Jake Butler

Jake Butler

Personal information
Date of birth	(1984-11-12) 12 November 1984
Place of birth	New Zealand
Height	1.85 m (6.1 ft)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Waitakere United
Number	17
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2006	Bay Olympic	103	(33)
2012–2019	Waitakere City FC	105	(25)
2008–2014	Waitakere United	180	(27)
2014	Tampines Rovers FC	22	(5)
2015–2019	Waitakere United	60	(14)
2018	Werribee City FC	41	(20)
2019–	Hamilton Wanderers	6	(3)
International career‡
2013–	New Zealand	3	(0)
Managerial career
2015–2017	Waitakere City FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 October 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 January 2014

Jacob 'Jake' Butler (born 12 November 1984) is a New Zealand footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for ISPS Handa Premiership club Hamilton Wanderers. He has also appeared for the New Zealand national football team.

Career

Butler is the captain of Waitakere United. He led the team to four consecutive national titles (2008–09 to 2012–13 seasons) after taking on the captaincy. He has won the New Zealand national competition five times. Butler has played in seven editions of the OFC Champions League winning it twice, which has led to two appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup. He is also the leading appearance holder at Waitakere United, having played for the club since its first year of existence in 2004.

On 2 June 2014, Butler joined Singaporean S-league team Tampines Rovers in the mid-season transfer window on a six-month contract. He scored his first goal for the club against Warriors FC in the Singapore League Cup. He went on to make 22 appearances scoring 5 goals, playing every minute of every scheduled match.

In January 2015 he returned to play for Waitakere United. Signing mid-season after the stint in Singapore, Butler was instrumental in helping the team make the top four after being in the unfamiliar position of seventh place at the Christmas break. He played every minute of the remaining 11 games.

In April 2015 Butler signed a short-term deal with Team Wellington for the OFC Champions League tournament held in Fiji in the month of April. He helped the side make the final, which they eventually lost, but was injured in the semi-final and was unable to play in the Grand final.

In May 2015, Butler agreed to take over as player – coach of Waitakere City who play in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier mid season. This league runs in between the competition dates of ASB Premiership , the elite league in New Zealand. during 2 seasons at the helm, Waitakere city won the league in 2016 and finished fourth respectively in 2017.

In July 2018 he joined NPL Victorian side Werribee City FC mid season playing every minute of the remaining 12 games and scoring an impressive 5 goals to make immediate impact.

International career

Butler made his full All Whites debut in a 1–0 win over Saudi Arabia on 4 September 2013.

Butler also played for New Zealand secondary schools team making 6 appearances scoring 4 goals.

Honours

• New Zealand Football Championship (5): 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
• OFC Champions League (1): 2007–08

References

• "Mixture of old and new for New Zealand A side". stuff.co.nz. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
• "J. Butler Profile". soccerway.com. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
• "Jake Butler Profile". footballdatabase.eu. Retrieved 23 January 2014.