Paul Rachubka

Early career at Manchester United and Charlton Athletic

Born in the United States, Rachubka grew up in England from the age of seven. He started playing football for a Stockport club called Norbury Moor Rangers. At the age of nine, after three months there, he was invited to join Manchester United by 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 as a substitute 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…

Rachubka has represented England at under-16, 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. Rachubka also witnessed the United States' 1–0 victory over England in the group opener in the same tournament. In November 2008, Rachubka confirmed that he had inquired whether he was eligible to play international football for the United States.

Huddersfield Town

Football League Third Division play-offs: 2004 Blackpool

Football League Championship play-offs: 2010 Football League One play-offs: 2007 Individual

Blackpool Player of the Year: 2008–09