Chris Williams (Canadian soccer) facts for kids
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Williams in 2010
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| 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 | |||
Chris Williams (born June 1, 1981) is a Canadian former soccer player. He mostly played as a defender or a defensive midfielder. Chris spent most of his career playing in the USL A-League.
He had a very successful time with the Montreal Impact. There, he helped his team win a USL A-League Championship. He also won the Voyageurs Cup with them. Chris Williams also played for the Canadian national team three times.
Contents
Chris Williams' Soccer Journey
Starting in College and Early Teams
Chris Williams began his soccer journey in college. He played for the University of Mobile in Alabama. In the 2002–03 season, he was named a First Team All-American. This is a big honor for college athletes.
In 1999, Chris also joined the Glen Shields Sun Devils. This team was part of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He played with them for four seasons. In 2002, he even got a chance to try out for Werder Bremen. This is a famous team in the Bundesliga, a top league in Germany.
Playing for Montreal Impact
On December 18, 2002, Chris was chosen by the Toronto Lynx in a special draft. But he decided to sign with their rivals, the Montreal Impact.
While playing for Montreal, Chris became a key player. He helped the team win their second A-League Championship in 2004. They also won the Voyageurs Cup in both 2003 and 2004. These were big wins for the team!
Returning to Toronto Lynx
After the 2004 season, Chris Williams went back to the Toronto Lynx. He joined them as a free agent. His first game back was on June 24, 2005, against the Minnesota Thunder.
At the end of that season, the fans voted Chris as their "Fan Favorite." He played for Toronto again in 2006. That year, he helped the team go undefeated at home for 10 games. They also reached the finals of the Open Canada Cup. For his hard work in the community, the club gave him the "Public Relations Award."
Playing in Europe and Charleston
In January 2007, Chris moved to Europe. He signed with SK Kladno in the Czech Republic. This team played in the Gambrinus Liga, a top league there. He played alongside his former Toronto teammate, Dave Simpson. Chris played in two matches for the club.
In March 2008, he returned to North America. He signed with the Charleston Battery in the USL First Division. He played in 48 games for them and scored one goal over two seasons.
Time with Vancouver Whitecaps
On November 12, 2009, Chris Williams signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He helped the Whitecaps finish second in their conference. This meant they earned a spot in the playoffs.
On October 19, 2010, the Vancouver Whitecaps let Chris go. This happened as the team was getting ready to move up to Major League Soccer, a bigger league. They needed to make changes to their team.
Playing for Canada
Youth National Team
Chris Williams played for the Canadian Under-20 national team. He was part of the team that played in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina. He played alongside other future stars like Atiba Hutchinson.
Senior National Team
Chris earned his first chance to play for the senior Canadian national team on January 18, 2003. This game was against the United States.
Five years later, he played his second game for Canada against Martinique. Canada won that game 1–0. On November 19, 2008, Chris was called up again. This time it was for a World Cup qualification match against Jamaica.
Awards and Trophies
- USL First Division Championship - 2004 (with Montreal Impact)
- Voyageurs Cup - 2003, 2004 (with Montreal Impact)
About Chris Williams
Chris Williams was born in Toronto. He grew up in a nearby area called Scarborough. He is married to his wife, Darina, who is from the Czech Republic. They have a son together.
From 2012 to 2014, Chris also shared his soccer knowledge. He wrote articles and was a podcaster for RedNation Online. He gave his thoughts and analysis on soccer.
