Paul Jason Green (born 10 April 1983) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Green spent seven years at Doncaster Rovers, where he played more than 250 matches and earned three promotions in five years (from the non-league to the Football League Championship) as well as winning the Football League Trophy. Green spent four years at Derby before leaving in 2012. A central midfielder, Green can also play as a right winger or as a right-back in emergencies. He has also played for Derby County, Leeds United, Ipswich Town, Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic and Crewe Alexandra
A full Republic of Ireland international, he made his debut in May 2010 and was selected in the UEFA Euro 2012 squad, appearing as a substitute against Spain.
Club career
Doncaster Rovers
Born in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, Green started his professional career as a trainee with Sheffield Wednesday but was released at the age of 16. Upon his release he joined Doncaster Rovers, and progressed through the youth ranks to the first team, making his debut at 19 in a 2–2 draw with Northwich Victoria in the Conference on 19 March 2002. His first career goal came three days later in a 5–2 home win against Hayes (who have since merged with Yeading). Over the following seasons Green played a key role in several promotions with Doncaster. He first achieved promotion into the Football League following a 3–2 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in the Conference Play-off Final in the 2002–03 season and then won the League Two title the following season. He was again a key player in the side that achieved another play-off promotion, this time from League One into the Championship after a 1–0 win over Leeds United at Wembley in the 2007–08 season. He also won the Football League Trophy whilst with the club in 2006–07.
Green's contract with Doncaster was completed at the end of the 2007–08 season. Despite being offered a new deal, Green opted to leave Doncaster and join fellow Championship side Derby County on a free transfer, where he signed a three-year contract. Prior to his departure he was the last remaining player in the squad from the Doncaster Rovers team that won promotion from non-league football in 2003.
In total, he played 277 games for Doncaster, scoring 33 goals.
Derby County
2008–09 season
Green made his first appearance in a Derby shirt at home to his former club Doncaster Rovers in a 1–0 defeat on 9 August 2008. He scored his first goal for his new club away at Bristol City in a 1–1 draw on 19 August, and grabbed his second in a 1–0 League Cup win at Preston on 26 August. Green established himself well in the Derby side and was the clubs' only remaining ever-present when he played his fourteenth consecutive game, a 3–2 defeat to Blackpool on 21 October.
He played 40 out of Derby's first 45 fixtures, including both legs of Derby's League Cup semi-final against Manchester United, before breaking his fifth metatarsal whilst sprinting in a training session on 6 March 2009. He was predicted to be out for 6 to 8 weeks, and missed the remainder of the season. He finished the season with six goals in all competitions.
2009–10 season
Green began the 2009–10 season well, playing in six of Derby's opening seven games, and scoring in Derby's 3–2 defeat to Scunthorpe United on 15 August 2009. However, he picked up a slight foot injury in the first game of the season, a 2–1 win over Peterborough United on 8 August. He continued to play through the injury with painkilling injections, and had appeared to be recovering. However, his start against Sheffield United on 12 September would prove to be his last appearance for almost two months as his foot injury flared up again. After having another operation on his foot on 18 September, Green was predicted to return to action in four weeks. However, Green suffered a setback in his recovery and his comeback was delayed until 6 November. Following his return, Derby's form improved and he helped The Rams to 8 wins and 5 draws in the next 18 games he played, scoring the equaliser in Derby's 2–1 win over Reading on 28 November. Whilst Derby's form did not hold, winning only 1 of their next 8 games, Green did hold his place in the first team for the remainder of the season, until he pulled a muscle in the warm-up for the penultimate game of the season at Bristol City which cut Green's season slightly short.