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Kyle Bekker

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Kyle Bekker
Bekker playing for Forge FC in 2019
Personal information
Full name Kyle Edward Bekker
Date of birth (1990-09-02) September 2, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Forge FC
Number 10
Youth career
Oakville Blue Stars
2006–2007 Mississauga Dixie Dominators
2007–2009 Sigma FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Boston College Eagles 80 (17)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Toronto FC 29 (0)
2015 FC Dallas 8 (0)
2015 FC Montreal 1 (0)
2015–2016 Montreal Impact 21 (2)
2017 San Francisco Deltas 28 (3)
2018 North Carolina FC 33 (7)
2019– Forge FC 113 (15)
International career‡
2012 Canada U23 4 (0)
2013–2017 Canada 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 22, 2017

Kyle Edward Bekker (born September 2, 1990) is a Canadian professional soccer midfielder and team captain for Forge FC of the Canadian Premier League.

Club career

Youth

Bekker was born in Oakville, Ontario and began his youth soccer career with the Oakville Blue Stars, winning back-to-back Ontario Cup Championships in 2004 and 2005 and a National Championship in 2004.[1] In 2006, he moved onto the Mississauga Dixie Dominators, where he won the Ontario Cup in 2006 and 2007 adding another National Championship in 2006. In 2007, he also played with Sigma FC, where in March of that year, his team played eight matches in the Netherlands against professional youth academies. His time over there earned him a trial with Ajax's youth academy, which ended up lasting six weeks until his inability to receive a European work permit led to his return to Canada.[2]

At 18, helped Sigma FC climb the ranks for the Ontario Soccer League Men's Divisions. Over his four years in the OSL, Bekker scored 28 goals and registered 35 assists. He played with former Toronto FC teammate Emery Welshman during this period.

Bekker eventually received interest from colleges in the United States before accepting a scholarship to attend Boston College. During his four years there, Bekker played in 80 games, starting, with 17 goals and 22 assists.[2] He picked up several awards on his way, including ACC All-Freshman-Team in 2009, and ACC All-First-Team in 2011 and 2012.

Bekker trained with Toronto FC during the summer of 2011, and then trained with Montreal Impact and Seattle Sounders in the Summer of 2012. He had a trial with Crystal Palace in December 2012, before work permit issues led to signing a pro contract with MLS and entering the MLS Draft.

Toronto FC

Bekker signed a contract with MLS on January 6, 2013.[3] He was drafted third overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC on January 17, 2013.[4] Bekker made his debut for Toronto on March 2, in a 1–0 away defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[5]

FC Dallas

On January 21, 2015, Bekker was transferred to FC Dallas.[6] He made his debut for Dallas as a substitute for Fabian Castillo on March 14 in a 3–1 victory against Sporting Kansas City.[7]

Montreal Impact

On July 16, 2015, Bekker was traded to Montreal Impact in exchange for Bakary Soumare.[8] Bekker was released by Montreal on December 9, 2016.[9]

San Francisco Deltas

After four seasons in MLS, Bekker signed with the San Francisco Deltas of the NASL.[10] In their inaugural season, the club won the Soccer Bowl,[11] but ceased operations three days after winning the title, leaving Bekker to look for a new club.[12]

North Carolina FC

Bekker signed with USL side North Carolina FC on February 6, 2018.[13]

Bekker has appeared on the Raleigh City Sports podcast twice. The first recording went missing which has been called "The Lost Tapes of Raleigh" [14]

Forge FC

In November 2018, Bekker joined Forge FC of the new Canadian Premier League.[15] Bekker cited the desire of starting for a new club in a new league as motivation for the move.[16] In April 2019, Bekker was named the first captain in team history.[17] On April 27, 2019, he participated in the first ever game in Canadian Premier League history, as Forge hosted York9 FC and battled to a 1–1 draw.[18] In the 2019 Canadian Premier League season, Forge finished as runners up in both the spring and fall seasons, qualifying for the 2019 Canadian Premier League Finals where they faced off against Cavalry FC over two legs. Forge won both games 1–0 to win the North Star Shield and become the first ever Canadian Premier League champions.[19] Bekker played all four of Forge's games in the 2019 CONCACAF League, when they defeated Antigua GFC in the first round, but lost in the round of sixteen to Olimpia.[20] Bekker finished the 2019 season with five assists, tied for first in the league with five other players.[21] He scored four league goals, as well as one in the Canadian Championship.[22]

During the 2020 season, Bekker captained Forge to a second consecutive league title. He recorded three goals and one assist in 11 games and was named CPL Player of the Year. Following the season, Bekker re-signed with Forge.[23]

In the 2021 season, Bekker had an individually successful year. Across all competitions he contributed with 5 goals and 2 assists in 35 appearances. He was named to the CPL Team of the Week 6 times, and received his third straight nomination for CPL Player of the Year, though he did not win. For the first time, Forge failed to win the league championship, losing in the final to Pacific,but despite their best performance ever in the CONCACAF League, reaching the semi-finals and qualifying for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.[24]

Bekker remained with Forge for the 2022 season. On June 29, he became the first player in league history to play 100 games and was commemorated by the club for his dedication.[25]

In March 2023, Bekker was officially re-signed by Forge, penning a multi-year deal.[26] In October of the same year, he helped Forge win their fourth league title, following a 2–1 win over Cavalry FC in the play-off final.[27][28]

International career

Bekker played in the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament. On January 18, 2013, he received his first call up by the Canada national team for friendlies against Denmark and United States.[29] Bekker made his senior team debut as a starter against Denmark, the game ended in a 4–0 defeat.[30] On June 27, 2013 Bekker was listed as a part of the confirmed 23-man squad for Colin Miller's Canada squad for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[31]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played on October 28, 2023[32]
Club Season League Playoffs Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Toronto FC 2013 Major League Soccer 9 0 — 2 0 — 11 0
2014 Major League Soccer 20 0 — 4 0 — 24 0
Total 29 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 35 0
FC Dallas 2015 Major League Soccer 8 0 — 1 0 — 9 0
FC Montreal 2015 USL 1 0 — — — 1 0
Montreal Impact 2015 Major League Soccer 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
2016 Major League Soccer 18 1 0 0 2 0 — 20 1
Total 21 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 24 2
San Francisco Deltas 2017 NASL 28 3 2 0 3 1 — 33 4
North Carolina FC 2018 USL 33 7 — 3 0 — 36 7
Forge FC 2019 Canadian Premier League 26 4 2 0 2 1 4 0 34 5
2020 Canadian Premier League 10 3 1 0 — 4 0 15 3
2021 Canadian Premier League 26 3 2 0 2 0 7 2 37 5
2022 Canadian Premier League 25 2 2 0 2[a] 0 2 0 31 2
2023 Canadian Premier League 26 3 2 1 2 1 — 30 5
Total 113 15 9 1 8 2 17 2 147 20
Career total 233 27 12 1 23 3 17 2 285 33
  1. ^ Includes appearance in the 2020 Canadian Championship final (played in 2022)

International

As of January 22, 2017
Canada national team
Year Apps Goals
2013 11 0
2014 2 0
2015 3 0
2016 1 0
2017 1 0
Total 18 0

Honours

Club

San Francisco Deltas

Forge FC

Individual

  • Canadian Premier League Player of the Year: 2020

References

  1. ^ "REGIONAL ID CAMP 2003 BOYS SELECTIONS". Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Boston College Athletics: Bekker, Kyle". www.bceagles.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  3. ^ "Bekker signs MLS contract team TBD". www.sportsnet.ca.
  4. ^ "MLS SuperDraft: Toronto land both their targets and more". January 17, 2013. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  5. ^ MacMahon, Martin (March 2, 2013). "Reds Fall Short". Toronto FC. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Toronto FC trades MF Bekker to FC Dallas for allocation money - Article - TSN". January 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City - MLS MatchCenter". March 14, 2015.
  8. ^ "Montreal Impact trade Bakary Soumare to FC Dallas in exchange for Canadian international Kyle Bekker". July 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Impact exercises options for seven players". December 9, 2016.
  10. ^ San Francisco Deltas (February 6, 2017). "Team News: Player Announcement". Medium.com.
  11. ^ "San Francisco Deltas shut out New York Cosmosto win NASL title in front of home fans". NASL. November 12, 2017.
  12. ^ Daniel Mano (November 15, 2017). "San Francisco soccer club folds after winning title in inaugural season". The Mercury News.
  13. ^ "Canadian International Midfielder Kyle Bekker Joins North Carolina FC". February 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "Ep. 62: NCFC's Kyle Bekker, Skinner Trade, Courage Clinch". August 6, 2018.
  15. ^ Neil Davidson (November 29, 2018). "Ledgerwood, Bekker highlight first wave of Canadian Premier League signings". Prince George Citizen. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  16. ^ Oliver Platt (January 11, 2019). "'We'll prove everyone wrong': Forge FC's Bekker leads charge for Canadians returning home". Canadian Premier League.
  17. ^ "'Leading by example': Kyle Bekker named Forge FC captain". Canadian Premier League. April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  18. ^ "5 things we learned from CPL's inaugural weekend". Canadian Premier League. April 27, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  19. ^ "Forge FC defeat Cavalry FC to win first Canadian Premier League title - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  20. ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Forge bows out of CONCACAF League with loss to Olimpia". Canadian Premier League. August 30, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  21. ^ "League Leaders". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  22. ^ "Canada - K. Bekker - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ca.soccerway.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  23. ^ "Reigning CPL MVP Kyle Bekker re-signs with league champion Forge FC". CBC. January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "Forge FC: 2022 Canadian Premier League Season Preview". Canadian Premier League. March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  25. ^ "'It is truly special': Forge FC's Kyle Bekker reacts to becoming first player to reach 100 games for a CPL side". Canadian Premier League. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  26. ^ Jacques, John (March 7, 2023). "Forge FC Re-Signs Captain Kyle Bekker". Northern Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  27. ^ Wharnsby, Tim (October 28, 2023). "Borges scores 'Olimpico' goal as Forge FC completes comeback to win 4th CPL title". CBC. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  28. ^ Tierney, Mitchell (October 28, 2023). "HIGHLIGHTS + ANALYSIS: Forge wins 2023 North Star Cup, defeating Cavalry to lift fourth playoff crown (Oct. 28, 2023)". OneSoccer. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  29. ^ "Canada MNT names young squad for January camp - Canada Soccer". www.canadasoccer.com.
  30. ^ "Inexperienced Canada overpowered by Denmark". Canada Soccer Association. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  31. ^ "Canada Finalize roster for Gold Cup, announces friendly". Canada Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  32. ^ Kyle Bekker at Soccerway
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