Alphonso Davies (born November 2, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer and Canada men's national soccer team. He is the first player born in the 2000s to play in an MLS match.
In June 2017, he became the youngest player to appear for the Canadian men's national team. By scoring two goals in a 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against French Guiana, he became the youngest player to score for the Canadian men's national team, the youngest to score at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and first player born in the 2000s to score at a top level international tournament.
Video Alphonso Davies
Early life
Davies was born in Buduburam, a refugee camp in the Gomoa East District of Ghana. His parents lived there while fleeing Liberia during the Second Liberian Civil War. When Davies was five, his family moved to Windsor, Ontario before moving a year later to Edmonton.
Maps Alphonso Davies
Club career
After playing for Edmonton Internationals, and Edmonton Strikers, Davies joined the Whitecaps FC Residency in 2015.
Whitecaps FC 2
After joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC during their 2016 MLS preseason tour, Davies signed with Whitecaps FC 2 in the USL on February 23, 2016. At the time of his signing, Davies became the youngest player signed to a USL contract at 15 years, 3 months. Davies made his professional debut for Whitecaps FC 2 at the age of 15 years, 5 months in April 2016. On May 15, 2016, Davies scored his first professional goal, making him the youngest goal scorer in USL history at 15 years, 6 months.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Davies was named to the Whitecaps roster for the 2016 Canadian Championship on a short term contract. On June 1, 2016, Alphonso Davies made his first team debut in the first leg of the Canadian Championship against the Ottawa Fury and started the second leg in Vancouver.
On July 15, 2016, Davies signed a first team contract with the Whitecaps through 2018, with options for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. At the time of his signing, he was the youngest active player in Major League Soccer, and the third youngest player to have signed an MLS contract. Davies made his MLS debut on July 16, 2016, becoming the second youngest player to play in MLS, behind Freddy Adu. In September 2016, he scored his first goal for the first team in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League against Sporting Kansas City in injury time to send the club through to the knockout round. In September 2016, Davies became the second youngest starter in MLS history when he started a game against the Colorado Rapids. On October, 2, 2016 he started against rival club Seattle Sounders FC earning a penalty kick.
Following his impressive early MLS appearances, Davies attracted interest and was scouted by European clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and was also named one of the 60 best young talents in world football in 2017.
International career
Youth teams
Davies was called to numerous Canadian U-15 and U-18 camps in 2014 and 2015. On March 17, 2016, he was called up to the Canada U20 squad for a friendly against England U20. In November 2016, Davies attended a Canadian U-17 camp, where he scored against Jamaica. In 2016, he was named the Canada U17 Male Player of the Year for his performances with the U-17 and U-20 squads in friendlies. In March 2017, Davies stated in an interview that, "to be able to represent Canada, it is one of my dreams." In 2017, Davies was named the Canada U17 Male Player of the Year for a second time due to his performances with the senior team.
Senior team
On June 6, 2017, Davies passed his citizenship test and officially became a citizen of Canada, making him eligible to play for the Canada national team. On the same day, Davies was added to a senior team camp for a friendly against Curaçao, as well as Canada's preliminary 40-man roster for the 2017 Gold Cup. Davies would debut for the senior team in the friendly against Curaçao at the age of 16, making him the youngest player to play for the national team. On June 27, Davies was named to the final 23-man squad for the 2017 Gold Cup. In Canada's first match of that tournament, Davies scored twice in a 4-2 victory over French Guiana. The goals make him the youngest goalscorer in Gold Cup history. He then scored in their second match against Costa Rica to earn a 1-1 draw. Davies went on to win the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, the Young Player of the Tournament award, and was included in the tournament's Best XI selection. The award makes him the youngest golden boot winner for a confederation championship in soccer history.
Career statistics
Club
- As of November 3, 2017
International
- As of September 2, 2017
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
Honours
Individual
- Canada U-17 Male Player of the Year: 2016, 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Bright Future Award: 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot Award: 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017
References
External links
- Alphonso Davies at WhitecapsFC.com
- Alphonso Davies at National-Football-Teams.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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