Theodore Whitmore facts for kids
Whitmore in 2025
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Theodore Eccleston Whitmore | ||
| Date of birth | 5 August 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Montego Bay, Jamaica | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
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Current team
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Mount Pleasant F.A. | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Montego Bay Boys Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994 | Cape Town Spurs | 3 | (1) |
| 1996–1997 | Violet Kickers | 12 | (2) |
| 1997–1999 | Seba United | 14 | (1) |
| 1999–2002 | Hull City | 77 | (9) |
| 2002–2003 | Seba United | ? | (4) |
| 2003 | Livingston | 3 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | Seba United | ? | (1) |
| 2004–2006 | Tranmere Rovers | 37 | (5) |
| 2006 | Seba United | 24 | (8) |
| International career | |||
| 1993–2004 | Jamaica | 120 | (24) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2006–2008 | Seba United | ||
| 2007 | Jamaica (interim) | ||
| 2008 | Jamaica (assistant) | ||
| 2008 | Jamaica (interim) | ||
| 2009–2013 | Jamaica | ||
| 2014–2015 | Jamaica U-20 | ||
| 2016–2021 | Jamaica | ||
| 2022–2024 | Mount Pleasant F.A. | ||
| 2024– | Mount Pleasant F.A. | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Theodore Eccleston Whitmore, also known as "Tappa," is a famous Jamaican former professional footballer. He was born on August 5, 1972. He is well-known for his time as a midfielder and later as the head coach of the Jamaica national team. He also received the Order of Distinction (OD) from Jamaica.
Contents
Playing Career: From Jamaica to England
Theodore Whitmore grew up in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He attended St. James High School. Before becoming a full-time footballer, he worked delivering baked goods. His football journey began at Montego Bay Boys Club.
Early Club Days in Jamaica
Whitmore played for several clubs in his home country. These included Violet Kickers and Seba United. He was known for being a very skilled and creative player. This was impressive for someone of his height.
Playing for Hull City in England
In 1999, Whitmore joined the English team Hull City. He signed with them after a successful one-week trial. He played alongside his fellow Jamaican, Ian Goodison, at the club. Whitmore quickly became a favorite among the fans. He scored a goal in his first league game for Hull City. He played 77 games for the club, scoring 9 goals. His time at Hull City ended early due to an accident in Jamaica.
Later Club Teams
After Hull City, Whitmore played for Livingston in Scotland in 2003. In 2004, he moved to Tranmere Rovers. He left Tranmere in 2006 and returned to Jamaica. There, he became a player and coach for his old team, Seba United.
International Career: A Reggae Boyz Star
Whitmore was a very important player for the Jamaica national team, known as the "Reggae Boyz." He made his first appearance for Jamaica in November 1993. He played in a friendly match against the United States.
World Cup Hero
Whitmore was a key part of the Jamaican team in the 1990s. He helped them reach their first and only FIFA World Cup in 1998. This was a huge moment for Jamaican football. At the World Cup, Jamaica was eliminated in the first round. However, Whitmore scored two goals in Jamaica's only win. This was a 2–1 victory against Japan.
Caribbean Footballer of the Year
In 1998, the same year as the World Cup, Whitmore was named the Caribbean Footballer of the Year. This award recognized him as the best player in the Caribbean region. He played 105 official international games for Jamaica. He scored 24 goals during his international career. His last international match was in November 2004, also against the United States.
Managerial Career: Leading the Reggae Boyz
After his playing career, Theodore Whitmore moved into coaching. He started as a player-coach for Seba United in 2006.
Coaching the Jamaica National Team
Whitmore took on the role of interim manager for the Jamaica national team in November 2007. He led the team to two friendly wins. He then became an assistant coach. He was appointed interim manager again in September 2008. During this time, he guided the Reggae Boyz to important wins. These included 1–0 victories against Mexico and Honduras.
He became the full-time manager in June 2009. This happened after John Barnes left the position. In December 2010, Whitmore led Jamaica to win the 2010 Digicel Cup. He helped Jamaica qualify for the final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers in 2012. He resigned as head coach in June 2013.
Coaching Youth and Return to National Team
From December 2014 to February 2015, Whitmore coached the Jamaica national U-20 team. In September 2016, he was again named interim head coach of the senior Jamaica team. He signed a four-year contract in May 2018. He continued to lead the team until December 2021, when he was dismissed.
Coaching Mount Pleasant FA
In 2022, Whitmore became the manager of Mount Pleasant F.A.. This club plays in the Jamaica Premier League. In June 2023, he led Mount Pleasant to win his first domestic title as a manager. The team reached the JPL final again in 2024, but lost on penalties. After a brief departure, Whitmore made a quick return to Mount Pleasant in 2024.
Personal Life
Theodore Whitmore faced personal challenges during his career. He was involved in a car accident where his teammate Stephen Malcolm died. In November 2013, his 14-year-old son, Jouvhaine, passed away after being hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle. Whitmore also has another son, Gianni, who is said to be very similar to him in looks and football talent.
Honours and Achievements
Player Achievements
Jamaica
- Caribbean Cup: 1998, 2005
Individual Awards
- Caribbean Footballer of the Year: 1998
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI (Reserves): 2003
Manager Achievements
Jamaica
- Caribbean Cup: 2008 (as assistant coach), 2010 (as manager)
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runners-up: 2017
Mount Pleasant FA
- Jamaica Premier League: 2022-23
See also
In Spanish: Theodore Whitmore para niños
