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Kemar Lawrence

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Kemar Lawrence
Lawrence in 2019
Personal information
Full name Kemar Michael Lawrence[1]
Date of birth (1992-09-17) 17 September 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Kingston, Jamaica
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Westchester SC
Youth career
2003–2007 Rae Town F.C.
2007–2011 Harbour View
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2015 Harbour View 50 (2)
2012 → Arnett Gardens (loan)
2015–2020 New York Red Bulls 118 (5)
2020–2021 Anderlecht 16 (1)
2021–2022 Toronto FC 25 (1)
2022–2023 Minnesota United 41 (1)
2024 UTA Arad 2 (0)
2025– Westchester SC 0 (0)
International career‡
Jamaica U17
2010–2011 Jamaica U20 3 (0)
2013– Jamaica 77 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Jamaica
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 2015 United States–Canada Team
Runner-up 2017 United States Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 December 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 June 2023

Kemar Michael Lawrence (born 17 September 1992) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a left-back for USL League One club Westchester SC, and the Jamaica national team.

His nickname is Taxi.[2] In January 2014, Lawrence was announced as a brand ambassador for PepsiCo[3] as part of the 2014 FUTBOLNOW campaign featuring footballers such as Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero.[2]

Early life

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Lawrence is the son of former goalkeeper Orville 'Tutus' Edwards,[4] rated among the best goalkeepers in the Caribbean during his career,[5] who played for Santos FC and the Jamaica national team during the 1970s, and who died in 2005 at 53 years of age from kidney failure.[5]

Club career

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Jamaica

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In 2003, Lawrence began his career in the youth ranks of Rae Town football club.[6]

In 2007, he signed for Harbour View,[7] and was part of their National Premier League-winning teams in the 2009–2010.[8] In 2009 Lawrence was briefly part of the residency program of the Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps, then of the American USL First Division.[9][10] After primarily playing for Harbour View's U20 team, he broke into the first team in 2011, making a total of 50 appearances.[9]

In 2012, he briefly moved to Arnett Gardens F.C., before returning to Harbour View in September.[11] He was part of Harbour View's championship squad in 2012–2013[12] seasons.

In 2014 he was selected for the inaugural MLS Caribbean Combine.[7] In July 2014, Lawrence went to the United States for a two-week trial with MLS club D.C. United[13] but was not offered a contract.[14]

New York Red Bulls

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Lawrence with the New York Red Bulls in 2019

On 16 March 2015 it was announced that Lawrence had signed with New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer after impressing during a preseason trial.[15] On 22 March 2015, Lawrence made his debut for New York playing the full 90 in a 2–0 victory over rival D.C. United at Red Bull Arena.[16] After strong performances at left-back, Lawrence beat out long time defender Roy Miller for the starting spot. On 18 October 2015, Lawrence scored his first goal for New York in a 4–1 victory over Philadelphia Union, helping the club clinch the Eastern Conference regular season title.[17]

On 29 April 2017 Lawrence scored the game-winning goal in New York's 2–1 victory over Chicago Fire.[18] On 23 June 2018 Lawrence scored his first goal of the season in a 3–0 victory over FC Dallas.[19] A week later, on 1 July, Lawrence scored the lone goal in New York's 1–0 victory over Toronto FC.[20]

Anderlecht

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On 31 January 2020, Lawrence moved to Anderlecht for fee of 1.25 million euros.[21][22] He made his debut on 7 March, as a substitute, in a 7–0 win against Zulte Waregem.[23] On 28 February 2021, he scored his first goal for Anderlecht, scoring the second goal in a 3–1 victory over Standard Liège.[24]

Toronto FC

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On 7 May 2021, he returned to Major League Soccer, joining Toronto FC.[25] On 12 May, he made his debut, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 victory over the Columbus Crew.[26] On 7 July, Lawrence scored his first goal for Toronto against the New England Revolution, netting the second Toronto goal in an eventual 3–2 victory.[27] Ahead of the 2022 season, he did not join the club for pre-season, as the club worked on a move for him.[28]

Minnesota United

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On March 17, 2022, he was traded to Minnesota United FC in exchange for the MLS rights to Sean O'Hearn and a conditional $50,000 in General Allocation Money.[29] In August 2023, he agreed to mutually terminate his contract with the club.[30]

UTA Arad

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In April 2024, he signed a short-term deal with Romanian Liga I club UTA Arad, with a one-year extension option.[31]

Westchester SC

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Lawrence was announced as the first-ever signing for USL League One expansion club Westchester SC on 12 December 2024.[32]

International career

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At the international level, Lawrence has represented the Jamaica under-17 team, the Jamaica under-20, and the national team of Jamaica, the Reggae Boyz.[7]

Lawrence competed in the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala, taking part in Jamaica's two first-round defeats, and receiving a yellow card in the second match against Honduras.[33]

After being part of national team training camps in 2013,[34] Lawrence was first selected for the Reggae Boyz for the CONCACAF fourth round qualifying match against Panama in Panama City in September 2013.[35] Lawrence received his first cap in a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Montego Bay in November 2013.[36]

Lawrence appeared in all four matches of the Jamaica national team's international tour in the summer of 2014, which saw them play 2014 FIFA World Cup-bound France and Switzerland, along with Serbia and Egypt.[4]

In September 2014, Lawrence scored his first goal for Jamaica in a 3–1 friendly defeat against Canada.[37] Later that year, in November, he scored Jamaica's first goal against Antigua and Barbuda, which came in the final group stage match of their 2014 Caribbean Cup-winning campaign.[38]

Lawrence played at the 2015 Copa América and, despite Jamaica losing all three matches 1–0, Lawrence was deemed the best left-back in the tournament by Rio-based football writer and broadcaster Tim Vickery.[citation needed]

On 23 July 2017, Lawrence scored on a left-footed freekick from just outside of the box to eliminate tournament favorites Mexico and send Jamaica to a second straight Gold Cup Final.[39][40]

Style of play

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Lawrence plays most often on the left side of defence, specialising in the role of a wing-back.[4] Ian Burnett, writing for The Jamaica Observer, described Lawrence as "a feisty wide defender who is solid in defence and on offence", while Winfried Schäfer, former manager of the Jamaica national team, said that Lawrence is a player with good pace and intelligence on the field, while stating his belief that he is a player with "a chance to play in Europe".[4] Leicester City captain and Jamaica teammate Wes Morgan noted Lawrence's defensive abilities in dealing with Switzerland and Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri, and he was also praised for his technical quality and attitude by Jamaica teammate and Crystal Palace defender Adrian Mariappa.[4]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 28 April 2024
Club Season League National cup Playoffs Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New York Red Bulls 2015 Major League Soccer 23 1 — 4 0 — 27 1
2016 21 0 — 1 0 4 0 26 0
2017 24 1 3 0 3 0 1 0 31 1
2018 28 2 2 0 2 0 6 0 38 2
2019 22 1 — 1 0 1 0 10 0
Total 118 5 5 0 11 0 12 0 146 5
Anderlecht 2019–20 Belgian Pro League 1 0 — — — 1 0
2020–21 15 1 1 0 — — 16 1
Total 16 1 1 0 — — 17 1
Toronto FC 2021 Major League Soccer 25 1 1 0 — — 26 1
Minnesota United 2022 Major League Soccer 27 1 0 0 1 0 — 28 1
2023 14 0 2 0 — — 16 0
Total 41 1 2 0 1 0 — 44 1
UTA Arad 2023–24 Liga I 2 0 — — — 2 0
Career total 202 8 9 0 12 0 12 0 235 8

International

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As of match played 29 June 2023[41]
National team Year Apps Goals
Jamaica
2013 2 0
2014 12 2
2015 15 0
2016 6 0
2017 9 1
2018 4 0
2019 10 0
2020 2 0
2021 11 0
2022 3 0
2023 3 0
Total 77 3

International goals

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Scores and results list Jamaica's goal tally first.[41]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 9 September 2014 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada  Canada 1–0 1–3 Friendly
2. 14 November 2014 Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay, Jamaica  Antigua and Barbuda 1–0 3–0 2014 Caribbean Cup qualification
3. 23 July 2017 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States  Mexico 1–0 1–0 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours

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Harbour View

New York Red Bulls

Jamaica

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: Jamaica" (PDF). CONCACAF. p. 9. Retrieved 21 May 2019 – via Bernews.
  2. ^ a b "Kemar 'Taxi' Lawrence selected for Pepsi Campaign headed by Messi". Harbour View Football Club (hvfc.net). 16 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  3. ^ Levy, Leighton (26 January 2014). "Harbour View's Lawrence Is Jamaica's Pepsi Ambassador". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Burnett, Ian (9 June 2014). "Destined for great things". The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 28 December 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Orville Edwards Football Tomorrow". Jamaica Gleaner. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  6. ^ Spitzer, Mariano (3 March 2021). "Kemar Lawrence, het verhaal achter de Jamaicaanse glimlach van Anderlecht" [Kemar Lawrence, the story behind Anderlecht's Jamaican smile]. Sport/Voetbalmagazine (in Dutch).
  7. ^ a b c "Woozencroft, Lawrence for MLS Combine". Jamaica Observer. 29 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  8. ^ Raynor, Kayon (19 January 2010). "Palmer's strike hands H'View $250,000 bounty". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Kemar Lawrence MLS profile". Major League Soccer.
  10. ^ Stejskal, Sam (30 August 2019). "The perseverance of Kemar Lawrence". The Athletic.
  11. ^ "NPL teams ready to rumble". Jamaica Gleaner. 1 September 2012.
  12. ^ Walker, Howard (22 April 2013). "All over – Lynch's brace gives Harbour View victory in RSPL". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  13. ^ Bailey, Robert (17 July 2014). "Lawrence at DC United For Trial". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  14. ^ Goff, Steven (28 July 2014). "D.C. United defender Jeff Parke sidelined by migraine headaches". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Red Bulls sign Kemar Lawrence". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  16. ^ "RBNY blank conference rivals in home opener". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  17. ^ "FULL TIME: Four star Red Bulls down Union, clinch Eastern Conference regular season title". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  18. ^ "Game Notes: Lawrence Powers Red Bulls Past Fire". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  19. ^ "New York Red Bulls 3, FC Dallas 0". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Lawrence, Robles, Inspire RBNY". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  21. ^ Williams, Sean (23 February 2020). "'I have put in the hard work!'". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  22. ^ "New York Red Bulls Transfer Kemar Lawrence to R.S.C. Anderlecht". New York Red Bulls. 31 January 2020.
  23. ^ Scott, Livingston (18 October 2020). "Lawrence resurfaces for Anderlecht". Jamaica Gleaner.
  24. ^ Wheeler, Daniel (3 March 2021). "Lawrence scores first goal for new club". Jamaica Star.
  25. ^ "Toronto FC sign defender Kemar Lawrence". Toronto FC. 7 May 2021.
  26. ^ Davidson, Neil (12 May 2021). "Toronto FC blanks defending champion Columbus Crew for 1st win of season". CBC.
  27. ^ "Toronto FC halts New England's comeback attempt, snap 6-game losing streak". CBC. 8 July 2021.
  28. ^ Buffery, Steve (8 February 2022). "Toronto FC coach Bob Bradley reveals all: Auro, Lawrence, Pozuelo, Altidore, Jimenez..." Toronto Sun.
  29. ^ Davidson, Neil (17 March 2022). "Toronto FC trades Jamaican defender Kemar Lawrence to Minnesota United". Toronto Star.
  30. ^ "Minnesota United and Defender Kemar Lawrence Mutually Agree to Part Ways". Minnesota United FC. 3 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Bun venit, Kemar Lawrence!" [Welcome, Kemar Lawrence!] (in Romanian). UTA Arad. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Kemar Lawrence returns to New York, becomes Westchester SC's inaugural signing". USLLeagueOne.com. USL League One. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  33. ^ Williams, Sean (2 April 2011). "Coach takes heart despite loss". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  34. ^ Stamp, Marc (2 September 2013). "'Tuffy' Anderson, Marlon King in 27-Man Reggae Boyz Training Squad". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  35. ^ Boyd, Audley (7 September 2013). "Boyz Break Four-Match Losing Streak in Panama". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  36. ^ Reid, Paul A. (17 November 2013). "Schafer happy with Boyz secondhalf against Warriors, but..." Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  37. ^ Williams, Gordon (10 September 2014). "Canada Stop Reggae Boyz". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  38. ^ Lawrence, Hubert (20 November 2014). "It's When You Win That Counts". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  39. ^ "Jamaica stun Mexico, set up USA final". FIFA. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  40. ^ "Mexico blocks out drama before Gold Cup semifinal vs. Jamaica". USA Today. Associated Press. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  41. ^ a b "Lawrence, Kemar". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  42. ^ "2018 MLS Best XI". MLS Soccer. 11 November 2018.
  43. ^ "TSG reveals Gold Cup Best XI". goldcup.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  44. ^ "2019 MLS All-Star Roster". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  45. ^ "IFFHS MAN TEAM - CAF - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020". IFFHS. 28 January 2021.
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