Rhys Williams (soccer, born 1988)

Rhys Williams (born 14 July 1988) is an Australian retired professional footballer who played for the Australia national team.

A versatile player, Williams was adept at playing as an centre back, defensive midfielder and right back but was played in virtually every out-field position at some point for Middlesbrough including more attacking roles.

As a youth player, 2004 would prove his breakthrough year with his club performances leading to selection in the Western Australian under-16 state representative squad for the 2004 National Talent Identification Championships.

He impressed with three goals in the tournament, helping Western Australia reach the semi-finals.

At the conclusion of the event, he travelled to England where he trialed with several clubs including Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough.

Williams nearly joined semi-pro side Alvechurch, but the move collapsed over international clearance.

He ultimately signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Middlesbrough, playing academy football.

In July 2007, he signed his first professional contract with the club, despite a number of injury setbacks which curtailed his football development.

In the 2008–09 season, Williams was promoted to the first team after he was impressed in the pre-season.

Williams appeared in the first team for the first team when he appeared as an unused substitute.

However, Williams suffered injury while on duty with Wales U21 after damaging lateral ligament that required a surgery to repair and was sidelined by the end of 2008.

On 30 January 2009, he signed a new two-year contract at Middlesbrough and signed on loan for Championship side Burnley on the same day.

Williams made his Burnley debut the next day, playing 90 minutes, in a 2–1 win over Charlton Athletic.

Williams then provided an assist for Martin Paterson to score the only goal in the game, in a 1–0 win over Sheffield United on 20 April 2009.

He returned to Middlesbrough in early May after it was determined that he could not play in the Football League Championship play-offs for Burnley.

He scored 4 goals in 5 games in the 2009–10 pre-season, after which manager Gareth Southgate played him in central midfield in their opening Championship match against Sheffield United, and he went on to keep his place in the starting eleven for that season.

On 26 September 2009, Williams scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 2–2 draw against Coventry City. Then on 26 December 2009, Williams scored his second goal for Middlesbrough in a 3–0 win over Scunthorpe United.

However, Williams suffered a pelvic problem that kept him out for months.

Williams later finished the 2009–10 season, scoring two times in thirty–two appearances and was awarded Young Player of the Year.

While on the sidelines, it was announced on 11 February 2010 that Williams signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension with Middlesbrough.

Williams then made his first team return on 6 March 2010, where he came on as a substitute for Willo Flood in the 52nd minute, in a 1–0 loss against Cardiff City.

Two weeks later on 16 March 2010, Williams received a red card after a second bookable offence, in a 2–2 draw against Derby County.

Williams missed most of the 2010–11 Middlesbrough season, and the 2010 World Cup with a persistent pelvic problem which saw him on an extensive rehabilitation period in Australia.

He made his eventual comeback to Middlesbrough towards the end of the 2010–11 League Championship season in which he earned an impressive six man of the match awards in only twelve games aiding Middlesbrough in their best run of the season.

After returning to training and playing in the reserve twice, Williams made his first Middlesbrough appearance of the season on 5 March 2011, where he played 30 minutes after coming on as a substitute, in a 5–2 loss against Reading.

Four weeks later on 2 April 2011, Williams scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–3 draw against Leicester City.

In the 2011–12 season, Williams started the season well when he scored in the opening game of the season, in a 2–2 draw against Portsmouth and also during the match, Williams played against his younger brother, Ryan.

After returning from an injury, Williams scored on his return, in a 2–2 draw against Derby County on 21 October 2011.

For his performance, Williams was named in the Team of the Week.

In August 2012, Williams was made club captain of Middlesbrough and Western Sydney Wanderers.

His mother originates from Mumbai, India while his father was born in Kent, England.

His younger brothers, twins; Ryan Williams and Aryn Williams, are also footballers with Ryan at Oxford United and Aryn who plays for Persebaya in the Indonesian liga 1.

Williams is married.

He began his football career as a school boy at Woodvale Secondary College on a scholarship.

Rhys was a promising junior with Perth-based club ECU Joondalup.

Due to strong performances since his return from injury, he was linked to several Premier League clubs in the lead up to the January 2012 transfer window including West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool.

In the 2012–13 season, Rhys first earned the Captain's armband on 9 August 2012.

Williams captained his first league match at Middlesbrough in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Barnsley.

Despite speculation of a summer move, Williams penned a new four-year contract with the club, keeping him at the Riverside until 2016.

Despite injury towards the end of the season, Williams went on to make thirty–five appearances for the club.