Danny Whitaker

Daniel Phillip Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English former professional football player and manager who is the head coach of club Bradford (Park Avenue).

A former Manchester United Academy player, Whitaker turned professional with Macclesfield Town in 2001.

He scored on his Football League debut; during a 2–1 home defeat to Exeter City on 2 February 2002.

He went on to make another 15 Third Division appearances that season, earning a fresh contract upon the season's end.

A regular in the 2002–03 season, he scored a hat-trick in the League Cup 4–1 triumph over Barnsley on 11 September.

In most unusual fashion all three goals came in the second period of extra time.

With ten goals before the winter break he was linked to both Oldham Athletic and Preston North End.

However, manager David Moss was highly dismissive of such speculation, saying: "Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of reading about players who have just signed two-year contracts but want to get away. Danny Whitaker will be going nowhere except Macclesfield reserves if he doesn't improve."

The club insisted that Whitaker was too valuable a player to let go.

Rated as a star player before the start of the 2003–04 season, he had a rather quiet season with just six goals, going 22 games without a goal from November to the season's finish.

He scored just four goals in the 2004–05 season, though manager Brian Horton was still keen to hold on to him, despite nine others being deemed unworthy of a new deal.

This transfer talk came despite him having recently signed a contract to keep him with the "Silkmen" until June 2005.

Six goals in 45 appearances followed in 2005–06.

However, despite having been established in the heart of the Macclesfield midfield for the past four years and winning the club's Player of the Year award, he was released at the end of the season.

He spent five years with the club, and made over 200 appearances in all competitions, before he switched to Port Vale in June 2006.

Now a free agent, Whitaker moved up to League One with Port Vale in June 2006.

He played 51 games in his first season at Vale Park.

At the end of the 2007–08 season, where Whitaker again played 40+ games, he was offered a new contract along with three other Port Vale players.

But in May he rejected the contract and was told he could look for another club.

However, Lee Sinnott told Whitaker that he would get back to him with a better offer if chairman Bill Bratt could raise some more money, the wage bill having been cut due to relegation.

In June, he was offered an improved deal.

Whilst mulling over the offer he was given a deadline.

He played over 100 games for the Vale in two seasons, before he signed for Oldham Athletic in June 2008.

On 20 June 2008, he turned down the chance to stay at Vale, and instead opted to join Oldham Athletic, still in League One.

Whitaker scored eight goals in 42 appearances for the "Latics" during the 2008–09 season.

He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season, despite missing only a handful of games during his spell at the club.

Again a first team regular, he left after two seasons to join Chesterfield in May 2010.

He helped the club to the League Two title in 2010–11, and also won himself a place on the division's PFA Team of the Year.

Whitaker was signed by Chesterfield in May 2010, linking up with his old boss John Sheridan.

He started the 2010–11 campaign with three goals in as many league games, having bagged a hat-trick against Hereford United.

Playing in every one of the club's league games, scoring fifteen goals in the process, Chesterfield won promotion as champions of League Two.

He was also named in the PFA Team of the Year, along with teammates Craig Davies and Tommy Lee.

The following season, 2011–12, the "Spireites" struggled at the bottom of League One, and Whittaker lost his first team place in the new year.

He also helped the club to the Football League Trophy title in 2012.

He returned to Macclesfield Town in August 2013, and played in the club's defeat at the 2017 FA Trophy final, before helping the club to win promotion back to the English Football League as champions of the National League.

He was appointed as the club's caretaker manager in November 2018, before announcing his retirement in July 2019.

He again stepped up to become caretaker manager at Macclesfield in August 2019 and January 2020, before he was appointed as the first manager, in October 2020.

Whitaker led phoenix club Macclesfield to the North West Counties Premier Division title at the end of the 2021–22 season, before losing his job in October 2022.

He took charge at Bradford (Park Avenue) in December 2023.

Whitaker was a Manchester United junior, and spent time at both Bradford City and local side Wilmslow Albion before signing with Macclesfield Town.