Carlyle Mitchell

PROFILE

A speedy and athletic centre back that has represented Trinidad & Tobago at the international level, Carlyle Mitchell joined Whitecaps FC ahead of the 2011 Major League Soccer roster freeze on Sept. 15, 2011. The native of Arima, Trinidad & Tobago, comes to Vancouver with experience of the CONCACAF Champions League from his time with Trinidad & Tobago side Joe Public FC.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

2013: The centre back made his first start of the season for the Blue and White on June 15 against New England Revolution, a 4-3 win for Vancouver. Spent half of the season on loan with FC Edmonton before being recalled by Vancouver on June 10, indefinitely. 2012: Mitchell made two starts at New England Revolution on May 12 and at Seattle Sounders FC on August 18. 2011: Mitchell made three starts for Whitecaps FC during their inaugural MLS season, with all three appearances coming at the tail-end of the campaign following the club’s move into the newly-refurbished BC Place in Oct. 2011. The centre back made his MLS debut on Oct. 6, as Whitecaps FC defeated Real Salt Lake 3-0. He then started at centre back in the 2-1 home win over D.C. United on Oct. 12 and the 2-1 home defeat versus Colorado Rapids on Oct. 22.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE

2013: Started and played 90 minutes versus Portland Timbers Reserves on May 19. 2012: Mitchell scored a late equalizer in Whitecaps FC reserves’ season opener, as they drew 1-1 at home to Seattle Sounders FC reserves on Mar. 26. He then scored both goals in a 2-1 away win over Seattle Sounders FC reserves on June 1. 2011: The defender made his Whitecaps FC competitive debut in the MLS Reserve League on Oct. 3, as the 'Caps reserves fell 1-0 at home to Portland Timbers reserves at Swangard Stadium.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2010-11: Playing his third and final season with Joe Public FC, Mitchell helped the Eastern Lions to a third-place finish in the Trinidad & Tobago Professional Football League (TT Pro League) standings and to the quarterfinal stages of the Trinidad & Tobago Cup (FA Trophy). Joe Public claimed their first-ever First Citizens Cup title after a 3-0 penalty shootout win over Defence Force FC following a 1-1 draw in the final on Oct. 23, 2010. Joe Public also won their second Trinidad & Tobago Pro Bowl title following a 1-0 victory over W Connection FC on Apr. 1, 2011. As reigning TT Pro League champions, Mitchell helped the Eastern Lions to a runners-up finish behind North American Soccer League side Puerto Rico Islanders at the 2010 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Champions' Cup. That earned Joe Public one of three berths in the 2010-11 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, where Mitchell made five appearances in the confederation’s top club competition. His only goal came in the Preliminary Round, second leg, as Joe Public won 4-2 at home to Costa Rica’s Brujas FC on Aug. 5, 2010, for a 6-4 aggregate victory. The Eastern Lions missed out on the Champions League quarterfinals after finishing bottom of Group B that included MLS club Columbus Crew. 2009: Mitchell enjoyed a memorable season with Joe Public, as they claimed no less than five domestic titles during the year. The Eastern Lions won the league championship and Super Six title in the TT Pro League, as well as their third Trinidad & Tobago Cup (FA Trophy) title after a 3-2 extra-time win in the final over W Connection FC on Dec. 9. The defender scored in a 4-0 final win over San Juan Jabloteh to earn Joe Public a second Trinidad & Tobago Classic title on Nov. 13. The Eastern Lions also claimed their first Trinidad & Tobago Pro Bowl title with a 5-3 penalty shootout win over former club Caledonia AIA after a 1-1 draw on Dec. 11. A sixth domestic title eluded Joe Public in the First Citizens Cup following a 1-0 defeat in the final to Defence Force FC on Oct. 2. 2008: Initially signed as a striker from TT Pro League rivals Caledonia AIA, Mitchell was converted into a defender during his time at Joe Public. During his first season with the Eastern Lions, Mitchell’s side finished fourth in the league standings and fifth in the Big Six standings during the TT Pro League campaign. Joe Public also made the Trinidad & Tobago Pro Bowl quarterfinals, while they were runners-up in the First Citizens Cup after falling 6-5 on penalties to W Connection FC following a 2-2 draw on Sept. 26. After finishing runners-up to Jamaica’s Harbour View FC in the 2007 CFU Club Champions' Cup, Joe Public participated in the inaugural edition (2008-09) of the CONCACAF Champions League, with Mitchell making seven starts in the competition that year. This included both legs of the 6-1 aggregate victory over MLS club New England Revolution in the Preliminary Round and appearances versus Canadian arch-rivals and 2012 MLS expansion club Montreal Impact in Group C. Joe Public missed out on the Champions League quarterfinals after finishing bottom of Group C. 2007: Mitchell started his TT Pro League career as a non-professional U-20 player with Caledonia AIA, having made his league debut as a 19-year-old. In his lone season with the ‘Men from Morvant’, Mitchell helped Caledonia AIA to a second-place league finish and a fourth-place finish in the Big Six standings in the TT Pro League. They Men from Morvant were also runners-up in the Trinidad & Tobago Cup (FA Trophy) and First Citizens Cup that season, while they finished fourth in the Trinidad & Tobago Classic.

INTERNATIONAL

Mitchell has represented his native Trinidad & Tobago at youth and senior international levels. Senior: He represented his country at the 2013 Gold Cup. Started two games for his side during the tournament in the group stage, versus Haiti and Honduras. In December 2012, Mitchell played every minute of the 2012 Caribeean Cup as his country finished runners-up and qualified for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The centre back made his senior international debut for The Soca Warriors when he started a 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Caribbean rivals Jamaica on August 11, 2010. The defender then started a goalless friendly draw away to CONCACAF rivals Belize on Sept. 10, 2010, and a 3-0 friendly win at home to India on Aug. 21, 2011. He then appeared in his country's final qualifying match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, as The Soca Warriors earned a 2-0 home win over Guyana on Nov. 15, 2011. Despite the win, Trinidad & Tobago did not advance from the second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying after finishing second in Group B behind Guyana. U-23: As a member of the Trinidad & Tobago U-23 Olympic squad in 2007, striker Mitchell appeared in all but one of his country’s five matches during their qualifying campaign for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This included a goal in a 3-0 away win over Curaçao (formerly Netherlands Antilles) in the first round of Caribbean zone Olympic qualifying on Sept. 1, 2007, and two goals in a 3-2 home defeat to Grenada in the second round of Caribbean zone Olympic qualifying on Oct. 12, 2007. Trinidad & Tobago missed out on the final round of 2008 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying after finishing third in second-round Group G of Caribbean zone Olympic qualifying. U-20: In 2006, Mitchell made five appearances for the Trinidad & Tobago U-20 squad as a striker. This included three appearances in Caribbean zone qualifying for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada in late 2006. The U-20 Soca Warriors just missed out on one of three Caribbean berths for the 2007 CONCACAF U-20 Championship after finishing second in second-round Group F of Caribbean zone U-20 World Cup qualifying.

YOUTH/AMATEUR

Mitchell started his soccer career on his native island of Trinidad with Uprising Youths and Pinto United FC. The centre back then joined one of Trinidad’s biggest youth academies in Memphis FC before playing school soccer for Mount Hope Junior Secondary School in Mount Hope, Trinidad, and Hillview College in Tunapuna, Trinidad.

PERSONAL

Mitchell was born and raised in The Royal Borough of Arima, which is the fourth largest town in Trinidad & Tobago. His family includes three sisters named Carlene, Melissa, and Saphire, plus three brothers named Devon, Dexter and Joseph.

INTERESTING FACTS

Like most soccer players in Trinidad & Tobago, Mitchell was an admirer of his country’s greatest soccer export in Dwight Yorke and the striker’s former club in English Premier League giants Manchester United FC. The centre back is also a fan of Spanish and European giants FC Barcelona and their star player Lionel Messi. He also admires the talents of Brazilian star Ronaldinho. When not concentrating on his soccer career, Mitchell enjoys listening to soca music from his native Trinidad. The defender’s favourite foods are chicken and macaroni pie, while he likes drinking orange Gatorade.