Daniel Phillip Whitaker (born 14 November 1980) is an English former professional football player and manager who was recently the player-manager of club Macclesfield. A former Manchester United Academy player, Whitaker turned professional with Macclesfield Town in 2001. He spent five years with the club, and made over 200 appearances in all competitions, before he switched to Port Vale in June 2006. He played over 100 games for the Vale in two seasons, before he signed for Oldham Athletic in June 2008. Again a first team regular, he left after two seasons to join Chesterfield in May 2010. He helped the club to the League Two title in 2010–11, and also won himself a place on the division's PFA Team of the Year. He also helped the club to the League Trophy title in 2012. He returned to Macclesfield Town in August 2013, and played in the club's defeat at the 2017 FA Trophy Final, before helping the club to win promotion back to the English Football League as champions of the National League. He was appointed as the club's caretaker-manager in November 2018, before announcing his retirement in July 2019. He again stepped up to become caretaker-manager at Macclesfield in August 2019 and January 2020, before he was appointed as the first manager, in October 2020. Whitaker led phoenix club Macclesfield to the North West Counties Premier Division title at the end of the 2021–22 season, before losing his job in October 2022. Playing career Macclesfield Town Whitaker was a Manchester United junior, and spent time at both Bradford City and local side Wilmslow Albion before signing with Macclesfield Town. He scored on his Football League debut; during a 2–1 home defeat to Exeter City on 2 February 2002. He went on to make another 15 Third Division appearances that season, earning a fresh contract upon the season's end. A regular in the 2002–03 season, he scored a hat-trick in the League Cup 4–1 triumph over Barnsley on 11 September. In most unusual fashion all three goals came in the second period of extra time. With ten goals before the winter break he was linked to both Oldham Athletic and Preston North End. However manager David Moss was highly dismissive of such speculation, saying: "Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of reading about players who have just signed two-year contracts but want to get away. Danny Whitaker will