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)
2008–2014	Waitakere United	153	(26)
2014	Tampines Rovers FC	22	(5)
2015–	Waitakere United	21	(4)
International career‡
2013–	New Zealand	3	(0)
Managerial career
2015	Waitakere City FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 January 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 January 2014

Jacob 'Jake' Butler (born 12 November 1984) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a Midfielder for Waitakere United and 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 the 2nd of 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 sadly 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.

International career

Butler is capped by the New Zealand national football team on three occasions and has made four New Zealand 'A' appearances including a standout performance against Jordan national football team in 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.