Editing Jonathan Spector (section)

===Birmingham City===
[[File:Jonathan Spector 1.png|thumb|upright|Spector playing for [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in 2012]]
Spector signed a two-year contract with [[Football League Championship|Championship]] club [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in August 2011, four days before the opening of the league season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14372481.stm |title=Birmingham City sign ex-West Ham man Jonathan Spector |website=BBC Sport |date=August 2, 2011 |accessdate=August 2, 2011 }}</ref> He made his debut in Birmingham's first match in major European competition for nearly 50 years, the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League#Play-off round|Europa League play-off round]] first leg against Portuguese club [[C.D. Nacional|Nacional]], which finished goalless.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=August 19, 2011 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nacional-0-birmingham-city-0-159852 |title=Nacional 0, Birmingham City 0 |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> Three days later, he played his first league game in English soccer at a level below the Premier League, in a 3–1 defeat at [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]].<ref name=sb1112>{{soccerbase season|38298|2011|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref> Spector was played in central midfield for the first few months of his Birmingham City career, a position he said he enjoyed, and filled in at right-back in the European matches as Birmingham failed by a point to progress past the [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stage#Group H|group stage]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=December 26, 2011 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jonathan-spector-puts-team-before-167548 |title=Jonathan Spector puts team before self at Birmingham City |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2012/standings/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923155304/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2012/standings/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2011 |title=2011/12 UEFA Europa League: Standings: Group stage |publisher=UEFA |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> Later in the season, he was used more frequently at right-back, at the expense of captain [[Stephen Carr]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=February 18, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-jonathan-spector-and-blues-179360 |title=Jonathan Spector and Blues up for FA Cup Chelsea clash |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and occasionally at left-back. The ''[[Birmingham Mail]]''{{'s}} end-of-season review viewed his versatility as "an invaluable asset".<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=April 27, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city---its-truly-184030 |title=Birmingham City – it's truly been a team effort |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> He missed the last two months of the season with a torn thigh muscle, returning for Birmingham's unsuccessful [[2012 Football League play-offs|play-off campaign]] only to suffer a recurrence of the injury which was to keep him out of the summer's international program.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=May 14, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jonathan-spector-birmingham-city-have-a-bright-185087 |title=Jonathan Spector: Birmingham City have a bright future |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=July 11, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-i-wont-rush-keith-188358 |title=I won't rush Keith Fahey back into action – Lee Clark |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref>

Carr was injured in the final pre-season game, and the only alternative right-back was the teenaged [[Will Packwood]]. Despite having taken no part in the warm-up games, Spector returned to action in the opening match of the 2012–13 season, as a second-half substitute for Packwood,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-1-charlton-athletic-190661 |title=Birmingham City 1 Charlton Athletic 1 |work=Birmingham Mail |date=August 18, 2012 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and started the next, though "short of match sharpness, he was rusty and had a torrid time of it".<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=August 22, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sheffield-wednesday-3-birmingham-city-190858 |title=Sheffield Wednesday 3 Birmingham City 2 |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> He scored his first goal for Birmingham in a 3–2 defeat by [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] on August 28.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Gregg |date=August 29, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-3-birmingham-city-191281 |title=Coventry City 3 Birmingham City 2 aet |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=April 28, 2014 }}</ref> New manager [[Lee Clark (footballer)|Lee Clark]] preferred his "drive and energy" in midfield, with right-back duties shared between Packwood, loan signing [[Paul Caddis]] and others, but injuries soon forced his return to full-back.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=September 21, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blow-for-paul-caddis-and-birmingham-city-4358 |title=Blow for Paul Caddis and Birmingham City |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=November 13, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/birmingham-city-player-jonathan-spector-304596 |title=Jonathan Spector sure Birmingham City are on the rise |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> Spector was restricted to 10 appearances in the second half of the season by a succession of minor injuries,<ref name=sb1213>{{soccerbase season|38298|2005|access-date=April 7, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Gregg |date=December 14, 2012 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-v-crystal-palace-375310 |title=Birmingham City v Crystal Palace: Team news |website=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=February 1, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/team-news-from-both-camps-ahead-1284244 |title=Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest: Team news |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=March 22, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-jonathan-spector-could-1862490 |title=Boost for Blues with duo on mend |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> culminating in ankle damage sustained in early April<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=April 8, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/birmingham-city-1-millwall-1-2546631 |title=Birmingham City 1 Millwall 1 |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> that kept him out for what remained of the campaign. Although several senior players were released at the end of the season, Spector agreed a further two-year contract,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22438032 |title=Birmingham City: Steven Caldwell to go in St Andrew's shake-up |website=BBC Sport |date=May 7, 2013 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23079763 |title=Birmingham City: Jonathan Spector agrees new contract |website=BBC Sport |date=June 27, 2013 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> which he signed after he and wife Olivia Metzinger returned from honeymoon.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20130628-the-right-fit-for-spector-884844.aspx |title=The right fit for Spector |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111758/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/20130628-the-right-fit-for-spector-884844.aspx |archivedate=March 4, 2016 |publisher=Birmingham City FC |date=June 28, 2013 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.saintviator.com/file/a-lion-for-life-magazine-submissions/AL4L-FY14-Issue-2---Ft.-ALUM.pdf |title=Class notes |work=A Lion for Life |publisher=Saint Viator High School |date=Winter 2014 |page=13 }}</ref>

Two weeks later, Spector fractured his cheekbone in five places during a pre-season game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Young |first=Gary |date=July 16, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-jonathan-spector-injury-5115620 |title=Blow for Blues as Jonathan Spector signed off for six weeks |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> He returned to Birmingham's midfield for the 3–2 defeat by [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in late August,<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=August 26, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/leicester-city-3-birmingham-city-5785704 |title=Leicester City 3 Birmingham City 2 |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and a month later was involved in an eventful match at [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]. He had a goal disallowed shortly before QPR took the lead, and after 79 minutes was [[penalty card#Yellow card|yellow-carded]] for [[diving (association football)|diving]] in the penalty area when it appeared that [[Richard Dunne]] had tripped him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=September 14, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-lee-clark-defends-6022914 |title=Lee Clark: Jonathan Spector is a good lad, a great type, a great, honest professional |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3630850 |title=QPR 1 Birmingham 0 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102205232/http://www.qpr.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/?matchid=3630850 |archivedate=January 2, 2014 |publisher=Queens Park Rangers FC |date=September 14, 2013 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> In mid-October, he tore a thigh muscle in training.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=October 20, 2013 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-manager-lee-clark-6210696 |title=Lee Clark bemoans injury to Jonathan Spector |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> This time, the injury kept him out for four months; he returned in mid-February 2014, and was a regular starter from then on, as Birmingham avoided [[relegation]] to [[EFL League One|League One]] on [[goal difference]] via a stoppage-time equalizer in the last match of the season.<ref name=sb1314>{{soccerbase season|38298|2005|access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27167525 |title=Bolton 2–2 Birmingham |website=BBC Sport |date=May 3, 2014 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref>

Again, Spector began the 2014–15 season as a regular starter, tore a thigh muscle a couple of months in,<ref>{{cite news |last=Tattum |first=Colin |date=October 2, 2014 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-injury-blow-jonathan-7872181 |title=Birmingham City injury blow: Jonathan Spector sidelined for at least three months |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and missed the next four months. By the time he regained fitness, [[Gary Rowett]] had replaced Clark as manager, Caddis was the right-back of choice, and [[Michael Morrison (footballer)|Michael Morrison]] and [[Paul Robinson (footballer, born December 1978)|Paul Robinson]] had established themselves at center-back,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=December 18, 2014 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-how-michael-morrison-8303599 |title=How Michael Morrison can end the Blues merry-go-round in defence |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> which Spector had told Rowett was his position of choice. When Morrison injured an ankle in late January, he came back into the team in that position, initially with Robinson,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=January 30, 2015 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-gary-rowett-plotting-8545908 |title=Gary Rowett is plotting to sign a centre half to replace injured Michael Morrison |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> then partnering loanee [[Rob Kiernan]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=March 24, 2015 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-boss-gary-rowett-8903256 |title=Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett full of praise for Jonathan Spector |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and finishing the season, after a minor injury that coincided with Morrison's return to fitness,<ref>{{cite news |last=Kendrick |first=Mat |date=April 2, 2015 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-team-news-injury-8968534 |title=Birmingham City team news: Injury worries over Jonathan Spector and Andy Shinnie |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> playing alongside the latter.

Although Spector had hinted that he had been away from home and wider family long enough, and there was reported interest from [[Major League Soccer]] clubs, he confirmed that he and his wife felt settled in Birmingham,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=April 30, 2015 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jonathan-spector-want-stay-birmingham-9152494 |title=Jonathan Spector: I want to stay at Birmingham City |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> and signed a new two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32758649 |title=Birmingham City: Jonathan Spector signs new two-year deal |website=BBC Sport |date=May 15, 2015 |accessdate=May 16, 2015 }}</ref> He went through the 2015–16 season injury free. He alternated at starting center-back with the veteran Robinson, and although he enjoyed no more onfield time than in either of the preceding two seasons, he was almost ever-present in the matchday squad.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=May 20, 2016 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-player-player-season-11363333 |title=Birmingham City player-by-player season review – the centre-halves |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=January 24, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jonathan-spector/2712/ |title=J. Spector |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |accessdate=April 10, 2017 }}</ref> After Rowett decided that [[Paul Caddis]]'s fitness levels were too low, Spector began the 2016–17 season at right-back.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dick |first=Brian |date=August 18, 2016 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-boss-gary-rowett-11769064 |title=Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett discusses Paul Caddis' absence |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=January 24, 2017 }}</ref> He continued in that position until and after [[Gianfranco Zola]]{{snd}}who had managed Spector at West Ham{{snd}}replaced Rowett in December.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dicken |first=Alex |date=December 24, 2016 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/birmingham-city-how-jonathan-spector-12367523 |title=Birmingham City: How Jonathan Spector was key in Gianfranco Zola's first week |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=January 24, 2017 }}</ref> By January 2017, Spector had decided he wanted to return to the United States. With the emergence of [[Josh Dacres-Cogley]], who played at right back while Spector served a suspension in November,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/josh-dacres-cogley-birmingham-city-3441274.aspx |title=Josh Dacres-Cogley on a dream come true |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202065928/http://www.bcfc.com/news/article/2016-17/josh-dacres-cogley-birmingham-city-3441274.aspx |archivedate=February 2, 2017 |publisher=Birmingham City FC |date=November 28, 2016 |accessdate=January 24, 2017 }}</ref> and the arrival of [[Emilio Nsue]], Zola felt able to accede to his request.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kendrick |first=Mat |date=January 19, 2017 |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/how-emilio-nsue-differs-jonathan-12478766 |title=How Emilio Nsue differs from Jonathan Spector: Birmingham City boss Gianfranco Zola explains |work=Birmingham Mail |accessdate=January 24, 2017 }}</ref> He made a total of 179 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/what-is-ex-birmingham-city-man-jonathan-spector-up-to-these-days/|title=What is ex-Birmingham City man Jonathan Spector up to these days? &#124; Football League World|first=Josh|last=Cole|date=February 12, 2020|website=footballleagueworld.co.uk}}</ref>