Robert Green

Robert Paul Green (born 18 January 1980) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

He played in the Premier League and Football League and for the England national team.

The first-choice goalkeeper since 1997-1998 remained Andy Marshall — on Marshall's departure in the summer of 2001 Green was able to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper for Norwich.

Green made his first-team debut for Norwich City in 1999 and totalled 241 appearances across all competitions for them, making the PFA Team of the Year when they won the First Division in 2003–04.

He made his first-team debut in the First Division on 11 April 1999, keeping a clean sheet in the 0–0 East Anglia derby draw against rivals Ipswich Town at Carrow Road.

He was a star of the 2001–02 season play-off campaign which culminated in a final loss to Birmingham City on penalties.

By 2003, Green was a key figure in the Norwich team.

He played a key role in helping Norwich into the First Division championship in 2003–04 and promotion into the Premier League.

The Norwich number one was once again ever present, keeping another 18 clean sheets and conceding just 39 goals in 46 league appearances.

Green put in many match winning performances during the season.

These man of the match displays included home fixtures with Derby County and Stoke City; he pulled off a save from Gerry Taggart during the latter.

Performances of this high standard led to his first England international call up for the friendly in March 2004 versus Sweden.

He was also included in the PFA Team of the Year for the season.

Norwich were relegated into the Championship the following season.

Green kept just 6 clean sheets and conceded 77 goals during the Premier League season despite many excellent individual performances.

England coach Sven-Göran Eriksson continually picked Green for international squads on merit.

After relegation Norwich struggled to adjust back to Championship football.

It proved to be Green's worst season as Norwich's number one, keeping just seven clean sheets in 42 league appearances.

He made his debut for the full England squad in 2005.

Green missed the last few matches of 2005–06 after he sustained an injury in the warm-up prior to the away fixture against Sheffield Wednesday.

In 2006, he transferred to West Ham United, making the same number of appearances in a six-year spell in which he was their Player of the Year in 2008 and won promotion via the Championship play-offs in 2012.

Green was cut from England's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad due to injury but featured in the 2010 edition.

In August 2006, Norwich accepted a bid of up to £2 million from West Ham United for Green.

Green signed a four-year deal with West Ham United, where he teamed up with former Norwich striker, Dean Ashton who had been sold to West Ham in January 2006.

Green made his debut for West Ham on 19 October 2006 in a 1–0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Two of his best performances were when West Ham won 1–0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and against Manchester United where he helped his team to a 1–0 win, which preserved West Ham's Premier League status.

Green kept nine clean sheets in 26 appearances during the league season.

In 2007–08, Green saved the first three penalties taken against him.

The first, against Kevin Doyle of Reading, the second, Benjani of Portsmouth in injury time, and the third from Tottenham's Jermain Defoe, again in injury time.

The streak was ended by James McFadden of Birmingham City on 9 February 2008.

In 2008–09, Green saved yet another penalty, this time on 30 August 2008 against Jason Roberts of Blackburn Rovers, West Ham then went on to win the match 4–1.

Green played all 38 league matches for West Ham in that season, keeping ten clean sheets.

And again played in all 38 league matches for West Ham in 2009–10, keeping eight clean sheets and saving yet another penalty, this time from Aston Villa's Ashley Young in a 2–1 victory.

He played in every match and was named the West Ham Hammer of the Year with the team finishing in 10th place in the Premier League.

He was also in their squad for UEFA Euro 2012.

Born in Chertsey, Surrey, Green came through the youth system at Norwich City.

He then moved on a free transfer to Queens Park Rangers, winning the play-offs again in 2014.

In July 2016, Green joined Leeds United on a one-year contract.

He later joined Huddersfield Town and Chelsea for one year each before retiring in 2019.

Green represented England at under-16, under-18 and B level.