Jack Rodwell
Nationality :
English
Squad No :
26
Position :
Midfielder
Birth Date :
Mar 11, 1991
Birthplace :
Birkdale
Height :
1.88m
Weight :
79.9 kg
Jack is a record-breaking youngster who became a first team squad regular as a teenager.
Rodwell made his full Everton debut as a substitute against AZ Alkmaar at the age of just 16 years and 284 days to become the youngest ever Toffees player to play in Europe.
That record was subsequently beaten by Jake Bidwell but Rodwell has continued to impress.
The Southport-born midfielder, who can also play in defence, is used to making debuts at a young age. He was just 15 when he made his first reserve appearance, replacing David Weir in a game with Sheffield United in October 2006. A year earlier, at the age of 14, Jack made his Everton under 18s debut.
A highly-rated prospect, Jack also gained international recognition early in his career. He earned five caps for England’s under 16 team, including captaining the side to glory in the Victory Shield in December 2006. He has since progressed to captain the under 18s.
In the 2007/2008 season, Jack featured for the under 18s, as well as regularly figuring in Andy Holden’s reserve team.
In March 2008, he appeared as a substitute at Sunderland - his Premier League debut - before also featuring as a replacement in the final game of the season.
Rodwell featured prominently during the summer of 2008 and made his first professional start in the Premier League curtain raiser against Blackburn, playing the full 90 minutes.
The teenager remained in and around the first team and in February he scored his first senior goal in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Aston Villa.
Days later he signed a long term contract with the Toffees. And before the season was out he'd played superbly in the FA Cup semi-final win over Man Utd.
Jack featured for England as they progressed to the final of the European Under-21 Championships in the summer of 2009 and when the 2009/10 campaign he was a regular in the centre of midfield, notably scoring twice against Sigma Olomouc in the Europa League.
He continued to earn rave reviews for his composed performances before hamstring injury struck.
Rodwell returned in January 2010 and soon scored his first Premier League goal against Manchester United.
At the end of the 2009/10 season he signed a new five year contract with Everton.
The subsequent campaign was disrupted by injury but the midfield man did manage to rack up 17 stars and a further 11 appearances from the bench.
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