Jack Rodwell

Everton

Rodwell was a product of the youth system, making his under-18s debut at 14 and his debut for Everton's reserve team at the age of 15. At youth level, he started out of as having the potential to become a top centre back early in his professional career, but was primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder once in the senior team. Rodwell claimed that Lee Carsley contributed his role into helping play in the midfield position. Rodwell then broke a record on his senior debut becoming the youngest player to represent Everton in Europe, when he came on as a substitute against Dutch team AZ at the age of 16 years and 284 days, as the club won 3–2. On 9 March 2008, Rodwell appeared as a substitute on his Premier League debut – before also featuring as a replacement in the final match of the season, replacing Tim Cahill in a 1–0 victory over Sunderland, and signed his first professional contract with Everton on 17 March 2008, after spending six years in the reserve team. At the end of the 2007–08 season, he made three appearances in all competitions. Following this, Rodwell was awarded the academy's Player of the Year. Ahead of the 2008–09 season, Rodwell was called up to the club's first team squad for the pre–season tour. Rodwell made his first professional start against Blackburn Rovers on 16 August 2008, playing the full 90 minutes. Since the start of the 2008–09 season, he found his playing time was mostly from the substitute bench. Despite this, Rodwell…

England youth teams

In September 2006, Rodwell was called up to the England U16 squad for the first time. He captained on his England U16 debut, and started the whole match, in a 1–1 draw against Wales U16 on 20 October 2006. Two months later, in December 2006, Rodwell captained the England under-16 team to Victory Shield glory, following a 2–1 victory over Scotland. Four months later, he struck the first winning goal at Wembley Stadium for England in a 1–0 win over Spain U16. Rodwell went on to make four appearances and scored once for the U16 side. In July 2006, Rodwell was called up to the England U17 squad for the first time but did not play. After being called up to the U17 squad once again, he made his England U17 debut, in a 2–0 win against Iceland U17 on 30 July 2007. On 25 March 2008, Rodwell scored England under-17s only goal as they drew 1–1 with France in a 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifier. He went on to make nine appearances and scoring once for the U17 side. Rodwell made his England U19 debut on 9 September 2008, where he played 45 minutes, in a 2–1 win against Netherlands U19. He went on to make four appearances for the U19 side.

England under-21 team

In March 2009, Rodwell was called up to the England U21 squad for the first time. He earned his first under-21 cap in a match against France U21. and scored his first goal for the squad on 8 June 2009 against Azerbaijan. Rodwell earned his first start at under-21 level during…

Jack Christian Rodwell was born on 11 March 1991, in Southport, Merseyside. He was educated at Farnborough Road Junior School and Birkdale High School, and was an avid supporter of Everton as a child. Rodwell played for local club Birkdale United during his school years before joining his boyhood club Everton's youth system at age seven. According to his mother, Carol, she talked about his childhood, saying: "As a child Jack ate, drank and slept football. I think his ambition was always to be a professional, although he didn't speak about it. His heroes when he was growing up were Alan Shearer and the Brazilian striker Ronaldo. He used to follow players for their ability and not particularly what team they played for." Rodwell has a brother, Thomas.

Rodwell is the nephew of former Blackpool footballer Tony Rodwell. In 2013 he married Alana Licate, an Australian national, and together they have two children. Since moving to Australia, he said his family has settled down in the country. In September 2018, he was fined £660 with £166 in prosecution costs and a £66 victim surcharges at the earlier hearing after being banned from driving for six months without him knowing. Rodwell modelled for Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in November 2011, hoping he would be included in the squad. However, he never made it to the squad despite being twenty at the time.