Robert Green

Robert Paul Green (born 18 January 1980 in Chertsey, Surrey) is an English professional Association football who currently plays for West Ham United F.C. as a Goalkeeper (association football). Robert Green has made four appearances for England national football team, the latest being in June 2009.

Club career

Norwich City

Green came through the youth ranks at Norwich City F.C. and made Robert Green 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 Norwich.

Robert Green was a star of the 2001-02 in English football play off campaign which culminated in a final loss to Birmingham City F.C. on penalties. During the extra time period of this match Green pulled off a top class save from Geoff Horsfield from point blank range. Commentating for ITV, Ron Atkinson mentioned of Green's heroics; "You talk about Robert Green being a promising young keeper, well that's as good a save as you'll see this season."

The following season Green was an ever present in a Norwich side that finished in a disappointing 8th position in the Football League Championship table, missing out on the play offs by two places. Green made an impressive tally of 19 clean sheets during the campaign, beating the previous season's effort of 18 by one shut-out.

By 2003 Green was a key figure in the Norwich side. Robert Green played a key role in helping Norwich to the Championship in the 2003-04 in English football and promotion to the Premier League. Robert Green came third in the supporters vote for List of Norwich City F.C. Players of the Year behind Craig Fleming and Darren Huckerby.

The Norwich number one was once again ever present, keeping another 18 clean sheets and conceding just 39 goals in 46 league appearances. Green put in many match winning performances during the campaign. These man of the match displays included home fixtures with Derby County F.C. and Stoke City F.C., the Norwich custodian pulling off a world class save from Gerry Taggart during the latter. Performances of this high standard led to Robert Green first England international call up for the friendly in March 2004 versus Sweden national football team. Robert Green was also included in the PFA first division XI for the season.

Norwich were relegated to the Championship the following season. Green kept just 6 clean sheets and conceded 77 goals during the Premiership campaign despite many excellent individual performances. England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson continually picked Green for international squads on merit.

After relegation Norwich struggled to adjust back to Championship football. It proved to be Green's worst campaign as Norwich's number one, keeping just 7 clean sheets in 42 league appearances. Green missed the last few matches of the 2005-06 in English football after Robert Green sustained an injury in the warm-up prior to the away fixture at Sheffield Wednesday F.C. although Robert Green admitted that having recovered from the injury, Robert Green chose to miss the last fixture of the campaign to ensure Robert Green fitness for the World Cup.

In August 2006, Norwich accepted a bid of up to £2,000,000 from West Ham United for Green, who had made 241 appearances for Norwich between 1999 and 2006. Two of Robert Green best performances were when West Ham won 1–0 against Arsenal F.C. at the Emirates Stadium and against Manchester United F.C. where Robert Green helped West Ham United to a 1–0 win, which preserved West Ham's Premier League status. Green kept 9 clean sheets in 26 appearances during the league campaign.

In the 2007-08 in English football season for West Ham United, Green saved the first three penalties taken against him. The first, against Kevin Doyle of Reading F.C., the second, Benjani Mwaruwari of Portsmouth F.C. in injury time, the third from Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe, again in injury time. The streak was ended by James McFadden of Birmingham on 9 February 2008. Robert Green played in every match and was named the West Ham Hammer of the Year with the Irons finishing in a respectable 10th place in the Premiership.

In 2008-2009 season Green saved yet another penalty this time on 30 August 2008 against Jason Roberts (footballer) of Blackburn Rovers F.C, West Ham then went on to win the game 4-1. Green played all 38 league games for West Ham in season 2008-09 keeping 10 clean sheets.

International career

Green earned Robert Green first call-up to the full England squad while at Norwich and a year later became the sixth Norwich player in history to wear the Three Lions when Robert Green appeared as a substitute against Colombia national football team 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, Robert Green ruptured Robert Green groin whilst taking a goal kick during the England B national football team international against Belarus national football team on 25 May. Robert Green 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.Green did not make Fabio Capello's first England team in February 2008. Green showed a sense of humour about the international situation, sporting gloves with 'England's No.6' embroidered on them. Robert Green was recalled to the squad by Fabio Capello in place of the injured Chris Kirkland for England's friendly with France national football team on 26 March 2008. On 12 February 2009, Green earned Robert Green 2nd cap, coming on as a second half substitute during England's 0-2 defeat to Spain national football team in Seville. On 6 June 2009 Green made Robert Green first England start in their 4-0 win in Almaty against Kazakhstan national football team in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) qualifying game.

Personal life

In the summer of 2008, Green climbed Mount Kilimanjaro during a charity event for AMREF (the African Medical and Research Foundation). Robert Green has stated that ex Stoke City reserve team goalkeeping coach Martin Phelan inspired Robert Green to become a goalkeeper after a talk at Greens primary school.