Jermaine Jenas

Infobox Football biography
playername = Jermaine Jenas


fullname = Jermaine Anthony Jenas
height = height|meter=1.80
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|2|18|df=y
cityofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Tottenham Hotspur
clubnumber = 8
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1999–2001
youthclubs = Nottingham Forest
years = 2001–2002
2002–2005
2005–
clubs = Nottingham Forest
Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur
caps(goals) = 029 0(4)
110 0(9)
090 (17)
nationalyears = 2001–2003
2006
2003–
nationalteam = England U21
England B
England
nationalcaps(goals) = 009 0(0)
002 0(1)
0200 (1)
pcupdate = 28 September 2008
ntupdate = 10 September 2008

Jermaine Anthony Jenas (pronounced "Jee-nas" [cite web | url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2003/4/3/97339.html | title=Future's brighter for 'Gee-nas' | work=Northern Echo | publisher=Newsquest Media Group | date=2003-04-03 | accessdate=2008-04-02] ) was born 18 February 1983 in Nottingham. He is an English football midfielder currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Premier League.

Club career

Nottingham Forest

Jenas began his career at Nottingham Forest where he immediately impressed during the 2001–02 season. After a single season at the City Ground, which produced four goals in 33 games, Jenas was sold to Newcastle United for £5 million in February 2002. [Cite news
title = Magpies swoop for Jenas
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/1795337.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2002-02-01
accessdate = 2007-12-04]

Newcastle

Despite an impressive first season with Newcastle United, in which he won the 2002–03 PFA Young Player of the Year award, [Cite news
title = Henry honoured by peers
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2978177.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2003-04-27
accessdate = 2007-12-04] Jenas failed to repeat his initial form with the club and his two subsequent seasons were disappointing considering his early promise.

Known for his strong "box-to-box" play and ability to score from midfield, Jenas' last two years with Newcastle were marked by a series of inexplicably bland displays. The goals dried up and so did the energy, leading to Jenas starting fewer games.

Despite temporarily regaining his form and gaining the vice-captaincy under new manager Graeme Souness early in the 2004–05 season, Jenas' form dipped again with only two goals in 48 appearances.

Rumours of his unhappiness were confirmed early in the 2005–06 season by manager Graeme Souness, when he revealed Jenas was not enjoying life at Newcastle. He was sold to Tottenham Hotspur on transfer deadline day of 31 August 2005 for an initial fee of £7million, [Cite news
title = Jenas completes £7m Spurs switch
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/4199802.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2005-08-31
accessdate = 2007-12-04] which rose to £9million after Spurs successfully qualified for European competition. He scored a total of 12 goals in 152 appearances for Newcastle United.

Tottenham Hotspur

Jenas began to thrive at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring seven goals from midfield, as Tottenham qualified for the UEFA Cup. He marked his return from a 13 match injury lay off by scoring the second goal in Tottenham's 3–1 FA Cup 4th round win over Southend United. Under new manager, Juande Ramos, his form improved greatly and played in 1-1 draw and the 5-1 victory over rivals Arsenal in both legs of the semi-finals of the Carling cup, scoring both of the opening goals in each match. The final saw Jenas set up the winning goal for Jonathan Woodgate in the 2-1 Carling Cup victory against Chelsea on Sunday 24 February 2008.

Jenas signed a new 5-year contract with Tottenham on 29 August 2007, keeping him at the club until 2012. [Cite news
title = Jenas to stay at Spurs until 2012
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6969012.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-08-29
accessdate = 2008-01-23]

Under manager Juande Ramos, Jenas initially produced occasional impressive performances, due in part to the new regime but also to some personal words of encouragement from the Spaniard. [Cite news
title = Ramos eyeing first Spurs trophy
url = http://dev.football365.co.za/news/ramos_eyeing_first_spurs_trophy_23208115507.php
publisher = Football365
date = 2008-02-23
accessdate = 2008-03-04] . His improvement earned him a call-up to Fabio Capello's first England squad, with him starting in a friendly against Switzerland, a game in which he scored the first goal.

On 30 July 2008, Jenas signed a 1-year contract extension to his 5-year contract, keeping him at Tottenham until 2013. A few days later, Jenas was named as Spurs' new vice-captain, following the departures of Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson.

International career

Jenas has played internationally for England from the Under-15 level up to the national team, where he made his debut against Australia on 12 February 2003.

Despite struggling with injury towards the end of the 2005–06 season he recovered sufficiently to be named in the 2006 World Cup squad. He scored his first England goal on 6 February 2008, in Fabio Capello's first game in charge, a friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

International goals

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur
* Carling Cup: 2007-08

Career stats

^{Correct as of 1 June 2008}

Personal life

Jenas attended The Becket School, in Nottingham, for his education. His father was born with the surname Genas but had it changed by deed-poll as he wanted the initials 'D.J.' Fact|date=August 2008. Jermaine is nicknamed "J.J.". He has been dating Sabrina Keogh, who accompanied him to the World Cup in Germany in 2006, for over six years. In November 2007, Sabrina gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Sancha Natasha.

Trivia

Jermaine is famously nicknamed "da Jenius" Fact|date=August 2008 for his creative box-to-box play and quick distribution from the middle of the pitch.

Jermaine also recently participated alongside Bo' Selecta!'s Keith Lemon in a promotional event, in which they advertised the Virtual PSP's Go!Messenger software by having the first ever virtual meeting using the PSP Fact|date=September 2008.

In a recent poll, supporters of the Premier League were asked who they believed were the three coolest players in the league. In the results of the poll, Pascal Chimbonda finished third, close behind Jermain Defoe (2nd) of Portsmouth FC and Jermaine Jenas (1st) of Tottenham Hotspur.

References

External links

*FIFA player|197463|Jermaine Jenas
*soccerbase|id=23937|name=Jermaine Jenas
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Players/Postings/2004/03/Jermaine+Jenas+Newcastle+United.htm TheFA.com profile]