Andre Blake facts for kids
.jpg)
Blake with the Philadelphia Union in 2017
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andre Jason Blake | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 November 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | May Pen, Jamaica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Philadelphia Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sporting Central Academy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harbour View | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014– | Philadelphia Union | 246 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamaica U17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamaica U20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamaica U23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014– | Jamaica | 81 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Honours
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
† Appearances (Goals). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andre Jason Blake (born 21 November 1990) is a famous Jamaican football player. He is a goalkeeper for the Philadelphia Union team in Major League Soccer (MLS). He is also the captain of the Jamaica national team.
Contents
Andre Blake: A Star Goalkeeper
Andre Blake is known for his amazing saves and leadership on the field. He has become one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS. His journey from Jamaica to becoming a professional soccer star is inspiring.
Early Days and College Soccer
Andre started playing football in Jamaica. He played for youth teams like Sporting Central Academy and Harbour View. After that, he moved to the United States to play college soccer.
He played for the UConn Huskies for three years. During his time there, he was incredible. He stopped many shots, keeping the ball out of the net 37 times. He won the "Goalkeeper of the Year" award for his conference in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Becoming a Pro: Club Career Highlights
Joining the Philadelphia Union
In 2014, Andre Blake was the very first player chosen in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. This meant the Philadelphia Union picked him as their top choice. He was expected to be their main goalkeeper right away.
He played his first game for the Union in July 2014. It was a friendly match against Crystal Palace. His first official game was a 1–0 win against Montreal Impact. In that game, he made 10 saves, which was a record for the Union team at the time.
Key Moments and Awards
By 2016, Andre became the clear starting goalkeeper for the Union. He was so good that he was chosen for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from the league play together. He was also picked for the All-Star team in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
In the 2020 season, Andre had an amazing year. He won the "Golden Glove" award for a special tournament called "MLS is Back." He also won his second "MLS Goalkeeper of the Year" award. He let in very few goals and had many "clean sheets" (games where the other team scores no goals).
In 2021, Andre signed a new contract with the Union. This means he will stay with the team until at least 2024.
Playing for Jamaica: International Success
Andre Blake also plays for his home country, Jamaica. He made his first start for the Jamaica national football team in 2014. They won that game 2–0 against Barbados.
Later that year, he helped Jamaica win the 2014 Caribbean Cup. He also won the "Golden Gloves" award for being the best goalkeeper in that tournament.
In 2017, Andre played in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He helped Jamaica reach the final game. Even though they lost to the United States, Andre won the "Golden Glove" award for the tournament. He was the first Jamaican player to do so.
He continued to play for Jamaica in other big tournaments, like the 2019 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups. He helped his team win many important matches.
Off the Field: Personal Life
Andre Blake is a Christian. He is married and has two children. In 2015, he got his U.S. green card. This allows him to live and work in the United States permanently.
In 2021, Andre and his wife opened a sports bar. It is called Blake's Kickout Sports Bar and Lounge. It is in his hometown of May Pen.
Andre was also featured in a docuseries called Captains in 2022. This show followed six national team captains during their World Cup qualification journeys. Andre represented Jamaica in the series. It was shown on Netflix and FIFA+.
Awards and Achievements
Andre Blake has won many awards and honours throughout his career:
With Philadelphia Union
- Supporters' Shield: 2020 (This means his team was the best in the league during the regular season.)
- MLS Cup runner-up: 2022 (His team reached the final game of the MLS championship.)
- U.S. Open Cup runner-up: 2014, 2015, 2018
With Jamaica National Team
- Caribbean Cup: 2014 (Winner); runner-up: 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2015, 2017
Individual Awards
- MLS is Back Tournament Golden Glove: 2020
- MLS is Back Tournament Best XI: 2020 (Chosen as one of the best 11 players in the tournament)
- MLS All-Star: 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022
- MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: 2016, 2020, 2022
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove Award: 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017
See also
In Spanish: Andre Blake para niños
