Keon Daniel
FullnameKeon Kelly Daniel
Birth date16 January 1987 (age 39)
Birth placeLambeau, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
PositionMidfielder
Years 12006–2008
Clubs 1United Petrotrin
Years 22008–2010
Clubs 2Caledonia AIA
Years 32010
Clubs 3Puerto Rico Islanders
Caps 316
Goals 32
Years 42011–2014
Clubs 4Philadelphia Union
Caps 464
Goals 42
Years 52014–2017
Clubs 5Miedź Legnica
Caps 556
Goals 52
Years 62014–2015
Clubs 6→ Flota Świnoujście (loan)
Caps 67
Goals 60
Years 72018–2020
Clubs 7GKS Tychy
Caps 763
Goals 71
Nationalyears 12007–2013
Nationalteam 1Trinidad and Tobago
Nationalcaps 159
Nationalgoals 114

Keon Kelly Daniel (born 16 January 1987 in Lambeau) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Career

Club

Daniel attended Signal Hill Secondary School in his native Tobago, and later attended the St Clair Coaching School. After a two-week trial with Manchester United in 2005 Daniel turned professional when he signed with United Petrotrin of the TT Pro League in 2006.

After another trial in England in August 2008, this time with West Ham United,[1] Daniel joined league rivals Caledonia AIA in 2009.[2]

In May 2010 Daniel transferred to the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USSF D2 Pro League.[3] He made his debut for the Islanders on 26 June 2010 as a substitute in a 3–0 loss to the Rochester Rhinos.[4]

Prior to the 2011 Major League Soccer season, Daniel trialed with the Philadelphia Union.[5] Following the successful trial, Daniel signed with the Union on 18 March 2011.[6] In Week 7 of the season, Daniel was named to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance against the San Jose Earthquakes.[7] His first goal for Philadelphia was scored on 11 June 2011 in an MLS game against Real Salt Lake.[8]

After temporarily leaving Philadelphia to play for the Trinidad and Tobago national football team in September 2011, Daniel was forced to remain in Trinidad and Tobago due to an expired visa until February 2012. This incident spawned the "Free Keon" meme used amongst Philadelphia Union fans at live matches and online social networking groups.

Miedź Legnica

It was announced that Keon Daniel would join Miedź Legnica in the I liga (Poland) from Philadelphia Union in 2014.

International

Daniel made his debut for the Trinidad and Tobago national football team in 2007. He scored his first senior international goal against Guyana in January 2008 and his second against El Salvador in March 2008, both from free kicks. He was also part of the Trinidad & Tobago squads which competed in the Caribbean Cup in 2008, 2010, and 2012. He was also part of the squads for the multiple CONCACAF Gold Cups, as well as 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. In total, Daniel has made 57 international appearances and scored 14 goals.[9]

International goals

Scores and results list Trinidad and Tobago's goal tally first.[10][11]
DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
129 January 2008Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Trinidad and TobagoGUY1–12–1Friendly
219 March 2008Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Trinidad and TobagoEl Salvador1–01–0Friendly
38 July 2008Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Trinidad and TobagoGUY2–02–0Friendly
420 August 2008Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana, CubaCuba1–03–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
52–0
66 September 2008Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoGuatemala1–01–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
77 November 2008Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Trinidad and TobagoSKN1–03–12008 Caribbean Championship qualification
819 November 2008Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoCuba3–03–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
96 September 2011Barbados National Stadium, Saint Michael, BarbadosBRB1–02–02014 FIFA World Cup qualification
1010 October 2012Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and NevisGYF3–14–12012 Caribbean Championship qualification
1114 October 2012Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and NevisAIA2–010–02012 Caribbean Championship qualification
125–0
137–0
148 July 2013Red Bull Arena, Harrison, USAEl Salvador1–02–22013 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Last updated 8 July 2013[12]

Career statistics

Club

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Puerto RicoLeagueTorneo de Copa de Puerto RicoLeague CupNorth AmericaTotal
2010Puerto Rico IslandersUSSF Division 2162002030212
USALeagueOpen CupLeague CupNorth AmericaTotal
2011Philadelphia UnionMajor League Soccer181100000191
2012221100000231
2013170200000190
TotalPuerto Rico162002030212
USA572400000612
Career total734402030824

Updated 3 August 2013

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Trinidad and Tobago
2008288
200990
201090
201151
201244
201341
Total5914

Personal

Daniel's nickname is "Schillaci", after the famous Italian striker Salvatore Schillaci.[13]

Honours

Puerto Rico Islanders

References

  1. ^ "West Ham trial for Daniel". socawarriors.net. Archived from the original on 2008-10-20.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Soca Warriors' Keon Daniel completes Islanders switch – Trinidad Guardian"
  4. ^ "USSF Division-2 Pro League". ussf.demosphere.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-07.
  5. ^ "Unknown No More: Sixth Philadelphia Union Trialist Identified as Former PDL MVP Aaron Wheeler". 28 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Union Sign", archived from the original on 10 July 2015, retrieved 18 March 2011
  7. ^ "Williams, Daniel, Valdés Named to MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week | Philadelphia Union". Archived from the original on 2011-05-04.
  8. ^ "Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia Union – match thoughts from the 1-1 draw". 11 June 2011.
  9. ^ "MATCHES PLAYED BY KEON DANIEL". socawarriors.net. Archived from the original on 10 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago Results". Caribbean Football Database. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  11. ^ Keon Kelly Daniel - International Appearances
  12. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago – K. Daniel – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway"
  13. ^ "Keon “Schillaci” Daniel enters new League". Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2010.