 Greening in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jonathan Greening[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1979-01-02)2 January 1979 (age 46)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Scarborough, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1996 | York City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1998 | York City | 25 | (2) |
| 1998–2001 | Manchester United | 14 | (0) |
| 2001–2004 | Middlesbrough | 99 | (4) |
| 2004–2010 | West Bromwich Albion | 196 | (7) |
| 2009–2010 | →Fulham (loan) | 23 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Fulham | 10 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Nottingham Forest | 49 | (0) |
| 2012 | →Barnsley (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | Tadcaster Albion | 15 | (5) |
| 2015 | York City | 3 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Tadcaster Albion | 33 | (2) |
| Total | 473 | (22) | |
| International career | |||
| 1998 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 1999–2002 | England U21 | 17 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021– | Scarborough Athletic | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jonathan Greening (born 2 January 1979) is an English professionalfootball coach and former player who is themanager ofScarborough Athletic of theNational League North.
As a player, Greening played as amidfielder. He began his career in 1996 withYork City, but moved toManchester United in 1998, with whom he won the1998–99 UEFA Champions League as a non-playingsubstitute in thefinal. However, he failed to make a breakthrough in the Manchester United first team and followed United assistant managerSteve McClaren toMiddlesbrough in 2001. During his time at Middlesbrough, Greening earned his first call-up to theEngland national team, but he did not make an appearance. In 2004, he joinedWest Bromwich Albion for £1.25 million, and, in 2008, captained the team to theChampionship title. Greening signed forFulham in 2009 and helped them to the2010 UEFA Europa League final, before signing permanently the following summer. He signed forNottingham Forest in 2011 and had a three-year spell with the club.
Born inScarborough, North Yorkshire, Greening joined theYork City youth system at the age of 15.[2] He signed with the club'sYouth Training Scheme in December 1996 and broke into the first team towards the end of the1996–97 season, making his debut assubstitute in a 1–1 draw away toAFC Bournemouth on 22 March 1997.[3]
Following a four-day trial withManchester United in February,[2] he signed for thePremier League team on 25 March 1998 for what was understood to be an initial fee of £500,000, which could have potentially risen to £2 million dependent on appearances and international recognition, with a sell-on clause.[4] He later admitted that he signed for United on £400 a week without looking at the contract.[5] As an attacking midfielder, he faced massive competition from more established players in both positions and his first-team opportunities were restricted, although he did make the substitute's bench in the1999 UEFA Champions League final. He later admitted that he "felt a bit of a fraud" for picking up his winner's medal, having not played a single minute of European football that season.[6] He did however make a contribution to their victorious FA Cup campaign, coming on as a substitute at half-time in their fifth round tie with future club Fulham.[7]
Greening signed a new contract with United at the end of1999–2000, but by 2001 he had become frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities, and conceded that he would need to leave the club in order to play regularly.[8]
On 9 August 2001, Greening joinedMiddlesbrough for a combined fee of £3 million which saw both him and United teammateMark Wilson head to Teesside to rejoin former Manchester United assistant managerSteve McClaren, who was by now themanager of Middlesbrough.[9] Greening remained on Teesside for three seasons, being voted Club Player of the Year for2002–03 and also being selected for the fullEngland squad (though he did not play).[10] But his first-team chances were more limited during2003–04, after which he signed forWest Bromwich Albion for an initial fee of £1.25 million.[11] Greening was part of Middlesbrough's2004 League Cup-winning team, despite not making the squad for the final.[12]
Greening made his Albion debut in a 1–1 draw away toBlackburn Rovers on the opening day of the2004–05 Premier League season,[13] and quickly established himself as a key player in the Baggies' midfield, helping to secure their Premier League survival in his first season. He was named Albion's Player of the Year in2005–06,[14] in which he made 41 appearances and scored 2 goals as the club was relegated to theChampionship.[15]
He signed a new three-year contract with Albion in August 2007,[16] and was madeclub captain for2007–08.[17] His performances during the campaign led to him being named in the Championship Team of the Week on several occasions.[18][19][20] Greening missed the fifth roundFA Cup match atCoventry City due tosuspension,[21] but it was the only match he missed during the campaign; he started all 46 league matches and also participated in eight out of nine cup games. He captained Albion in the FA Cup semi-final, where they lost 1–0 toPortsmouth,[22] and one month later led the team to promotion as winners of the Championship.[23] Greening was named in the2007–08 ChampionshipPFA Team of the Year, alongside teammatesPaul Robinson andKevin Phillips.[24] During the last two months of the season Greening suffered from a double hernia problem but played on until the end of the campaign, when he had an operation to rectify the injury.[25][26]
Towards the end of2008–09, Greening said he was looking to sign a new contract with Albion.[27] He was offered a new four-year contract by the club, but instead handed in a transfer request in July 2009.[28]
On 14 July 2009, West Brom rejected a "derisory" bid fromFulham for Greening.[29] Nevertheless, on 24 August 2009, Greening joined Fulham on a season-long loan for2009–10, with a view to a permanent move upon completion of the loan period.[30] He scored his first and only league goal for Fulham against Portsmouth on 3 February 2010.[31] He also came off the bench in the2010 UEFA Europa League final defeat againstAtlético Madrid.[32]
Greening signed a two-year contract with Fulham on 1 July 2010 after a successful loan spell the previous season.[33] After signing, he was mainly used as a substitute and was seen as a 'fringe' player. Under new managerMark Hughes,[34] he rarely featured, making only 10 league appearances in2010–11.[35]
On 18 July 2011, Greening signed a three-year contract with Championship clubNottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, reuniting with manager Steve McClaren for the second time after working with him at both Manchester United and Middlesbrough.[36] Greening said the move met his desire to seek regular football.[37] He took up a coaching role with Forest's under-21 team in July 2013, after attaining UEFA 'B' and 'A' Licences over the summer.[38] Greening made 13 appearances for Forest in2013–14[39] before being released by the club in May 2014.[40]
Greening made his only appearance for theEngland national under-18 team as a substitute forDanny Cadamarteri in a 1–0 home defeat toFrance on 23 April 1998.[41] His first cap for theunder-21 team came after starting the 2–2 away draw withHungary on 27 April 1999,[42] with his first goal coming in the 61st minute of a 6–1 home win overGeorgia on 31 August 2000.[43] Greening was drafted into the England squad for the2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship as a replacement for the injuredMichael Carrick, two days prior to their first match of the tournament.[44] He played in the final Group A match, a 3–1 loss toPortugal on 22 May 2002, with England being eliminated from the tournament after finishing bottom of Group A.[45] This proved to be the final of his 17 appearances for the under-21s, for whom he scored three goals. Greening was also called up to the full England squad by Sven Goran Eriksson but failed to make an appearance.[46][42][43][47][48]
Although naturally right-sided, Greening could operate anywhere across themidfield.[49] Initially anattackingwide midfielder, he later moved to acentral midfieldholding role. TeammateDean Kiely described how Greening "sprays passes around like aquarterback" in Albion's style of attacking football underTony Mowbray.[50]
Greening began assisting with coaching the academy team of his former club York, then inLeague Two, during the summer of 2014,[51] before retiring from playing professionally during September 2014.[52] He signed forNorthern Counties East League Premier Division clubTadcaster Albion on 19 September 2014, where his younger brother Josh played,[52] making his debut the next day in a 6–0 away win overMaltby Main.[53] Greening was appointed as Development Phase Coach at York's Academy on 22 December 2014,[54] a role focusing on the development of the team's players aged 16 to 18.[55]
He registered as a player with York on non-contract terms on 13 November 2015, to provide cover with a number of midfielders unavailable.[56] His second York debut came two days later as a half-time substitute forRhys Turner in a 2–1 home defeat toPlymouth Argyle; according toThe Press, he "inspired an improved second-half display ".[57] Greening was sent off for violent conduct after elbowingMichael Doyle on his third appearance, in a 6–0 away defeat to Portsmouth on 24 November 2015, for which he received a three-match suspension.[58][59][60] He left the club by mutual consent on 16 December 2015,[61] despite offering only days earlier to carry on playing for the rest of2015–16.[62] Greening rejoined Tadcaster on 30 December 2015.[63] He made 21 appearances and scored one goal in 2015–16[64] as Tadcaster won the Northern Counties East League Premier Division title, and thus promotion to theNorthern Premier League Division One North.[65]
He has worked as a coach alongsideRichard Cresswell ati2i International Soccer Academy, which is based in York, England.[66]
His first managerial appointment was as head coach/manager ofNorthern Premier League sideScarborough Athletic, on 21 May 2021.[67] During his first season with the club, he led them to promotion from theNorthern Premier League and also won theNorth Riding Senior Cup.[68] His impressive start to management continued into the new season, Scarborough finishing 2022 in third position, just two points off top spot, which lead to Greening winning the December 2022 Manager of the Month Award.[69] On 24 December 2022, Greening signed a three-year contract with Scarborough, committing him with the club until the end of 2025.[70]
Greening married Anna Stubbings, inNorth Yorkshire, during the second quarter of 2002.[71][72] He was the joint best man at former York City teammateRichard Cresswell's wedding held June 2003.[73]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| York City | 1996–97[74] | Second Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1997–98[75] | Second Division | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[a] | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
| Total | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |||
| Manchester United | 1997–98[76] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 1998–99[77] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000[78] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2000–01[79] | Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| Middlesbrough | 2001–02[80] | Premier League | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 1 | ||
| 2002–03[81] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 2 | |||
| 2003–04[82] | Premier League | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 1 | |||
| Total | 99 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 109 | 4 | ||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2004–05[83] | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06[15] | Premier League | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 2 | |||
| 2006–07[84] | Championship | 42 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 3[e] | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
| 2007–08[85] | Championship | 46 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 54 | 1 | |||
| 2008–09[86] | Premier League | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | |||
| 2009–10[32] | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 196 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | 224 | 8 | |||
| Fulham (loan) | 2009–10[32] | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7[f] | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | |
| Fulham | 2010–11[35] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2011–12[87] | Premier League | — | — | — | 1[f] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 49 | 2 | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 2011–12[87] | Championship | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13[88] | Championship | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14[39] | Championship | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| Total | 49 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 55 | 0 | ||||
| Barnsley (loan) | 2012–13[88] | Championship | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | ||||
| Tadcaster Albion | 2014–15[53] | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 15 | 5 | — | — | — | 6[g] | 0 | 21 | 5 | |||
| York City | 2015–16[58] | League Two | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Tadcaster Albion | 2015–16[64] | Northern Counties East League Premier Division | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | 4[h] | 1 | 21 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17[89] | Northern Premier League Division One North | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6[i] | 4 | 23 | 5 | |||
| Total | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 5 | 44 | 7 | ||||
| Career total | 473 | 22 | 30 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 565 | 29 | ||
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Scarborough Athletic |  | 21 May 2021 | Present | 151 | 69 | 37 | 45 | 045.70 | [90] |
| Total | 151 | 69 | 37 | 45 | 045.70 | — | |||
Manchester United
Middlesbrough
West Bromwich Albion
Tadcaster Albion
Individual
Scarborough Athletic
Individual
