Callum Montgomery

Montgomery was born in Nanaimo, British Colombia to a Canadian father and Fijian mother.[1] He began playing youth soccer at age four with the Nanaimo Soccer Association.[1] Afterwards, he joined the Vancouver Island Wave in 2011.[2][3] In high school, he helped lead St. Michaels University School to a BC Provincial AA Championship title in 2014, scoring the winning goal in the final and being named tournament MVP.[4]

In 2015, Montgomery began attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he played for the men's soccer team.[5] He scored his first collegiate goal on October 20, 2015 against the Virginia Tech Hokies.[6] At the end of the season, he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.

During his sophomore season,he helped the 49ers win the Conference USA regular-season title, and was named a Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Conference USA All-Academic team, and First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-District.[5][7][8]

During his junior season, he was a Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District, United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Scholar and Conference USA All-Academic honours, and was named to the Second Team All-Southeast Region, was a First Team All-Conference USA and First Team All-State.[5][9][10]

In his senior season, he was named a First Team All-American, a First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, the Conference USA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Southeast Region, First-Team All-Conference USA, was named named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team, was as semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, was a Second-team Senior CLASS Award All-American, First-team Scholar All-American, First-team Scholar All-South Region, Second-team TopDrawerSoccer.com All-American, First-team NCCSIA All-State, and was named Team MVP.[5][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] He scored 11 goals in 73 appearances, over his four seasons,[19] and was invited to the MLS Combine, ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[20] He was named the top centre-back prospect ahead of the draft.[21]

From 2016 to 2018, he played with the Victoria Highlanders in the Premier Development League, captaining the side in his final two seasons.[22] In 2016, he was named Lake Side Buoys Supporters’ Choice Award as the Highlanders’ player of the year.[23] In 2018, he was named to the 2018 PDL All-League and the PDL All-Western Conference teams.[24]

In January 2019, he was selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas.[25][26][27] He officially signed with the club in February,[28][29] after having participated in the club's pre-season and playing five pre-season matches, in which he scored one goal.[30] He spent the 2019 season on loan with the second team, North Texas SC, in USL League One.[31][32] In February 2020, he was loaned to San Antonio FC in the USL Championship.[33][34] He made his debut for San Antonio on March 7, 2020, scoring his first goal against the Real Monarchs.[35] After the 2020 season, his contract option was declined by Dallas.[36]

In December 2020, Montgomery's MLS rights were traded to Minnesota United FC in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and $50,000 in conditional General Allocation Money.[37] In February 2021, he signed a new contract with Minnesota.[38] In June 2021, he was loaned to USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC for the rest of the 2021 season.[39][40] In November 2022, Minnesota United declined his club option for the 2023 season.[41]

In February 2023, he signed with Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League.[42][43][44]

In 2019, he was named to the Canada U23 player pool ahead of qualification for the 2020 Olympics.[45] In 2020, he was officially named to the Canada U23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship,[46] later being re-named to the squad in March 2021 (as the tournament was delayed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[47] He made his debut in the first group game against El Salvador, where he suffered an injury, returning in the semi-final loss to Mexico.[48]

As of match played October 21, 2023[49]

• Callum Montgomery at Soccerway