The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Former keeper Williams returns as coach
Jan-Michael Williams will return to the HFX Wanderers next season but in a different capacity.
Williams, a veteran keeper who made 12 starts for the Wanderers in their inaugural season and was their first team captain, will come back to the Canadian Premier League club as its goalkeeper coach in 2020.
“I'm excited to come back. I've said from the beginning with the entire set up at the Wanderers Grounds, our pitch and the management and staff, that we have the potential to be the best team in the CPL,” the 35-year-old Williams said in a news release.
Williams announced his retirement as a player following last season. He made 81 appearances for Trinidad and Tobago's national team and backstopped the Wanderers to their firstever win in the team's home opener May 4 against Forge FC.
In addition to playing for his home country, Williams made professional stops in Belgium, Hungary, Honduras and Guatemala before arriving in Halifax.
In his new position, Williams will work closely with the Wanderers' No. 1 keeper Christian Oxner of Halifax.
“Jan was a huge support for Christian last season and they have a great working relationship," Wanderers head coach Stephen Hart said in the release. “We're happy to have him back within the structure of the team, albeit in a different role.”
Williams began the 2019 campaign as the team's starter but an injury opened the door for Oxner.
Oxner appeared in 18 CPL and three Canadian Championship matches for the Wanderers and tied for fourth in the league with six clean sheets.
“Christian put in some really good performances and I think within a year or two he should be knocking on the door of the national team,” Williams said in the release.
Williams becomes the seventh player from last season's roster to confirm their return to Halifax. He's the first to switch to the coaching ranks.
The club also announced that Michael Hunter, an assistant coach last season, has returned to the private sector.