Jake Butler (footballer)


Jacob 'Jake' Butler is a New Zealand footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for ISPS Handa Premiership club Hamilton Wanderers. He has also appeared for the New Zealand national football team.

Career

Butler is the captain of Waitakere United. He led the team to four consecutive national titles after taking on the captaincy. He has won the New Zealand national competition five times.
Butler has played in seven editions of the OFC Champions League winning it twice, which has led to two appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup.
He is also the leading appearance holder at Waitakere United, having played for the club since its first year of existence in 2004.
On 2 June 2014, Butler joined Singaporean S-league team Tampines Rovers in the mid-season transfer window on a six-month contract. He scored his first goal for the club against Warriors FC in the Singapore League Cup.
He went on to make 22 appearances scoring 5 goals, playing every minute of every scheduled match.
In January 2015 he returned to play for Waitakere United. Signing mid-season after the stint in Singapore, Butler was instrumental in helping the team make the top four after being in the unfamiliar position of seventh place at the Christmas break. He played every minute of the remaining 11 games.
In April 2015 Butler signed a short-term deal with Team Wellington for the OFC Champions League tournament held in Fiji in the month of April. He helped the side make the final, which they eventually lost, but was injured in the semi-final and was unable to play in the Grand final.
In May 2015, Butler agreed to take over as player – coach of Waitakere City who play in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Premier mid season. This league runs in between the competition dates of ASB Premiership, the elite league in New Zealand.
during 2 seasons at the helm, Waitakere city won the league in 2016 and finished fourth respectively in 2017.
In July 2018 he joined NPL Victorian side Werribee City FC mid season playing every minute of the remaining 12 games and scoring an impressive 5 goals to make immediate impact.

International career

Butler made his full All Whites debut in a 1–0 win over Saudi Arabia on 4 September 2013.
Butler also played for New Zealand secondary schools team making 6 appearances scoring 4 goals.

Honours