Mark Watson
Encyclopedia
Mark Stewart Watson is a professional soccer player who has earned the second most caps in the history of the Canadian national team
.
of the USL First Division
. He joined the Battery in 2006, after his third stint with the Vancouver Whitecaps, having played 10 games for the 86ers in the summer of 1993 when he was named an APSL First Team All Star, and 9 games in 1994.
Having played for the University of British Columbia
, Watson was named a Canadian Soccer League All Star in his rookie professional season, with the Hamilton Steelers in 1991. He went on to play for Watford
in the Football League First Division
in 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. In 1996, he played for the Columbus Crew
and New England Revolution
of MLS
. In 1997, he played for the Seattle Sounders
of the A-League and was named league First Team.
Watson played for Östers IF
in Swedish First Division
for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. He then played the next three seasons in the Football League's Second Division, 1998–99 and 1999-00 with Oxford United
and the 2000-01 season with Oldham Athletic
. He then returned to North America
to play the 2001 MLS season with DC United. He then played the 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons with the Charleston Battery
of the A-League. He was named the league's Defender of the Year and to its First Team in 2002, and to the league's second team in 2004.
side that won the tournament. Watson scored the winning goal for Canada in the semi-final of the 2000 Gold Cup, a match Canada won 1-0 over Trinidad and Tobago.
Watson emerged as one of Canada's more quotable players. Before a 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup
match in Japan, he implied that Canada would be willing to employ their physical style by noting that the Japanese players "don't run so fast when they're lying on the ground." He also once referred to English born-and-bred teammate Marc Bircham
as a "plastic Canadian" in jest.
in 2006 in a player / assistant coach role; his fifth season with the Club. He was later hired as an assistant coach with the San Jose Earthquakes
.
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
.
Playing career
Watson most recently played for the Charleston BatteryCharleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He joined the Battery in 2006, after his third stint with the Vancouver Whitecaps, having played 10 games for the 86ers in the summer of 1993 when he was named an APSL First Team All Star, and 9 games in 1994.
Having played for the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, Watson was named a Canadian Soccer League All Star in his rookie professional season, with the Hamilton Steelers in 1991. He went on to play for Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. In 1996, he played for the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
of MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. In 1997, he played for the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
of the A-League and was named league First Team.
Watson played for Östers IF
Östers IF
Östers IF is a Swedish football club located in Växjö. The club, formed 20 April 1930 , is currently playing in the second Swedish league called Superettan. In 1968, Öster won Allsvenskan as newcomers. The club is affiliated to the Smålands Fotbollförbund...
in Swedish First Division
Superettan
Superettan is the second highest league in the league system of Swedish football and comprises 16 Swedish football teams. It was created in 2000. Before that, the second level league in Sweden had been Division 1....
for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons. He then played the next three seasons in the Football League's Second Division, 1998–99 and 1999-00 with Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
and the 2000-01 season with Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. He then returned to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to play the 2001 MLS season with DC United. He then played the 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons with the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the A-League. He was named the league's Defender of the Year and to its First Team in 2002, and to the league's second team in 2004.
National team
For Canada, Watson has appeared 78 times for the 'A' national team during a 14-year span. He has played in four World Cup qualifying campaigns. and on the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,...
side that won the tournament. Watson scored the winning goal for Canada in the semi-final of the 2000 Gold Cup, a match Canada won 1-0 over Trinidad and Tobago.
Watson emerged as one of Canada's more quotable players. Before a 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup
2001 FIFA Confederations Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:2 goals Shaun Murphy Éric Carrière Robert Pirès Patrick Vieira Sylvain Wiltord Takayuki Suzuki Hwang Sun-Hong...
match in Japan, he implied that Canada would be willing to employ their physical style by noting that the Japanese players "don't run so fast when they're lying on the ground." He also once referred to English born-and-bred teammate Marc Bircham
Marc Bircham
Marc Stephen John Bircham is an English-born Canadian international retired defensive midfield footballer, who currently works as Youth Manager at Queens Park Rangers F.C.-Club career:...
as a "plastic Canadian" in jest.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 31 July 1993 Commonwealth Stadium Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
, EdmontonEdmontonEdmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
1-1 2-1 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification-Qualified teams:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:...2 15 December 1996 Estadio Cuscatlán Estadio CuscatlánMonumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
1-0 2-0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification-Qualified teams:The following 32 teams qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:...3 24 February 2000 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
1-0 1-0 CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
Coaching career
Watson served as assistant coach for Canada at the 2004 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualification Tournament, served as one of Canada's assistant coaches when the team finished third at the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament. Watson returned to the Charleston BatteryCharleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in 2006 in a player / assistant coach role; his fifth season with the Club. He was later hired as an assistant coach with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
External links
- Profile of Mark Watson
- Player profile at CanadaSoccer.com
- Career stats - National Football Teams