Steven Whittaker

Football player infobox
playername = Steven Whittaker


fullname = Steven Gordon Whittaker
height = height|m=1.86
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|6|16
cityofbirth = Edinburgh
countryofbirth = Scotland
currentclub = Rangers
clubnumber = 28
position = Right back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2001–2007
2007–
clubs = Hibernian
Rangers
caps(goals) = 141 (4)
031 (4)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = August 9, 2008
ntupdate =

Steven Gordon Whittaker (born June 16 1984 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. He is seen as the first-choice right back at the club, but has played in a number of positions including as a right midfielder and left-back.

Club career

Hibernian

In 2001, Whittaker joined the likes of Kenny Miller and Derek Riordan in signing for Hibernian from Hutchison Vale Boys Club. He made his debut against St Johnstone in a 1-0 win on the May 12 2002. The following season he went on to make another six top team appearances before finally become a regular starter the season after. Though with him lacking a defined position his form suffered as he was deployed at right-back or on either side of midfield under Bobby Williamson. However, he did score his first career goal during this poor spell, against Partick Thistle in a 3-2 win on January 3 2004.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3363431.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Hibernian 3-2 Partick Thistle|date=3 January 2004] He was an unused subsitutite when Hibernian lost the Scottish League Cup final in 2004.

The arrival of Tony Mowbray later that year saw Whittaker confirmed in the team's right-back role, and with this new certainty, he flourished, becoming a regular in the Scotland Under 21 team and helping Hibs to a third place league finish. He made 173 appearances for Hibernian and scored five times.

Rangers

Whittaker completed a £2m move to Rangers on August 1 2007, signing a five-year contract.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6921914.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Whittaker in £2m Rangers switch|date=1 August 2007] On August 18, 2007, he started his first game for Rangers against Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League and marked his debut with the second goal in a 7-2 win for Rangers.cite news|url=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6949202.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Rangers 7-2 Falkirk|date=18 August 2007]

Whittaker scored the second goal of Rangers 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Cup quarter final second leg.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7336365.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Sporting 0-2 Rangers|date=10 April 2008] He picked the ball up on the half way line and weaved through several players before capping it off with a cool finish. He stated after the match that it was the best goal he had scored in his career.cite news|url=http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1286840,00.html|publisher=Rangers Official website|title=That's My Best Ever|date=10 April 2008]

International career

In October 2006 Whittaker was brought into the Scotland squad for the European Football Championship qualifying match against Ukraine after the suspension of Christian Dailly following a yellow card in 1-0 win over France. Although he did not feature in the match.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6033359.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Whittaker called into Scots squad|date=9 October 2006]

Whittaker was called into the Scotland B side to face Republic of Ireland's B team on 20 November 2007.cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football_international.cfm?id=1784702007|publisher=Scotsman website|title=Forgotten man Iwelumo called into 'B' squad|date=10 November 2007] He played the first sixty-eight minutes but was replaced by Ross McCormack.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7100835.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Scotland B 1-1 Rep of Ireland B|date=20 November 2007] He also played in the 0-0 draw in November 2006.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6149066.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|title=Rep of Ireland B 0-0 Scotland B|date=14 November 2006]

Honours

With Hibernian

With Rangers

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=31665|name=Steven Whittaker