Andy Williams (Jamaican footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Williams | ||
| Date of birth | 23 September 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Right midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1997 | Rhode Island Rams | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997 | Real Mona F.C. | ||
| 1998 | Harbour View | ||
| 1998–1999 | Columbus Crew | 41 | (1) |
| 2000 | Miami Fusion | 20 | (4) |
| 2001–2002 | New England Revolution | 25 | (3) |
| 2002 | MetroStars | 19 | (2) |
| 2003–2004 | Chicago Fire | 49 | (6) |
| 2005–2011 | Real Salt Lake | 189 | (14) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1997–2008 | Jamaica | 107 | (22) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Andrew Williams (born on September 23, 1977) is a retired footballer from Canada and Jamaica. He played as a midfielder for many teams, including Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. He was known for his skill and leadership on the field.
Contents
About Andy Williams
Early Life and College Soccer
Andy Williams was born in Toronto, Canada. But he grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. His father, Bobby Williams, also played for the Jamaican national team in the 1960s. This shows that soccer talent runs in the family!
Andy played college soccer for the University of Rhode Island. He was an amazing player there. He still holds the record for the most goals (52) and assists (45) for his team. He is one of only 22 college players to score at least 40 goals and make 40 assists in their college career. This is called the "40-40 club."
Professional Career
After college, Andy started his professional career in Jamaica. He played for teams like Real Mona and Harbour View. In 1998, he joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
He played for several MLS teams:
- Columbus Crew (1998-1999)
- Miami Fusion (2000)
- New England Revolution (2001-2002)
- MetroStars (2002)
- Chicago Fire (2003-2004)
Andy became the second player ever to join Real Salt Lake. This happened when they picked him in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft. He was the first player in MLS history to play for six different teams! During his time in the league, he scored 27 goals and made 78 assists.
In 2009, Andy faced a tough time when his wife was ill. Despite this, Real Salt Lake won the MLS Cup that year. His wife's health improved, and Andy returned to play with renewed energy in 2010. His contract with Real Salt Lake ended after the 2011 season. He then decided to retire from playing professional soccer on December 5, 2011.
After retiring as a player, Andy continued his career in soccer. In 2014, he became an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake. He also coached their reserve team. Later, he became the Head Scout for Real Salt Lake. In this role, he helps find new talented players for the team.
International Career
Andy Williams was a very important player for the Jamaica national team. He played in 107 games for his country and scored 22 goals. He was often the main player in their midfield.
He played for Jamaica in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He also played in qualifying games for the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups. Andy helped Jamaica win the Caribbean Cup twice, in 2005 and 2008.
Personal Life
Andy Williams was born in Canada but grew up in Jamaica. His father was also a famous footballer. Andy married Shauna Williams on April 24, 2021.
Honors
Real Salt Lake
- Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2009
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2009
Chicago Fire
- MLS Supporters' Shield Supporters Shield (1): 2003
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2003
Jamaica
- Caribbean Cup:
- Winner (2): 2005, 2008
See Also
In Spanish: Andy Williams (futbolista) para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
