Andy Williams (Jamaican footballer)

Andrew Williams (born 23 September 1977) is a Canadian-Jamaican retired footballer who last played as a midfielder for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.

Andy Williams
Personal information
Full name Andrew Williams
Date of birth (1977-09-23) 23 September 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) 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)
International career
1997–2008 Jamaica 107[1] (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 November 2011
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 January 2022

Career

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College

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Williams played college soccer for the University of Rhode Island where he remains the team's all-time leading scorer, with 52 goals and 45 assists.

Williams is one of 22 college players to be part of the 40-40 club, having both 40 goals and 40 assists in their college career.[2] As of 2018, he is the most recent member of the 40-40 club.

Professional

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After spending a couple of years in his home country with Real Mona, Williams joined Major League Soccer in 1998 with the Columbus Crew, with whom he would play for two seasons. In 2000, he moved to the Miami Fusion, but would only remain there one year before going to the New England Revolution. Williams played in 2001 and beginning of 2002 with New England, before moving to the MetroStars in a six-player deal in the middle of the 2002 season. He only lasted half a season with the Metros, soon traded again, to the Chicago Fire, with whom he played for two years.

Williams became the second player in Real Salt Lake history when he was their first selection in the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft. He became the first player in MLS history to play for six teams. In his ten years in the league, Williams has scored 27 goals and added 78 assists.[3] After leading Jamaica to the Caribbean title in 2008, Williams suffered through the prolonged illness of his wife during the 2009 season, which culminated with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup in November 2009. The Williams family received further good news in late 2009/early 2010 as Marcia Williams' cancer went into remission. In 2010, Williams returned to Real Salt Lake focused and re-energized.

Williams' contract with Real Salt Lake ended after the 2011 season and he opted to participate in the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft. After he was not selected in Stage 1 of the draft, Williams announced his retirement from professional soccer on 5 December 2011.[4]

In 2014 Andy Williams joined the coaching staff for Real Salt Lake when new head coach, Jeff Cassar, named him as an assistant coach (Midfield coach) and in addition to his assistant coach duties. Andy oversaw and coached the reserve team for Real Salt Lake.[5][6][7] Williams became Head Scout at Real Salt Lake, and has since played an integral part in the signings of several players.[8]

International

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Despite being something of a journeyman in Major League Soccer, Williams has been a stalwart for the Jamaica national team. He has 97 caps with the team and 13 goals, and was often the focal point of their offense, running the team from the central midfield. Williams played for his country in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, making one substitute appearance. Williams retired from the Jamaican team following their failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Despite his initial retirement, Williams was called in for a June 2008 friendly vs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in which he played the full 90. Williams was also called in for Jamaica's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign and played five games, scoring against Canada in a 1–1 draw.

Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Williams goal.
List of international goals scored by Andy Williams
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 21 February 1997 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Bermuda 1-0 1-0 1997 Caribbean Cup qualification [9]
2 11 May 1997 Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica   Costa Rica 1-1 1-3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification [10]
3 18 May 1997 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   El Salvador 1-0 1-0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification [11]
4 8 February 1998 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States of America   Guatemala 2-1 3-2 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup [12]
5 22 February 1998 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Nigeria 2-1 2-2 Friendly [13]
6 16 January 2000 Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China   New Zealand 2-1 2-1 2000 Four Nations Tournament [14]
7 3 September 2000 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1-0 2-0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification [15]
8 26 January 2001 Orange Bowl, Miami, United States of America   Bolivia 3-0 3-0 Friendly [16]
9 15 May 2001 Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, Trinidad and Tobago   Martinique 1-0 1-0 2001 Caribbean Cup [17]
10 10 June 2001 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Cuba 3-1 4-1 Friendly [18]
11 26 March 2003 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Saint Lucia 1-0 5-0 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification [19]
12 25 May 2003 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Nigeria 3-2 3-2 Friendly [20]
13 15 July 2003 Orange Bowl, Miami, United States of America   Guatemala 2-0 2-0 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup [21]
14 28 April 2004 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   Venezuela 2-1 2-1 Friendly [22]
15 17 November 2004 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, United States of America   United States 1-1 1-1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification [23]
16 26 November 2004 National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica   U.S. Virgin Islands 5-0 11-1 2005 Caribbean Cup qualification [24]
17 20 February 2005 Barbados National Stadium, Saint Michael, Barbados   Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 2-1 2005 Caribbean Cup [25]
18 22 February 2005 Barbados National Stadium, Saint Michael, Barbados   Barbados 1-0 1-0 2005 Caribbean Cup [26]
19 8 July 2005 Home Depot Center, Carson, United States of America   Guatemala 3-2 4-3 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup [27]
20 20 August 2008 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada   Canada 1-1 1-1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification [28]
21 5 December 2008 Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, Jamaica   Grenada 3-0 4-0 2008 Caribbean Cup [29]

Personal life

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Andy Williams was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. His father, Bobby Williams, played for the Jamaica national team in the 1960s.[30] He married Shauna Williams on April 24, 2021.

Honors

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Real Salt Lake

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Chicago Fire

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Jamaica

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Andrew "Andy" Williams - Century of International Appearances".
  2. ^ "Players With 40 Goals and 40 Assists". Division I Men's Soccer Records (PDF) (19th ed.). Indianapolis: NCAA. 10 August 2018. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  3. ^ MLS Bio Year-by-Year Stats Archived 12 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Matthew Doyle (5 December 2011). "RSL's Williams hangs 'em up after 14-year MLS career". MLS. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Andy Williams named to RSL coaching staff". Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Coaching & Technical Staff". MLS. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  7. ^ Sean Walker (1 May 2014). "RSL original Williams makes easy transition to coaching staff". KSL.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Coaching & Technical Staff". MLS. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Jamaica v Bermuda, 21 February 1997". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Costa Rica v Jamaica, 11 May 1997". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Jamaica v El Salvador, 18 May 1997". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Guatemala v Jamaica, 08 February 1998". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Jamaica v Nigeria, 22 February 1998". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Jamaica v New Zealand, 16 January 2000". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Jamaica v St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 03 September 2000". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Jamaica v Bolivia, 26 January 2001". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Jamaica v Martinique, 15 May 2001". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Jamaica v Cuba, 10 June 2001". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Jamaica vs. Saint Lucia". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Jamaica v Nigeria, 25 May 2003". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Guatemala v Jamaica, 15 July 2003". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Jamaica vs. Venezuela". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  23. ^ "USA v Jamaica, 17 November 2004". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  24. ^ "Jamaica v US Virgin Islands, 26 November 2004". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago, 20 February 2005". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Barbados v Jamaica, 22 February 2005". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Guatemala vs. Jamaica". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Canada v Jamaica, 20 August 2008". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Jamaica vs. Grenada". Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Player countdown: Andy Williams". 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
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