33 Facts About Jonathan Spector

Jonathan Michael Paul Spector was born on March 1,1986 and is an American former soccer player who played as a defender.

Jonathan Spector earned 36 caps for the United States national team.

Jonathan Spector is the Head of Scouting for MLS side Atlanta United.

Jonathan Spector then spent five and a half seasons with Birmingham City.

Jonathan Spector then played for MLS club Orlando City and had a short spell with Scottish club Hibernian.

Jonathan Spector was born and grew up in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois the youngest of 4 children.

Jonathan Spector is Lutheran but his Paternal Grandfather was Jewish.

Jonathan Spector's father is of Russian, English and Irish ancestry, and his mother was born in Siegen, Germany; as a result of this, Spector has a German passport, which allowed him to play in England without needing a work permit.

Jonathan Spector's grandfather, Art Jonathan Spector, was an NBA basketball player and the first player to be signed by the Boston Celtics in 1946, which led to him becoming known as the "Original Celtic".

Jonathan Spector died in June 1987, when Jonathan was 15 months old.

Jonathan Spector attended St Peter Lutheran Junior High School and St Viator High School, where he played high school soccer.

Jonathan Spector started his club soccer career with Schwaben AC in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, before joining national power Chicago Sockers.

Jonathan Spector played youth soccer with Chicago Fire and Manchester United.

Jonathan Spector graduated from the United States Soccer Federation's Bradenton Academy at the age of 17 in the summer of 2003.

Jonathan Spector was discovered by a Manchester United scout while playing for the American Under-17 squad at the Milk Cup in 2003.

Originally a striker, Jonathan Spector was lined up in defense due to injuries for a game the scout had attended to scout other players.

Jonathan Spector made his first appearance for the first team in the FA Community Shield match against Arsenal in August 2004.

The injury crisis continued and Jonathan Spector was not able to make his loan move before the transfer window closed on January 31,2005.

Jonathan Spector finished the season with 16 starts and eight substitute appearances.

Jonathan Spector initially been brought as backup to the West Ham defense, but he had an extended run of games due to injury problems and his ability to play anywhere in the back four with equal ease.

Jonathan Spector signed a two-year contract with Championship club Birmingham City in August 2011, four days before the opening of the league season.

Jonathan Spector made his debut in Birmingham's first match in major European competition for nearly 50 years, the Europa League play-off round first leg against Portuguese club Nacional, which finished goalless.

Jonathan 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 group stage.

Jonathan Spector had a goal disallowed shortly before QPR took the lead, and after 79 minutes was yellow-carded for diving in the penalty area when it appeared that Richard Dunne had tripped him.

Jonathan Spector 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.

Jonathan Spector made a total of 179 appearances in all competitions for Birmingham.

Jonathan Spector was named club captain prior to the start of the 2018 season following the departure of Kaka.

Jonathan Spector played 38 games for the club over two years.

Jonathan Spector was released by Hibernian in May 2019, having made one appearance, in an Edinburgh derby win against Hearts.

Jonathan Spector officially announced his retirement as an active player on August 11,2019.

In 2003, Jonathan Spector played for the United States national team at the World Under-17 Championship in Finland and earned his first cap for the senior team on November 17,2004, in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica.

Later in 2010, Jonathan Spector was a starting right-back in friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.

Jonathan Spector earned 36 caps for the United States between 2004 and 2015.