Keiren Westwood

Keiren Westwood (born 23 October 1984) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Championship club Sheffield Wednesday and the Irish national team. He was for a time Ireland's first choice keeper, following the international retirement of Shay Given.[3][4]

Keiren Westwood
Westwood on international duty with the Republic of Ireland in 2012
Personal information
Full name Keiren Westwood[1]
Date of birth (1984-10-23) 23 October 1984[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.87 m)[2]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Sheffield Wednesday
Number 1
Youth career
0000–2003 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Manchester City 0 (0)
2003–2004 → Oldham Athletic (loan) 0 (0)
2004–2008 Carlisle United 131 (0)
2008–2011 Coventry City 131 (0)
2011–2014 Sunderland 19 (0)
2014– Sheffield Wednesday 176 (0)
National team‡
2009– Republic of Ireland 21 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:33, 23 November 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 September 2016

Club career

Manchester City

Westwood was born in Manchester.[1] After being rejected by Manchester United as a boy,[4] he started his career at Manchester City where he never played a first team game and was released as he was understudy to David James and Nicky Weaver. Weeks before his release he had broken his hand while on loan at Oldham Athletic.[4] He then had unsuccessful trials at Bradford City and Accrington Stanley.[4] After this he contemplated giving up football, to start a new career as a police officer.[4]

Carlisle United

Westwood then joined Carlisle United, becoming the understudy to Matt Glennon. Although he played in most cup games, in March 2005, when Glennon was injured, Westwood played some Conference games for Carlisle before being replaced by the fit-again Glennon.

In the 2005–06 season, Glennon left Carlisle and they signed Anthony Williams as his replacement. It looked like Westwood would be the club's number two goalkeeper again, though he finally got his chance to compete for the number one shirt and he succeeded in taking his chance. He started 35 League Two games in their title season and continued to be the club's number one goalkeeper. At the end of the 2007–08 season in League One, Westwood was named in the PFA Team of the Year[5] and also won all of the club's Player of the Season awards.

Coventry City

On 18 June 2008, Westwood signed a three-year contract with Championship club Coventry City for an undisclosed fee.[6] He was named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year for 2009 in his debut season at the club.[7] He won the club's player of the year award for the 2009–10 season.[8]

Sunderland

It was confirmed on 22 June 2011 that Westwood would join Sunderland on 1 July on a free transfer. He made his first start for Sunderland on 23 August in the League Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. His first Premier League appearance came against Aston Villa on 29 October, when he was brought on to replace the injured Simon Mignolet. Westwood later denied former Sunderland striker Darren Bent a goal after the striker was through one on one, with the game level at 1–1.[9] In the following game, away to Manchester United, Westwood made a 'magnificent double save' to deny Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra, but United won 1–0. Despite Sunderland struggling for results, which saw Steve Bruce sacked on 30 November, Westwood remained in good form. However, after missing Sunderland's 1–0 victory over Manchester City on New Year's Day 2012, Westwood found himself second choice to Mignolet for the remainder of the season.

Westwood remained behind Mignolet in the pecking order at the start of the 2012–13 season, with the Belgian playing in Sunderland's first two league games, although Westwood did play in Sunderland's League Cup victories over Morecambe and Milton Keynes Dons before a 1 – 0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the fourth round, a game in which Westwood also played. Following Mignolet's departure to Liverpool at the end of the season, Westwood regained his place as Sunderland's first choice keeper, with competition now coming from Vito Mannone.

At the end of 2013–14 season, he was released by the club.[10]

Sheffield Wednesday

On 7 July 2014, Westwood signed for Championship club Sheffield Wednesday on a two-year deal.[11]

At the end of the 2014–15 season, Westwood was named in the 2014–15 Championship PFA Team of the Year.[12]

In July 2019 he signed a new two-year contract with the club.[13]

International career

On 17 May 2009, Westwood was called up by the Republic of Ireland to attend their training camp in Portugal[14] after impressing against Leeds United in a League One match. Three days later he played as a second-half substitute in a practice match against Portuguese club Lagos, replacing Joe Murphy after 66 minutes. On 29 May 2009, Westwood made his first appearance for Ireland in a friendly against Nigeria.[14] He played in the friendly match with South Africa in Thomond Park on 8 September 2009.[15] On 26 March 2011, Westwood made his competitive debut in a European Championship qualifier with Macedonia.[15] He made a crucial save in the closing minutes of the match.[4]

Westwood was part of the Ireland squad for UEFA Euro 2012, although he did not feature in any games. Following the retirement from internationals by Shay Given after Euro 2012, Westwood assumed the No.1 position for his country. He later lost this place to David Forde. He made his 15th appearance for Ireland on 2 June 2013, in a 4–0 win over Georgia.

In 2015; following a number of injuries which ruled him out of previous squads, Westwood was recalled to the Starting XI for Ireland's post-season friendly fixture versus England in Dublin, Westwood was replaced in the second half by Shay Given with the scores at 0–0.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 12 February 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2003–04[16] Premier League 0000000000
Oldham Athletic (loan) 2003–04[16] Second Division 00———00
Carlisle United 2004–05[17] Conference National 4000—3[lower-alpha 1]070
2005–06[18] League Two 35010107[lower-alpha 2]0440
2006–07[19] League One 460100000470
2007–08[20] League One 46020204[lower-alpha 3]0540
Total 131040301401520
Coventry City 2008–09[21] Championship 4603000—490
2009–10[22] Championship 4402000—460
2010–11[23] Championship 4102000—430
Total 13107000—1380
Sunderland 2011–12[24] Premier League 900010—100
2012–13[25] Premier League 000030—30
2013–14[26] Premier League 1000010—110
Total 1900050—240
Sheffield Wednesday 2014–15[27] Championship 4300000—430
2015–16[28] Championship 34000003[lower-alpha 4]0370
2016–17[29] Championship 43000002[lower-alpha 4]0450
2017–18[30] Championship 1800000—180
2018–19[31] Championship 2001000—200
2019–20[31] Championship 1400000—140
Total 15800000501630
Career total 4390110801904770
  1. Two appearances in Football League Trophy, one in FA Trophy
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. Two appearances in Football League Trophy, two in League One play-offs
  4. Appearances in Championship play-offs

International
As of match played 4 June 2017[32]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 200930
201020
201130
201260
201330
201510
201610
201720
Total210

Honours

Carlisle United

Republic of Ireland

Individual

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See also

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 434. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. "Keiren Westwood - Goalkeeper". Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
  3. Mellor, Jason (15 May 2008). "Ireland hopeful Westwood focused on Wembley". The Times. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  4. Young, Colin (28 March 2011). "The saviour! He nearly became a policeman but now Westwood is Ireland's goalkeeping hero". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  5. "Ronaldo named player of the year". BBC Sport. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. "Westwood signs for City". Coventry City F.C. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2008.
  7. "Giggs earns prestigious PFA award". BBC Sport. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. "Westwood wins Player of the Season Award". Coventry Telegraph. 4 May 2010.
  9. Hunter, James (30 October 2011). "Keiren deserves credit for denying Bent". Sunday Sun. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  10. "Premier League clubs submit retained and released lists". Premier League. Archived from the original on 4 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  11. "Sheffield Wednesday sign Keiren Westwood". Sheffield Wednesday (swfc.co.uk). Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  12. "PFA Championship Team of the Year: Deeney only Watford player". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  13. "Keiren Westwood: Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper signs new two-year deal". BBC Sport. 9 July 2019.
  14. "Keiren Westwood to make debut against Nigeria". Football Association of Ireland. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  15. Hannigan, Mary (26 March 2011). "Goalkeeping coach Kelly confident Ireland in safe hands with Westwood". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  16. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  17. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  18. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  19. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  20. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  21. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  22. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  23. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  24. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  25. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  26. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  27. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  28. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  29. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  30. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  31. "Games played by Keiren Westwood in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  32. "Westwood, Kieren". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
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