Peter Whittingham

Peter Michael Whittingham /ˈhwɪtɪŋəm/ (born 8 September 1984) is an English professional footballer who plays for Championship club Cardiff City. His primary position is as a central midfielder, although he can operate as a winger on both the left and right, as well as a second-striker. A graduate of the Aston Villa academy he won the FA Youth Cup in their youth side and spent five seasons in their first team before transferring to Cardiff City. In eleven seasons at Cardiff, Whittingham has played over 400 first team matches and sits eighth in their all time appearances list.

Whittingham was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and attended King Henry VIII School, Coventry. The school favoured Rugby and Cricket, and did not offer football as an option. Despite this, Whittingham played during break and lunch times with an air flow ball on the school playground. During this time he was notable as being a capable batsman in cricket during the summer months.

Aston Villa

Whittingham was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side of 2002.

He made his first team debut on 21 April 2003 against Newcastle United, a second-half substitution for Gareth Barry. He went on to make 32 appearances in his first full season at the club, season 2003–04, scoring his first goal against Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup on 23 September 2003. and signed a contract that would have lasted until 2007 in November.

He failed to hold down a regular first team place in the Villa side over the next three years despite gaining a reputation as a skillful winger with a fierce shot. He was loaned out to both Derby County and Burnley to get some first team games, and scored his first league goal for Villa against Portsmouth in November 2004.

Cardiff City

On 11 January 2007, after making just four appearances for Villa since the start of the season, Whittingham, who had become surplus to requirements at Villa Park and was out of contract in the summer, was transferred to Cardiff City for a reported fee of £350,000. He quickly established himself in the side and was a first team member until the end of the year with midfield competition Joe Ledley moved to left-back due to a small squad.

The arrival of Tony Capaldi for the 2007–08 season meant that Ledley was no longer needed to cover in defence and went back to his normal position of left midfield, meaning Whittingham started the season on the bench. By mid-November Cardiff found themselves just above the relegation zone which prompted a minor reshuffle from boss Dave Jones involving Chris Gunter and Whittingham returning to the starting line-up. His return to the side saw him moved to an unfamiliar role on the right side of midfield but he soon settled into the role and started the majority of the remaining matches of the season, as well as being the Cardiff's top scorer with three goals during their FA Cup run, which saw Whittingham score in matches against Chasetown, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Middlesbrough, before Cardiff eventually lost 1–0 to Portsmouth in the final.

The start of the 2008–09 season saw Whittingham continue playing on the right side of midfield, scoring his first goal of the season on 26 August in a 2–1 victory over Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup. By November, Whittingham was one of only two players who had featured in every game of the season so far for Cardiff, along with centre-back Roger Johnson, when he ruptured ankle ligaments during a 2–1 win over Crystal Palace on 15 November which was expected to keep him out for up to three months. However, he returned to the side ahead of schedule, coming on as a late substitute during a 1–1 draw with Reading on 26 December.

In the first game of the 2009–10 season, Whittingham converted a penalty during a 4–0 win over Scunthorpe United in the first ever competitive match at the Cardiff City Stadium and scored in consecutive rounds of the League Cup in wins over Dagenham & Redbridge and Bristol Rovers. Having been appointed the first choice penalty taker for the club, he took his league goal tally to three with goals in consecutive matches in a 3–1 defeat to against Sheffield Wednesday followed by a 6–1 win over Derby County, He continued his scoring form with a brace against Watford and goals against Crystal Palace and Coventry City followed by a hat-trick against Sheffield United. On 14 November 2009 Whittingham earned the October Player of the Month award. On 24 April, Whittingham scored a free-kick during a 3–2 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and the following day was named in the 2009–10 Championship Team of the Year.

Following the loan arrival of Craig Bellamy, Whittingham started the 2010–11 season in a new central midfield role. His performances were praised by manager Dave Jones. After scoring eight penalties in the previous campaign, Whittingham saw his first two penalties saved in this campaign, causing Jones to announce that Whittingham had been taken off penalty duty. However, he did take and score Cardiff's next penalty against Coventry City in a 2–1 win which added to his first two goals of the season scored from a brace of free kicks scored against Bristol City three days previously. Whittingham scored a fantastic volley against Barnsley on 13 March, which ended up being voted Football League Goal of the Year award for 2011. At the end of the season, Cardiff failed to gain promotion for a second year running and Whittingham was heavily linked with a move away from Cardiff City Stadium, being linked with newly promoted Norwich City and Portsmouth.

Whittingham playing for Cardiff City in 2012

However, despite the links with a move away from the Welsh capital, new Cardiff boss, Malky Mackay insisted "Whittingham was central to his plans". Whittingham started the first game against West Ham United, and scored his first goal of the season against Oxford United after coming on for Solomon Taiwo. Whittingham made his 300th league appearance in a 1–1 draw with Burnley. On 26 August, Whittingham signed a contract extension which will keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2014. Whittingham played a massive role in Cardiff's centre midfield, producing many impressive performances and scoring several trademark wondergoals, including direct freekicks against Peterborough and Crystal Palace as well as a sublime chip from 35 yards away to Reading. His 50th league goal for Cardiff came on 22 November against Coventry City. His four goals in five games lead to Whittingham being nominated for the November Football League Championship Player of the Month. On 30 December 2011, Mackay revealed that the club had rejected a bid, thought to be around £3 million, from West Ham United for the player. Following a goalscoring drought, Whittingham scored a penalty against Leicester in February and then scored straight from a corner against Peterborough. In February, Whittingham was nominated for the Football League Championship Player of the Year award. Whittingham was part of all the games in the League Cup campaign, which eventually saw Cardiff lose 3–2 on penalties to Liverpool in the final at Wembley Stadium. He made his 250th Cardiff appearance in a 2–2 draw with Brighton, in which he scored on 7 March. Whittingham was voted the best player outside the Premier League in FourFourTwo magazine. Whittingham then won his second Cardiff City player of the year award at the end of the season. And later the PFA Championship team of the year.

During the close season, again more speculation about Whittingham's future in the Welsh capital arose, this time from Premier League side West Bromwich Albion. Whittingham then stated that he was fully committed to Cardiff.

"But as I've said, I'm happy here and until the gaffer [Malky Mackay] wants to sell me I'm here."

— Whittingham commenting on his future at Cardiff City.

Despite this statement, Premier League clubs still confirmed interest with Fulham having a £2.5 million rejected. On 28 August 2012, Whittingham signed a new 3-year deal at Cardiff, ending speculation on his future. Whittingham opened his scoring account for the 2012–13 season, on 2 September with a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. He then scored his fourth during the following game, converting a penalty against Leeds United, his 350th career appearance. Another goal against Millwall followed. After a drop in form, Whittingham was left out of the side towards the close of the season, but managed his eighth and final goal of the campaign with a last-minute penalty at home to Blackburn Rovers on 1 April. Whittingham collected a winner's medal as Cardiff lifted the Championship trophy following April's home encounter with Bolton Wanderers.

Cardiff's debut Premier League season started off brightly with wins over champions Manchester City and Fulham. Whittingham scored his first Premier League goal in 9 years against Hull City. Despite the bright start, Cardiff were eventually relegated after just one season.

In July 2014, Whittingham signed a new three-year deal keeping him till in the Welsh capital until 2017. Despite a disappointing campaign for the Bluebirds, who finished in 11th, their lowest finish in 8 years, Whittingham was selected in The Football Manager Team of the Decade at the Football League Awards, on 19 April.

Cardiff rejected two bids from unnamed clubs for Whittingham in the summer and was described as the club's kingpin, by manager Russell Slade. Whittingham scored twice in a 4–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and took over club legends John Toshack and Hughie Ferguson in the club's all-time leading scorers in English league competitions. Cardiff missed out on the play-offs at the end of the season.

Whittingham is a full England under-21 international, making his debut against Netherlands in 2004 and was part of the squad that competed in the 2007 UEFA Under-21 Championship held in the Netherlands. He made one substitute appearance in the tournament coming on late in a 2–2 draw with Italy.

Whittingham has three goals for the under-21 side. He scored his first two in a match against Wales before scoring his last goal in a match against Norway in February 2006.

Aston Villa

• FA Youth Cup: 2002

Cardiff City

• Football League Championship: 2012–13
• FA Cup runner-up: 2008
• EFL Cup runner-up: 2012

Individual

• PFA Championship Team of the Year: 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13
• Football League Championship Player of the Month: October 2009
• Cardiff City Player of the Year: 2009–10, 2011–12
• The Football League Goal of the Year: 2012
• Football League Team of the Decade: 2005–2015