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Donovan Ricketts

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Donovan Ricketts
Donovan Ricketts
Personal information
Full name Donovan Ricketts
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Los Angeles Galaxy
Number 1
Youth career
1994–1997 Wadadah
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Village United
2004–2005 Bolton Wanderers 0 (0)
2004–2005 → Bradford City (loan) 4 (0)
2005–2008 Bradford City 104 (0)
2009- Village United
2008&ndash2009; Los Angeles Galaxy 26 (0)
International career‡
1998– Jamaica 83 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 October, 2009
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 February, 2009

Donovan Ricketts (born 7 June 1977) is a Jamaican footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He is also the vice captain of the Jamaica national football team.

Career

High School and College

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ricketts attended Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from 1990- 1995 where he featured on their DaCosta Cup team. He then attended the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, from 1997-2003, while also featuring for the Jamaica under-20 and olympic teams.

Early professional career

Ricketts started his club career with Wadadah and Village United in his native Jamaica. In 2004 he came to England to sign for Bolton Wanderers.

Bradford City

Ricketts never played a game at Bolton and instead moved to Bradford City initially on a year-long loan in July 2004.[1] He spent most of his first season in English football as understudy to Australian Paul Henderson before he finally made his debut in April 2005 and played in the final four games.[2] During the season break he signed permanently on a two-year deal keeping him at City until 2007.[3] He missed nine games because of a broken foot early in the 2005–06 season and was replaced by Russell Howarth. He regained his place against Port Vale,[4] before he again missed a game in December 2005 after he was sent off for celebrating a City goal in a game at Southend United.[5] He was immediately recalled to the side following his suspension,[6] and played the following 80 league games, including as ever-present in the 2006–07 season.[7]

His run of games came to an end when he was dropped in October 2007 after a poor run of form.[8] He was recalled for the game against Brentford on 3 November 2007 after Rhys Evans' loan was cut short by injury,[9] playing the next 13 games. He was expected to make a move to Queens Park Rangers during the January transfer window and was replaced by loan keeper Scott Loach for Bradford's 4–2 victory over Shrewsbury Town,[10][11] but his move collapsed when he was refused a work permit.[12] Despite Rickett's return, Loach kept his place in the City side for their 1–0 win at Macclesfield Town, saving a second-half penalty,[13] but manager Stuart McCall told Ricketts he could still have a future at the club.[14] Loach continued to keep Ricketts out of the team since his arrival on loan from Watford. And after Ricketts had played for Jamaica in March 2008, he was stopped by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport and sent back to New York because he did not have the correct paperwork. Bradford were also told a new work permit application would be turned down.[15] Instead, Ricketts returned to Jamaica to train with the country's under 21 side,[16] before being one of 13 players to be released by Bradford manager Stuart McCall at the end of the season.[17]

Return to Jamaica

Having spent the summer, training and playing with the Jamaican international side, he returned to his former side Village United in August 2008, under the management of Dean Weatherly.[18] He lasted only 45 minutes in his return to the Village United side, after he complained of double vision at half-time after he was hit with the ball during the first half of a game with Portmore United. The game ended 1–1, with Portmore's goal coming from a mistake from Ricketts.[19]

Los Angeles Galaxy

On 23 December 2008, Los Angeles Galaxy announced they had signed Ricketts for the 2009 Major League Soccer season.[20] Ricketts also attracted interest from Canadian side Toronto FC but he opted to join Los Angeles on the advice of his international colleague Tyrone Marshall, who had played for both sides.[21]

Ricketts enjoyed a very successful first season in Major League Soccer under Bruce Arena, leading the Galaxy to the Western Division title and earning the club Defender of the year award.

International

On 3 June 2006 he appeared in goal for Jamaica in an international friendly against England at Old Trafford. Jamaica went on to lose the game 6–0.

Standing at six feet four inches and weighing 92kg (14st 2lbs), Ricketts is an imposing figure in goal and has been a big part of the Reggae Boyz programme for sometime now, dating back to the days of former Technical Director Renê Simões.

Ricketts has not only kept goal for Jamaica at the senior level, but has also done it at various junior levels for his country. He came through the national ranks under the guidance of goalkeeping coach, Paul Campbell. Ricketts is a World Cup veteran, being named to the Jamaican squad that played in the World Cup finals in France. However, with Warren Barrett and Aaron Lawrence ahead of him in the pecking order, the opportunity never presented itself for him to see any game time.

Ricketts represented Jamaica in all eight of their 2010 World Cup qualifying matches,[22] where they were eliminated in the third round stage.

Honors

Los Angeles Galaxy

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ricketts makes belated debut". Telegraph & Argus. 2004-07-28. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "The number one choice". Telegraph & Argus. 2005-04-14. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Ricketts has the safest hands in England". Telegraph & Argus. 2005-11-26. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Port Vale 0-1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 2005-10-15. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "'Sent off for simply celebrating a goal'". Telegraph & Argus. 2005-12-12. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Ricketts can earn lucrative progress". Telegraph & Argus. 2005-12-20. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Bradford 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  8. ^ Parker, Simon (2007-10-07). "City fall short in land of the giants". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "Bradford 1-2 Brentford". BBC Sport. 2007-11-03. Retrieved 2008-01-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Parker, Simon (2008-01-29). "City to receive 'minimal' fee for Ricketts". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "Bradford 4-2 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ Crowther, Mike (2008-01-30). "Ricketts returns to City". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2008-01-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Macclesfield 0-1 Bradford". BBC Sport. 2008-02-02. Retrieved 2008-02-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Parker, Simon (2008-02-06). "Lifeline for Ricketts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-02-07. We haven't closed the door on Donovan. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Ricketts refused re-entry to UK". BBC Sport. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ Flynn, LeVaughn (2008-05-11). "Ricketts keeping in shape with U21s". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2008-05-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Parker, Simon (2008-04-29). "Johnson one of 13 axed by City". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 2008-04-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ Reid, Paul (2008-08-27). "Weatherly back at Village for NPL season". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2008-08-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Reid, Paul (2008-09-30). "Village United hold Portmore at home". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2008-10-04. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Galaxy sign Jamaican 'keeper Ricketts". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-12-23. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Morgan, Larry (2009-02-11). "Ricketts angling to man Galaxy goal". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  22. ^ "Soccer-Jamaica goalkeeper Ricketts signed by the Galaxy". Reuters. 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2008-12-24.


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