Dean Whitehead
Dean Whitehead (born 12 January 1982) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Huddersfield Town.
Whitehead joined his local non-league club Abingdon Town before he signed for Football League side Oxford United in 1999. He impressed in the lower divisions and was signed by Championship side Sunderland in 2004. He won promotion in his first season with the Black Cats however, Sunderland were relegated from the Premier League with a record low points tally of 15. He was made captain by Roy Keane as Sunderland claimed an instant return to the top flight. After two more seasons in the north-east Whitehead joined Stoke City for a fee of £5 million in August 2009. He helped Stoke reach the 2011 FA Cup Final where Stoke finished runners-up to Manchester City. After spending four seasons with the Potters, Whitehead moved to Middlesbrough in July 2013.
Club career
Oxford United
Born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, Whitehead started his career with Abingdon Town's youth team, before joining the youth scheme of his local league club, Oxford United. He progressed through the ranks there making his professional debut in a 2–0 win over Luton Town in the Football League Trophy on 7 December 1999. Whitehead played in 23 games in 2000–01 as Oxford suffered relegation to the Third Division. He scored his first goal in the Football League against Rushden & Diamonds in August 2001. He was a regular in 2001–02 playing in 43 fixtures as Oxford had a poor season finishing in 21st position. He was restricted to 22 appearances in 2002–03 as Oxford missed out on a play-off place by a single point. In 2003–04 Whitehead reclaimed his place in the side and made 47 appearances scoring seven goals which included a brace against Bury. After playing for the club for five seasons, making 136 appearances for Oxford, scoring nine goals his contract expired and he turned down the offer of a new one from the club.
