Jamil Walker facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 21, 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Rochester, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Forward / midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999 | Air Force Falcons | ||
| 2000–2002 | Santa Clara Broncos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2004 | San Jose Earthquakes | 29 | (4) |
| 2005–2007 | D.C. United | 41 | (3) |
| 2008 | Carolina RailHawks | 6 | (1) |
| 2008 | Portland Timbers | 12 | (0) |
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Jamil Walker (born April 21, 1981) is a former American soccer player. He played as a forward and midfielder. Jamil played professionally in top leagues like Major League Soccer (MLS) and the USL First Division. He was born in Rochester, New York.
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College Soccer Career
Jamil Walker started his college soccer journey in 1999. He played his first year at the United States Air Force Academy. There, he was part of the men's soccer team, the Air Force Falcons. He played in ten games and scored three goals. He also made one assist for his team.
After his first year, Jamil transferred to Santa Clara University. He played three seasons with the Santa Clara Broncos. In his final year at Santa Clara, he was a star player. He scored fourteen goals that season. Because of his great performance, he received several awards. These included being named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Far West Team. He was also on the All-West Region Team and the All-West Coast Conference First Team.
Professional Soccer Career
Starting in Major League Soccer
In February 2003, Jamil Walker began his professional career. The San Jose Earthquakes picked him in the fourth round of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. This draft is where professional soccer teams choose new players. Jamil was the thirty-ninth player chosen overall.
During his first season, Jamil often came into games as a substitute. However, he started three games during the playoffs. This included the championship game, the 2003 MLS Cup. The Earthquakes won the MLS Cup that year, making Jamil a champion in his rookie season! In 2004, injuries kept him from playing many games. He only played in ten matches.
Moving to D.C. United
In November 2004, another team, Chivas USA, chose Jamil in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft. This draft allows new teams to pick players from other teams. However, Chivas USA quickly traded Jamil. They sent him to D.C. United in exchange for a future draft pick.
During the 2005 season, Jamil played for both D.C. United's main team and their reserve team. He was a top scorer for the reserve team, scoring nine goals. In May 2007, he got a serious injury. He ruptured his achilles tendon, which is a strong cord at the back of your ankle. D.C. United released him from the team at the end of that season.
Playing in the USL First Division
After his injury, Jamil signed with the Carolina RailHawks in 2008. This team played in the USL First Division, another professional soccer league. He played his first game with the RailHawks in April 2008. It was a 1–1 tie against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Later that year, in July 2008, Jamil was traded again. The RailHawks traded him to the Rochester Rhinos. The Rhinos then immediately traded Jamil to the Portland Timbers. This was his final professional team.
Achievements and Awards
Jamil Walker achieved several notable things during his soccer career:
- He won the 2003 MLS Cup with the San Jose Earthquakes. This is the championship trophy for Major League Soccer.
- He also won the Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield in 2006. This award goes to the MLS team with the best regular season record.
- After retiring as a player, Jamil continued to be involved in soccer. In 2014, he was named the NSCAA Youth/Club Boys Coach of the Year. This shows his dedication to helping young players.
