Donovan Ricketts

Personal information
Full name	Donovan Ricketts
Date of birth	7 June 1977 (1977-06-07) (age 32)
Place of birth	Montego Bay, Jamaica
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Los Angeles Galaxy
Number	1
Youth career
1994–1997	Wadadah
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2004	Village United
2004–2005	Bolton Wanderers	0	(0)
2004–2005	→ Bradford City (loan)	4	(0)
2005–2008	Bradford City	104	(0)
2008	Village United
2009–	Los Angeles Galaxy	26	(0)
National team‡
1998–	Jamaica	83	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October, 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 February, 2009

Donovan Ricketts (born 7 June 1977) is a Jamaican footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He is also the vice captain of the Jamaica national football team.

[edit] Career

[edit] High School and College

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Ricketts attended Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Jamaica, from 1990- 1995 where he featured on their DaCosta Cup team. He then attended the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, from 1997-2003, while also featuring for the Jamaica under-20 and olympic teams.

[edit] Early professional career

Ricketts started his club career with Wadadah and Village United in his native Jamaica. In 2004 he came to England to sign for Bolton Wanderers.

[edit] Bradford City

Ricketts never played a game at Bolton and instead moved to Bradford City initially on a year-long loan in July 2004.^[1] He spent most of his first season in English football as understudy to Australian Paul Henderson before he finally made his debut in April 2005 and played in the final four games.^[2] During the season break he signed permanently on a two-year deal keeping him at City until 2007.^[3] He missed nine games because of a broken foot early in the 2005–06 season and was replaced by Russell Howarth. He regained his place against Port Vale,^[4] before he again missed a game in December 2005 after he was sent off for celebrating a City goal in a game at Southend United.^[5] He was immediately recalled to the side following his suspension,^[6] and played the following 80 league games, including as ever-present in the 2006–07 season.^[7]

His run of games came to an end when he was dropped in October 2007 after a poor run of form.^[8] He was recalled for the game against Brentford on 3 November 2007 after Rhys Evans' loan was cut short by injury,^[9] playing the next 13 games. He was expected to make a move to Queens Park Rangers during the January transfer window and was replaced by loan keeper Scott Loach for Bradford's 4–2 victory over Shrewsbury Town,^[10][11] but his move collapsed when he was refused a work permit.^[12] Despite Rickett's return, Loach kept his place in the City side for their 1–0 win at Macclesfield Town, saving a second-half penalty,^[13] but manager Stuart McCall told Ricketts he could still have a future at the club.^[14] Loach continued to keep Ricketts out of the team since his arrival on loan from Watford. And after Ricketts had played for Jamaica in March 2008, he was stopped by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport and sent back to New York because he did not have the correct paperwork. Bradford were also told a new work permit application would be turned down.^[15] Instead, Ricketts returned to Jamaica to train with the country's under 21 side,^[16] before being one of 13 players to be released by Bradford manager Stuart McCall at the end of the season.^[17]

[edit] Return to Jamaica

Having spent the summer, training and playing with the Jamaican international side, he returned to his former side Village United in August 2008, under the management of Dean Weatherly.^[18] He lasted only 45 minutes in his return to the Village United side, after he complained of double vision at half-time after he was hit with the ball during the first half of a game with Portmore United. The game ended 1–1, with Portmore's goal coming from a mistake from Ricketts.^[19]

[edit] Los Angeles Galaxy

On 23 December 2008, Los Angeles Galaxy announced they had signed Ricketts for the 2009 Major League Soccer season.^[20] Ricketts also attracted interest from Canadian side Toronto FC but he opted to join Los Angeles on the advice of his international colleague Tyrone Marshall, who had played for both sides.^[21]

Ricketts enjoyed a very successful first season in Major League Soccer under Bruce Arena, leading the Galaxy to the Western Division title and earning the club Defender of the year award.

[edit] International

On 3 June 2006 he appeared in goal for Jamaica in an international friendly against England at Old Trafford. Jamaica went on to lose the game 6–0.

Standing at six feet four inches and weighing 92kg (14st 2lbs), Ricketts is an imposing figure in goal and has been a big part of the Reggae Boyz programme for sometime now, dating back to the days of former Technical Director Renê Simões.

Ricketts has not only kept goal for Jamaica at the senior level, but has also done it at various junior levels for his country. He came through the national ranks under the guidance of goalkeeping coach, Paul Campbell. Ricketts is a World Cup veteran, being named to the Jamaican squad that played in the World Cup finals in France. However, with Warren Barrett and Aaron Lawrence ahead of him in the pecking order, the opportunity never presented itself for him to see any game time.

Ricketts represented Jamaica in all eight of their 2010 World Cup qualifying matches,^[22] where they were eliminated in the third round stage.

[edit] Honors

[edit] Los Angeles Galaxy

• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (1): 2009

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Donovan Ricketts career stats at Soccerbase
• Donovan Ricketts Vital Profile
• MLS player profile

v • d • e Jamaica squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Barrett • 2 Malcolm • 3 Dawes • 4 Dixon • 5 Goodison • 6 Simpson • 7 Cargill • 8 Gayle • 9 Williams • 10 Boyd • 11 Whitmore • 12 Sewell • 13 Lawrence • 14 Ricketts • 15 Gardner • 16 Earle • 17 Lowe • 18 Burton • 19 Sinclair • 20 Powell • 21 Brown • 22 Hall • Coach: Simões

v • d • e Jamaica squad – 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 S. Sawyers • 3 Stewart • 4 Taylor • 5 T. Sawyers • 6 Scarlett • 8 Palmer • 9 Williams • 10 Fuller • 11 Dean • 12 Johnson • 13 Murray • 14 Marshall • 16 Daley • 17 Hue • 18 Stephenson • 19 Reid • 20 Ralph • 21 Shelton • 22 Finlayson • 23 Bennett • 25 Davis • 30 Ricketts • Coach: Downswell

v • d • e Jamaica squad – 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup 1 Ricketts • 2 Vernon • 3 Stewart • 4 Davis • 5 Goodison • 7 Morrison • 8 Campbell-Ryce • 10 Fuller • 11 Shelton • 12 Phillips • 13 Kerr • 14 Marshall • 15 Gardner • 16 Johnson • 17 Austin • 18 Wolfe • 19 Addlery • 20 Thompson • 21 Miller • 22 Cummings • 23 Richards • 24 Thomas • Coach: Whitmore