Scottish association football player
Steven Gordon Whittaker
(born 16 June 1984) is a Scottish
football
coach and former player who is currently the assistant manager of
Ayr United
. Whittaker played as a
defender
, primarily as a right-back.
Whittaker began his career with
Hibernian
and made over 170 appearances in his first spell with the
Easter Road
side. He also won the
Scottish League Cup
in
2007
before signing for
Rangers
in August that year. Whittaker won three
Scottish Premier League
titles, two
Scottish Cups
and three Scottish League Cups with Rangers. At the start of the
2012?13
season, he signed for
Norwich City
on a free transfer. After five years with Norwich, Whittaker returned to Hibernian in 2017, before moving to Dunfermline Athletic in 2020 in what would be his final season as a player.
Whittaker made 31 international appearances for the
Scotland national team
between 2009 and 2016.
Since retiring as a player, Whittaker has assisted his former teammate
Scott Brown
at
Fleetwood Town
and Ayr United.
Club career
[
edit
]
Hibernian
[
edit
]
Despite being a boyhood
Hearts
fan,
[4]
Whittaker joined
Kenny Miller
and
Derek Riordan
in signing for
Hibernian
from the
Hutchison Vale Boys Club
.
[5]
[6]
He made his debut against
St Johnstone
in a 1?0 win on 12 May 2002.
[7]
In the
2002?03 season
, he went on to make further six first-team appearances before finally becoming a regular starter the following season. Due to Whittaker lacking a defined position, his form suffered as he was deployed at right-back and across the midfield under
Bobby Williamson
. He scored his first career goal against
Partick Thistle
in a 3?2 win on 3 January 2004.
[8]
He was an unused substitute when Hibernian lost the
2004 Scottish League Cup Final
.
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 Hibernian to a third-place league finish. Whittaker was a regular in the Hibs teams of both Mowbray and
John Collins
, and was in the side that won the
2007 League Cup Final
.
[9]
He made 174 appearances in all competitions for Hibs, scoring five goals.
Rangers
[
edit
]
Whittaker completed a £2 million move to
Rangers
on 1 August 2007, signing a five-year contract.
[10]
He was given the number 28 shirt and started his first game for Rangers on 18 August 2007 against
Falkirk
in the
Scottish Premier League
, marking his debut with the second goal in a 7?2 win for Rangers.
[11]
Having been deployed mostly at left back during the first half of the season, Whittaker established himself as first-choice right back after
Alan Hutton
's departure to
Tottenham Hotspur
in January 2008. Whittaker scored the second goal of Rangers 2?0 win over
Sporting CP
in the
UEFA Cup
quarter-final second-leg on 10 April 2008.
[12]
He picked the ball up on the halfway line and "danced through the Sporting defence" before scoring.
[12]
For the 2009?10 season, Whittaker was given number 16 and scored 11 goals in all competitions as Rangers won both the league title and the
League Cup
. His goal tally was aided by regularly taking
penalties
.
[13]
Whittaker signed a new five-year contract with Rangers in July 2011, after the club had rejected bids from
Turkish
club
Bursaspor
.
[14]
During a
UEFA Champions League
qualifier against Swedish club
Malmo FF
, he was sent off for throwing the ball at an opponent player after receiving a poor tackle.
Rangers entered
administration
in February 2012 and were subsequently
liquidated
.
Charles Green
, who bought the business and assets of Rangers from the administrator, attempted to transfer the player contracts to a new Rangers company.
[15]
Whittaker was one of several players to object to this proposal.
[15]
PFA Scotland
had previously commented that players were entitled to become
free agents
if they objected to the transfer.
[16]
Whittaker explained himself in a news conference, saying, "I'm 28 and I want to play at the top level for as much as I can. It doesn't look like Rangers will be in the SPL and there's no European football. We owe no loyalty to the new club. There is no history there for us."
[15]
Norwich City
[
edit
]
Whittaker signed for English
Premier League
club
Norwich City
on 30 June 2012, signing a four-year deal.
[17]
On 20 July, Whittaker received provisional international clearance from
FIFA
that allowed him to play while arbitration over his move from Rangers continued.
[18]
Whittaker suffered an ankle injury during a friendly match against
Celtic
,
[19]
which caused him to miss the start of the
2012?13 Premier League
season. Two months after receiving his ankle injury, he described it as the worst of his career.
[20]
He made his competitive debut for Norwich on 31 October, playing at right back in a 2?1 win against
Tottenham Hotspur
. A few days later, Whittaker made his league debut for the club, playing at right back and stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes, in a 1?0 win over
Stoke City
. After making his debut, Whittaker said he was pleased to make his debut with a win.
[21]
The following month, on 8 December 2012, Whittaker scored his first goal in his Premier League career after an assist from
Robert Snodgrass
in a 4?3 win over
Swansea City
.
[22]
Whittaker scored in the opening game of the
2013?14 Premier League
season with a goal against
Everton
. His blasted shot struck the post and bounced back out, but he beat
Tim Howard
to the rebound to tap it back in. He also assisted debuting teammate
Ricky van Wolfswinkel
; Whittaker sliced a shot with his foot which floated toward Van Wolfswinkel, who was free to head-in the goal.
[23]
Norwich were relegated in 2013?14, but Whittaker played regularly in 2014?15 as they were promoted by winning the play-off final. Whittaker set up one of the goals in the final.
[24]
Whittaker received his first red card in a league game against
Southampton
in August 2015; he was booked for blocking
Matt Targett
from taking a throw-in, and three minutes later, received a second yellow (and consequently a red) for grappling
Du?an Tadi?
's shirt during a challenge.
[25]
Following Whittaker's sending-off, Norwich were defeated 3?0.
[26]
Norwich were again relegated in 2015?16, while Whittaker played less frequently for their first team. In May 2017, Norwich announced that Whittaker would be released at the end of his contract.
[24]
Hibernian (second spell)
[
edit
]
On 15 July 2017, Whittaker rejoined
Hibernian
on a three-year deal.
[27]
He scored a goal in his second league debut for Hibs, a 3?1 win against
Partick Thistle
on 5 August.
[28]
A hip injury prevented Whittaker from playing during the latter part of the 2018?19 season.
[29]
After
Paul Heckingbottom
was sacked as head coach in November 2019, Whittaker assisted caretaker manager
Eddie May
.
[30]
After four months out of the team, Whittaker was used as a defensive midfielder in both matches of a Scottish Cup tie with
Dundee United
in January 2020.
[31]
Whittaker was one of three first team players released by Hibs at the end of the 2019–20 season.
[32]
Dunfermline Athletic
[
edit
]
Following his release from
Hibernian
, Whittaker signed a one-year deal with
Scottish Championship
club
Dunfermline Athetlic
, which would also see him take up a position as a coach with the side.
[33]
[34]
In June 2021 it was announced that Whittaker had retired from playing in order to take up a full-time coaching position with Dunfermline.
[35]
International career
[
edit
]
Whittaker was a regular for the
Scotland under-21
squad. In October 2006 he was added to the full
Scotland
squad for the
Euro 2008 qualifying
match against
Ukraine
, although he did not feature in the match.
[36]
Whittaker was then called into the Scotland B side to face a Republic of Ireland B team on 20 November 2007.
[37]
He played 68 minutes before being replaced by
Ross McCormack
.
[38]
He also played in the goalless draw between those two sides in November 2006.
[39]
He made his debut for the
full national side
on 12 August 2009, in a 4?0 defeat to
Norway
.
[40]
His second appearance came in the 2?0 victory over
Macedonia
, when he came on for the injured
Callum Davidson
.
[41]
Whittaker earned 31 caps up to March 2016. He dropped out of the squad as he lost his place at Norwich, but was recalled in September 2017.
[42]
Coaching career
[
edit
]
Whittaker, who had been a coach at
Dunfermline Athletic
when he retired as a player, became joint interim manager (along with
Greg Shields
) of the club after
Peter Grant
left the club.
[43]
Shields and Whittaker were in charge for two matches, before
John Hughes
was appointed on a permanent basis.
[44]
On 13 May 2022 Whittaker joined
Fleetwood Town
as assistant manager, working with his former Hibs and Scotland teammate
Scott Brown
. Whittaker and Brown were sacked by Fleetwood in September 2023.
[45]
They teamed up again at
Ayr United
in January 2024.
[46]
Career statistics
[
edit
]
Club
[
edit
]
- As of 8 May 2021
[47]
[48]
International appearances
[
edit
]
Managerial statistics
[
edit
]
- As of match played on 13 November 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team
|
From
|
To
|
Record
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
Win %
|
Dunfermline Athletic
[Note 1]
|
31 October 2021
|
15 November 2021
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
50.0
|
Total
|
550
|
218
|
123
|
209
|
0
39.6
|
Honours
[
edit
]
Hibernian
Rangers
Norwich City
References
[
edit
]
- ^
The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2005.06
. Cre8 Publishing. 2005. p. 28.
ISBN
978-0-95485-561-1
.
- ^
"Smith reveals ethos behind Hutchie success"
.
The Scotsman
. 16 February 2009
. Retrieved
28 October
2018
.
- ^
"Ex Hutchison Vale Players Now Senior Clubs"
.
Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale F.C.
6 August 2018
. Retrieved
28 October
2018
.
- ^
Ralston, Gary (22 October 2011).
"I grew up a Jambo but now my heart is at Rangers, says Steven Whittaker"
.
Daily Record
. Retrieved
31 March
2012
.
- ^
- ^
"HIBERNIAN : 1946/47 ? 2008/09"
. Post War English & Scottish Football League A?Z Player's Database
. Retrieved
25 July
2010
.
- ^
"Sad end for Saints"
. BBC Sport. 12 May 2002.
- ^
"Hibernian 3?2 Partick Thistle"
. BBC Sport. 3 January 2004.
- ^
"Whittaker completes return to Hibs"
. BBC Sport.
- ^
"Whittaker in £2m Rangers switch"
. BBC Sport. 1 August 2007.
- ^
"Rangers 7?2 Falkirk"
. BBC Sport. 18 August 2007.
- ^
a
b
"Sporting 0?2 Rangers"
. BBC Sport. 10 April 2008.
- ^
"Whittaker happy to be put on the spot"
. STV Sport. 20 April 2011
. Retrieved
2 May
2017
.
- ^
"Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker pen long-term deals"
. BBC Sport. 4 July 2011
. Retrieved
4 July
2011
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Rangers: Steven Naismith & Steven Whittaker oppose newco transfer"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
29 August
2012
.
- ^
"Rangers: Players free not to join 'newco' says law expert"
. BBC Sport. 14 June 2012
. Retrieved
24 June
2012
.
- ^
"CITY SWOOP FOR WHITTAKER"
.
canaries.co.uk
. Norwich City FC. 30 June 2012. Archived from
the original
on 3 July 2012
. Retrieved
30 June
2012
.
- ^
"Video: Steven Whittaker gets Fifa clearance to join Norwich City"
.
Norwich Evening News
. 23 July 2012
. Retrieved
11 December
2012
.
- ^
"Steven Whittaker to miss start of season for Norwich"
. BBC Sport. 1 August 2012
. Retrieved
29 August
2012
.
- ^
"Steven Whittaker is ready to get stuck in for Norwich City"
.
Norwich Evening News
. 31 October 2012
. Retrieved
11 December
2012
.
- ^
"Norwich City defender Steven Whittaker pleased to make Premier League debut"
. Sky Sports. 5 November 2012
. Retrieved
11 December
2012
.
- ^
"Swansea 3 ? 4 Norwich"
. BBC Sport. 8 December 2012
. Retrieved
11 December
2012
.
- ^
"Norwich 2-2 Everton"
. 17 August 2013
. Retrieved
25 January
2019
.
- ^
a
b
"Norwich City: John Ruddy & Sebastien Bassong among seven released by Canaries"
. BBC Sport. 2 May 2017
. Retrieved
2 May
2017
.
- ^
Penderville, Liam (30 August 2015).
"Jonathan Moss shows Steven Whittaker his notebook instead of red card during Norwich's defeat to Southampton"
.
Daily Mirror
. Retrieved
12 July
2017
.
- ^
Pitt-Brooke, Jack (30 August 2015).
"Southampton vs Norwich City match report: Ronald Koeman delights in magic of Sadio Mane while Victor Wanyama refuses to play"
.
The Independent
.
Archived
from the original on 25 May 2022
. Retrieved
12 July
2017
.
- ^
"WHITTAKER JOINS ON A THREE YEAR DEAL"
. Hibernian FC. 15 July 2017.
- ^
Sutherland, Jonathan (5 August 2017).
"Hibernian 3?1 Partick Thistle"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
6 August
2017
.
- ^
Hardie, David (1 July 2019).
"Marc McNulty still in the radar of Hibs"
.
Edinburgh Evening News
. Retrieved
1 July
2019
.
- ^
McLauchlin, Brian (4 November 2019).
"Hibernian: Paul Heckingbottom sacked as head coach"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
4 November
2019
.
- ^
Brown, Anthony (28 January 2020).
"Three takeaways from Hibs' Scottish Cup win over Dundee United"
.
Edinburgh Evening News
. Retrieved
29 January
2020
.
- ^
"Hibernian: Steven Whittaker among those exiting Easter Road"
. BBC Sport. 25 May 2020
. Retrieved
25 May
2020
.
- ^
"Steven Whittaker signs for Dunfermline"
. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 29 June 2020
. Retrieved
29 June
2020
.
- ^
"Dunfermline Athletic: Steven Whittaker & Paul Watson sign"
. BBC Sport. 29 June 2020
. Retrieved
30 June
2020
.
- ^
"Back Room Staff Update"
. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 3 June 2021
. Retrieved
3 June
2021
.
- ^
"Whittaker called into Scots squad"
. BBC Sport. 9 October 2006.
- ^
"Forgotten man Iwelumo called into 'B' squad"
.
The Scotsman
. 10 November 2007.
- ^
"Scotland B 1?1 Rep of Ireland B"
. BBC Sport. 20 November 2007.
- ^
"Rep of Ireland B 0?0 Scotland B"
. BBC Sport. 14 November 2006.
- ^
"Norway 4?0 Scotland"
. BBC Sport. 12 August 2009.
- ^
"Scotland 2?0 Macedonia"
. BBC Sport. 5 September 2009.
- ^
"Scotland call-up for Millwall's Jordan Archer and Hibs' Steven Whittaker"
. BBC Sport. 21 August 2017
. Retrieved
3 September
2017
.
- ^
"DAFC Board Statement"
. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 31 October 2021
. Retrieved
31 October
2021
.
- ^
"Dunfermline Athletic appoint John Hughes as manager on two-and-a-half year deal"
. BBC Sport. 12 November 2021
. Retrieved
17 November
2021
.
- ^
"Scott Brown: Fleetwood sack former Celtic legend as manager"
.
BBC Sport
. 3 September 2023
. Retrieved
3 September
2023
.
- ^
"Scott Brown: Former Celtic captain back in Scottish football at Ayr United"
.
Sky Sports
. 23 January 2024
. Retrieved
24 January
2024
.
- ^
Steven Whittaker
at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- ^
Steven Whittaker
at Soccerbase
- ^
Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin.
"Steven Whittaker"
.
national-football-teams.com
.
- ^
"Zenit St Petersburg 2?0 Rangers"
. BBC Sport. 14 May 2008
. Retrieved
5 May
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.
- ^
Shepka, Phil (25 May 2015).
"Middlesbrough 0?2 Norwich City"
. BBC Sport
. Retrieved
24 December
2018
.
External links
[
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]