Walker Zimmerman

Walker Dwain Zimmerman (born May 19, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and the United States national team.

Walker Zimmerman
Zimmerman with the United States at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Personal information
Full name Walker Dwain Zimmerman[1]
Date of birth (1993-05-19) May 19, 1993
Place of birth Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[2]
Position(s) Center-back
Team information
Current team
 Nashville SC
Number 25
Youth career
GSA Phoenix
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Furman Paladins 39 (11)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 FC Dallas 89 (7)
2018–2019 Los Angeles FC 51 (5)
2020– Nashville SC 101 (12)
International career‡
2010–2011 United States U18 3 (0)
2011–2013 United States U20 10 (2)
2015–2016 United States U23 3 (0)
2017– United States 42 (3)
Managerial career
2019 UCLA Bruins (assistant)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Runner-upCONCACAF Gold Cup2019
WinnerCONCACAF Gold Cup2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 18, 2023

A native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Zimmerman played two seasons in college with the Furman Paladins before signing a Generation Adidas deal with Major League Soccer. He was then selected in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas as the 7th overall pick. Initially struggling for playtime due to injuries, Zimmerman established himself as a regular starter in 2016. He started in 38 matches as FC Dallas completed the double, winning the Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup. In December 2017, Zimmerman was traded to expansion side Los Angeles FC, helping the club win the Supporters' Shield in 2019. Zimmerman was also selected for the MLS All-Star team and MLS Best XI. Zimmerman was then traded to another expansion side, Nashville SC, in February 2020. With Nashville SC, he won back-to-back Defender of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021.

Zimmerman made his debut for the United States in January 2017 against Jamaica. In 2019, he was selected into the squad that finished runners-up in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was also a member of the squad that won the tournament in 2021, starting all three group stage matches before having to leave the tournament due to a hamstring injury.

Club career

Youth and college

Zimmerman came through the youth academy at Gwinnett Soccer Association in Lilburn, Georgia, where he was mentored by former Atlanta Silverbacks and Charleston Battery manager Nuno Piteira. Zimmerman also went to Brookwood High School and played soccer there. He was coached by Daniel Klinect.

Zimmerman played college soccer at Furman University between 2011 and 2012. He was named First Team All-Conference 2011, Southern Conference Freshman of the Year 2011, and National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division I Men's All-America Second Team in 2012.[3]

Professional

FC Dallas selected Zimmerman in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.[4] He made his professional debut on May 11, 2013, as a late substitute in a 2–1 victory against D.C. United.

On December 10, 2017, Zimmerman was traded by FC Dallas to new expansion side Los Angeles FC in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money and $250,000 in Targeted Allocation Money. The two clubs also swapped allocation rankings with FC Dallas moving to #1 and Los Angeles FC moving to #11.[5] During the 2019 season, Zimmerman was also an assistant coach for the UCLA Bruins men's soccer program.

On February 11, 2020, Zimmerman was traded to Major League Soccer expansion club Nashville SC in exchange for up to $1.25 million in General Allocation Money and a 2020 international roster spot.[6]

On February 29, 2020, Zimmerman scored the first goal in Nashville SC history.

On April 29, 2022, Nashville announced they had signed Zimmerman to a contract extension through 2025, and that it would also make him a Designated Player on their roster.[7] The new contract made Zimmerman only the fourth American defender to be signed to a DP deal in league history.[8]

International career

On January 6, 2017, Zimmerman was called up for the first time to the United States national team by coach Bruce Arena.[9] Zimmerman earned his first cap and start against Jamaica in a January Camp friendly on February 3, 2017. He was named player of the match.[10] He scored his first goal (a header) on May 28, 2018, against Bolivia. Zimmerman was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making appearances in all four matches. During the opening match against Wales, Zimmerman tackled Gareth Bale, the Welsh attacker for penalty in the 82nd minute. Bale scored the penalty and tied the game. The game ended 1–1. According to ESPN, it was "a clumsy and unnecessary challenge".[11]

Personal life

Zimmerman was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on May 19, 1993, to Becky and David Zimmerman. He has two older siblings.

Zimmerman is a Christian.[12] Walker is married to Sally Zimmerman. They have one child together.[13]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played October 21, 2023[14]
Club Season League Playoffs National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Dallas 2013 MLS 72—20——92
2014 1002010——130
2015 2002120——241
2016 304204010—374
2017 221—1040—271
Total 8976110050—1108
Los Angeles FC 2018 MLS 2641040——314
2019 2512010——281
Total 5153050——595
Nashville SC 2020 MLS 22330———253
2021 25320———273
2022 3041030——344
2023 24200——72314
Total 101126030—7211714
Career total 24124151180507228627

International
As of match played June 18, 2023[15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 201710
201831
201971
202020
2021100
2022141
202350
Total423
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.[15]
List of international goals scored by Walker Zimmerman
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.May 28, 2018Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, United States Bolivia1–03–0Friendly
2.January 27, 2019State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United States Panama2–03–0 Friendly
3.February 2, 2022Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States Honduras2–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honors

FC Dallas

Los Angeles FC

United States

Individual

References
  1. "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: United States" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 16. Retrieved May 21, 2019 – via Bernews.
  2. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: United States" (PDF). FIFA. November 15, 2022. p. 31. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  3. "{title}". Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  4. "SuperDraft '13 – FC Dallas snag Walker Zimmerman with the 7th pick". MLSsoccer.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  5. "LAFC ACQUIRES WALKER ZIMMERMAN FROM FC DALLAS". Los Angeles FC. December 10, 2017. Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  6. "LAFC Acquires Up To $1.25 Million In Allocation Money From Nashville SC In Exchange For Walker Zimmerman". Los Angeles FC. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  7. "Nashville Soccer Club Extends Contracts of MLS Best XI Hany Mukhtar and Walker Zimmerman". Nashville SC. April 29, 2022.
  8. Tenorio, Paul (April 29, 2022). "How Nashville SC made Walker Zimmerman a designated player: 'He was our Tom Brady'". The Athletic.
  9. "Arena Calls 32 Players for MNT January Camp". U.S. Soccer. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  10. "FC Dallas Defender Walker Zimmerman Makes USMNT Debut, Named Player of the Match". February 3, 2017. Archived from the original on February 4, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  11. "On brink of win, USMNT can't close out Wales". ESPN.com. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  12. Doering, Joshua (June 17, 2021). "Walker Zimmerman leans on faith as he leads Nashville SC, USMNT". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  13. Doering, Joshua (November 23, 2021). "Walker Zimmerman leads Nashville SC into MLS playoffs, grateful for 'how sacrificial God's love is'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  14. Walker Zimmerman at Soccerway. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  15. "Zimmerman, Walker". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on April 13, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  16. "United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header". ESPN. August 1, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  17. "U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account". ESPN. June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  18. "2019 MLS All-Star Roster". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  19. "2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster". MLSsoccer.
  20. "2022 MLS All-Star Team Roster". MLSsoccer.
  21. "2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster". Major League Soccer. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  22. "2019 MLS Best XI". Major League Soccer. October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  23. "MLS Fact and Record Book". Major League Soccer. p. 163. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  24. "2020 MLS Best XI presented by The Home Depot". Major League Soccer. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  25. "2022 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire". Major League Soccer. November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  26. "Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman named 2020 MLS Defender of the Year". Major League Soccer. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
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