Jamie Smith (footballer, born 1980)

For other people named Jamie Smith, see Jamie Smith (disambiguation).

James Smith (born 20 November 1980 in Alexandria) is a Scottish retired professional footballer and currently Executive Director at Tennessee United Soccer Club. Prior to this, Smith served as Academy Director for Nashville SC. Smith spent the majority of his playing career in his native country with Celtic and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League. He was also capped twice by Scotland.

Jamie Smith

Smith playing for Colorado Rapids in 2011
Personal information
Full name	James Smith
Date of birth	(1980-11-20) 20 November 1980 (age 42)
Place of birth	Alexandria, Scotland
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)^[1]
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
	Celtic Boys Club
1996–1999	Celtic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2004	Celtic	44	(2)
2000	→ Livingston (loan)	6	(1)
2004–2005	ADO Den Haag	30	(1)
2005–2009	Aberdeen	85	(12)
2009–2013	Colorado Rapids	101	(7)
Total		266	(23)
International career^‡
2003	Scotland	2	(0)
2004–2005	Scotland B	2	(0)
Managerial career
2014-2016	Colorado Rapids U23 (assistant manager)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 January 2014 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 January 2014

Playing career

Early career

Born in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, Smith started his career with Celtic; a graduate of the club's youth system, he played 66 games and scored six goals in all competitions across his five years as a senior player.^[2] Smith won three major honours (two league titles and the League Cup in 2001) and was an unused substitute in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final,^[3] but limited first team opportunities saw him join Dutch club ADO Den Haag in July 2004,^[4] spending one season there.

Aberdeen

He returned to Scotland in season 2005–06 with Aberdeen. In August 2005, Smith struck a late winner as the Dons defeated rivals Rangers in a league match for the first time since April 1998, wowing the Aberdeen support in only his third competitive game for the club. He was involved in a car crash along with teammate Michael Hart in July 2007, while on a pre-season tour of Egypt.^[5] Smith was treated for concussion, while Hart was unhurt.^[5]

In December 2007, Smith played a key role in Aberdeen's victory over Danish team FC Copenhagen in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup, scoring two goals in the 4–0 victory that saw Aberdeen through to the last 32 of the competition.^[6] Smith's contract at Aberdeen ended at the end of the 2008–09 season and he expressed concern that he had not been offered a contract extension, stating that he may need to look for a new club in summer.^[7]

Colorado Rapids

In May 2009, he was given permission to discuss a contract with Major League Soccer side Toronto FC.^[8] However, Toronto passed on the signing of Smith and he later signed with Colorado Rapids in July 2009.^[9] In his first season with the Rapids he played only four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury.^[10]

On 28 August 2010, Smith scored his first MLS goal two minutes into a match against Houston in which he was named man of the match.

Smith remained with Colorado through the 2012 season. After the conclusion of the 2012 season, Colorado declined the 2013 option on Smith's contract and he entered the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Smith became a free agent after he went undrafted in both rounds of the draft.

Smith was re-signed by Colorado on 8 February 2013.^[11]

On 10 January 2014, Smith announced his retirement from playing and joined Colorado Rapids academy coaching staff.^[12]

International

Smith made two appearances for Scotland in 2003, in friendly matches against Austria and Ireland.^[13] He later played twice for Scotland B.^[14]

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, he joined the coaching staff of Colorado Rapids as U23 mananger in 2014.^[15]

He had a spell as Academy manager of Continental FC before being appointed to the same role at Nashville SC in 2019.^[16]

Personal life

His brother-in-law, Allan Sieczkowski, is the lead singer of the Scottish rock band Little Eye. Colorado Rapids used their song Burgundy Sky as their official anthem to reflect on their famous burgundy kits.^[17]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition^{[18][19][20][21]}

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Celtic	1999-00	SPL	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	1
	2000-01		8	1	0	0	2	1	0	0	10	2
	2001-02		12	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	14	1
	2002-03		13	0	3	1	4	0	5	0	25	1
	2003-04		11	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	15	1
	Total		44	2	4	1	8	2	10	1	66	6
Livingston (loan)	1999-00	Scottish First Division	6	1	0	0	0	0	-	-	6	1
ADO Hen Haag	2004-05	Eredivise	30	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	30+	1+
Aberdeen	2005-06	SPL	35	8	2	0	3	1	0	0	40	9
	2006-07		21	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	1
	2007-08		17	3	3	3	2	0	4	2	26	8
	2008-09		12	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	15	0
	Total		85	12	7	3	6	1	4	2	102	18
Colorado Rapids	2008	MLS	0	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0
	2009		7	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	7	0
	2010		38	1	0	0	0	0	-	-	38	1
	2011		38	3	0	0	0	0	-	-	38	3
	2012		11	2	0	0	0	0	-	-	11	2
	2013		7	1	0	0	0	0	-	-	7	1
	Total		101	7	0	0	0	0	-	-	101	7
Career total			266	23	11+	4+	14+	3+	14	3	305+	33+

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[22]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Scotland	2003	2	0
Total		2	0

Honours

Celtic

• Scottish Premier League: 2002, 2004
• Scottish League Cup: 2001
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2002–03

Colorado Rapids

• Major League Soccer
  • Eastern Conference Championship: 2010
  • MLS Cup: 2010

References

1. mlssoccer. "Jamie Smith | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
2. "Celtic player Jamie Smith". FitbaStats. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
3. "Porto end Celtic's Uefa dream". BBC Sport. 27 May 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
4. "Smith joins den Haag". 21 July 2004.
5. Grahame, Ewing (24 July 2007). "Rangers go with who they have". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
6. Lindsay, Clive (20 December 2007). "Aberdeen 4-0 Copenhagen". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
7. "Smith uncertain on Dons future". BBC Sport. 4 May 2009.
8. "Transfer Talk - May 19: who's moving where in the world of football?". Daily Record. 19 May 2009.
9. "Smith signs deal with MLS outfit". BBC Sport. 30 July 2009.
10. Rapids Player Profile^{[permanent dead link]}.
11. "Rapids re-sign midfielder Jamie Smith". Colorado Rapids. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
12. "Jamie Smith announces retirement, joins Colorado Rapids Academy coaching staff". Colorado Rapids. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
13. "Scotland player Jamie Smith". FitbaStats. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
14. "Scotland B player Jamie Smith". FitbaStats. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
15. "Jamie Smith Retires, Will Join Rapids Academy Coaching Staff". Burgundy Wave. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
16. "Ex-Celtic winger Jamie Smith hitting the high notes in Nashville". Glasgow Evening Times. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
17. "Little eye continue to shine - Carrick Gazette". Carricktoday.co.uk. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
18. "Celtic Player Jamie Smith Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
19. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Jamie Smith". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
20. "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
21. mlssoccer. "Jamie Smith | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
22. "Jamie Smith | Scotland | Scottish FA". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

External links

• Jamie Smith at Major League Soccer
• Jamie Smith at Soccerbase  
• Jamie Smith at National-Football-Teams.com
• Profile and stats at AFC Heritage Trust
• Player profile at The Celtic Wiki