Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Michael Paul Spector ( born March 1, 1986 in Arlington Heights, Illinois) is an American football player of German descent. Since August 2011 he is under contract at Birmingham City. During his youth he was a striker. His main position is that of the right-back, where he is also often found in the defensive and central midfield.
Youth
Spector is in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, grew up. He attended St. Viator High School where he played football also active in the school team. Besides school, he played for the Schwaben AC in Buffalo Grove. After high school he went to the USSF IMG Soccer Academy in Brandenton, Florida. The Soccer Academy is an institution of the American Football Association, where talented young football players can get their college degree and a good football education. Shortly before and during his time at Brandenton Academy Spector played for the youth team of the Chicago Sockers and Chicago Fire Premier.
He holds a German passport due to his German grandparents. Jonathan Spector's grandfather, Art Spector, the first player, who signed in 1946 with the Boston Celtics.
Career
Manchester United
Jonathan Spector was discovered by Jimmy Ryan, a scout of Manchester United, the Milk Cup in 2003, where he played with the U -17 national team of the United States. At this time Spector was striker, but had to avoid the defensive due to an injury of another player. Actually, Ryan wanted to watch other players, but was impressed by the achievements of the young defensive Spector so that he instantly at United decision said.
Spector moved in summer 2003 to Manchester United. First, in the youth team active, it was a year later made his professional debut against Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. In December 2004, gave Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is known to be Spector loaned out to Blackburn Rovers. Due to many injuries on the defensive from Manchester the transfer was first moved. The crisis continued and Spector could not change before the end of the transfer window.
Prior to the 2005/2006 season he moved on loan to Charlton Athletic to play matches.
The left -footed defender began his career in the youth team of the Chicago Sockers. Spector's first youth club was the youth team of Manchester United. 2004, the American was called into the first team the Red Devils. During the 2005/2006 season Spector played on loan at Charlton Athletic.
In June 2006, Spector changed hands for £ 500,000 to West Ham United. His first game for the Hammers, he completed on 28 September 2006 against Palermo in the first round of the UEFA Cup. Spector was actually committed as a substitute always more to the established regular at West Ham. In the 2008/2009 season he missed due to injury almost all the games. In the following season he got 27 times on the court, which is due to the fact that not a replacement for Lucas Neill has been committed. In June 2011 he was released from West Ham.
Birmingham City
On August 2, 2011 Jonathan Spector signed a two -year contract with Birmingham City.
National
Spector was part of the squad of the U.S. in the U-17 World Cup 2003. On 17 November 2004, he made his international debut for the senior team of the USA against Jamaica. In 2005 he took part in the Junior World Cup. Due to good performance in the Premier League he has long been part of the squad for World Cup 2006. Due to the drawn shortly before the tournament injury he had to cancel participation.
In 2007 he won with the national team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. In the final he was replaced with Frankie Simek, after he had collided with Andres Guardado.
After Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk had violated Spector was nominated for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. By participating in the tournament, he strengthened by good performances its place in the national team. He prepared, inter alia, before the first goal in the final against Brazil.
Also at the Football World Cup 2010, he took part, but no completed application during the tournament.