• 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 44 (2)
2024-Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 1
International career
2023– New Zealand U20 3
2023– New Zealand U23 1
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 11, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 June 2024

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

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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

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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. [12]

Linder signed a short-term loan agreement[13] [14]with Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of their match against Ryan Reynolds Wrexham A.F.C , where he played the full 90 minutes.[15] [16]He was loaned to Vancouver Whitecaps three times [17] [18]for Leagues Cup, where he made his official first team debut, in a substitute appearance against Club Tijuana[19]

International Career

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Linder is eligible for Canada through birth, and New Zealand through parentage. In March 2023, he was named in the New Zealand U23 squad[20] [21] for two games against China U23 in preparation for the OFC Olympic qualifying campaign. He was named to the New Zealand U20 squad[22] for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina [23][24] and made his international debut against the host nation in the group stage. [25][26][27]

Career statistics

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As of October 12, 2024[28]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Whitecaps FC 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 12 1 12 1
2023 10 1 10 1
2024 23 23
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 2024 Major League Soccer 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
Career total 45 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 47 2


References

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  1. ^ Adm-Bliz4 (23 August 2017). "Blizzard Boys Train at Wigan FC Academy in UK". Calgary Blizzard Soccer Club. Calgary Blizzard SC. Retrieved 23 August 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  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. ^ "Finn Linder loaned to the Whitecaps 1st team". Obelisq. 26 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Six WFC2 players signed to MLS short-term agreements". Whitecaps FC. 26 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Bovalina scores a thunderbolt". Whitecaps FC. 27 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham AFC defeats hometown Whitecaps 4-1 in Vancouver". Lethbridge News Now. 27 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 defender Finn Linder and midfielder Eliot Goldthorp to second MLS short-term agreements". Whitecaps FC.
  18. ^ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 defender Finn Linder to third MLS short-term agreement". 6 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Moving onto the next round". Whitecaps FC. 3 August 2024.
  20. ^ "Linder, Herdman called up to New Zealand U-23 national team". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 1 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Men's U-23 squad named for home games against China". New Zealand Football. 1 March 2023.
  22. ^ "Get to know the Men's U-20 team". New Zealand Football. 12 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Squad named for men's FIFA U-20 World Cup". New Zealand national football team. 1 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Junior-all-whites-call-up-overseas-based-talent". Radio New Zealand. 1 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  25. ^ "U-20s defeated by hosts Argentina". New Zealand Football. 27 May 2023.
  26. ^ "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)
  27. ^ Robinson, Nick (29 May 2023). "AOTEAROA AT THE 2023 MEN'S U20 WORLD CUP: COMPLETE FUSTIGATION VS ARGENTINA".
  28. ^ Finn Linder at Soccerway
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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:MLS Next Pro players Category:Whitecaps FC 2 players Category:Whitecaps FC Academy players