Robert Green
Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Robert Paul Green (born 18 January 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played in the Premier League and Football League and for the England national team.
Green made his first-team debut for Norwich City in 1999 and totalled 241 appearances across all competitions for them, making the PFA Team of the Year when they won the First Division in 2003–04. In 2006, he transferred to West Ham United, making the same number of appearances in a six-year spell in which he was their Player of the Year in 2008 and won promotion via the Championship play-offs in 2012. He then moved on a free transfer to Queens Park Rangers, winning the play-offs again in 2014. In July 2016, Green joined Leeds United on a one-year contract. He later joined Huddersfield Town and Chelsea for one year each before retiring in 2019.
Green represented England at under-16, under-18 and B level. He made his debut for the full England squad in 2005. Green was cut from England's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad due to injury but featured in the 2010 edition. He was also in their squad for UEFA Euro 2012.
Club career
Norwich City
Born in Chertsey, Surrey, Green came through the youth system at Norwich City.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He made his first-team debut in the First Division on 11 April 1999, keeping a clean sheet in the 0–0 East Anglia derby draw against rivals Ipswich Town at Carrow Road.<ref name=sb9899/> The first-choice goalkeeper since 1997-1998 remained Andy Marshall — on Marshall's departure in the summer of 2001 Green was able to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper for Norwich.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He was a star of the 2001–02 season play-off campaign which culminated in a final loss to Birmingham City on penalties.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
By 2003, Green was a key figure in the Norwich team.Template:Citation needed He played a key role in helping Norwich into the First Division championship in 2003–04 and promotion into the Premier League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Norwich number one was once again ever present, keeping another 18 clean sheets and conceding just 39 goals in 46 league appearances.Template:Citation needed Green put in many match winning performances during the season.Template:Citation needed These man of the match displays included home fixtures with Derby County and Stoke City; he pulled off a save from Gerry Taggart during the latter.Template:Citation needed Performances of this high standard led to his first England international call up for the friendly in March 2004 versus Sweden.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was also included in the PFA Team of the Year for the season.<ref name=pfa/>
Norwich were relegated into the Championship the following season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Green kept just 6 clean sheets and conceded 77 goals during the Premier League season despite many excellent individual performances.Template:Citation needed England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson continually picked Green for international squads on merit.Template:Citation needed
After relegation Norwich struggled to adjust back to Championship football.Template:Citation needed It proved to be Green's worst season as Norwich's number one, keeping just seven clean sheets in 42 league appearances.Template:Citation needed Green missed the last few matches of 2005–06 after he sustained an injury in the warm-up prior to the away fixture against Sheffield Wednesday.Template:Citation needed In August 2006, Norwich accepted a bid of up to £2 million from West Ham United for Green.<ref name=whusigns>Template:Cite news</ref>
West Ham United
Green signed a four-year deal with West Ham United,<ref name=whusigns /> where he teamed up with former Norwich striker, Dean Ashton who had been sold to West Ham in January 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Green made his debut for West Ham on 19 October 2006 in a 1–0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two of his best performances were when West Ham won 1–0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium<ref>"Green fingers revive Hammers' prospects". The Guardian. London. 9 April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> and against Manchester United where he helped his team to a 1–0 win,<ref>"Manchester United v West Ham United, 0–1" Template:Webarchive. Premier League. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> which preserved West Ham's Premier League status.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Green kept nine clean sheets in 26 appearances during the league season.<ref name=whustats/>
In 2007–08, Green saved the first three penalties taken against him. The first, against Kevin Doyle of Reading,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the second, Benjani of Portsmouth in injury time,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the third from Tottenham's Jermain Defoe, again in injury time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The streak was ended by James McFadden of Birmingham City on 9 February 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> He played in every match and was named the West Ham Hammer of the Year with the team finishing in 10th place in the Premier League.<ref name="Green is Hammer of the Year">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2008–09, Green saved yet another penalty, this time on 30 August 2008 against Jason Roberts of Blackburn Rovers, West Ham then went on to win the match 4–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Green played all 38 league matches for West Ham in that season, keeping ten clean sheets.<ref name=whustats>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> And again played in all 38 league matches for West Ham in 2009–10, keeping eight clean sheets and saving yet another penalty, this time from Aston Villa's Ashley Young in a 2–1 victory.<ref name=whustats/>
Green made 44 appearances in all competitions during 2010–11, keeping seven clean sheets.<ref name=whustats/> He saved a penalty in a 3–1 victory over Wigan Athletic at Upton Park<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and then again against Stoke City in a 2–1 FA Cup defeat.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 19 March 2011, Green made a world-class save against Gareth Bale's free kick in the 0–0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was named Hammer of the Year as runner-up to Scott Parker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Green was sent off for the first time in his club career<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> against Blackpool on 21 February 2012. West Ham, who had not named a substitute goalkeeper in their squad for the match, were forced to play the remainder of the second-half with midfielder Henri Lansbury in goal. They eventually won 4–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> West Ham later won an appeal against the red card leaving Green available to play in their next match.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played 42 of West Ham's 46 match 2011–12 Championship season playing in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium which West Ham United won, sealing their immediate return into the Premier League.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> In June 2012, after West Ham and Green failed to agree new terms at the end of his contract, joint-chairman David Gold announced Green's departure from the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Queens Park Rangers
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Green agreed terms with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on 21 June 2012, and joined on a free transfer on 1 July, on a two-year contract.<ref>"QPR swoop for keeper Green". ESPN. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2016.</ref> He made his debut on 18 August 2012 in a 5–0 home defeat by Swansea City.<ref name=qprdebut>Template:Cite news</ref> Green played only two more matches for QPR before manager Mark Hughes signed Brazilian international Júlio César;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> although Green played the next match against Manchester City, this was only because Júlio César's work permit was not complete<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the Brazilian started the following match, against Chelsea on 15 September 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After the sacking of Hughes, new manager Harry Redknapp replaced Julio César with Green at half time during his first match in charge, against Sunderland on 27 November 2012. Green then went on to play the next five matches.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> before being once again relegated to the bench<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for most of the next 4 months, only starting three matches between 26 December and 20 April,<ref name=sb1213/> two FA Cup matches in January then coming on when Júlio César was injured in the victory over Southampton<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and playing the following match as the Brazilian recovered. Redknapp said following Green's third successive start in the loss to Arsenal<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> that for the remainder of the season he "want[s] to play Rob Green" and that Green "will probably be [his] goalkeeper next season", as he expected Júlio César to be sold over the summer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the start of 2013–14, Green was named as first choice goalkeeper for the opening matches of the season.<ref name=sb1314/> Green was a member of the QPR team that won the 2014 Championship play-off final, 1–0 against Derby County at Wembley Stadium on 24 May 2014.<ref name=2014POF/>
After a single season back in the Premier League, QPR were relegated after a 6–0 away defeat to Manchester City on 10 May 2015, Green's fourth relegation from the Premier League.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Earlier in the season, on 26 December, he saved an early penalty in an eventual 2–1 loss to Arsenal, as his teammate Eduardo Vargas pointed out which way fellow Chilean Alexis Sánchez was likely to shoot.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After starting 2015–16 as QPR's first choice goalkeeper, Green was frozen out the starting line-up one match after the arrival of new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink due to a clause in his contract triggering a contract extension if he played 30 Championship matches.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With QPR wanting to reduce the wage bill, Green left the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of 2015–16, after a move to Premier League club Crystal Palace fell through in the January transfer window.Template:Citation needed
Leeds United
On 6 July 2016, Green signed a one-year contract with Championship club Leeds United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 7 August 2016, Green made his Leeds debut against QPR in a 3–0 defeat, in which he failed to punch a ball from a corner leading to a Sol Bamba own goal.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Green was the match winner in the next match on 10 August 2016 in the League Cup against Fleetwood Town, when he saved a penalty from Fleetwood's Eggert Jónsson in a 5–4 penalty shoot-out victory after a 2–2 extra-time draw<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His first clean sheet came on 20 August 2016 in a 2–0 win against Sheffield Wednesday.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 20 November 2016, Green committed a high-profile error when he dropped the ball under his crossbar onto the foot of Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle to tap the ball home in a 2–0 defeat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 17 December 2016, Green kept his 8th League clean sheet for Leeds, this equalled the tally already for Leeds' clean sheet for the whole of the previous 2015–16 season with goalkeeper predecessor Marco Silvestri.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After making his 600th league appearance, on 26 February 2017, Green saved a penalty from Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes in Leeds' 1–0 victory.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After impressing during his first season at the club, on 18 March 2017, Green signed a new one-year contract at the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Green started the 2017–18 season under new head coach Thomas Christiansen as the club's second choice goalkeeper behind new signing Felix Wiedwald,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and made his only appearance of the season on 22 August 2017 in Leeds' 5–1 League Cup victory against Newport County.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the signing of Andy Lonergan on 27 August 2017,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Leeds reached a mutual termination the same day with Green to allow him to move to Premier League side Huddersfield Town.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Huddersfield Town
On 27 August 2017, Green signed for Premier League club Huddersfield Town on a contract until the end of 2017–18, after his contract with Leeds United was mutually terminated.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Green failed to make a single first-team appearance for Huddersfield and in May 2018, the club announced that his contract would not be renewed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Chelsea
Green signed for Premier League club Chelsea on 26 July 2018 on a one-year contract to provide cover for Thibaut Courtois (later sold and replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga) and Willy Caballero.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2019 he spoke about being a third-choice goalkeeper, stating that "you don't get that same motivation" and "there is not the same commitment in a physical or mental sense".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Despite not even being on the bench for the 2019 UEFA Europa League final or any other Chelsea game during the season, Green celebrated by lifting the Europa League trophy after Chelsea beat Arsenal 4–1 on 29 May 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 31 May 2019, Green announced his retirement from playing.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
International career
Green earned his first call-up to the full England squad in 2004 while at Norwich.<ref>"Happy to be here" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. 30 March 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> On 31 May 2005, he became the sixth Norwich player to wear the Three Lions shirt when he appeared as a half-time substitute for David James in a 3–2 friendly win against Colombia at Giants Stadium in the United States.<ref>"Owen does it again" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> Green remained in the England squad despite Norwich having been relegated into the Championship in 2005, and was selected for the England 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.<ref>"World Cup Squad" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> However, he ruptured his groin whilst taking a goal kick during the England B international against Belarus on 25 May.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was replaced in the squad by Liverpool's Scott Carson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The injury not only meant that Green missed the World Cup but also the start of the 2006–07 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
After a prolonged absence from the international scene, Green was called up for the England "B" match in May 2007<ref>"Injured Foster sent home" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> and then named in the senior England squad to face Brazil and Estonia in June 2007.<ref>"McClaren names squad' Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.</ref> He 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was recalled to the squad in place of the injured Chris Kirkland for England's friendly with France on 26 March 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 6 June 2009 Green made his first England start in their 4–0 win in Almaty against Kazakhstan in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played for England against Croatia on 9 September 2009 with England securing a place in South Africa with a 5–1 victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 10 October 2009, he became the first ever England goalkeeper to be sent off, during the penultimate match of qualification against Ukraine, for a professional foul on Artem Milevskyi early in the match. England went on to lose 1–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Green was named in England's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Manager Fabio Capello opted not to name his first choice goalkeeper until the day of England's opening match, against the United States on 12 June, at which point he selected Green to start.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With England leading 1–0 in the 40th minute, Green failed to save a long-range shot from U.S. midfielder Clint Dempsey, which bounced off his gloves and into the net.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Following this error and an unconvincing final training session on 17 June, Green was dropped. He was replaced by David James who played in England's other matches, starting with a 0–0 draw against Algeria on 18 June.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was omitted from the first England squad named after the tournament for a friendly against Hungary.Template:Citation needed
Green was brought back into the squad for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 16 May 2012, new England manager Roy Hodgson named Green as part of his 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 26 May, he made his first appearance since the World Cup, and kept a clean sheet as England defeated Norway 1–0 in a friendly.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life
In the summer of 2008, Green climbed Mount Kilimanjaro during a charity event for AMREF (the African Medical and Research Foundation).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is a fan of Woking and cited the club's long-time custodian Laurence Batty as another goalkeeping inspiration.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Green stated in an interview in 2017 that he was studying at the Open University for a BA Hons Business Management Degree in order to have something to focus on after he retires from football.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Green has one permanently bent finger and claims to have played for ten years with a finger brace inside his goalkeeper gloves.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Norwich City | 1998–99<ref name=sb9899>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 1999–2000<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2000–01<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2001–02<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3Template:Efn | 0 | 47 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 50 | 0 | |||
| 2003–04<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | First Division | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 48 | 0 | |||
| 2004–05<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2005–06<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07<ref name=sb607/> | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 223 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 241 | 0 | ||
| West Ham United | 2006–07<ref name=sb607>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |
| 2007–08<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2008–09<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 0 | |||
| 2009–10<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2010–11<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3Template:Efn | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||
| Total | 219 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 241 | 0 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2012–13<ref name=sb1213>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14<ref name=sb1314>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3Template:Efn | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Total | 121 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 128 | 0 | ||
| Leeds United | 2016–17<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Championship | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 47 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18<ref name=sb1718/> | Championship | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| Huddersfield Town | 2017–18<ref name=sb1718>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Chelsea | 2018–19<ref name=sb1819>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 609 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 658 | 0 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | |
Honours
Norwich City
West Ham United
Queens Park Rangers
- Football League Championship play-offs: 2014<ref name=2014POF>Template:Cite news</ref>
Individual
- PFA Team of the Year: 2003–04 First Division<ref name=pfa>Template:Cite news</ref>
- West Ham United Hammer of the Year: 2007–08<ref name="Green is Hammer of the Year"/>
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1980 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Chertsey
- English men's footballers
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- Norwich City F.C. players
- West Ham United F.C. players
- Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
- Leeds United F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town A.F.C. players
- Chelsea F.C. players
- English Football League players
- Premier League players
- England men's youth international footballers
- England men's B international footballers
- England men's international footballers
- 2010 FIFA World Cup players
- UEFA Euro 2012 players
- 21st-century English sportsmen