The meteoric rise of defender Josh Williams has been one of the great storylines for Columbus Crew fans over the past few years. Williams has gone from a late signing in September 2010 to a consistent starter to one of the best young defenders in all of MLS.
He has contributed all along the Crew backline, playing at left back, right back, and his personal favorite, center back.
Williams is an athletic defender, one that is capable of breaking up the opposition’s attack or moving forward to create opportunities of his own. His excellent size and physical prowess make him a dangerous target on set pieces.
This feel-good story just keeps getting better with Williams making the MLS All-Star ballot for the very first time. He is finally getting the recognition he deserves and finds himself among MLS stars like Omar Gonzalez, Matt Besler, and teammate Chad Marshall.
“It’s an awesome thing,” Williams replied when asked about the possibility of being named an All-Star. “I wake up everyday in a dreamland. I get to play soccer for a living. Dreams do come true.”
All of these accomplishments didn’t come without obstacles, but Williams remained true to his beliefs, knowing that hard work and self-confidence were the keys to moving forward.
Williams said that his father, Steve Williams, was the greatest influence on his life and playing career.
“My parents would travel halfway across the world to see me play.”
His father didn’t grow up with the game so he was learning it with his son. But he always thought that Josh was the best player on the field, no matter what. This developed a sense of self-confidence in Josh that wasn’t arrogance or cockiness, but rather a strong sense of believing in yourself. Simply put, you have to think you are the best in order to compete against the very best.
“Josh is very loyal,” Steve Williams commented. “He’s always been drawn to be part of the team and enjoys the camaraderie of teammates that comes with it. As an amateur, I think he was at his best when being challenged and inspired and I believe he seeks the same as a professional.”
Without old-fashioned hard work, Williams would not have gone this far. He has never slowed down and continues to set the bar higher and higher.
Playing with teammates and veterans like Marshall and Federico Higuain has also helped Williams during his career. They have helped him learn the game, especially nuisances like body positioning and tips on heading and striking.
“They make the game look easy. It’s a pleasure playing with Pipa.”
Williams is excited about playing Wigan on July 13, a game that will give him a chance to prove himself against one of England’s top clubs.
“It is always good to see to see what we’ve got.”
Playing EPL side Stoke City last summer was a real eye opener, going up against massive stars like Peter Crouch, Matthew Etherington, and Robert Huth.
“This is what the next step is like,” Williams said of the quality of play from that match.
No one knows what the next step will be for Williams, but one thing is for certain. His future is very bright.
Take a moment to vote for Josh Williams on the 2013 MLS All-Star ballot. Voting ends July 2nd at 3pm ET.
