Paul Rachubka
Encyclopedia
Paul Stephen Rachubka (born 21 May 1981) is an American
-English
professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United
after joining the club from Blackpool
.
Born in San Luis Obispo
, California
, to an English mother and an American father, Rachubka possesses dual nationality, having moved to England with his family when he was seven years old. He has represented England at under-16
, under-18
and under-20
levels.
by then-youth coach Brian Kidd
. He signed a trainee contract in 1997 before turning professional in July 1999. He was included in the club's squad for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship
in Brazil and made his debut in their final group match against South Melbourne
on 11 January 2000. He made two more first-team appearances the following season, against Watford
in the League Cup and Leicester City
in the league. The 2001–02 season saw Rachubka go on a three-month loan to Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, followed by six months with Oldham Athletic
. At the end of the season, Manchester United received a £200,000 bid for Rachubka from Charlton Athletic
, and he left the club without having conceded a goal in any of his three appearances.
After failing to dislodge Dean Kiely
in his two years at Charlton, Rachubka was loaned out five times, all in 2004; firstly to Burnley
in February, then from March to the end of the 2003–04 season he was at Huddersfield Town
. On 6 August, at the start of the 2004–05, he was loaned out to Milton Keynes Dons
for one month. He then spent October and November with Northampton Town
before returning again to Huddersfield Town, for a further month, on 5 December.
in 2004, Rachubka took the option to re-sign for Huddersfield Town. He was the first-choice goalkeeper at the Galpharm Stadium
until Matt Glennon
was signed during the summer of 2006.
Rachubka was sent on loan to Peterborough United
as cover for Mark Tyler and played four League Two
matches over the Christmas and New Year period of 2006–07.
, the ninth loan move of his career. He made his debut for the Seasiders on 27 February and kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at his former club Oldham Athletic. On 2 April he was named in the Press Association
's League One
"Team of the Week", alongside Blackpool teammate Wes Hoolahan
, for his performance in the 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra
.
Also in April, Rachubka picked up an injury that kept him out of the team for six weeks. Blackpool's other 'keepers, Rhys Evans and Lewis Edge
, also picked up concurrent injuries, which led to then-Seasiders boss Simon Grayson
bringing in Manchester City
's Joe Hart
on loan as an emergency stand-in.
When Joe Hart
returned to Manchester City, Rachubka returned to the Blackpool first team on 13 May 2007, for the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final against Oldham Athletic
. Blackpool won both legs, and Rachubka played in the final on 27 May at the newly-renovated Wembley Stadium
. Blackpool won 2–0 against Yeovil Town
, gaining promotion to The Championship
.
On 5 June 2007, five days after his contract at Huddersfield expired, Blackpool signed Rachubka on a permanent two-year deal. On 13 August 2007 he was named in The Championship "Team of the Week" for his performance on the opening day of the 2007–08 season, two days before, in the Seasiders single-goal victory over Leicester City
at the Walkers Stadium
.
Rachubka was one of two ever-present players during Blackpool's 2007–08 League season, the other being Shaun Barker
. Rachubka won the 2007–08 Blackpool Player Of The Year.
He made his 100th appearance for the Legendary Seasiders early in the 2009–10 season, in a 2–2 draw with Watford
at Vicarage Road
. In April 2009 Rachubka signed a new two year deal at Blackpool.
Following his performance in Blackpool's 2–0 win over Peterborough United
on 26 September 2009 at Bloomfield Road
, Rachubka was named in The Championship "Team of the Week". On 8 December, Rachubka made his 100th League appearance for Blackpool since making the permanent switch, in a 3–0 win over Middlesbrough
at the Riverside Stadium
. Rachubka started the season as Blackpool's first choice goalkeeper, however after being sent off in a 4-1 loss against Crystal Palace
, substitute goalkeeper Matt Gilks came into the side and managed to displace Rachubka who dropped to second choice due to the impressive form of Gilks. He made 20 league appearances for Blackpool that season as they earned promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs after beating Cardiff City
.
After being promoted to the Premier League with Blackpool, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway
confirmed that Rachubka would be out of action for some time following a knee operation. As such, he was not named in Blackpool's 24-man squad for the start of their Premier League campaign the following season. Blackpool signed Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson
who became the clubs number two during Rachubka's time out injured. Even after returning to fitness, he had to wait until January 2011 to be registered in the Blackpool 25 man squad, when squads to see clubs through until the end of the season were named. Manager Ian Holloway said it was an error not to have named Rachubka in his initial 25 man squad for the first half of the season.
On 8 January 2011, Rachubka made his first start for Blackpool in a year, against Southampton
in the Third Round of the FA Cup
. In February 2011, Rachubka suffered another knee injury which ruled him out for large parts of the second half of the season. He returned to light training for Blackpool in mid March. After only making three appearances during the 2010-11 season, Rachubka was released by Blackpool after they decided not to take up the one year contract extension they had on Rachubka.
who was the manager that signed Rachubka for Blackpool. Rachubka revealed that despite being brought in as a number two he was looking to compete and win the number one shirt. He made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Falkirk
on 13 July, but was substituted by Alex Cairns in the 63rd minute. Rachubka was Leeds' number one for most the pre season games after he was the only senior keeper at the club, however on 25 July Leeds brought in Andy Lonergan to compete for the number 1 jersey.
Rachubka made his debut for Leeds on 23 August against Doncaster Rovers
in the League Cup. Rachubka made his league debut for Leeds against Doncaster Rovers on 14 October as a substitute replacing the injured Andy Lonergan. Rachubka made his first league start of the season against Coventry City
when Andy Lonergan missed the game with a finger injury on 18 October. However, Rachubka made an error which cost Leeds three points when Coventry City player Richard Wood
scored an injury time equaliser in a 1–1 draw. Rachubka was judged to have been at fault for the goals Leeds conceded against Peterbrough in a dramatic 3-2 win for Leeds.
Despite some high profile errors, Rachubka claimed he was looking to put the mistakes behind him and impress to make the number one spot his own. Rachubka made three errors in the first 30 minutes that led to goals against his old club Blackpool
which put Leeds 3-0 down, Rachubka was substituted at half time for rookie goalkeeper Alex Cairns
. Manager Simon Grayson reacted by signing Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy
on loan and revealing Rachubka was going to be taken out of the team for several weeks, and possibly sent out on loan due to his fragile confidence after his horror show against Blackpool.
On loan transfer deadline day, 24 November, Rachubka joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January to help recapture some form.
|1999–2000||rowspan="2"|Manchester United
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0||1||0
|-
|2000–01||1||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|-
|2001–02||Royal Antwerp (loan)||First Division||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|-
|2001–02||Oldham Athletic
(loan)||Second Division
||16||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
|2002–03
||Charlton Athletic
||Premier League||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|2003–04||Burnley
(loan)||First Division
||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|2003–04||Huddersfield Town
(loan)||Third Division
||13||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||0
|-
|2004–05||Milton Keynes Dons
(loan)||League One
||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2004–05||Northampton Town
(loan)||League Two
||10||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|2004–05||Huddersfield Town
(loan)||rowspan="4"|League One
||3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2004–05||rowspan="3"|Huddersfield Town
||26||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||0
|-
|2005–06||34||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||41||0
|-
|2006–07||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|2006–07||Peterborough United
(loan) ||League Two
||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="5"|Blackpool
||League One
||8||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="3"|Championship
||46||0||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||49||0
|-
|2008–09||42||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||43||0
|-
|2009–10||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21||0
|-
|2010–11
||Premier League||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|2011–12
||Leeds United
||Championship
||6||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||7||0
|-
235||0||7||0||7||0||1||0||261||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
236||0||7||0||7||0||1||0||262||0
Notes:
a. 1999–2000 appearance was in the World Club Championship
b. 3 league play-off appearances for Huddersfield Town in 2004 (included in 2003–04 total)
c. 2 league play-off appearances for Huddersfield Town in 2006 (included in 2005–06 total)
d. 3 league play-off appearances for Blackpool in 2007 (included in 2006–07 total)
e. All Football League Trophy
results are included in totals
, under-18
and under-20
levels. He was in the England under-20 squad that played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
in Nigeria
. He started the last game against Japan under-20s
.
On 5 November 2008 Rachubka confirmed that he had inquired whether he was eligible to play international football for the United States
.
Blackpool
Individual
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional Association football goalkeeper who plays for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
after joining the club from Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Born in San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, to an English mother and an American father, Rachubka possesses dual nationality, having moved to England with his family when he was seven years old. He has represented England at under-16
England national under-16 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the Victory Shield match against Scotland.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England U-16 squad and remain eligible.-External links:*...
, under-18
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
and under-20
England national under-20 football team
- Round of 16 :-Friendlies:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup running from 29 July to the 20 August 2011.-Recent call-ups:...
levels.
Early career at Manchester United and Charlton Athletic
Despite being born in the United States, Rachubka grew up in England. He started playing football for a Stockport club called Norbury Moor Rangers, but at the age of nine, after three months there, he was invited to join Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
by then-youth coach Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd
Brian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....
. He signed a trainee contract in 1997 before turning professional in July 1999. He was included in the club's squad for the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship
2000 FIFA Club World Championship
The 2000 FIFA Club World Championship was the pilot edition of the FIFA Club World Championship held in Brazil from 5 January to 14 January 2000...
in Brazil and made his debut in their final group match against South Melbourne
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
on 11 January 2000. He made two more first-team appearances the following season, against Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the League Cup and Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in the league. The 2001–02 season saw Rachubka go on a three-month loan to Manchester United's Belgian feeder club Royal Antwerp, followed by six months with Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. At the end of the season, Manchester United received a £200,000 bid for Rachubka from Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, and he left the club without having conceded a goal in any of his three appearances.
After failing to dislodge Dean Kiely
Dean Kiely
Dean Laurence Kiely is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently goalkeeping coach at West Bromwich Albion. He has won 11 caps for the Republic of Ireland, but has more often than not been on the bench as their substitute goalkeeper...
in his two years at Charlton, Rachubka was loaned out five times, all in 2004; firstly to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
in February, then from March to the end of the 2003–04 season he was at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. On 6 August, at the start of the 2004–05, he was loaned out to Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
for one month. He then spent October and November with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
before returning again to Huddersfield Town, for a further month, on 5 December.
Huddersfield Town
Rachubka earned promotion with Huddersfield on loan during the 2003-04 season when they won the Division Three playoffs. After his contract expired with Charlton AthleticCharlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in 2004, Rachubka took the option to re-sign for Huddersfield Town. He was the first-choice goalkeeper at the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
until Matt Glennon
Matt Glennon
Matthew William "Matt" Glennon is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Conference National club Stockport County....
was signed during the summer of 2006.
Rachubka was sent on loan to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
as cover for Mark Tyler and played four League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
matches over the Christmas and New Year period of 2006–07.
Blackpool
On 31 January 2007, he went on loan to Blackpool as back-up for Rhys EvansRhys Evans
Rhys Karl Evans is an English footballer who played for Southend United and is currently on trial at Bradford City, a club he is very much fond of. He is a goalkeeper, who won two England under-21 caps....
, the ninth loan move of his career. He made his debut for the Seasiders on 27 February and kept a clean sheet in a 1–0 win at his former club Oldham Athletic. On 2 April he was named in the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
's League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
"Team of the Week", alongside Blackpool teammate Wes Hoolahan
Wes Hoolahan
Wesley "Wes" Hoolahan is an Irish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for English Premier League club Norwich City.-Early career:...
, for his performance in the 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
.
Also in April, Rachubka picked up an injury that kept him out of the team for six weeks. Blackpool's other 'keepers, Rhys Evans and Lewis Edge
Lewis Edge
Lewis John Spencer Edge is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AFC Fylde in the NPL Division One North league.-Cricket:...
, also picked up concurrent injuries, which led to then-Seasiders boss Simon Grayson
Simon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
bringing in Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
's Joe Hart
Joe Hart
Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team....
on loan as an emergency stand-in.
When Joe Hart
Joe Hart
Charles Joseph John "Joe" Hart is an English football goalkeeper who plays for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national football team and was previously a regular for the England under-21 team....
returned to Manchester City, Rachubka returned to the Blackpool first team on 13 May 2007, for the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final against Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. Blackpool won both legs, and Rachubka played in the final on 27 May at the newly-renovated Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. Blackpool won 2–0 against Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, gaining promotion to The Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
On 5 June 2007, five days after his contract at Huddersfield expired, Blackpool signed Rachubka on a permanent two-year deal. On 13 August 2007 he was named in The Championship "Team of the Week" for his performance on the opening day of the 2007–08 season, two days before, in the Seasiders single-goal victory over Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
at the Walkers Stadium
Walkers Stadium
The King Power Stadium is a football stadium which hosts home matches of English football club Leicester City. The all-seater stadium, inaugurated in July 2002, holds 32,500 and has the 19th largest stadium capacity in England. The stadium is named after King Power, a company owned by club owner...
.
Rachubka was one of two ever-present players during Blackpool's 2007–08 League season, the other being Shaun Barker
Shaun Barker
Shaun Barker is an English footballer who plays for Derby County as a defender, where he is also captain.-Rotherham United:...
. Rachubka won the 2007–08 Blackpool Player Of The Year.
He made his 100th appearance for the Legendary Seasiders early in the 2009–10 season, in a 2–2 draw with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
. In April 2009 Rachubka signed a new two year deal at Blackpool.
Following his performance in Blackpool's 2–0 win over Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on 26 September 2009 at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Rachubka was named in The Championship "Team of the Week". On 8 December, Rachubka made his 100th League appearance for Blackpool since making the permanent switch, in a 3–0 win over Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
at the Riverside Stadium
Riverside Stadium
The Riverside Stadium is a football stadium in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England, which has been the home of Middlesbrough F.C. since it opened in 1995...
. Rachubka started the season as Blackpool's first choice goalkeeper, however after being sent off in a 4-1 loss against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, substitute goalkeeper Matt Gilks came into the side and managed to displace Rachubka who dropped to second choice due to the impressive form of Gilks. He made 20 league appearances for Blackpool that season as they earned promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs after beating Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
.
After being promoted to the Premier League with Blackpool, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway
Ian Holloway
Ian Scott Holloway is an English football manager and former player. He became the manager of Blackpool in May 2009. Holloway is well-known amongst football fans for his off-the-wall interviews, with a wide selection of quotes and soundbites being printed. Holloway's playing career spanned 18...
confirmed that Rachubka would be out of action for some time following a knee operation. As such, he was not named in Blackpool's 24-man squad for the start of their Premier League campaign the following season. Blackpool signed Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson
Richard Kingson
Richard Paul Franck Kingson is a Ghanaian professional football goalkeeper, who is currently a free agent. He is also known as Faruk Gürsoy and is frequently misnamed Kingston due to "irregularity on his identity documents"...
who became the clubs number two during Rachubka's time out injured. Even after returning to fitness, he had to wait until January 2011 to be registered in the Blackpool 25 man squad, when squads to see clubs through until the end of the season were named. Manager Ian Holloway said it was an error not to have named Rachubka in his initial 25 man squad for the first half of the season.
On 8 January 2011, Rachubka made his first start for Blackpool in a year, against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the Third Round of the FA Cup
2010–11 FA Cup
The 2010–11 FA Cup was the 130th season of the world's oldest association football knock-out competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short...
. In February 2011, Rachubka suffered another knee injury which ruled him out for large parts of the second half of the season. He returned to light training for Blackpool in mid March. After only making three appearances during the 2010-11 season, Rachubka was released by Blackpool after they decided not to take up the one year contract extension they had on Rachubka.
Leeds United
On 23 June 2011, Rachubka put pen to paper and signed for Leeds United on a two-year contract as the backup goalkeeper, he linked up with Simon GraysonSimon Grayson
Simon Nicholas Grayson is a retired English footballer and current manager of Leeds United. He is the elder brother of cricketer Paul Grayson....
who was the manager that signed Rachubka for Blackpool. Rachubka revealed that despite being brought in as a number two he was looking to compete and win the number one shirt. He made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
on 13 July, but was substituted by Alex Cairns in the 63rd minute. Rachubka was Leeds' number one for most the pre season games after he was the only senior keeper at the club, however on 25 July Leeds brought in Andy Lonergan to compete for the number 1 jersey.
Rachubka made his debut for Leeds on 23 August against Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
in the League Cup. Rachubka made his league debut for Leeds against Doncaster Rovers on 14 October as a substitute replacing the injured Andy Lonergan. Rachubka made his first league start of the season against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
when Andy Lonergan missed the game with a finger injury on 18 October. However, Rachubka made an error which cost Leeds three points when Coventry City player Richard Wood
Richard Wood (footballer)
Richard Mark Wood is an English footballer who plays for Coventry City as a defender.-Career:Born in Ossett, West Yorkshire, Wood was a Leeds United fan and had a season ticket at Leeds, however Wood came up through the ranks at Sheffield Wednesday and started to support The Owl's instead...
scored an injury time equaliser in a 1–1 draw. Rachubka was judged to have been at fault for the goals Leeds conceded against Peterbrough in a dramatic 3-2 win for Leeds.
Despite some high profile errors, Rachubka claimed he was looking to put the mistakes behind him and impress to make the number one spot his own. Rachubka made three errors in the first 30 minutes that led to goals against his old club Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
which put Leeds 3-0 down, Rachubka was substituted at half time for rookie goalkeeper Alex Cairns
Alex Cairns
Alexander "Alex" Cairns is an English footballer who plays for Leeds United as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Cairns is a product of Leeds' youth academy, he made his first team debut on 2 November as a half time substitute, after second choice goalkeeper Paul Rachubka was substituted at half time...
. Manager Simon Grayson reacted by signing Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy
Alex McCarthy
Alex Simon McCarthy is an English footballer who plays for Leeds United as a goalkeeper on loan from Reading.-Club career:...
on loan and revealing Rachubka was going to be taken out of the team for several weeks, and possibly sent out on loan due to his fragile confidence after his horror show against Blackpool.
On loan transfer deadline day, 24 November, Rachubka joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until January to help recapture some form.
Club career statistics
|-|1999–2000||rowspan="2"|Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
||rowspan="2"|Premier League||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0||1||0
|-
|2000–01||1||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
|-
|2001–02||Royal Antwerp (loan)||First Division||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|-
|2001–02||Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
(loan)||Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
||16||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
|2002–03
2002–03 Charlton Athletic F.C. season
During the 2002–03 English football season, Charlton Athletic competed in the FA Premier League .-Season summary:Another solid season resulted in a mid-table finish for Charlton...
||Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
||Premier League||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|2003–04||Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
(loan)||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|2003–04||Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
(loan)||Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
||13||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||0
|-
|2004–05||Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
(loan)||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2004–05||Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
(loan)||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||10||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|2004–05||Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
(loan)||rowspan="4"|League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2004–05||rowspan="3"|Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
||26||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||0
|-
|2005–06||34||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||41||0
|-
|2006–07||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||1||0
|-
|2006–07||Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
(loan) ||League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
|2006–07||rowspan="5"|Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
||League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
||8||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||0
|-
|2007–08||rowspan="3"|Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||46||0||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||49||0
|-
|2008–09||42||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||43||0
|-
|2009–10||20||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21||0
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Blackpool F.C. season
The 2010–11 season was Blackpool F.C.s debut season in the Premier League, after winning the 2009–10 Championship play-off Final in what was their 100th consecutive season in the Football League. It was also their 28th overall season in English football's top tier, but their first since 1971. It...
||Premier League||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Leeds United A.F.C. season
This article will detail Leeds United A.F.C.'s 2011–12 season in The Championship.-Events:This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2011–12 season, presented in chronological order This article will detail Leeds United A.F.C.'s 2011–12 season in The...
||Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||6||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||7||0
|-
235||0||7||0||7||0||1||0||261||0
1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
236||0||7||0||7||0||1||0||262||0
Notes:
a. 1999–2000 appearance was in the World Club Championship
b. 3 league play-off appearances for Huddersfield Town in 2004 (included in 2003–04 total)
c. 2 league play-off appearances for Huddersfield Town in 2006 (included in 2005–06 total)
d. 3 league play-off appearances for Blackpool in 2007 (included in 2006–07 total)
e. All Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
results are included in totals
International career
Rachubka has represented England at under-16England national under-16 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the Victory Shield match against Scotland.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England U-16 squad and remain eligible.-External links:*...
, under-18
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
and under-20
England national under-20 football team
- Round of 16 :-Friendlies:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup running from 29 July to the 20 August 2011.-Recent call-ups:...
levels. He was in the England under-20 squad that played at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
1999 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Nigeria between April 3 and April 24, 1999. The 1999 championship was the 12th contested.- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Squads:...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He started the last game against Japan under-20s
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
.
On 5 November 2008 Rachubka confirmed that he had inquired whether he was eligible to play international football for the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
Honours
Huddersfield Town- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
play-offs: 2003–04
Blackpool
- Football League One play-offsFootball League One play-offsThe Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the NPower Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
: 2006–07 - Football League Championship play-offsFootball League Championship play-offsThe Football League Championship play-offs are a series of playoff matches contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Football League Championship table. The semi-finals are played over two legs, with 6th playing 3rd and 5th playing 4th, with the return fixtures following...
: 2009–102010 Football League Championship play-off FinalThe 2010 Football League Championship play-off Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium in London on 22 May 2010 to decide the third team to be promoted from The Championship to the Premier League for the 2010–11 season....
Individual
- BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
Player Of The Year 2007–08
External links
- Paul Rachubka profile at blackpoolfc.co.uk
- Paul Rachubka profile at htafc.com