• Comment: I don't think he passes notability guidelines yet - lots of sources but I don't know what specifically passes WP:GNG as significant coverage. SportingFlyer T·C 17:41, 26 June 2023 (UTC)

Finn Linder
Personal information
Full name Finn Linder
Date of birth (2004-05-06) 6 May 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Whitecaps FC 2
Number 83
Youth career
2013–2020 Calgary Blizzards
2017–2020 Whitecaps FC Alberta Academy
2020–2021 Whitecaps FC Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 - Whitecaps FC 2 22 (3)
International career
2023– New Zealand U20 3
2023– New Zealand U23 1
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 October 2023

Finn Linder (born 6 May 2004) is a Canadian-born New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Whitecaps FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro, a men's professional soccer league affiliated with Major League Soccer.

Early life edit

Linder was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and played youth football with Calgary Blizzard SC. During his time there he travelled to Wigan Athletic F.C. as a trialist.[1] He was named to Team Alberta in both 2017 and 2018 where he made the team of distinction.[2] He then joined the Whitecaps FC Alberta Academy Centre [3] playing with them from 2017 to 2020 attending a number of High Performance Player Combines,[4] before moving to the official Whitecaps FC Academy in 2020.[5] In 2022, he started his professional career with Whitecaps FC 2. [6]

Club career edit

Vancouver Whitecaps edit

In March 2022, Linder signed a contract with Whitecaps FC 2.[7] He made his professional debut on 6 June 2022 against Real Monarchs. He scored his first goal on 12 June against local rivals Tacoma Defiance.[8] The 2022 season saw Linder start 12 games as one of the youngest players on the roster. Linder's contract was renewed [9] at the end of the 2022 season for 2023.[10] The 2023 season saw Linder miss games for international duty and injury. He underwent surgery in October 2023 for a dislocated shoulder suffered during the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Despite these setbacks Linder's contract[11] was renewed for the 2024 season. Linder has been identified as a player to watch for the upcoming season. [12]

International Career edit

Youth edit

Linder is eligible for Canada through birth, and New Zealand through parentage. In March 2023, he was named in the New Zealand U23 squad[13] [14] for two games against China U23 in preparation for the upcoming OFC Olympic qualifying campaign. He was named to the New Zealand U20 squad[15] for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina [16][17] and made his international debut against the host nation in the group stage. [18][19][20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Blizzard Boys Train at Wigan FC Academy in UK". Calgary Blizzard SC. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Alberta Players of Distinction" (PDF). Alberta Soccer. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Academy boys and rex girls players selected for 2017-18". Alberta Soccer.
  4. ^ "Day 3-5 Whitecaps FC Youth Combine Recap". Alberta Soccer. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  5. ^ Timko, Brandon. "Alberta players proving their mettle in Whitecaps FC BMO MLS Academy". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  6. ^ McColl, Michael (16 March 2022). "Whitecaps FC 2 are back - Get to know the new squad (Part Two)". Away from the numbers.
  7. ^ "WFC2 add five teenagers from Whitecaps FC BMO Academy". Whitecaps FC. 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ "MATCH RECAP: Tacoma Defiance Draws 2-2 with Whitecaps FC 2 in British Columbia". Sounders FC Communications. 12 June 2022.
  9. ^ JACQUES, JOHN (18 November 2022). "Antoniuk, Lee Named Amongst Whitecaps FC 2 Releases". Northern Tribune.
  10. ^ Wilkins, Caleb (19 September 2022). "WFC2-Year End Reports". Eighty Six Forever.
  11. ^ "WFC2 roster update: Ndakala and Coupland signed to new contracts".
  12. ^ Wilkens, Caleb (26 October 2023). "WFC2 Year End Report Cards". The Third Sub.
  13. ^ "Linder, Herdman called up to New Zealand U-23 national team". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 1 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Men's U-23 squad named for home games against China". New Zealand Football. 1 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Get to know the Men's U-20 team". New Zealand Football. 12 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Squad named for men's FIFA U-20 World Cup". New Zealand national football team. 1 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Junior-all-whites-call-up-overseas-based-talent". Radio New Zealand. 1 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  18. ^ "U-20s defeated by hosts Argentina". New Zealand Football. 27 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Jay Herdman, Juan Castilla headline top performances during FIFA U-20 World Cup group stage". MLS NEXT Pro News. 29 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  20. ^ Robinson, Nick (29 May 2023). "AOTEAROA AT THE 2023 MEN'S U20 WORLD CUP: COMPLETE FUSTIGATION VS ARGENTINA".

External links edit



Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:Men's association football defenders Category:New Zealand association footballers Category:New Zealand men's youth international footballers Category:Canadian soccer players Category:Soccer players from Calgary Category:Whitecaps FC Academy players Category:Whitecaps FC 2 players Category:MLS Next Pro players