American born defender Zak can play
at centre back or on the left, and is a reliable performer. Excellent
in the air and with a decent turn of pace, he's improving steadily
and blossoming into a very good player.
In his final year at the Academy, Zak captained
the u19's and broke into the reserve side, but when the club announced
which players were to be retained, Whitbread's name was not on
the original list.
Along with several of his u19 team-mates,
Zak went on the Academy exit trials, where he made a big impression.
So much so, that over twenty clubs came in for him, prompting
Liverpool into a rethink.
A two year contract was offered to the
tall blonde haired defender, and it proved a wise decision. In
the summer of 2003 Whitbread represented the country of his birth
in the World Youth Championships, and he came back looking much
more confident.
In 2003/04 Zak was one of the reserve team's
most consistent players, and when Rafa Benitez took charge the
following summer, he named Zak in his squad to tour North America.
The defender made a favourable impression
on the new boss, and was rewarded with his first team debut in
the Carling Cup tie away at Millwall. Whitbread was excellent
that night, and kept his place in the Carling Cup team for the
games with Middlesborough and Tottenham.
He never looked out of place in the first
team, and midway through the season he was rewarded with a new
contract which will keep him at Anfield for the forseeable future.
