Millions of children around the world, especially boys, dream of becoming great footballers while playing in their neighborhood fields. A fair share of them even buy jerseys emblazoned with the names of their idols, like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Andriy Shevchenko, in hopes of fueling their ambitions. Today on i-houston, let’s dive into the story of a player who hails from Houston but went on to defend the colors of English clubs Liverpool and Leicester.
Zak Whitbread
Born January 10, 1984, in Houston, Texas, Zak Whitbread, a future defender, spent only a few years in Texas before moving overseas to England and Singapore. His father, Barry, was also a football coach, leading Singapore’s national team in the 1990s, where young Zak attended school and college.
Early Career
Even as a child, Zak was a fan of Manchester United, but his father decided to enroll him in Liverpool’s academy when Zak was just eight. After 11 years of training, Zak was on the verge of making the senior team in 2003, though initially, he played with the Reds’ reserves. His debut came during Liverpool’s 2003 tour in a match against Thailand, where he made his first appearance as a substitute.
Zak officially played for Liverpool’s main squad in the 2004-2005 Champions League qualifiers, marking the beginning of his professional journey.
Professional Career
Despite his initial success, Zak struggled to secure a permanent spot on Liverpool’s starting lineup and was loaned to London club Millwall for more game time. Between 2005 and 2006, he played for Millwall, eventually signing a full contract and spending four years with the Lions, which proved productive.
In 2010, the Houston native moved to Norwich, but injuries limited his playing time with the Canaries. In 2012, Zak joined Leicester City, then an ambitious team aiming for the English Championship title. Zak played for Leicester from 2012 to 2014, and although his contract ended before Leicester’s victorious 2015-2016 season, he played a role in the club’s rise. In his first match with the Foxes, against Burton Albion, Zak even managed to score a goal.
U.S. National Team Appearances
While his professional accomplishments primarily took place abroad, Zak also represented the U.S. at home, playing five matches with the U-20 national team and scoring one goal.
No one can say for certain how Zak Whitbread’s career would have unfolded if his father hadn’t urged him to join Liverpool’s academy. His journey, however, serves as a testament to destiny, and Houstonians can take pride in knowing they once shared the streets with such a talented athlete.