Jan-Michael Williams

Jan-Michael Grantley Williams (born 26 October 1984) is a Trinidadian football coach and semi-retired professional footballer who serves as a player–goalkeeper coach for Canadian club HFX Wanderers.

Jan-Michael Williams
Personal information
Full name Jan-Michael Grantley Williams
Date of birth (1984-10-26) 26 October 1984
Place of birth Couva, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 HFX Wanderers
Number 21
Youth career
2000 St Anthony's College
2001–2003 W Connection
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 W Connection
2007–2008 White Star Woluwe 1 (0)
2008–2009 Ferencváros 9 (0)
2009 Athletic Club of BC 19 (0)
2010–2013 W Connection
2013 St. Ann's Rangers
2013–2017 Central FC
2017 North East Stars
2017–2018 Juticalpa 9 (0)
2018 Sacachispas 6 (0)
2019– HFX Wanderers 12 (0)
National team‡
2001 Trinidad and Tobago U17 9 (0)
2003–2004 Trinidad and Tobago U20 13 (0)
2003–2017 Trinidad and Tobago 80 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 November 2019

Over the course of his playing career, Williams made 80 appearances for the Trinidad and Tobago national football team and played professionally in Trinidad, Belgium, Hungary, Honduras, Guatemala and Canada.[1]

Club career

W Connection

Williams was a goalkeeper for W Connection in Trinidad and Tobago who had trials with Rangers in 2003 alongside Kenwyne Jones. He was the Pro League Player of the Year in 2006 as well as the T & T Pro League Goalkeeper of the year in 2006.

On March 27, 2007 he was the first goalkeeper to score in a Pro Bowl game when he scored a header against United Petrotrin in injury time to send the tie into extra-time and penalties. He saved 2 penalties to send his team into the final of the 2007 Pro Bowl competition. The final, against Superstar Rangers also went to a penalty shoot-out when Williams saved another 2 penalties to help his team win the T&T Pro League Trophy.

With W Connection Williams has a T&T PFL Championship winners medal, earned in 2005 and a CFU Club Champions Cup winners medal, earned in 2006.

White Star Woluwe

Williams again left his country in June 2007 for trials with Hungarian club Újpest FC who offered him a contract but he delayed his decision in order to trial with Sheffield United. In July 2007, while on trial with Sheffield United, Williams played in a pre-season friendly against Alfreton Town. On July 25, 2007, Williams was offered a contract by Sheffield United. While waiting for his work permit, he signed a short-term contract with Belgian Third Division side White Star Woluwe.[2]

Ferencváros

After he had his work permit application rejected, he signed a 1+1 year contract with Ferencváros on July 15, 2008.[3] He played his first game for the green and white club against Sheffield United the previous day. Williams was in summer 2009 released rejoined W Connection.

Williams again left his country in August 2011 on trial with Belgian Third Division club ROCCM where he joined fellow T&T teammate Radanfah Abu Bakr.

Central FC

Williams signed with Trinidadian club Central FC for 3 years, he also played in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Juticalpa

In 2017 was bought by Hondurian First Division team Juticalpa and played 9 games and spend another 21 in the bench.

Sacachispas

In the next couple of years Sacachispas a Second Division team in Guatemala was his team.

HFX Wanderers

Williams signed with HFX Wanderers on 10 January 2019.[4] He was named the first ever captain of the squad, and made his debut against Pacific FC in the club's inaugural match on 28 April 2019.[5] Williams suffered injury problems as the season went on, and partway through the season backup Christian Oxner took as the number one. He went on to make twelve league appearances that season and three in the Canadian Championship.[5] Williams retired at the end of the season, but was hired on with the club as a goalkeeping coach.[1]

On August 11, 2020 after an injury to Oxner, HFX announced Williams would come out of retirement temporarily to serve as back-up to Jason Beaulieu during the 2020 Canadian Premier League season.[6]

International career

Williams was selected as the second-choice goalkeeper for T&T at the 2001 FIFA Under 17 World Championship. He was also part of the 2003 Under-23 squad.

Williams was selected as Trinidad's number 1 for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup where he played against El Salvador, Guatemala and United States.

Coaching career

On 10 December 2019, Williams retired and was appointed as the new goalkeeper coach for HFX Wanderers.[1]

gollark: One million mints or no mints. In the AP, anyway.
gollark: We need horrendously messy ones too.
gollark: I can't wait to see the AP in about two days.
gollark: Or which people actually like.
gollark: Or which aren't common.

References
  1. Gareth Hampshire (10 December 2019). "Wanderers bring back veteran goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams as coach". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  2. WILLIAMS PLAYS FIRST GAME IN BELGIUM - Royal White Star Woluwe club website
  3. Ferencváros profile Archived 2010-01-25 at the Wayback Machine - (in Hungarian)
  4. Hampshire, Gareth (January 10, 2019). "Wanderers announce first ever international player signings as Trinidad and Tobago quartet".
  5. "J. Williams". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  6. Jacques, John (August 11, 2020). "Halifax Wanderers Add Jan-Michael Williams To Matchday Roster".
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