Jermain Defoe

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jermain Defoe


fullname = Jermain Colin Defoe
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|10|7|df=yes
cityofbirth = Beckton, London
countryofbirth = England
height = height|m=1.69
position = Striker
currentclub = Portsmouth
clubnumber = 14
youthyears = 1997–1999
1999
youthclubs = Charlton Athletic
West Ham United
years = 1999–2004
2000–2001
2004–2008
2008–
clubs = West Ham United
→ Bournemouth (loan)
Tottenham Hotspur
Portsmouth
caps(goals) = 093 (29)
029 (18)
167 (64)
019 (13)
nationalyears = 2006–2008
2004–
nationalteam = England B
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 0(0)
031 0(6)
pcupdate = 14:24, 28 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 20:07, 11 October 2008 (UTC)

Jermain Colin Defoe (born 7 October 1982 in Beckton, London) is an English footballer of Saint Lucian and Dominican descent. He is a striker who plays club football for Portsmouth, in the Premier League, having signed from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2008. He began his career at West Ham United, and in the early part of his career he had a loan spell at A.F.C. Bournemouth.

Background

Defoe attended St Joachim Junior School in Custom House, Londoncite book | last = Blows | first = Kirk | coauthors = Ben Sharratt | title = Claret and Blue Blood, Pumping Life Into West Ham United | publisher =Mainstream Publishing (Edinburgh) | date =2002 | pages = pp. 230-234 | isbn = 1-84018-489-2] and St Bonaventure's Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, London. [cite news | last = Chadband | first = Ian | title = Why School's Never Out For Jermain | publisher = Evening Standard | date = 2005-02-17 | url =http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-16677840-details/Why+school's+never+out+for+Jermain/article.do | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He joined the Sunday league team, Senrab, well known in London for producing players such as Lee Bowyer, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Ledley King, [cite news | title = Lessons from Senrab's soccer school | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-03-30 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3580385.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] and then joined the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall, Shropshire, as a 14 year old in 1997. He lives in Hertfordshire [ [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=433637&in_page_id=1879 WAG gets her £200,000 kitchen] ] and is a Christian. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/6200993.stm Prayer helped Defoe bounce back] ]

Club career

West Ham United

Defoe was spotted playing for Senrab by Charlton Athletic who enrolled him at the FA National School of Excellence at Lilleshall in 1997. Two years later, he took the controversial decision, aged 16, to turn professional with West Ham United, following which Charlton were subsequently awarded a compensation package rising to £1.4 million depending on Premiership and international appearances. At West Ham, he was a member of the Under-19 team that won the Premiership Academy title in 1999-00, scoring twice against Arsenal in the play-off final, and went on to make his first-team debut in a League Cup game against Walsall in September 2000, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win. [cite news | title = Walsall 0-1 West Ham
publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2000-09-19 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/930913.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] The following season, he joined Second Division club Bournemouth on a near season-long loan, where he scored in ten consecutive games, equalling John Aldridge's post-war record. [cite news | title = Defoe's perfect ten | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-01-24 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/1134420.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He scored 19 goals in 31 appearances for Bournemouth.cite web | title = Jermain Defoe | work = Soccerbase | publisher = Racing Post | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=17118 | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] West Ham manager Harry Redknapp tipped him for stardom, saying, "He's done great. I sent him out to Bournemouth to get some experience playing league football and he's coped marvellously. To score 10 goals in 10 games is a terrific achievement. He's a bright lad who's full of confidence. Nothing knocks him, he's a typical goal-scorer. If he misses, he'll be there the next time looking for a goal. He's a kid with a big future." [cite news | title =Redknapp tips Defoe for stardom| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-01-24 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/1134216.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ]

Defoe finished as the West Ham's top scorer in the 2001-02 season despite being used primarily as a substitute by manager Glenn Roeder, scoring 14 goals in 39 league and cup appearances, including the only goal in a 1-0 away win against Manchester United in December 2001, as West Ham finished seventh in the Premiership. [cite news | title = Defoe stuns Man Utd | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-12-08 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1696344.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He scored a further 11 goals in 42 league and cup appearances in the 2002-03 season but was unable to prevent West Ham from being relegated. [cite news | title = West Ham relegated
publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2003-05-11 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2978071.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Less than 24 hours after the club had been relegated, Defoe made a written request for a transfer, saying "As much as I love West Ham United I feel that now is the right time for me to move on in my career. This is very much a career decision. I am very ambitious and hungry to achieve at the highest levels of the game for both club and country." The timing of his request however drew criticism from both fans and team-mates and was turned down by the club. [cite news | title = Defoe demands transfer| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2003-05-12 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3020999.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] [cite news | title = West Ham block Defoe move| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2003-05-13 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3023583.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He later apologised to supporters, saying "I mishandled that move and I can only apologise. I'm young and I've learned from it. I still played my hardest for West Ham and gave them 100% and want to thank the fans for their support." [cite news | title = Defoe apologises to Hammers| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-02-03 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/3453503.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe began the 2003-04 season with West Ham but a refusal to sign a new contract and disciplinary problems, including three sending offs, which saw him play only 22 games out of a possible 34, led to West Ham accepting an offer from Tottenham for him in the January transfer window.cite news | title = Spurs sign Defoe| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-02-02 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3452217.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe had scored 41 goals in 105 league and cup appearances for West Ham.

Tottenham Hotspur

Defoe joined Tottenham in January 2004 for an initial fee of £6 million, rising to £7 million depending on "specific performance criteria", and with Bobby Zamora joining West Ham. Manager David Pleat said, "I can't think of a British striker at his age who has achieved as much in such a short space of time. His goal record for a 21-year-old is quite exceptional. I hope he will have a fine career at Tottenham." [cite news | title = Pleat hails Defoe signing| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-02-03 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3453953.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe marked his arrival at Tottenham with a goal on his debut in the 4-3 home win over Portsmouth in February 2004 [cite news | title = Tottenham 4-3 Portsmouth| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-02-07 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3447475.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] and added a further six in the remainder of the 2003-04 season, scoring seven goals in 15 matches. He then scored 13 goals in 36 matches in the Premier League, including a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Southampton in December 2004, [cite news | title = Tottenham 5-1 Southampton| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-12-18 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4088015.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] and nine goals in eight games in the FA Cup and League Cup, in the 2004-05 season. Despite speculation linking him with other clubs, Defoe signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with Tottenham in April 2005. [cite news | title = Defoe signs new contract at Spurs | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2005-04-29 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/4498321.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] The following season was not as profitable for Defoe and Spurs manager Martin Jol used Defoe in rotation with Robbie Keane and Mido providing the competition for a starting position; Defoe started 23 times and came on as substitute 13 times, scoring nine goals.

Defoe made 49 league and cup appearances for Tottenham, scoring 18 goals, during the 2006-07 season as Tottenham competed in the UEFA Cup as well as the domestic competitions. He appeared to bite West Ham player Javier Mascherano on the shoulder during Tottenham's 1-0 win over West Ham in October 2006, sparking a melee between players of both sides. [cite news | title = Tottenham 1-0 West Ham | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-10-19 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6050700.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] The FA declined to take action against Defoe as the referee, Steve Bennett, had booked Defoe for the incident. [cite news | title = FA will not punish Defoe 'bite' | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-10-23 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6076094.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He scored his 50th goal for Tottenham in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day in December 2006, in which he scored both goals, [cite news | title = Tottenham 2-1 Aston Villa | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-12-26 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6200161.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] and scored in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Charlton in May 2007, which condemned his former club to relegation to the Championship. [cite news | title = Charlton 0-2 Tottenham | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2007-05-07 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6602895.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe later offered his sympathy for Charlton and expressed his wishes for them to bounce straight back to the Premiership the following season, in a post-match interview. During the summer of 2007, there was speculation about Defoe's future at Tottenham following the arrival of Darren Bent for a fee of £16.5 million. Defoe however insisted that he would stay at Tottenham and fight for his place, saying "I'm really excited about the new season and the prospect of another campaign in Europe. We have made some good signings and are now stronger and better equipped to compete in all competitions." [cite news | title = Defiant Defoe to fight for place | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2007-07-05 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6272284.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ]

On 20 September, Defoe came on as a substitute against Famagusta and scored twice, scoring his first goals of the season. He was then axed from the squad in the next league game against Bolton on 23 September. On 25 November 2007 he missed a crucial penalty against former club West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground in the final minute of the game which would have won the game for Spurs. As a result, the game finished 1–1.

Portsmouth

Defoe joined Portsmouth in January 2008 and scored the equalizing goal on his debut, a 1–1 draw at home to Chelsea. [cite news |title=Portsmouth 1-1 Chelsea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7210607.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-02-02 |accessdate=2008-02-03 ] In March 2008, he was unable to play against Tottenham as the Premier League ruled that he was ineligible to do so as he was initially signed on loan in January 2008 [cite news |title=Defoe 'ineligible' to face Spurs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7307676.stm|publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-03-20 |accessdate=2008-03-24 ] The following week in Portsmouth's game against Wigan he scored two goals, becoming the first ever Portsmouth player to score in his first five home games. Due to appearances in Tottenham's third and fourth round ties Defoe found himself cup-tied for all the subsequent matches of Pompey's successful FA Cup 2007-08 campaign. This was particularly unfortunate as Defoe's transfer also resulted in him missing out on playing in Spurs' 2008 Football League Cup Final victory over Chelsea despite appearing in every match en route to the final. Defoe ended the 2007-08 season with 8 goals in 12 appearances for Portsmouth.

Defoe scored his and Portsmouth's first goal of the 2008-09 season on 30 August 2008 with the opener in a 3-0 win at Everton and on 13 September 2008 scored the club's first home goals of 2008-09 with a brace against Middlesbrough. Defoe also contributed a goal and an assist in Portsmouth's first ever match in major European competition against Vitória Guimarães on 18 September 2008.

International career

Defoe's form for Bournemouth in the 2000-01 season saw him selected for the England U21s team to play Mexico U21s in May 2001, and he marked his debut with the second goal as England U21s won 3-0. [cite news | title = Injury-hit England thrive| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2001-05-24 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1344736.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He went on to gain 23 caps for England U21s, [cite web| title = England U21 Caps, 1976-present| publisher = Football Association | url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] scoring seven goals. [cite web| title = England U21 Scorers, 1976-2005| publisher = Football Association | url=http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe made his debut for the senior England team in a 1-0 defeat to Sweden in March 2004, coming on as an early substitute for the injured Darius Vassell. [cite news | title = Sweden 1-0 England| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-03-31 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3577473.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson singled out Defoe's display for praise in an otherwise poor performance by England, saying, "Jermain Defoe did very well - I liked what I saw. He showed that he can do very well even in international football and that he is technically very good. Jermain is quick and he knows where the goal is, so I liked him very much." [cite news | title = Defoe delights Eriksson| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-03-31 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3586847.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He was not however selected for the England squad to take part in Euro 2004. [cite news | title = England squad confirmed| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-06-02 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/england/3714245.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He made his first start for England in a World Cup qualifying match against Poland in September 2004, scoring in a 2-1 win. [cite news | title = Poland 1-2 England| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-09-08 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3631194.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] As he did six months earlier, Eriksson paid tribute to Defoe, saying, ""Jermain is a great talent. It couldn't have been much better for him. He did very well. He scored one goal and created other chances as well. He is a great player who will always score goals." [cite news | title = Eriksson delight for Defoe| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2004-09-08 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3636704.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ]

Despite appearing regularly for England in World Cup qualifying games and friendly matches, Defoe was not named in the provisional England squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and named only on a five-man standby list. [cite news | title = Walcott & Lennon in England squad | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-05-08 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4983618.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He joined the squad for training in Germany but returned to England when Wayne Rooney was cleared to play after having suffered a foot injury in April. [cite news | title = Defoe departs England Cup squad | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-06-09 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5063198.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He confessed that he was baffled by his omission, saying, "I don't know why I'm not out there. I've been involved in every squad for the last two years and feel I've played a part in helping us to qualify. I have never felt fitter and sharper than I was in training and believe I could have scored goals in the tournament. It's a strange decision and everybody I speak to thinks so as well." [cite news | title = Defoe baffled by England omission | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-06-11 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5068640.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Eriksson said after the tournament that he did not think that Defoe would have been a better option than 17 year old Theo Walcott, who had been selected for the England squad, adding, "If I had thought so I would have picked him. I've seen him 15 or 20 times this season and I have to take the best players who I think will be good for us in the future." [cite news | title = Eriksson defends Walcott choice | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-07-02 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/5139428.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] He made a further explanation a few months later, saying, "Jermain had a very bad season. I don't think he deserved to go to the World Cup. Taking Theo was the right decision." [cite news | title = Eriksson defends Defoe exclusion | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-11-12 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6140930.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ]

Steve McClaren, who took over as England manager after the World Cup, selected Defoe for England in his first match, a friendly against Greece in August 2006. [cite news | title = England 4-0 Greece | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2006-08-16 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4794867.stm| accessdate = 2007-08-18 ] Defoe continued to be selected and to appear for England in Euro 2008 qualifying games and friendly matches.

Defoe was initially omitted from Fabio Capello's first squad with the new manager insisting he would only select players who were playing regular club football. One day after scoring on his Portsmouth debut Defoe was recalled to the England squad to replace the injured Gabriel Agbonlahor. [cite news | title = Wright-Phillips fit for England| publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2008-02-05 | http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7225317.stm| accessdate = 2008-02-05 ] Defoe took his international goals tally up to five in the Caribbean on June 1 2008 when he scored twice against a less than impressive Trinidad and Tobago defence and staking a claim for a more regular place in the international team. [cite news | title = Jermain Defoe bangs drum for permanent role with deadly double | publisher = Times online | date = 2008-06-02 | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4045972.ece| accessdate = 2008-06-02 ]

Defoe scored his first competitive international goal of 2008 with the final goal in England's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan on October 11 2008 after coming on as a late sub for Wayne Rooney.

International goals

References

External links

*FIFA player|186453|Jermain Defoe
*soccerbase|17118|Jermain Defoe
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Players/Postings/2004/03/Jermain+Defoe+Tottenham+Hotspur.htm Jermain Defoe profile] at thefa.com
* [http://footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=115&b=true&pn=Jermain_Colin_Defoe Jermaine Defoe profile and stats] at footballdatabase.com

Persondata
NAME=Defoe, Jermain Colin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1982-10-07
PLACE OF BIRTH=Beckton, London, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=