Shaka Hislop Bio Send To Friend  

The Trinidad & Tobago international rejoined the Premiership newcomers to compete with Roy Carroll and Stephen Bywater for a place between the sticks.

Hislop first arrived in the English game in September 1992, joining Reading after graduating from Howard University - where he had studied mechanical engineering.

He soon carved out a reputation as an assured shot-stopper.

Hislop, who actually won one cap for the England Under-21 side, stayed with the Royals for three seasons, before Kevin Keegan handed him the chance to play Premiership football with Newcastle United.

The London-born 'keeper was first choice at St James' Park for a while but then lost out in the mega-battle for the number one spot with Pavel Srnicek, Shay Given and Steve Harper.

That led Hislop to return to London with West Ham, joining on a free transfer in the summer of 1998 and he enjoyed a superb first season with the Hammers.

But he broke his leg against Bradford in February 2000 and West Ham missed his commanding presence at the back.

With Harry Redknapp's exit, Hislop's first team chances became limited and he was released on a free transfer in the summer of 2002 - when he would be reunited with Redknapp at First Division side Portsmouth.

Hislop had a great season as Pompey won the title to earn promotion into the Premiership for the first time.

He was an important figure as the south coast club denied to odds to avoid an immediate return to the Football League, although he did miss two months due to a hernia operation.

Hislop fell out of favour in 2004/05, with Jamie Ashdown initially preferred and then error-prone goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias. He was not offered a new contract when his deal expired at the end of that campaign.

At Portsmouth he played exactly 100 games.

After almost a month looking for a new club he eventually signed a one-year deal back at Upton Park, where he had previously made over 130 appearances.