earned his first call-up to the full England squad while at Norwich City 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. 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 FIFA World Cup squad. However, he ruptured his groin whilst taking a goal kick during the England B international against Belarus national football team on 25 May. He was replaced in the squad by Liverpool F.C.'s Scott Carson. The injury not only meant that Green missed the FIFA World Cup but also the start of the 2006-07 season. After a prolonged absence from the international scene, Green was called up for the England "B" match in May 2007 and then named in the senior England squad to face Brazil and Estonia in June 2007.