Theodore Whitmore

Theodore Eccleston Whitmore, OD (born 5 August 1972) is a former football midfielder from Jamaica. He is the current manager of the Jamaica national football team.[3]

Theodore Whitmore
Personal information
Full name Theodore Eccleston Whitmore[1]
Date of birth (1972-08-05) 5 August 1972[2]
Place of birth Montego Bay, Jamaica
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Montego Bay Boys Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994 Cape Town Spurs 3 (1)
1996–1997 Violet Kickers 12 (2)
1997–1999 Seba United 14 (1)
1999–2002 Hull City 77 (9)
2002–2003 Seba United ? (4)
2003 Livingston 3 (0)
2003–2004 Seba United ? (1)
2004–2006 Tranmere Rovers 37 (5)
2006 Seba United 24 (8)
National team
1993–2004 Jamaica 120 (24)
Teams managed
2006–2008 Seba United
2007 Jamaica (interim)
2008 Jamaica (assistant)
2008 Jamaica (interim)
2009–2013 Jamaica
2014–2015 Jamaica U-20
2016– Jamaica
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Whitmore attended St. James High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica. During his late teens, he worked as a Baked Goods delivery assistant with National Continental Foods in Montego Bay before moving on to play football in the Jamaica National Premiere League. As a very skillful and creative for a player despite his tall frame, he started his club career at Montego Bay Boys Club, and has since played for Violet Kickers and Seba United in his native Jamaica. He was signed on a free by English league side Hull City following a one-week trial with the club, where he played together with compatriot Ian Goodison, until an accident in Jamaica cut short his Hull career. Whitmore made his debut in an F.A. Cup tie against Macclesfield. On his league debut, away at Rochdale, Whitmore scored a league debut goal. During his 77 games for Hull, he became something of a fan favourite during a relatively unhappy time for the club; who were lurking in the basement of the English Football League, struggling with financial insecurities. Scottish team Livingston acquired his services in 2003,[4] and in June 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers. He had his contract terminated in January 2006 by mutual consent. He returned to Jamaica to become player/coach for his former team Seba United.

International career

Whitmore made his debut for Jamaica in a November 1993 friendly match against the United States, coming on as a late substitute for Hector Wright. Whitmore earned 105 official international caps and scored 24 goals for the Jamaica national team.[5] He was a key member of the Reggae Boyz' squad during the second half of the 1990s, playing as a major catalyst for the Jamaicans as they advanced to their first and only World Cup in 1998. Although Jamaica was eliminated in the first round, Whitmore scored two goals in Jamaica's only win of the competition, a 2–1 victory against Japan. In that same year he was named Caribbean Footballer of the Year. His last international match was also against the United States, a 1–1 away draw on 17 November 2004 during 2006 World Cup qualification in which he was substituted for Jason Euell in the 72nd minute.[6][7]

Management

When Whitmore returned to Seba United in 2006 he returned as both a player and a coach. He was then brought on as interim manager of the Jamaica national team after the firing of former manager Bora Milutinović in November 2007;[8] Jamaica won both games, friendlies against El Salvador and Guatemala, under his watch.[9] He was then retained as an assistant under new coach Renê Simões.[10] Simões lasted nine months as manager due to poor play in the third round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers,[11] and upon his release on 11 September 2008, Whitmore was again appointed interim manager until newly appointed manager John Barnes would be available in November.[12] As interim manager in October 2008, Whitmore guided the Reggae Boyz to back-to-back 1–0 wins against Mexico and Honduras that gained him tremendous support as a manager and put the Jamaicans into range for advancement with one game remaining in semifinal round group play.[9] He again took the reins of the national team when John Barnes left the position in June 2009, to take up a management job at Whitmore's former club Tranmere Rovers in the English League. Whitmore's team struggled during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and were eliminated in the first round. As a part of the national team rebuilding efforts which started in August 2009, Whitmore led the squad to three draws and one win to end 2009. In December 2010, Whitmore led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Cup title. After qualifying Jamaica for the CONCACAF Hexagonal final round in 2012, Whitmore resigned as head coach in June 2013.[13] From December 2014 through February 2015, Whitmore served as Jamaica national u20 coach.[14] In September 2016, Whitmore was named interim head coach of Jamaica[15] In May 2018, Whitmore signed a four-year contract with the JFF.[16]

Personal life

Whitmore was injured in a car accident that led to the death of Reggae Boyz' teammate Stephen Malcolm. After the accident he was charged with manslaughter, of which he was later acquitted.[17] In November 2013, Whitmore's 14-year-old son, Jouvhaine, died after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle. Whitmore's second son Gianni is said to be his twin because they look exactly alike and he is as skilful and talented as his father in his prime.[18]

Career statistics

International goals

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.[19]

As a manager

As of 27 July 2017.
TeamFromToMatchesWonDrawnLostWin %
Seba United 16 August 2006 16 June 2008 ?????
Jamaica 11 November 2007 31 December 2007 2200100.00
Jamaica 11 September 2008 20 November 2008 3300100.00
Jamaica 9 June 2009 12 June 2013 532392143.40
Jamaica u20 26 February 2014 31 December 2015 1013610
Jamaica 26 September 2016 Present 1364345
Career Total 79 31 16 30 40

Achievements

1998, 2005, 2008 (as assistant), 2010 (as manager)
1999
2009

References

  1. "Theodore Whitmore". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Theodore WHITMORE". FIFA.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. "Bulls Abroad: Tappa is Taxi's new Jamaica coach". Once A Metro. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. "Livi gamble on Whitmore". BBC Sport. 25 June 2003.
  5. Holstein, Dick (18 February 2006). "Theodore Whitmore - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF.
  6. "USA - Jamaica". FIFA. 17 November 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  7. Theodore Whitmore at Soccerway
  8. Raynor, Kayon (11 November 2007). "'Tappa' takes over". The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  9. Reid, Paul (23 October 2008). "Appoint Whitmore full time". The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  10. Mugisa, Kwesi (12 January 2008). "Whitmore among Simoes assistants". Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  11. "Rene Simoes fired as coach of Jamaica soccer team". USA Today. AP. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  12. "New National Coach". Jamaica Football Federation. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  13. "Whitmore fired... Reggae Boyz coach asked to resign". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  14. "SPORTSMAX: Home of Champions". www.sportsmax.tv. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Whitmore's way - Reggae Boyz coach pens four-year deal with JFF". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  17. Plunkett, Nagra (29 October 2002). "Court extends bail in Whitmore's manslaughter case". Jamaica Gleaner. Archived from the original on 24 December 2004.
  18. Limited, Jamaica Observer. "'Tappa' Whitmore's son killed in motor vehicle crash". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  19. Theodore Whitmore - Century of International Appearances Archived 25 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
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