Callum Montgomery Explained

Callum Montgomery
Birth Date:14 May 1997
Birth Place:Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Height:1.9m (06.2feet)
Position:Defender
Currentclub:Cavalry FC
Clubnumber:3
Youthclubs1:Nanaimo SA
Youthyears2:2011–2015
Youthclubs2:Vancouver Island Wave
Collegeyears1:2015–2018
College1:Charlotte 49ers
Collegecaps1:73
Collegegoals1:11
Years1:2016–2018
Clubs1:Victoria Highlanders
Caps1:25
Goals1:4
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:FC Dallas
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2019
Clubs3:North Texas SC (loan)
Caps3:20
Goals3:3
Years4:2020
Clubs4:San Antonio FC (loan)
Caps4:9
Goals4:2
Years5:2021–2022
Clubs5:Minnesota United
Caps5:0
Goals5:0
Years6:2021
Clubs6:San Diego Loyal (loan)
Caps6:17
Goals6:1
Years7:2022
Clubs7:Minnesota United 2 (loan)
Caps7:8
Goals7:0
Years8:2023–
Clubs8:Cavalry FC
Caps8:25
Goals8:0
Years9:2024
Clubs9:Cavalry FC U21
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:Canada U23
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:August 16, 2024
Nationalteam-Update:March 28, 2021

Callum Montgomery (born May 14, 1997) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.

Early life

Montgomery was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia[1] to a Canadian father and Fijian mother. He began playing youth soccer at age four with the Nanaimo Soccer Association. Afterwards, he joined the Vancouver Island Wave in 2011.[2] [3] In Grade 11, he began attending boarding school at St. Michaels University School,[4] and helped them to a BC Provincial AA Championship title in 2014, scoring the winning goal in the final and being named tournament MVP.[5]

College career

In 2015, Montgomery began attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he played for the men's soccer team.[6] He scored his first collegiate goal on October 20, 2015 against the Virginia Tech Hokies.[7] At the end of the season, he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team.

During his sophomore season,he helped the 49ers win the Conference USA regular-season title, and was named a Second-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, Conference USA All-Academic team, and First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-District.[6] [8] [9]

During his junior season, he was a Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District, United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Scholar and Conference USA All-Academic honours, and was named to the Second Team All-Southeast Region, was a First Team All-Conference USA and First Team All-State.[6] [10] [11]

In his senior season, he was named a First Team All-American, a First-Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, the Conference USA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Southeast Region, First-Team All-Conference USA, was named to the Conference USA All-Tournament team, was a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, was a Second-team Senior CLASS Award All-American, First-team Scholar All-American, First-team Scholar All-South Region, Second-team TopDrawerSoccer.com All-American, First-team NCCSIA All-State, and was named Team MVP.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] He scored 11 goals in 73 appearances, over his four seasons,[20] and was invited to the MLS Combine, ahead of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.[21] He was named the top centre-back prospect ahead of the draft.[22]

Club career

From 2016 to 2018, he played with the Victoria Highlanders in the Premier Development League, captaining the side in his final two seasons.[23] In 2016, he was named Lake Side Buoys Supporters’ Choice Award as the Highlanders’ player of the year.[24] In 2018, he was named to the 2018 PDL All-League and the PDL All-Western Conference teams.[25]

In January 2019, he was selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas.[26] [27] [28] He officially signed with the club in February,[29] [30] after having participated in the club's pre-season and playing five pre-season matches, in which he scored one goal.[31] He spent the 2019 season on loan with the second team, North Texas SC, in USL League One.[32] [33] In February 2020, he was loaned to San Antonio FC in the USL Championship.[34] [35] He made his debut for San Antonio on March 7, 2020, scoring his first goal against the Real Monarchs.[36] After the 2020 season, his contract option was declined by Dallas.[37]

In December 2020, Montgomery's MLS rights were traded to Minnesota United FC in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft and $50,000 in conditional General Allocation Money.[38] In February 2021, he signed a new contract with Minnesota.[39] In June 2021, he was loaned to USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC for the rest of the 2021 season.[40] [41] In November 2022, Minnesota United declined his club option for the 2023 season.[42]

In February 2023, he signed with Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League.[43] [44] [45] In December 2023, Montgomery re-signed with Cavalry for the 2024 season, with a club option for 2025.[46] [47]

International career

In 2019, he was named to the Canada U23 player pool ahead of qualification for the 2020 Olympics.[48] In 2020, he was officially named to the Canada U23 team for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship,[49] later being re-named to the squad in March 2021 (as the tournament was delayed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[50] He made his debut in the first group game against El Salvador, where he suffered an injury, returning in the semi-final loss to Mexico.[51]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Victoria Highlanders2016[52] Premier Development League121121
2017[53] 3131
2018[54] 102102
Total254000000254
FC Dallas2019Major League Soccer00000000
2020000000
North Texas SC (loan)2019USL League One20320223
San Antonio FC (loan)2020USL Championship920092
Minnesota United2021Major League Soccer000000
202200000000
San Diego Loyal SC (loan)2021USL Championship17110181
Minnesota United FC 2 (loan)2022MLS Next Pro8080
Cavalry FC2023Canadian Premier League1102010140
2024140002020180
Total250203020320
Career total1041050302011410

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Montgomery embraces Cavalry's host of Cup leg in hometown Victoria. February 17, 2024. Calgary Herald. Todd. Saelhof.
  2. Web site: Vancouver Island soccer player a first-round major-league draft pick. January 15, 2019. Greg. Sakaki. Victoria News.
  3. Web site: B.C. native Montgomery could go high in MLS SuperDraft. January 10, 2019. TSN. Neil. Davison.
  4. Web site: Nanaimo's Callum Montgomery on 'Game of His Life' in Concacaf Champions Cup. February 15, 2024. Cavalry FC.
  5. Web site: SMUS Blue Jags take B.C. soccer title. Saanich News. Travis. Paterson. November 27, 2014.
  6. Web site: Callum Montgomery Charlotte profile. Charlotte 49ers.
  7. Web site: 49ers Cruise Past Virginia Tech, 5-0, At Transamerica Field. October 21, 2015. Charlotte 49ers.
  8. Web site: Montgomery Earned C-USA All-Academic Team Honors. November 9, 2016. Charlotte 49ers.
  9. Web site: Getting To Know Callum Montgomery. September 13, 2017. Charlotte 49ers.
  10. Web site: Montgomery Earns All-Region Honors. December 6, 2017. Charlotte 49ers.
  11. Web site: Definition of a Student-Athlete: Callum Montgomery. October 11, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  12. Web site: Montgomery & Chaouche Earn Scholar Honors. December 11, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  13. Web site: Montgomery Earns C-USA All-Academic Team Honors. November 5, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  14. Web site: Montgomery is a Three-Time Academic All-American. December 6, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  15. Web site: Montgomery Named MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist. November 27, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  16. Web site: Montgomery Named Google Cloud Academic All-District. November 8, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  17. Web site: Callum Montgomery a Finalist for Senior CLASS Award. October 17, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  18. Web site: Callum Montgomery Named First-Team All-American. December 6, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  19. Web site: Callum Montgomery: 10 things you don't know about me. April 27, 2021. Kacy. Kobakof. Minnesota United FC.
  20. Web site: Cavalry brings in 'sought-after' centre-back Callum Montgomery. February 9, 2023. Calgary Sun.
  21. Web site: Montgomery Invited to MLS Combine. December 13, 2018. Charlotte 49ers.
  22. Web site: Checking In With MLS Superdraft Top Prospect Callum Montgomery. January 10, 2019. Urban Pitch. Ramsey. Abushahla.
  23. Web site: Super day for Highlanders star Callum Montgomery in MLS draft. January 11, 2019. Times Colonist. Cleve. Dheensaw.
  24. Web site: Highlanders show their future may be bright. July 28, 2016. Times Colonist. Cleve. Dheensaw.
  25. Web site: Footballer of the Week: Callum Montgomery. January 29, 2019. Lower Island Soccer Association.
  26. Web site: Callum Montgomery 1st of 3 Canadians to go in top 10 of MLS SuperDraft. January 11, 2019. CBC Sports. Neil. Davidson.
  27. Web site: Toros grab B.C.-born Montgomery in MLS draft, Caps take Hoyas defender. J.J.. Adams. January 11, 2019. The Province.
  28. Web site: FC Dallas SuperDraft picks Montgomery, Nelson see path to MLS minutes. January 11, 2019. Major League Soccer. Tom. Bogert.
  29. Web site: FC Dallas sign 2019 MLS SuperDraft selection Callum Montgomery. Alicia. Rodriguez. Major League Soccer. February 21, 2019.
  30. Web site: FC Dallas signs first-round draft pick Montgomery. February 21, 2019. Dan. Crooke. The Dallas Morning News.
  31. Web site: FC Dallas signs 2019 SuperDraft pick Callum Montgomery. Drew. Epperley. February 21, 2019. Big D Soccer.
  32. Web site: Is Callum Montgomery Headed For A CPL Loan?. May 27, 2021. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  33. Web site: Player Profile: Callum Montgomery. August 9, 2019. MLS Players Association.
  34. Web site: FC Dallas Loans Callum Montgomery to San Antonio FC. February 11, 2020. FC Dallas.
  35. Web site: Callum Montgomery loaned to San Antonio FC. February 11, 2020. Big D Soccer. Mohammad. Bushnaq.
  36. Web site: 2019 4th-overall pick Callum Montgomery is quickly climbing up the Canada Soccer ranks. May 15, 2020. Waking the Red. Brady. Reid.
  37. Web site: FC Dallas Trades Callum Montgomery to Minnesota United FC. December 13, 2020. Big D Soccer. Drew. Epperley.
  38. Web site: FC Dallas trades Callum Montgomery to Minnesota United FC. December 13, 2020. The Dallas Morning News.
  39. Web site: Canadian defender Callum Montgomery signs with Minnesota United. February 2, 2021. Toronto Star.
  40. Web site: Minnesota United loans Canadian defender Callum Montgomery to San Diego Loyal. June 2, 2021. Toronto Star.
  41. Web site: Callum Montgomery Loaned to San Diego. June 2, 2021. Minnesota United FC.
  42. Web site: Minnesota United 2022 End of Season Roster Update. Minnesota United FC. November 14, 2022.
  43. Web site: Cavalry FC Signs Callum Montgomery to 2023 Roster. February 9, 2023. Cavalry FC.
  44. Web site: Centre-Back Callum Montgomery Joins Cavalry. February 9, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  45. Web site: 'I just have to join these guys': Callum Montgomery bringing 'old-school' defending to Cavalry FC. February 13, 2023. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  46. Web site: Cavalry FC Announces Contracts for attacking full-back Fraser Aird and central defender Callum Montgomery. Cavalry FC. December 18, 2023.
  47. Web site: Cavalry Signs Aird, Montgomery To New Deals. December 18, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  48. Web site: Callum Montgomery found motivation to become top MLS SuperDraft prospect. January 10, 2019. SBI Soccer.
  49. Web site: FC Dallas defender Callum Montgomery aims to be Canadian men's national team starter in 2026. May 17, 2020. Dylan. Butler. Major League Soccer.
  50. Web site: Former Niners Standout Callum Montgomery Called Up to Canada's National Team. March 11, 2021. Charlotte 49ers.
  51. Web site: Callum Montgomery, Canada fall one step short of Tokyo Olympics. March 29, 2021. Times Colonist. Cleve. Dheensaw.
  52. Web site: Callum Montgomery 2016 PDL Stats. USL League Two.
  53. Web site: Callum Montgomery 2017 PDL Stats. USL League Two.
  54. Web site: Callum Montgomery 2018 PDL Stats. USL League Two.