Acquired
RSL: Selected in first round (2nd overall) of the 2004 MLS Expansion Draft on 11/19/04
CHI: Via trade with MET in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on 3/27/03
MET: Via four-player trade with New England Revolution in exchange for Daniel Hernandez, Diego Serna and Brian Kamler on 5/24/02
NE: Selected in the 2001 MLS Waiver Draft on 3/29/01
MIA: Via trade with CLB in exchange for a first round 2000 MLS SuperDraft pick on 1/03/99
CLB: Via MLS player allocation in 3/98
At 33 years of age, Andy Williams may be the “old man” of the Real Salt Lake roster, but you wouldn’t be able to tell after watching the latest of his string of recent renaissance campaigns in 2010. The wily veteran turned back the clock even more last year, when he joined Nat Borchers as the only members of the Claret-and-Cobalt to appear in all 30 League fixtures – a new career-high in his 12th professional season – and registered a team-high 12 assists across all competitions from his spot on the outside of the Utah side’s demanding diamond midfield formation. While his numbers were impressive, it was once again Williams’ qualities that can’t be found on a stat sheet – an instinctual ability to keep the ball and his unique way of providing the calm so crucial to RSL’s possession-oriented style of play – which earned him high praise from his coaches and kept the fans on the edge of their seats every time the ball came his way.
Since Jason Kreis took over on the RSL sideline in 2007, the team’s entire roster has been replaced, save one man – and of all the players to stick around the longest, go figure it’s Williams, the player that once defined the moniker of MLS journeyman after suiting up for five different sides in his first seven seasons. As the lone “RSL Original,” Williams has continued to rack up stats that have placed him in or on the cusp of the League’s career Top 10 in assists (8th), appearances (12th), and fouls suffered (3rd).
MLS Career
2010: Led the squad with 12 assists and added one goal in 38 total appearances (26 starts; 2,455 minutes) across regular season and Cup competition … The 38 match appearances were 2nd most on RSL, behind only Borchers’ 39 GP … One of only two RSL’ers to play in all 30 League contests (w/ Borchers), during which he scored once and notched seven assists, the latter placing 2nd on the squad and counting as a single-season best during his six seasons in Utah … Assisted on both of RSL’s goals during the Western Conference Semifinal Series v. DAL … Finished the campaign at or near the top 10 on MLS’ career charts with 85 assists (8th), 301 appearances [12th (2nd among active players heading into 2011, four behind Jason Kreis)], and fouls suffered (635) … Ended season as RSL’s career leader in games played (158), shots (194), shots on goal (70), and fouls suffered (224), while also ranking 2nd in assists (28), games started (102), minutes played (9,566), corner kicks (185), and game-winning assists (5) … His three assists in five CONCACAF Champions League contests (four starts, 376 MIN) play led the Utah side … His 1G/1A effort on 5/01 v. TOR was the 9th of his career and led RSL to a 2-1 victory … The 42nd minute game-winning goal against the “Reds” was the 7th of his career … His game-winning assist on 5/22 @ CHV on Espindola’s 89th minute winner helped RSL grab the lead back late in its 2-1 win and counted as the 20th of his career … A week later on 5/29 v. KC, assisted on another Espindola tally (35’), this one starting the scoring in a 4-1 win that exacted revenge for RSL’s last Rio Tinto Stadium defeat 54 weeks earlier … His ultra-productive 19-miunte stint off the bench on 7/31 v. DC produced assists on two insurance tallies (Findley – 79’, Gonzalez – 93+’) in RSL’s 3-0 win … The multi-assist effort was the 14th of his MLS career, tied for the 7th most in League annals … Helped salvage RSL’s MLS record home undefeated streak on 9/25 v. COL, his 35-yard chip to the spot finished off with Borchers’ backward header that equalized the Rocky Mountain Cup opener in the 94th minute … Helped RSL to a dream start on 10/30 @ DAL in its West Semifinal opener, freeing Espindola for his 5’ tally in an eventual 1-2 defeat at Pizza Hut Park … Started RSL’s desperate comeback attempt in Leg Two on 11/06 v. DAL, helping on Findley’s 80’ goal in the 1-1 draw (2-3 aggregate loss).
2009: Strong play in the final third of the season led to lone “RSL Original” finishing season with two goals and six assists in 23 GP (7 starts) … Also added an assist during starting nods in all four of RSL’s postseason contests, his fifth postseason appearance finally rewarded with a first MLS Cup title … Had 7 points (2G, 5A) in last 9 overall appearances, dating back to start on 8/29 @ KC … His 1G/1A effort on 4/25 v. NE marked his first multi-point game in 58 games, dating back to 9/16/06 v. DAL (1G/1A) … Went 90 minutes on 4/28 @ SEA in RSL’s 1-4 loss in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying play … Granted a leave of absence from the squad to attend to family matters in early July and missed 7/11 v. Club America and 7/18 @ CLB contests … Starts in four consecutive contests starting on 8/26 v. CHV marked first appearances in starting XI since 7/03 v. SJ … Recorded an assist in 3 straight contests (8/29 @ KC, 9/12 v. CHI & 9/19 @ HOU), tying him with 8 other players for the 2nd longest assist streak in MLS in 2009 (Davis, HOU – 6) … Recorded GWA on 8/29 @ KC, his unlocking pass in tight quarters leading to Campos’ 18’ tally in the 1-0 win … Played final 48 minutes of a contentious friendly on 10/07 v. CD Guadalajara (Chivas) (MEX) that ended in a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium … Late-season magic continued on 10/14 v. NY, as his 26-minute appearance off the bench culminated in an 80’ game-winner in the eventual 2-0 result that kept RSL’s postseason hopes afloat … Capped off regular season with pair of assists on 10/24 v. COL, his helpers on Findley’s first-half brace (15’, 33’) lifting RSL to a 3-0 trouncing of its Rocky Mountain Cup rivals and a spot in the MLS postseason for a second straight season … His short-corner cross turned goal in 74’ on 11/05 @ CLB in Eastern Conf. Semifinal Series Leg Two all but sealed RSL’s passage, bringing the aggregate tally to its final 4-2 margin … Goal was only his second in now 18-game playoff career (11/01/03 w/ CHI v. DC) …Turned in a gutsy performance in MLS Cup 2009 on 11/22 v. LA at Seattle’s Qwest Field, early midfield substitutions forcing him into the full 120 minutes of action in the 1-1 draw through regulation and added time … After dropping to the ground in exhaustion, his clinching spot kick attempt in fifth round of penalties was saved, but ultimately did no harm thanks to RSL’s 5-4 PK triumph … Result in Seattle gave the Jamaican a deserved first MLS title ring in just the 11-year veteran’s 2nd appearance in the Cup final (2003 w/ CHI).
2008: Registered a goal and three assists across 26 regular season appearances (16 starts) … Continued his US Open Cup mastery on 4/30 v. SJ, notching an assist and the closing goal (90’) in RSL’s 4-0 Play-In round win … Broke club record for starts with his 70th appearance in the starting XI for RSL on 7/19 @ CHI (formerly 69 GS, Eddie Pope) … Claimed another club record for shots with his 133rd for RSL on 7/28 v. TFC, a record previously held by current Head Coach Jason Kreis … His first-time, upper corner blast on 10/04 @ NE not only snapped a 33-game goalless streak, but earned Sierra Mist Goal of the Week honors and was that day’s #8 choice on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays … Collected an assist in his Rio Tinto Stadium debut on 10/18 v. FCD, the late assist on a Robbie Findley goal helping to seal the 3-1 win and move the team closer to a playoff spot … The helper also resulted in his first point-streak of the season … It was his rebounded shot in the 90’ on 10/25 @ COL that led to Movsisyan’s equalizer, helping to give RSL a 1-1 draw and, in turn, its first-ever postseason berth … Made his first playoff appearances since 2003 with Chicago, featuring in all three of RSL’s postseason contests (one start) … Started & played 67 min. on 11/01 v CHV in West Semifinal Series Leg 1, a 1-0 victory … Made substitute appearances in WSS Leg 2 on 11/08 @ CHV (11 min.) and the West Final on 11/15 v. NY (18 min.).
2007: Started in half of his 24 appearances for RSL, scoring a goal and a team high-tying three assists … Made at least 20 League appearances for the ninth straight season … Lone goal of the season on 8/29 v. KC was a memorable one, as his surprise 55-yard strike in the 85th minute closed the scoring in a 3-1 RSL win … Notched assists in back-to-back games on 9/29 @ NY and 10/06 v. CHV … Became RSL’s all-time leader in games played with his 59th appearance on 6/02 @ NE … Made his 200th appearance in League play on 5/20 @ FCD … The latter helper v. CHV gave Williams the team’s all-time lead in assists with 12 … Resumed his role as the team’s U.S. Open Cup hero on 4/18 v. KC, as his 109’ goal lifted RSL to a 2-1 OT win in a USOC play-in contest.
2006: Finished third on RSL with six assists and led the team, as usual, in fouls suffered with 52 … His 29 appearances marked a career single-season high … Gave the squad its first-ever win in the U.S. Open Cup on 7/11 v. Virginia Beach, his 93’ tally in OT helping RSL to a 2-1 third round victory.
2005: Notched career highs in goals (5), starts (26), and minutes (2,102) during RSL’s inaugural season, in which he also tallied three assists … Recorded his first GWG with RSL on 5/18/05 (37’).
2004: His nine assists led CHI in the category (eighth in MLS) for a second straight season, while his 25 appearances and 23 starts were then career bests … Led Fire with 83 fouls suffered (4th in MLS) … Registered his 50th career assist on 5/15 at MET.
2003: Played in 20 games with 14 starts as he helped lead the Fire to MLS Cup … Sled CHI in assists with seven … In his third career postseason run, recorded a goal and an assist in helping the Fire to MLS Cup 2003 … Scored first goal of postseason career on 11/01 at DC, the GWG in a 2-0 victory.
2002: Split time between NE and MET after being dealt to Jersey in a six-player deal on 5/24 … His 15 assists across the two stops (2 for NE, 13 for MET) marked a career-high … Suffered a career-high 86 fouls … Four GWG tied for 4th in MLS.
2001: Named NE’s MVP for the season after scoring a team-high 13 points on three goals and seven assists … Acquired by Revs in the 2001 Waiver Draft after the contraction of Miami FC over the offseason.
2000: Finished lone season with Miami FC with four goals and assists in 20 contests … Had a pair of GWG for MIA, marking his lone multi-GWG campaign.
1999: Started 11 of his 21 regular season matches with Columbus, finishing with three assists … Recorded two assists in three postseason contests against DC.
1998: Notched 12 assists in just 13 contests (11 starts) for CLB as a rookie … Set a then-MLS record with a seven-game assist streak … Missed part of season to participate in the 1998 FIFA World Cup … Added four more assists in four MLS Cup Playoffs.
Jamaican National Team
Now has 93 caps & 15 goals with the Jamaican National Team after his return to the Reggae Boyz in 2010 following a two-year retirement from the international game … Scored three goals in 11 appearances overall for Jamaica in 2008 … Started four of the Reggae Boyz’ five games and tallied one goal during the Digicel Caribbean Cup in December 2008, helping Jamaica claim the regional title and qualify for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup … Started and played 55 minutes for Jamaica on 9/10/08 @ Honduras in an eventual 2-0 defeat in World Cup qualifying play … Played full 90 minutes for Jamaica on 9/06/08 @ Mexico in a 3-0 WCQ defeat … Played 63 minutes and scored lone goal for Jamaica in 1-1 draw @ Canada in WCQ play on 8/20/08 (BMO Field in Toronto) … Scored one goal and added 4 assists for the Jamaican National Team on 6/15/08 and 6/18/08 v. Bahamas in aggregate 13-0 World Cup Qualifying victories … Ended his international hiatus 6/03/08, playing the full 90 minutes for the Reggae Boyz in their 5-1 win over St. Vincent & the Grenadines in Kingston … Represented Jamaica in the 2000, 2003, and 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments … Made his senior international debut for Jamaica as a 20-year-old in the 1998 FIFA World Cup vs. Croatia on 6/14/98 … Also represented Jamaica at the U-23, U-18, and U-17 levels.
College
Was the University of Rhode Island’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals and 45 assists … Voted to the Soccer America Collegiate Team of the 1990’s honoring the top 11 college players of the decade.
Personal
Twitter handle: @Bommadog … Nickname: “Bomma,” a tribute to his long-range shooting ability … Hobbies: Spending time with family … Major in College: Business Management … Most Memorable Moment: Seeing his wife for the very first time … Favorite Music: Reggae … Favorite Movie: The Hunt for Red October … Favorite Food: Wife’s cooking … Favorite Book: Tailor of Panama by John Le Carre … Favorite TV Show: 24 … Marital Status/Wife’s Name: Marcia Karyo … Children: Shai-Ann, 16, Jordain, 12, and Alexia, 6 … Favorite athlete outside of soccer: Allen Iverson … Greatest Accomplishments: Playing in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France … Charities/Causes: Soccer Unites Utah, Make a Wish Foundation.
