Reece Wabara

Reece Wabara

Personal information
Full name	Reece Wabara[1]
Date of birth	28 December 1991
Place of birth	Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 ^1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Wigan Athletic
Number	34
Youth career
	Walsall
2007–2011	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2011–2014	Manchester City	1	(0)
2011–2012	→ Ipswich Town (loan)	6	(0)
2012–2013	→ Oldham Athletic (loan)	25	(0)
2013	→ Blackpool (loan)	1	(0)
2013	→ Doncaster Rovers (loan)	13	(0)
2014– 2015	Doncaster Rovers	43	(1)
2015–2016	Barnsley	19	(1)
2016–	Wigan Athletic	10	(1)
National team^‡
2011	England U19	1	(0)
2011	England U20	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:30, 14 January 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 September 2013

Reece Wabara (born 28 December 1991) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Wigan Athletic.

Club career

Manchester City

Reece is a central defender or left/right full back who signed for Manchester City's academy from Walsall's School of Excellence in 2007.^[3] In May 2008, Reece signed his first professional scholarship with the club.^[4]

Wabara began his City career playing in the academy and eventually become captain of under-16s side,^[4] before moving on to becoming a mainstay in the Elite Development Squad. He committed his long-term future to the Blues by signing a three-year deal in March 2011 worth an estimated one million pounds.^[5] After given number fifty seven shirt,^[6] Wabara made his first team debut on the last day of the 2010–11 season against Bolton Wanderers when he came on as a substitute for Pablo Zabaleta.^[7]

He left Manchester City on 14 April 2014, after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.^[8]

Loan Spells

In September 2011, Wabara joined the Championship club Ipswich Town on a three-month loan^[9] and made three substitute appearances before making his first appearance in the starting eleven on 5 November 2011, in which he played the full game, his side losing 2–3 to bottom of the table visitors Doncaster Rovers.^[10] Despite being keen for a loan extension at Ipswich Town,^[11] Wabara returned to his parent club.^[12]

On 15 September 2012, Wabara joined Football League One side Oldham Athletic on a one-month loan deal.^[13] Later in the day, Wabara made his Oldham Athletic debut, playing as a right-back, in a 2–2 draw against Notts County.^[14] His performance in a number of games soon led Manager Paul Dickov to comment about Wabara's impact at Oldham^[15] and he said he was keen to extend his loan spell.^[16] Wabara had his loan spell with the club extended for another month on 18 October 2012.^[17] Wabara's loan spell with the club was then extended further until January.^[18] Wabara then scored his first Oldham Athletic goal, in the second round of the FA Cup, in a 3–1 win over Doncaster Rovers on 1 December 2012.^[19] Wabara's loan spell with Oldham Athletic was extended further until 27 January 2013.^[20] He made his last appearance for Oldham in the 3–2 FA Cup victory over Liverpool, scoring the winning goal.^[21] Despite this his loan spell came to an end, the club's assistant manager David Platt said Wabara could make a return to Oldham Athletic.^[22]

Instead, on 30 January 2013, Wabara joined Blackpool on a loan move until the end of the 2012–13 season.^[23] Wabara made his Blackpool debut, in a 1–0 loss against Ipswich Town on 16 February 2013.^[24] Wabara made only one appearance and made his return to his parent club on 7 March 2013 after Blackpool decided to cut his loan spell.^[25]

Doncaster Rovers

Wabara joined Championship side Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan on 6 August 2013.^[26] Wabara made his Doncaster Rovers debut in the first round of the League Cup, in a 1–0 win over Rochdale^[27] and made his league debut, playing as a right-back, in a 2–0 win over Blackburn Rovers.^[28] After an impressive first month, Wabara extended his loan move until January 2014.^[29] However, on 3 December 2013, he returned to Manchester City after suffering a stress reaction to the injury.^[30]

Following his release by Manchester City, Wabara rejoined Doncaster Rovers on a permanent deal signing a short term contract on 1 August 2014.^[31] Upon joining the club, Wabara was given the number twenty-two shirt, compared to his previous number 32.^[32] Wabara's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came in the opening game of the season, playing as a right-back, in a 3–0 win over Yeovil Town.^[33] Wabara scored his first Doncaster Rovers goal, in a 2–1 win over Bradford City on 1 November 2014.^[34] Wabara established himself in the first team in the first half of the season and his twenty-seven appearance led to him earning a contract with the club until the end of the 2014–15 season.^[35] Wabara continued to establish himself in the first team as a right-back until Mitchell Lund took over his role.^[36] Despite making forty-three appearances, Wabara was released by the club when his contract expired in the summer.^[37] Manager Dickov explained that Wabara's contract was not extended because he wanted to seek new challenges.^[38]

Barnsley

After being released by Doncaster Rovers, Wabara went on trial at Scottish Championship side Rangers.^[39] Despite impressing Rangers' management,^[40] Wabara joined Barnsley on a short-term contract until 31 December 2015 on 15 August 2015.^[41] On 12 September, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 win over Swindon Town.^[42]

International career

Wabara is eligible to represent both England and Nigeria as he has a Nigerian grandfather, but chose to represent England international as the country of his birth at youth level. In May 2008, Wabara was called up by England U17.^[43]

Reece made his England U20 debut in a 1–0 defeat to France U20 in February 2011.^[44] He was then named in Brian Eastick's squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Colombia in the summer of 2011.^[45][46]

Personal life

Reece's grandfather, Lawrence Wabara, was a Nigerian international footballer.^[45] and is the nephew of former Rangers player Mark Walters and Pelé Reid.^[4] Wabara attended South Bromsgrove High School.^[4]

Career statistics

As of 1 August 2014.^[47]

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City	2010–11	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2011–12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2012–13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2013–14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ipswich Town (loan)	2011–12	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Oldham Athletic (loan)	2012–13	25	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	2
Blackpool (loan)	2012–13	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Doncaster Rovers (loan)	2013–14	23	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	15	0
Doncaster Rovers	2014–15	50	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career total		110	1	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	52	2

References

1. "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". premierleague.com (Premier League). 2 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
2. "List of Players – 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
3. "The Graduates Number 37: Reece Wabara". Manchester City F.C. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
4. "City new-boy Reece is over the ‘Blue Moon’". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
5. "Reece Wabara pens new three-year deal". Manchester City F.C. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
6. "City Squad Numbers Revealed". Manchester City F.C. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
7. "Bolton Wanderers vs Manchester City match report". Manchester City F.C. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
8. "Manchester City defender Reece Wabara leaves the club after cancelling contract". SkySports. 14 April 2014.
9. "Ipswich seal Wabara loan". skysports.com. skySPORTS. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
10. "Ipswich 2 – 3 Doncaster". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 5 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
11. "Reece Wabara targets Ipswich Town extension". BBC Sport. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
12. "Reece Wabara to return to Manchester City". East Anglian Daily Times. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
13. "Latics sign City ace". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 15 September 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
14. "Oldham Athletic 2 – 2 Notts County". BBC Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
15. "Dickov hopes for Wabara impact". Sky Sports. 17 September 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
16. "Dickov looks to keep loan duo". Sky Sports. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
17. "Wabara to extend stay". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 18 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
18. "Latics extend Wabara loan". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
19. "Oldham Athletic 3 – 1 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
20. "Wabara rejoins Latics". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 12 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
21. "Oldham Athletic 3 – 2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
22. "Wabara could extend Latics stay". Sky Sports. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
23. "City defender makes Blackpool loan move".
24. "Ipswich Town 1 – 0 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
25. "Wabara Returns To Manchester City". Blackpool F.C. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
26. "Man City full-back Reece Wabara joins Doncaster Rovers on loan". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
27. "Doncaster Rovers 1 – 0 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
28. "Doncaster Rovers 2 – 0 Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
29. "Wabara Extends Deal". Doncaster Rovers FC. 31 August 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
30. "Wabara Injury Update". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 3 December 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
31. "Doncaster Rovers sign Jed Steer, Reece Wabara and Paul Keegan". BBC Sport. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
32. "Squad Numbers 14/15". Doncatser Rovers F.C. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
33. "Yeovil Town 0 – 3 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
34. "Bradford City 1 – 2 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
35. "Wabara staying at Doncaster". Sky Sports. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
36. "Dickov hails Lund debut". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 19 April 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
37. "Dean Furman: Doncaster Rovers release South Africa captain". BBC Sport. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
38. "Dickov Explains Retained List". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
39. "Former Manchester City defender Reece Wabara arrives at Murray Park with a view to securing Rangers contract". Daily Record. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
40. "Rangers will weigh up contract offers for Reece Wabara and Andy Halliday after closed-doors Spurs game, says David Weir". Daily Mail. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
41. "Reece Wabara Joins Reds". Barnsley F.C. 15 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
42. "Barnsley 4–1 Swindon". BBC Sport. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
43. "Reece handed squad call-up". Bromsgrove Advertiser. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
44. "Wabara and Nimely called up for England Under 20s". Manchester City F.C. 3 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
45. "Reece Wabara". The Football Association. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
46. "Wabara and Nimely get World Cup call". Manchester City F.C. 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
47. Reece Wabara career statistics at Soccerbase

External links

• Reece Wabara career statistics at Soccerbase