Report: Whitbread In Talks With Revs
- Updated: August 14, 2015
Photo Credit: Derby County F.C.
The New England Revolution are pursuing free-agent center back Zak Whitbread, according to a report on MLSSoccer.com, the official website of Major League Soccer. The report states Whitbread’s agent informed the site the sides were “well into talks”.
New England has been worryingly thin at center back since the start of the season, exacerbated by the long-term absence of Darrius Barnes after left knee surgery in April as well as red cards to Andrew Farrell and Jose Goncalves throughout the season and injuries to emergency center back Jermaine Jones. Multiple trials of Concord, Mass. native and former Birmingham City center back Will Packwood this summer did not lead to a contract.
The 31-year-old Whitbread, was born in Houston, Tex., but has spent his entire career in England, joining Liverpool’s youth set-up at age 8 in 1992, but never appearing for the team in a Premier League game before leaving in 2006. Whitbread has subsequently played for Millwall, Norwich City, Leicester City, and most recently Derby County. Whitbread, who has also seen time at left back, has appeared in 18 Premier League games, 79 games in England’s Championship (second division) and 79 games in England’s League One (third division).
Whitbread’s career has been marred by injuries including a pelvic injury in 2006 that ruled him out for half the season, a calf injury in 2010, a hamstring injury in 2011, another hamstring injury the following season, another calf injury in 2012 and another in 2013. Most recently, Whitbread missed 32 games this past season with hamstring injuries.
Whitbread played for the U.S. U-20 National Team at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup where the team advanced to the Quarterfinals, but has never appeared for the full men’s national team with injuries preventing him from appearing after past call-ups.
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