T.J. Tahid

Taryck "T.J." Tahid (born April 21, 2007) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League.

T.J. Tahid
Tahid with Vancouver FC in 2023
Personal information
Full name Taryck Tahid
Date of birth (2007-04-21) April 21, 2007
Place of birth Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Vancouver FC
Number 26
Youth career
New Westminster Africa United FC
Albion FC
2018–2022 VanCity Pro Football Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Vancouver FC 20 (3)
International career‡
2023– Canada U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 1, 2023

Early life

Tahid was born in Maple Ridge, British Columbia and was raised in a Ghanaian-Canadian family.[1] He began playing youth soccer at age three with New Westminster Africa United FC,[2][3] later joining Albion FC, in his hometown of Maple Ridge, British Columbia.[4] In 2018, he joined the VanCity Pro Football Academy, which was founded by his father.[5] He has also trialed with the academies of Spanish club Villarreal, Danish club FC Midtjylland and American club New York Red Bulls.[6][7] He also trained with men's amateur teams from the Vancouver Metro Soccer League.[8] In his youth, he also ran track and field, setting the 100m and 200m records for Grade 5 boys at the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district elementary track and field championships in 2018.[9] He currently attends Maple Ridge Secondary School.[10]

Club career

After trialing with the club during pre-season, on May 6, 2023, Tahid signed a full professional contract with Vancouver FC of the Canadian Premier League, becoming the youngest player to ever sign a Canadian Premier League standard contract at the age of 16 years and 16 days.[11][12] He made his professional debut the next day, in a substitute appearance against Cavalry FC, becoming the youngest player to appear in a CPL match at the age of 16 years and 17 days.[13] He scored his first professional goal on June 2 against Pacific FC, becoming the league's youngest ever goal scorer,[14] and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, becoming the youngest player to receive a TOTW nomination.[15]

International career

Tahid is eligible to represent Canada and Ghana at international level.[16] In September 2023, he was called up to the Canada U17 team for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies against Brazil.[17][18][19] He made his debut for the program on September 29, as a starter in the first friendly.[20][21]

Career statistics
As of October 6, 2023[22]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vancouver FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 203–00–203
Career total 203000000203

References
  1. Vallejo, Felipe (May 19, 2023). "Remember The Name: An Interview with Vancouver FC's record-breaking Taryck "TJ" Tahid". Away from the Numbers.
  2. T.J. Tahid at the Canadian Soccer Association
  3. "Canada Soccer announces Men's U-17 squad for Brazil series in São Paulo". Canadian Soccer Association. September 18, 2023.
  4. "Vancouver FC announce signing of youngest player in CPL history Taryck Tahid". Canadian Premier League. May 6, 2023.
  5. Palermo, Adam (June 1, 2023). "Meet TJ Tahid, Vancouver FC talent and Canadian soccer's record-breaking youngster". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  6. Fuhr Nielsen, Mikkel (May 7, 2023). "Kaldt et fodboldfænomen: Her er FCM-emnes nye klub" [Called a football phenomenon: Here is the FCM subject's new club]. Tipsbladet (in Danish).
  7. Akpan, Nsidibe (August 28, 2023). "Canadian wonderkid TJ Tahid wants to join Arsenal". Now Arsenal.
  8. Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (June 12, 2023). "TJ Tahid: Vancouver FC's 16-year-old rising star with 'the heart of a lion'". OneSoccer.
  9. Flanagan, Colleen (June 13, 2018). "Records fall at elementary track championships". Today in B.C.
  10. Kelly, Cathal (August 25, 2023). "Young soccer star T.J. Tahid admires Ali, Malcolm X and Drake's shoes". The Globe & Mail.
  11. Jacques, John (May 7, 2023). "Meet The CPL's Youngest-Ever Pro: TJ Tahid". Northern Tribune.
  12. "Vancouver FC makes Maple Ridge teen the league's youngest player". Maple Ridge News. May 6, 2023.
  13. Ferguson, Dan (May 7, 2023). "Vancouver FC's very first home game ends with a tie". Maple Ridge News.
  14. Vallejo, Felipe (June 3, 2023). "A BC Derby To Remember: Vancouver and Pacific make history with nine goal thriller in Langley". Away from the Numbers.
  15. "TJ Tahid youngest ever player named to CPL Team of the Week (Week 8)". Vancouver FC. June 5, 2023.
  16. "Vancouver FC Midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid Answers Canada Call". Our Sports Central. September 18, 2023.
  17. "Vancouver FC young star, TJ Tahid, earns first international call up for Canada". Vancouver FC. September 18, 2023.
  18. Jacques, John (September 18, 2023). "'Tremendous Competitor' TJ Tahid Called Up To Canada U-17 Team". Northern Tribune.
  19. Tierney, Mitchell (September 18, 2023). "Vancouver FC's Tahid, Forge's Tavernier called up by Canada U-17 for friendly matches against Brazil". Canadian Premier League.
  20. Jacques, John (October 3, 2023). "Trust The Kids: Tahid And Tavernier Both Feature For Canada U-17". Northern Tribune.
  21. "TJ Tahid joins Canada's U-17 men's national team for preparation camp ahead of U-17 FIFA World Cup". Vancouver FC. October 17, 2023.
  22. T.J. Tahid at Soccerway
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