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Danny Whitaker
Daniel Phillip Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English former professional football player and manager.
A former Manchester United Academy player, Whitaker turned professional with Macclesfield Town in 2001. He spent five years with the club and made over 200 appearances in all competitions before he switched to Port Vale in June 2006. He played over 100 games for the Vale in two seasons before he signed for Oldham Athletic in June 2008. 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. He also helped the club to the Football League Trophy title in 2012. He returned to Macclesfield Town in August 2013. He 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 the club's caretaker manager in November 2018 before retiring in July 2019. He again became caretaker manager at Macclesfield in August 2019 and January 2020 before being appointed 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, lasting nine months in the role.
Whitaker was a Manchester United junior, and spent time at both Bradford City and local side Wilmslow Albion before signing with Macclesfield Town. 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 the 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. This transfer talk came despite him having recently signed a contract to keep him with the "Silkmen" until June 2005.
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. 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.
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 with three other 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. 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.
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Danny Whitaker
Daniel Phillip Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English former professional football player and manager.
A former Manchester United Academy player, Whitaker turned professional with Macclesfield Town in 2001. He spent five years with the club and made over 200 appearances in all competitions before he switched to Port Vale in June 2006. He played over 100 games for the Vale in two seasons before he signed for Oldham Athletic in June 2008. 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. He also helped the club to the Football League Trophy title in 2012. He returned to Macclesfield Town in August 2013. He 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 the club's caretaker manager in November 2018 before retiring in July 2019. He again became caretaker manager at Macclesfield in August 2019 and January 2020 before being appointed 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, lasting nine months in the role.
Whitaker was a Manchester United junior, and spent time at both Bradford City and local side Wilmslow Albion before signing with Macclesfield Town. 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 the 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. This transfer talk came despite him having recently signed a contract to keep him with the "Silkmen" until June 2005.
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. 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.
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 with three other 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. 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.
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