Andy Williams (Jamaican footballer)

Football player infobox| playername= Andy Williams


fullname = Andrew Williams
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|23
cityofbirth = Toronto
countryofbirth = Canada
height = height|ft=5|in=8
currentclub = Real Salt Lake
clubnumber = 77
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1994-97
youthclubs = Rhode Island
years = 1997 1998 1998-1999 2000 2001-2002 2002 2003-2004 2004-
clubs = Real Mona Harbour View Columbus Crew Miami Fusion New England Revolution MetroStars Chicago Fire Real Salt Lake
caps(goals) = 41 (1) 20 (4) 25 (3) 19 (2) 49 (7) 97 (7)
nationalyears = 1996-
nationalteam =Jamaica
nationalcaps(goals) = 83 (12)
pcupdate = 18 August 2008
ntupdate = 30 July 2006

Andy Williams (born September 23, 1977 in Toronto) is a Canadian born Jamaican soccer player, who currently plays attacking midfielder for the Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.

Before joining MLS, Williams was a star in college for the University of Rhode Island where he is currently the team's all-time leading scorer, with 52 goals and 45 assists.

Williams joined MLS 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 has played for two years. Andy 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 eight years in the league, Williams scored 21 goals and added 60 assists.

Despite being something of a journeyman in Major League Soccer, Williams has been a stalwart for the Jamaican national team. He has 82 caps with the team and 12 goals, and is the focal point of their offense, running the team from the central midfield. Williams played for his country in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. 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 home and away first-round 2010 World Cup Qualifying tie vs. the Bahamas.

ee also

* List of current MLS players