Chris Williams (Canadian soccer)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Christopher Williams | ||
Date of birth | June 1, 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
Position(s) | Defender/Defensive Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
1999–2002 | Mobile Rams | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1999–2002 | Glen Shields Sun Devils | ||
2003–2004 | Montreal Impact | 38 | (0) |
2005–2006 | Toronto Lynx | 39 | (0) |
2007 | SK Kladno | 2 | (0) |
2008–2009 | Charleston Battery | 48 | (1) |
2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 15 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2000–2001 | Canada U-20 | 13 | (0) |
2003–2008 | Canada | 3 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2010 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of April 14, 2009 |
Chris Williams (born June 1, 1981 in Toronto, Ontario) is a former Canadian soccer player who played the majority of his career in the USL A-League. His most successful tenure was the Montreal Impact, where he won a USL A-League Championship, and a Voyageurs Cup. Williams also represented Canada at the international level with three appearances.
Career
Williams began his career at the college level while playing with University of Mobile in Alabama where he took home First Team All-American honors in the 2002-03 season. In 1999, he signed with the Glen Shields Sun Devils of the Canadian Professional Soccer League, where he played for the organization for four seasons. During his tenure with the Sun Devils he received a trail with Werder Bremen of the Bundesliga in 2002.[1] On December 18, 2002 he was drafted by the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League.[2] He would sign a contract with division rivals the Montreal Impact.[3] During his time in Montreal, Williams became a regular on the team, helping Montreal to win their second A-League Championship and also the Voyageurs Cup in 2003 and 2004.
After the 2004 season, Williams returned to the Toronto Lynx as a free agent.[4] He made his debut for the club on June 24, 2005 in a match against Minnesota Thunder.[5] At the conclusion of the season the team awarded Williams with the Fan Favorite award.[6] He returned to Toronto for the 2006 season.[7] During the 2006 season he helped the club achieve a 10 game team record undefeated streak at home and reached the finals of the Open Canada Cup, but lost the match 2–0 against Ottawa St. Anthony Italia.[8] For his involvement within the soccer community the club awarded him the Public Relations Award.[9]
In January 2007, Williams went abroad to Europe to sign with SK Kladno in the Gambrinus Liga in the Czech Republic. He played alongside compatriot and former Toronto teammate Dave Simpson.[10] He appeared in two matches for the club. In March 2008 he signed with the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division. He made 48 appearances and scored 1 goal in his two seasons with the Battery[11]
On November 12, 2009 Williams signed a contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps.[12] He helped the Whitecaps finish second in their conference and clinched a postseason berth. On October 19, 2010, the Vancouver Whitecaps released Williams, along with five fellow players, citing their need to purge certain players in preparation for their upcoming promotion to Major League Soccer.[13]
International career
Williams played at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina, alongside Atiba Hutchinson and Mike Klukowski among others.[14]
He then earned his first senior national team cap on January 18, 2003 versus United States, where the match resulted in 4-0 victory for the States.[15] He would later record his second cap five years later against Martinique, where the Canadians would claim the game by a score of 1-0.[16] On November 19, 2008 Williams was called up again for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Jamaica.[17]
Honours
- USL First Division Championship - 2004 (Montreal Impact)
- Voyageurs Cup - 2003, 2004 (Montreal Impact)
Personal life
Born in Toronto but raised in nearby Scarborough, Williams is married to his Czech wife Darina and the couple have a son.
As of 2012, he is a contributor for RedNation Online.[18]
References
- ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2002-08-10. Archived from the original on August 10, 2002. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Irwin, Robert (2003-06-02). "Welcome To the Official Toronto Lynx Web Site". Archived from the original on June 2, 2003. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Impact Soccer • Voir le sujet - IMPACT PLAYERS MEET FANS AT COMPLEXE DESJARDINS". impactsoccer.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ Nutt, Dave. "June 21, 2005 USL Toronto Lynx upcoming week (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ Nutt, Dave. "June 24, 2005 USL Minnesota Thunder vs Toronto Lynx (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ Glover, Robin. "September 5, 2005 USL Toronto Lynx vs Minnesota Thunder (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ VETERAN TRIO RESIGN FOR 2006
- ^ Glover, Robin. "September 24, 2006 Open Canada Cup final Toronto Lynx vs Ottawa St Anthony's Italia (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ Irwin, Rob. "September 12, 2006 USL Toronto Lynx season wrap up (from Lynx media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
- ^ Kladno: další Kanaďan
- ^ Whitecaps Add Chris Williams
- ^ Whitecaps add Canadian international
- ^ Vancouver Whitecaps release six players as franchise clears room for MLS-worthy talent
- ^ Record at FIFA Tournaments - FIFA
- ^ Five Canadian Players Make Their International Debut
- ^ 30.1.2008: Canada vs Martinique
- ^ 19.11.2008: Canada vs Jamaica
- ^ RedNation Online. "RedNation Online Contributors". Retrieved 2012-05-07.
External links
- Bio - Charleston Battery
- Player profile - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Player profile - CanadaSoccer
- Williams.html Chris Williams at National-Football-Teams.com
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Toronto
- Black Canadian sportspeople
- Association football midfielders
- Soccer people from Ontario
- Canadian soccer players
- Canadian expatriate soccer players
- Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the Czech Republic
- Montreal Impact (1992–2011) players
- Toronto Lynx players
- SK Kladno players
- Charleston Battery players
- Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010) players
- USL First Division players
- Czech First League players
- Expatriate footballers in the Czech Republic
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- University of Mobile alumni
- Canada men's youth international soccer players
- Canadian Professional Soccer League (1998–2005) players
- USL A-League players