Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Spector (born March 1, 1986 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Illinois), is an United States football (soccer) defender (football). He currently plays for West Ham United F.C. in the English Premier League.

Background

Spector played high school soccer at and started his club soccer career with in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, before joining Chicago Sockers in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He graduated from United States Soccer Federation's IMG Soccer Academy in 2003 and as his ancestry allowed him to acquire a Germany passport, he elected to go to Europe.

Club career

Manchester United

Signing for Manchester United F.C. in summer 2003, In December 2004, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced that Spector would be loaned out to fellow FA Premier League side Blackburn Rovers F.C. for the remainder of the season. However, Ferguson was soon forced to postpone the deal due to an injury crisis in the United defence. The injury crisis continued and Spector was not able to make his loan move on time due to the transfer window closing on 31 January 2004. Before the start of the 2005-06 in English football, Spector went on a season-long loan to Charlton Athletic F.C. to obtain more first team experience. He finished the season making sixteen starts and eight substitute appearances.

West Ham United

Spector moved to London side West Ham United in a deal initially worth £500,000 in June 2006 thereby ending his association with Manchester United after eight appearances. He made his debut for the club in the first round defeat of the UEFA Cup against Palermo in Sicily in September 2006 going on to make 28 appearances in all competitions in the 2006/07 season.. Spector had initially been brought as backup to the West Ham defence, but he played more games than many expected due to injuries, poor performances from other players, and his ability to play across the defensive back line and in defensive midfield.

International career

In 2003, Spector played for the United States men's national soccer team at the FIFA U-17 World Championship 2003 in Finland and earned his first cap for the senior team on November 17, 2004 in a Football World Cup 2006 - North, Central American and Caribbean Qualification Groups against Jamaica national football team.

In 2005, Spector was part of the U.S. Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands and as the 2005-06 Premier League season approached its conclusion, was considered a long shot to be included in the United States 2006 FIFA World Cup squad. However a shoulder injury sustained on April 17 in a game against Portsmouth FC, ended his chances of playing at the World Cup.

Spector was a member of the winning USA team that beat Mexico 2-1 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final in Chicago in June 2007.

Club career

(correct as of August 18, 2007)

- Includes FA Cup, Football League Cup and FA Community Shield

Trivia

Both Spector and fellow US International Brian McBride are from the same town just outside of Chicago - Arlington Heights, IL.

Jonathan Spector is only the second USA international to play for West Ham United - after midfielder John Harkes, who made 12 appearances for the club in the 1995-96 season.