Jun Marques Davidson

PROFILE:
A defensive-minded midfielder with nearly a decade’s worth of experience in the Japanese J.League, Jun Marques Davidson joined Whitecaps FC on Jan. 19, 2012, after spending a season with J.League Division Two club Tokushima Vortis. A dual American/Japanese citizen, Davidson comes to Major League Soccer with experience of North American professional soccer following a spell with second-tier outfit Carolina RailHawks in 2010.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2012: Davidson had a fine first season in MLS, having earned Whitecaps FC’s ‘Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award’ for his efforts. The midfielder made his MLS debut for Whitecaps FC during a 2-0 home win over Canadian arch-rivals and league expansion club Montreal Impact on Mar. 10.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2012: The midfielder made his MLS Reserve League debut on Oct. 12, as Whitecaps FC reserves fell to a 6-0 defeat at LA Galaxy reserves.

JAPANESE J.LEAGUE:

• Davidson made over 130 appearances during eight seasons in both divisions of the J.League.
• 2011: Davidson enjoyed a productive second spell in J.League Division Two (J2) with Tokushima Vortis. The midfielder started 18 of his 24 appearances for the club that season, as Vortis just missed out on promotion to J.League Division One (J1) after finishing fourth in the J2 standings - three points behind third-place Consadole Sapporo. He registered an assist on Vortis’ third goal by Tomohiro Tsuda during a 3-1 home win over Kataller Toyama on July 30. He also started for Vortis in their second-round defeat in the Emperor’s Cup, as they fell 1-0 at Oita Trinita on Oct. 10.
• 2009: As a member of J1 club Albirex Niigata, Davidson made eight league appearances during his third and final season with the club, as Albirex finished eighth in the J1 standings. The midfielder also made two appearances for Niigata in Group A of the J.League Cup, with Albirex suffering group defeats to J1 rivals Urawa Red Diamonds (May 30) and Yokohama F. Marinos (June 3). Davidson then moved to North America to join Carolina RailHawks for the 2010 season.
• 2008: As an Albirex Niigata player, Davidson spent a second season on loan with another J1 club when he joined Consadole Sapporo. The midfielder started 11 of his 17 appearances for the club from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It proved to be a challenging season for Consadole, as the Sapporo-based outfit finished bottom of the J1 standings and were relegated to J2 for the 2009 campaign. The midfielder also made two appearances for Consadole in Group C of the J.League Cup versus J1 rivals JEF United Ichihara Chiba (Apr. 16) and Kashiwa Reysol (June 8). He also appeared in the club’s Emperor’s Cup fourth-round clash at J1 rivals Yokohama F. Marinos, as they fell 1-0 on Nov. 2.
• 2007: After moving to Albirex Niigata from Omiya Ardija, Davidson was unable to make an appearance for his new club and subsequently went on loan to fellow J1 club Vissel Kobe. He made 10 appearances for Vissel, as they finished 10th in the J1 standings that season. He also made one appearance for Kobe during the club’s Emperor’s Cup run to the ‘Round of 16’.
• 2006: Playing his fourth and final season with Omiya Ardija, Davidson started 13 of his 20 appearances for the Saitama-based club, as they finished 12th in the J1 standings.
• 2005: Davidson enjoyed his most productive season with The Squirrels, starting all but four of Omiya’s league matches, as they finished 13th in their first-ever season in J1. The midfielder also made four appearances in Omiya’s run to the Emperor’s Cup semifinals, where The Squirrels fell to eventual winners in Saitama arch-rivals Urawa Red Diamonds on Dec. 29. He also appeared in all eight matches of Omiya’s run to the J.League Cup quarterfinals, where they eventually fell to Yokohama F. Marinos.
• 2004: The midfielder helped Omiya earn promotion to J1 for the first time in club history after The Squirrels finished runners-up to champions Kawasaki Frontale in the J2 standings. Davidson made 17 starts during the Saitama club’s promotion campaign, scoring his first J.League goal during a 2-0 home win over Avispa Fukuoka on Sept. 23. He also scored in his lone appearance during Omiya’s run to the ‘Round of 16’ in the Emperor’s Cup before The Squirrels fell 6-3 to FC Tokyo on Dec. 12.
• 2003: After initially joining Omiya in 2002, Davidson broke into the Saitama club’s first team the following season, making a total of seven starts. His J.League debut came as a 20-year-old during Omiya’s 1-1 home draw versus Sanfrecce Hiroshima on June 14. The Squirrels finished sixth in the J2 standings.

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION DIVISION-2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE:

• 2010: After seven seasons in the Japanese J.League, Davidson returned to the United States when he joined current Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie and Carolina RailHawks in the United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League (USSF D-2) on Feb. 26. During his lone season with the North American second division club, the midfielder started 12 of his 19 regular season appearances for the North Carolina-based outfit, as the RailHawks captured the NASL Conference title in USSF D-2. His only goal for Carolina came during a 4-2 away win over Crystal Palace Baltimore on Sept. 18. Davidson also started three of his four playoff appearances, as Carolina reached the USSF D-2 championship series before falling 3-1 on aggregate to Puerto Rico Islanders.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR:
Davidson started playing soccer in his native Japan with the youth set-up of Tokyo Gas Football Club (now J.League outfit FC Tokyo) before moving with his family to Pasadena, California, where he attended the American Global Soccer School. His development as a player in Southern California led to his return to Japan and J.League club Omiya Ardija.

PERSONAL:
Born in Tokyo, Japan, to American-born parents, Davidson spent considerable time as a youngster in the United States after he moved with his family to Pasadena, California. As a result, the midfielder holds dual American and Japanese citizenship.