Tyrese Spicer (born 4 December 2000) is a Triniadian footballer who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 4 December 2000 | ||
Place of birth | Trincity, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Toronto FC | ||
Number | 16 | ||
Youth career | |||
Trincity Nationals | |||
Central FC | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020–2023 | Lipscomb Bisons | 58 | (29) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2022 | Tennessee SC | 10 | (3) |
2023 | Des Moines Menace | 8 | (1) |
2024– | Toronto FC | 8 | (2) |
International career | |||
Trinidad and Tobago U15 | 2 | (0) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2024 |
Spicer began playing youth football at age six with the Trincity Nationals, later playing with Central FC in the Youth Pro League.[1]
Spicer attended St. Mary's College in Trinidad, helping the school become North Zone Champions in 2017.[2][3] In 2019, he switched to St. Augustine Secondary School, earning SSFL All-Star honours.[4]
In 2020, Spicer was to begin attending Lipscomb University and play with the men's soccer team on an athletic scholarship.[1] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he began attending in January 2021, and debuted in the spring 2021 season (which was delayed from the previous fall).[5] On 6 February 2021, he made his collegiate debut and also scored his first goal in a victory over the Evansville Purple Aces.[6] On 6 September 2021, Spicer scored a hat trick in a victory over Evansville, which earned him ASUN Conference Player of the Week honours.[7][8] At the end of his sophomore season, he was namedto the ASUN Conference All-Conference First Team, the All Region Second Team, was the ASUN Championship Co-MVP, and named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team, as Lipscomb won the ASUN title.[9][10][11]
Ahead of his junior season in 2022, Spicer was named the ASUN Preseason Player of the Year, named to the Preseason All-Conference Team, named a USC Player to Watch, and named #65 on the TopDrawerSoccer Top 100 List.[12][13][14] At the end of the season, after helping them to another ASUN title, he was named to the All-Conference Second Team, All-Atlantic Region First Team, a Third Team All-American, and the ASUN All-Tournament Team.[15][16][17][18]
Ahead of his senior season, Spicer was again named a USC Player to Watch, was named to the Preseason All-ASUN Team, and was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watchlist.[19][20][21] In September 2023, he was named the TSWA Men's Soccer Player of the Week.[22] At the end of the season, he was named the ASUN Player of the Year, was named to the All-Conference First Team, All-Region First Team, and a First Team All-American.[23][24][25]
In 2022, Spicer played with Tennessee SC in USL League Two.[26] In 2023, he played with the Des Moines Menace.[27]
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Spicer was selected first overall by Toronto FC.[28][29] He pre-signed a contract prior to the draft,[30] and his selection was announced by Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares.[31] Spicer made his club debut on 16 March, in a substitute appearance against New York City FC,[32][33] and followed that up the following week on 23 March, scoring his first professional goal in his first start, in a 2–0 victory over Atlanta United FC.[34]
Spicer played two matches with the Trinidad and Tobago U15 team, recording two assists.[35] In June 2020, he attended a training camp with the Trinidad and Tobago senior team.[36]
Club | Season | League | Playoffs | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Tennessee SC | 2022[26] | USL League Two | 10 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 3 | ||||
Des Moines Menace | 2023[38] | USL League Two | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | ||
Toronto FC | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
Career total | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 7 |