John Wilson (soccer) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Wilson | ||
| Date of birth | October 26, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Seneca, South Carolina, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back, winger | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1998 | Clemson Tigers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2003 | Charleston Battery | 114 | (1) |
| 2000 | → Raleigh Capital Express (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2000 | → Kansas City Wizards (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2000 | → MLS Pro 40 (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2002 | → New England Revolution (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | Rochester Raging Rhinos | 22 | (0) |
| 2005–2007 | D.C. United | 28 | (0) |
| 2008–2014 | Charleston Battery | 155 | (2) |
| Total | 333 | (3) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2014–2021 | Charleston Battery (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 27, 2013 | |||
John Wilson (born October 26, 1977) is an American former professional soccer player. He spent most of his career playing for the Charleston Battery. John was known for playing as a left fullback, which is a defensive position. He played in 269 games for Charleston, which is one of the highest numbers in the club's history.
Contents
John Wilson's Soccer Journey
College Years
John Wilson grew up in Seneca, South Carolina. He played college soccer at Clemson University. During his time there, he played as a forward, which is an attacking position.
He helped his team, the Clemson Tigers, win an ACC Championship. They also made it to the NCAA Final Eight in 1998. In his college career, John scored 18 goals and made 35 assists.
Professional Career
After college, John was chosen by the Kansas City Wizards in 1999. However, he decided to stay in South Carolina. He joined the Charleston Battery team, which was part of the A-League at the time.
At Charleston, John changed his position to a left back. This is a defensive role. Fans even voted him the best defender in his first season!
In 2000, John played briefly for a few other teams on loan. He played for the Kansas City Wizards, who won the MLS Cup that year. He also played for Raleigh Capital Express and the MLS Pro 40 team.
John continued to be a strong defender for Charleston. He was voted their best defensive player again in 2001 and 2002. In 2002, he also played a short time for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer (MLS). He scored his only MLS goal during this time.
In 2003, John helped Charleston win the A-League Championship. He was also named a First Team All-League defender. The next year, in 2004, he joined another A-League team, the Rochester Raging Rhinos.
On May 27, 2005, John signed with D.C. United, an MLS team. He mainly played left back and sometimes left midfield. He even played in the Copa Sudamericana, an international soccer tournament. He played in two games against a Chilean team called Universidad Católica. John also spent time with D.C. United's reserve team. He helped them win the first-ever MLS Reserve Division title.
After dealing with some injuries, John left D.C. United in 2007. He returned to the Charleston Battery before the 2008 season. He played seven more seasons with the Battery and often served as the team's captain.
John first said he would retire after the 2010 season. But he changed his mind and signed a new contract with Charleston in 2011. He announced his retirement again in 2012 but rejoined the team for the 2013 season. He finally retired for good after the 2014 season. The Battery held a special game to celebrate his contributions to the club.
After retiring as a player, John stayed with the Charleston Battery. He worked as an assistant coach to Mike Anhaeuser until 2021. Since 2021, John has been working in the Battery's main office. He helps lead the club's community projects.
Awards and Achievements
Team Honors
D.C. United
- Major League Soccer Supporter's Shield (1): 2006
Charleston Battery
- A-League Champions (1): 2003
- USL Second Division Champions (1): 2010
- USL Second Division Regular Season Champions (1): 2010
- USL Pro Champions: 2012
Individual Awards
- First Team All A-League (1): 2003
See also
In Spanish: John Wilson (futbolista) para niños
