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 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 16, 2023

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.

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 2019, during a trip to Ghana with his family, he trained with local club Yelzoli FC.[9]

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.[10] He currently attends Maple Ridge Secondary School.[11]

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.[12][13] 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.[14] He scored his first professional goal on June 2 against Pacific FC, becoming the league's youngest ever goal scorer,[15] and was subsequently named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, becoming the youngest player to receive a TOTW nomination.[16] He finished his first professional season with three goals in 20 appearances, including six starts.[17][18][19]

International career

Tahid is eligible to represent Canada and Ghana at international level.[20] In September 2023, he was called up to the Canada U17 team for the first time, ahead of a pair of friendlies against Brazil.[21][22][23] He made his debut for the program on September 29, as a starter in the first friendly.[24][25] In November 2023, Tahid was named to the roster for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[26][27] Tahid scored his first international goal against Argentina U17 in a friendly prior to the tournament, on November 5.[28]

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2023[29]
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. ↑ Balzer, Kyle (November 3, 2023). "New West soccer alum named to Canada's FIFA U17 World Cup squad". New Westminster Record.
  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. ↑ "Interview Q&A: Ghanaian whiz kid TJ Tahid turning heads in Canada open to Black Stars call-up". Ghana SoccerNet. November 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Flanagan, Colleen (June 13, 2018). "Records fall at elementary track championships". Today in B.C.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Cathal (August 25, 2023). "Young soccer star T.J. Tahid admires Ali, Malcolm X and Drake's shoes". The Globe & Mail.
  12. ↑ Jacques, John (May 7, 2023). "Meet The CPL's Youngest-Ever Pro: TJ Tahid". Northern Tribune.
  13. ↑ "Vancouver FC makes Maple Ridge teen the league's youngest player". Maple Ridge News. May 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ Ferguson, Dan (May 7, 2023). "Vancouver FC's very first home game ends with a tie". Maple Ridge News.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "TJ Tahid youngest ever player named to CPL Team of the Week (Week 8)". Vancouver FC. June 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ Nava, David (November 2, 2023). "TJ Tahid to fulfill a dream that started with Luis Suarez". Vancouver FC.
  18. ↑ Corbett, Neil (October 19, 2023). "Maple Ridge phenom creates lifelong memories in first year of pro soccer". Surrey Now-Leader.
  19. ↑ "Teenage Vancouver FC star TJ Tahid headlines Canada's Under-17 World Cup squad". Canadian Soccer Daily. November 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Vancouver FC Midfielder Taryck 'TJ' Tahid Answers Canada Call". Our Sports Central. September 18, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Vancouver FC young star, TJ Tahid, earns first international call up for Canada". Vancouver FC. September 18, 2023.
  22. ↑ Jacques, John (September 18, 2023). "'Tremendous Competitor' TJ Tahid Called Up To Canada U-17 Team". Northern Tribune.
  23. ↑ 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.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (October 3, 2023). "Trust The Kids: Tahid And Tavernier Both Feature For Canada U-17". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ "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.
  26. ↑ "VFC's Youngest Star TJ Tahid Gets U-17 World Cup Call Up". Vancouver FC. November 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (November 2, 2023). "'This will be the norm': Vancouver FC's Tahid, Forge's Tavernier named to Canada's squad for 2023 U-17 World Cup". Canadian Premier League.
  28. ↑ Jacques, John (November 9, 2023). "A Chat With The Canadian Premier League's Youngest Pro". Northern Tribune.
  29. ↑ T.J. Tahid at Soccerway
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