Theodore Whitmore

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Theodore Whitmore
Theodore Whitmore interview 2025.jpg
Whitmore in 2025
Personal information
Full name Theodore Eccleston Whitmore [1]
Date of birth (1972-08-05) 5 August 1972 (age 52) [2]
Place of birth Montego Bay, Jamaica
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Mount Pleasant F.A.
Youth career
Montego Bay Boys Club
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1994 Cape Town Spurs 3 (1)
1996–1997 Violet Kickers 12 (2)
1997–1999 Seba United 14 (1)
1999–2002 Hull City 77 (9)
2002–2003 Seba United ? (4)
2003 Livingston 3 (0)
2003–2004 Seba United ? (1)
2004–2006 Tranmere Rovers 37 (5)
2006 Seba United 24 (8)
International career
1993–2004 Jamaica 120 (24)
Managerial career
2006–2008 Seba United
2007 Jamaica (interim)
2008 Jamaica (assistant)
2008 Jamaica (interim)
2009–2013 Jamaica
2014–2015 Jamaica U-20
2016–2021 Jamaica
2022–2024 Mount Pleasant F.A.
2024– Mount Pleasant F.A.
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Theodore Eccleston Whitmore, OD, (born 5 August 1972) is a Jamaican former professional footballer. He is the former head coach of Jamaica national team. [3]

Contents

Club career

Whitmore attended St. James High School in Montego Bay, Jamaica. During his late teens, he worked as a Baked Goods delivery assistant with National Continental Foods, now National Baking Company, in Montego Bay before moving on to play football in the Jamaica National Premiere League. By default, he left his job at National Continental foods after the salesperson he worked for was terminated for stabbing a defenseless office employee in early 1992. As a very skillful and creative for a player despite his tall frame, he started his club career at Montego Bay Boys Club, and has since played for Violet Kickers and Seba United in his native Jamaica. He was signed on a free by English league side Hull City following a one-week trial with the club, where he played together with compatriot Ian Goodison, until an accident in Jamaica cut short his Hull career. Whitmore made his debut in an F.A. Cup tie against Macclesfield. On his league debut, away at Rochdale, Whitmore scored a league debut goal. During his 77 games for Hull, he became something of a fan favourite during a relatively unhappy time for the club; who were lurking in the basement of the English Football League, struggling with financial insecurities. Scottish team Livingston acquired his services in 2003, [4] and in June 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers. He had his contract terminated in January 2006 by mutual consent. He returned to Jamaica to become player/coach for his former team Seba United.[ citation needed ]

International career

Whitmore made his debut for Jamaica in a November 1993 friendly match against the United States, coming on as a late substitute for Hector Wright. Whitmore earned 105 official international caps and scored 24 goals for the Jamaica national team. [5] He was a key member of the Reggae Boyz' squad during the second half of the 1990s, playing as a major catalyst for the Jamaicans as they advanced to their first and only World Cup in 1998. Although Jamaica was eliminated in the first round, Whitmore scored two goals in Jamaica's only win of the competition, a 2–1 victory against Japan. In that same year he was named Caribbean Footballer of the Year. His last international match was also against the United States, a 1–1 away draw on 17 November 2004 during 2006 World Cup qualification in which he was substituted for Jason Euell in the 72nd minute. [6] [7]

Managerial career

Seba United

When Whitmore returned to Seba United in 2006, he returned as both a player and a coach.[ citation needed ]

Jamaica

In November 2007, he was brought on as interim manager of the Jamaica national team after the firing of former manager Bora Milutinović. [8] Jamaica won both games, friendlies against El Salvador and Guatemala, under his watch. [9] He was then retained as an assistant under new coach Renê Simões. [10] Simões lasted nine months as manager due to poor play in the third round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, [11] and upon his release on 11 September 2008, he was again appointed interim manager until newly appointed manager John Barnes would be available in November. [12]

As interim manager in October 2008, Whitmore guided the Reggae Boyz to back-to-back 1–0 wins against Mexico and Honduras that gained him tremendous support as a manager and put the Jamaicans into range for advancement with one game remaining in semifinal round group play. [9] He again took the reins of the national team when John Barnes left the position in June 2009, to take up a management job at Whitmore's former club Tranmere Rovers in the English League. Whitmore's team struggled during the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and were eliminated in the first round. As a part of the national team rebuilding efforts which started in August 2009, he led the squad to three draws and one win to end 2009. In December 2010, he led Jamaica to the 2010 Digicel Cup title. After qualifying Jamaica for the CONCACAF Hexagonal final round in 2012, Whitmore resigned as head coach in June 2013. [13] From December 2014 through February 2015, he served as Jamaica national u20 coach. [14] In September 2016, Whitmore was named interim head coach of Jamaica [15] In May 2018, Whitmore signed a four-year contract with the JFF. [16] On 9 December 2021, Whitmore was dismissed as senior national team head coach. [17] by the JFF.

Mount Pleasant FA

In 2022, Whitmore was named manager of Jamaica Premier League club, Mount Pleasant in the St. Ann Parish of Jamaica. On 11 June 2023, he won his first domestic title as a manager. [18]

After guiding the team to back-to-back JPL final appearances, winning in 2023 and losing on penalties in 2024, it was announced by Mount Pleasant that the club will not renew the contracts of its technical staff, including head coach Theodore Whitmore, upon their expiration on July 31, 2024. [19] Whitmore made a stunning return to Mount Pleasant after just one competitive match, in which the club suffered a shock defeat in the opening game of the 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup. [20]

Personal life

Whitmore was injured in a car accident that led to the death of Reggae Boyz' teammate Stephen Malcolm. After the accident he was charged with manslaughter, of which he was later acquitted. [21] In November 2013, Whitmore's 14-year-old son, Jouvhaine, died after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle. Whitmore's second son Gianni is said to be his twin because they look exactly alike and he is as skilful and talented as his father in his prime. [22]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first. [23]

Managerial statistics

As of matches played 16 November 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecordRef
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Seba United 16 August 2006[ citation needed ]16 June 200839137194864−16033.33[ citation needed ]
Jamaica 11 November 200731 December 2007 [9] 220050+5100.00[ citation needed ]
Jamaica 11 September 2008 [11] 20 November 2008 [12] 220020+2100.00[ citation needed ]
Jamaica 9 June 200912 June 2013 [13] 53248216251+11045.28[ citation needed ]
Jamaica u20 26 February 2014 [14] 31 December 2015502327−5000.00[ citation needed ]
Jamaica 26 September 2016 [15] 9 December 2021542314178963+26042.59[ citation needed ]
Career total155643160208185+23041.29

Honours

Player

Jamaica

Individual

Manager

Jamaica

Mount Pleasant FA

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Theodore Whitmore". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "FIFA Tournaments – Players & Coaches – Theodore WHITMORE". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Bulls Abroad: Tappa is Taxi's new Jamaica coach". Once A Metro. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Livi gamble on Whitmore". BBC Sport . 25 June 2003.
  5. ↑ Holstein, Dick (18 February 2006). "Theodore Whitmore - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF.
  6. ↑ "USA–Jamaica". FIFA. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  7. ↑ Theodore Whitmore at Soccerway
  8. ↑ Raynor, Kayon (11 November 2007). "'Tappa' takes over". The Jamaica Observer . Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 Reid, Paul (23 October 2008). "Appoint Whitmore full time". The Jamaica Observer . Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  10. ↑ Mugisa, Kwesi (12 January 2008). "Whitmore among Simoes assistants". Jamaica Gleaner . Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  11. 1 2 "Rene Simoes fired as coach of Jamaica soccer team". USA Today . AP. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2008.
  12. 1 2 "New National Coach". Jamaica Football Federation. 16 September 2008. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Whitmore fired... Reggae Boyz coach asked to resign". jamaica-gleaner.com. 12 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  14. 1 2 "SPORTSMAX: Home of Champions". www.sportsmax.tv. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Whitmore to guide Jamaica in Caribbean Cup". Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  16. ↑ "Whitmore's way – Reggae Boyz coach pens four-year deal with JFF". jamaica-gleaner.com. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "JFF fires coach Theodore Whitmore amid poor World Cup qualifying | Loop Jamaica".
  18. ↑ "Mt Pleasant win first JPL title". 11 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Mount Pleasant part ways with coach Theodore Whitmore | Loop Jamaica". Loop News. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  20. ↑ Brown, Wayde (23 August 2024). "Theodore Whitmore makes stunning return as Mt Pleasant head coach after Harold Thomas dismissal". IRIE FM. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  21. ↑ Plunkett, Nagra (29 October 2002). "Court extends bail in Whitmore's manslaughter case". Jamaica Gleaner . Archived from the original on 24 December 2004.
  22. ↑ Limited, Jamaica Observer. "'Tappa' Whitmore's son killed in motor vehicle crash". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 21 May 2018.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ↑ Theodore Whitmore – Century of International Appearances Archived 25 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine .
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