Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Michael Paul Spector (born March 1, 1986) is an United States professional Association football player who plays for English Premier League club West Ham United F.C. as a Defender (association football). Jonathan Spector natural position is right-back, but Jonathan Spector has been deployed all over the back line and in central midfield, mainly as an injury back-up.

Background

Spector played high school soccer at St. Viator High School and started Jonathan Spector club soccer career with Schwaben AC in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, before joining Chicago Sockers in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Jonathan Spector graduated from United States Soccer Federation's IMG Soccer Academy in 2003 and as Jonathan Spector ancestry (his grandparents on the mother's side came from Siegen, Germany) allowed Jonathan Spector to acquire a Germany passport, Jonathan Spector elected to go to Europe.

Club career

Spector was discovered by famed Manchester United scout Jimmy Ryan (footballer born 1945) while playing for the American Under-17 squad at the Milk Cup in 2003. Originally a striker, Spector was lined up in defense due to injuries for a game Ryan had attended to scout other players. Highly impressed by Spector's natural defensive instincts, Ryan alerted the club.

Spector joined United 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 Jonathan Spector loan move on time due to the transfer window closing on 31 January 2005. 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. Jonathan Spector finished the season making sixteen starts and eight substitute appearances.

Spector moved to London side West Ham United in a deal initially worth £500,000 in June 2006 thereby ending Jonathan Spector association with Manchester United after eight appearances. Jonathan Spector made Jonathan Spector debut for the club in the first round defeat of the UEFA Cup against U.S. Città di Palermo in Sicily on 28 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 Jonathan Spector played more games than many expected due to injuries, poor performances from other players, and Jonathan Spector ability to play across the defensive back line and in defensive midfield. On 11 November 2007 it was believed that Spector had scored Jonathan Spector first professional goal, in the 5-0 away win at Derby County F.C.. However, this has since been credited as an own goal by Derby County and fellow USA International Eddie Lewis (American soccer).

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 Jonathan Spector 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 Jonathan Spector 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. However, during the final, Frankie Simek had to come on for Spector as Jonathan Spector collided heads with Andres Guardado, Mexico's goal scorer that day. Immediately after the substitution Benny Feilhaber struck the winning volley.

Following injuries to Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk, Spector was included in the United States roster for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and started at right back for the entire tournament. Spector recorded an assist in the final group game off a cross to Clint Dempsey who headed the ball into the net. The goal was the clinching goal needed to get the U.S. to the semifinals. In the final match against Brazil, Spector once again assisted Dempsey in scoring the game's first goal off of a similar long cross from the right flank.