Bill Hamid

Bill Hamid

Hamid with the United States in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Abdul Bilal Hamid[1]
Date of birth	(1990-11-25) November 25, 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth	Annandale, Virginia, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Maryland Bobcats
Number	27
Youth career
2003–2007	Premier AC
2007–2009	D.C. United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2017	D.C. United	184	(0)
2018–2020	Midtjylland	1	(0)
2018–2019	→ D.C. United (loan)	47	(0)
2020–2022	D.C. United	48	(0)
2023	Memphis 901	10	(0)
2024	Northern Virginia	1	(0)
2024	Virginia Dream	5	(0)
2024–	Maryland Bobcats	2	(0)
International career^‡
2008	United States U20	2	(0)
2012	United States U23	4	(0)
2012–2020	United States	8	(0)
Managerial career
2024	Virginia Dream (player-coach)
Medal record Representing  United States Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2017 Men's Soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of April 2, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 9, 2020

Abdul Bilal "Bill" Hamid (/həˈmiːd/ hə-MEED; born November 25, 1990) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Maryland Bobcats in the National Independent Soccer Association.

Born in Annandale, Virginia, Hamid was the first D.C. United Academy player to sign for the first team in September 2009. He made his professional debut in May 2010 as the youngest goalkeeper to win a game in Major League Soccer history. He helped the team to victory in the 2013 U.S. Open Cup and received the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2014. In January 2018 he joined FC Midtjylland, winning the Danish Superliga in his first season. He returned to D.C. United in August, initially on loan, and totaled 296 appearances (232 league). He was released at the end of the 2022 season, with franchise records of 89 shutouts and 976 saves.

Hamid made his senior debut for the United States national team in January 2012, playing eight games up to December 2020. He was part of their teams that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013 and 2017.

Club career

D.C. United

Hamid became the first D.C. United Academy player to sign with the first team on September 2, 2009.^[3] Prior to signing with D.C. United, he was linked with a move to Celtic, until work permit issues derailed the move.^[4]

He made his professional debut on May 5, 2010, in a game against the Kansas City Wizards.^[5] With this win, Hamid became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history, at 19 years 161 days, to win a regular season game, besting Tim Howard's record by four days.^[6] Hamid started 28 of United's 34 games during the 2011 season.^[7] He retained his starting spot during the 2012 season, making appearances in 27 matches.

After the 2011 regular season, Hamid began a 10-day trial on October 29, 2011, with English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion. He stayed with the club until November 7.^[7][8]

In 2012, Hamid earned a record 88 saves in arguably his best season in MLS to date.^[9] Despite Hamid being sent off with a red card during the 2012 playoffs in a match against the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United was able to come away with a win and advance to the next round. Hamid, emotional after seeing the win, was videotaped shirtless screaming "You can't hold us back" while pounding his chest.^[10] The phrase became a rallying cry for D.C. United fans who organized a display featuring the quote. Although D.C. United failed to defeat their next challenger, the Houston Dynamo, the phrase stuck with the fans. For the 2013 season, the D.C. United fan group Screaming Eagles designed a scarf with the quote and presented Hamid with a free one.^[11] D.C. United won the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the 100th edition of the competition. Hamid played the final, a 1–0 win at Real Salt Lake, having been deputized by Joe Willis in previous rounds.^[12] In 2014, D.C. United finished top of the Eastern Conference in the regular season, having finished bottom the year before. Hamid won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award.^[13]

Midtjylland

At the end of the 2017 season, Hamid's contract with D.C. United expired as the two sides failed to negotiate a new contract. On October 25, 2017, it was announced that Hamid had signed with Danish Superliga club Midtjylland valid from January 1, 2018.^[14] He was back-up to Jesper Hansen in his first season, making only one league appearance on April 22 in a 3–3 draw at Aalborg, in which he made a mistake from a corner kick to give the opponents a 3–2 lead.^[15] Midtjylland finished the campaign as league champions.^[16]

Return to D.C. United

Hamid rejoined D.C. United on August 8, 2018, on a year-and-a-half loan.^[17] On December 9, 2019, this was made into a three-year permanent transfer for a reported transfer fee of $750,000.^[18]

Hamid played 10 games in the 2022 Major League Soccer season, which ended for him with a hand operation in June. During the season, D.C. United signed goalkeepers Rafael Romo, Luis Zamudio and David Ochoa, followed by Tyler Miller at the end of the year. Hamid was allowed to enter free agency, with franchise records of 89 shutouts and 976 saves.^[19]

Memphis 901

On March 20, 2023, Hamid joined USL Championship club Memphis 901 for the 2023 season.^[20] Hamid and Memphis mutually agreed to terminate his contract early on August 18, 2023.^[21]

Northern Virginia

Hamid appeared for Northern Virginia in their 2024 U.S. Open Cup match, a 2–3 loss to Carolina Core.^[22]

Virginia Dream

On April 2, 2024, Virginia Dream announced that Hamid would be joining the club as a player and goalkeeping coach for their 2024 United Premier Soccer League season.^[23]

Maryland Bobcats

On September 3, 2024, Maryland Bobcats announced that Hamid would be joining the club for the remainder of their 2024 season. (Pending National Independent Soccer Association and United States Soccer Federation Approval). ^[24]

Since the addition of Hamid, the Maryland Bobcats gone on a 2-game winning streak. Through his first two games with the team, Hamid has registered 2 Clean Sheets in 180 minutes of play.^[25] The Maryland Bobcats have since cliched 1st Place in the East Region of National Independent Soccer Association.^[26]

International career

Hamid speaks with Everton and USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard before a friendly match on July 23, 2011, at RFK Stadium

Hamid played for the United States at under-18 and under-20 level, and in October 2009 he trained with the senior team.^[27] Hamid made his international debut for U.S. national team on January 21, 2012, keeping a shutout as his team beat Venezuela 1–0 in an exhibition game at the University of Phoenix Stadium. He became the ninth goalkeeper not to concede on his international debut for the United States.^[28]

Coach Jürgen Klinsmann named Hamid in his roster for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the United States won.^[29] He did not make his second appearance until November 18, 2014, in a 4–1 exhibition loss to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.^[30]

Hamid was again called up for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, receiving a second winner's medal. On July 15, he played his first competitive match for the United States at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio and kept a shutout in a 3–0 win that made his team top their group.^[31]

On December 30, 2019, Hamid was called up to Gregg Berhalter's 25-man roster for a friendly against Costa Rica on February 1, 2020.^[32] He played this game for his first international game in over 18 months, a 1–0 win in which he replaced Sean Johnson for the final 14 minutes.^[33] On December 9 he played his last of eight internationals, a 6–0 win over El Salvador in Fort Lauderdale.^[34]

Personal life

Hamid's parents are from Sierra Leone. He was raised Muslim and observes fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan.^[35] He graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland in 2006.^[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played May 28, 2022^[9][37]

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
D.C. United	2009	MLS	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2010		8	0	3	0	—		—		11	0
	2011		28	0	0	0	—		—		28	0
	2012		24	0	1	0	—		3[b]	0	28	0
	2013		25	0	1	0	—		—		26	0
	2014		30	0	0	0	1[c]	0	2[b]	0	33	0
	2015		25	0	0	0	1[c]	0	3[b]	0	29	0
	2016		20	0	0	0	—		1[b]	0	21	0
	2017		24	0	0	0	—		—		24	0
	Total		184	0	5	0	2	0	9	0	200	0
Midtjylland	2017–18	Danish Superliga	1	0	2	0	0	0	—		3	0
D.C. United (loan)	2018	MLS	14	0	—		—		—		14	0
	2019		33	0	—		—		1[b]	0	34	0
D.C. United	2020	MLS	17[d]	0	—		—		—		17	0
	2021		21	0	—		—		—		21	0
	2022		10	0	0	0	—		—		10	0
	Total		95	0	0	0	—		1	0	96	0
Career total			280	0	7	0	2	0	10	0	299	0

1. Includes U.S. Open Cup and Danish Cup
2. Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
3. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
4. Includes three appearances in MLS is Back Tournament group stage

International

As of match played December 10, 2020^[38]

United States
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	1	0
2013	0	0
2014	1	0
2015	0	0
2016	0	0
2017	2	0
2018	2	0
2019	0	0
2020	2	0
Total	8	0

Honors

D.C. United

• U.S. Open Cup: 2013

Midtjylland

• Danish Superliga: 2017–18^[16]

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2013,^[39] 2017^[40]

Individual

• MLS Goalkeeper of the Year: 2014

References

1. "National Team Roster 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup" (PDF). CONCACAF.
2. "Bill Hamid". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
3. "D.C. United Academy goalkeeper Bill Hamid signs with first team". Dcunited.com. September 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
4. Tenorio, Paul (May 26, 2009). "Local Goalies' Careers Are Poised to Go Global". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
5. "2010-05-05-dc-united-v-kansas-city-wizards | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on May 8, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
6. "Hamid on ABC 7 5:00 p.m. news". Dcunited.com. May 6, 2010. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
7. Steven Goff (October 27, 2011). "D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid to work out with English club West Brom". Soccer Insider. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
8. Travis Clark (October 28, 2011). "DC goalkeeper Hamid heads to West Brom to train". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
9. "Bill Hamid MLS Player Profile". Major League Soccer. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
10. Steinberg, Dan (November 9, 2012). "Bill Hamid, screaming and pounding his chest". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
11. Steinberg, Dan (March 8, 2013). "Bill Hamid and the 'You Can't Hold Us Back' scarf". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
12. Hakala, Josh (October 2, 2013). "2013 US Open Cup Final: Underdog DC United upsets Real Salt Lake to win third title (video)". The Cup. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
13. Scott, Nate (December 5, 2014). "D.C. United's Bill Hamid won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year at age 24. Now what?". USA Today. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
14. Officielt: Hamid i FCM til 2022‚ bold.dk, October 25, 2017
15. Bitsch, Ole (April 22, 2018). "Gulddrømmen lever: FCM reddet i overtiden mod AaB" [The gold dream lives: FCM saved in added time against AaB] (in Danish). AOIB. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
16. O'Connor, Philip (May 21, 2018). "Soccer-Dal Hende fires Midtjylland to Danish title". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
17. "United acquire goalkeeper Bill Hamid from FC Midtjylland". D.C. United. August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
18. Bogert, Tom. "DC United acquire GK Bill Hamid from FC Midtjylland". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
19. Floyd, Thomas (November 23, 2022). "D.C. United fills goalkeeper void with MLS veteran Tyler Miller". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
20. "Memphis 901 FC signs goalkeeper Bill Hamid". March 20, 2023.
21. Clayton, Josh. "Memphis 901 FC, Bill Hamid Mutually Part Ways with Release of Contract". Memphis901FC.com. Memphis 901. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
22. "Carolina Core FC Defeats Nova FC 3-2 in U.S. Open Cup First Round". MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
23. "Announcing our newest signing former United States Men's National Team & DC United Goalkeeper Billy Hamid". Twitter.com. Virginia Dream. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
24. "Bill Hamid Signs with the Maryland Bobcats". https://www.instagram.com/mdbobcatsfc/p/C_eTymKPcFF/. September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
25. "Bill Hamid Spotlight Performance". https://www.instagram.com/mdbobcatsfc/p/C_3IAqMRP1J/. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
26. "Maryland Bobcats Clinch Playoffs". https://www.instagram.com/mdbobcatsfc/p/C_0aL4aRbRz/. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
27. "Bill Hamid Gets A Taste of the U.S. MNT". Ussoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
28. "RICARDO CLARK SCORES IN STOPPAGE TIME AS U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM DEFEATS VENEZUELA 1-0 IN OPENING MATCH OF 2012". U.S. Soccer. January 22, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
29. "D.C. United Homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid called up to U.S. Men's National Team for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup". D.C. United. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
30. Itel, Dan (November 18, 2014). "Republic of Ireland 4, USA 1". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
31. Galarcep, Ives (July 16, 2017). "INEXPERIENCED U.S. NATIONAL TEAM DELIVERS THREE-GOAL WIN TO TOP GOLD CUP GROUP". Goal.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
32. Olsen, Emily (December 30, 2019). "USMNT announces January camp roster, GK Bill Hamid returns". ProSoccerUSA. Archived from the original on January 1, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
33. "USMNT opens 2020 campaign with 1-0 win over Costa Rica". Soccer Wire. February 2, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
34. "Mueller scores twice, USMNT routs El Salvador 6-0". ESPN. May 17, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
35. Steven Goff (July 31, 2012). "D.C. United's Bill Hamid finds balance between body and spirit during Ramadan". The Washington Post.
36. "DeMatha Soccer Academy to partner with D.C. United – Streetcar Suburbs News". July 6, 2017.
37. Bill Hamid at Soccerway
38. "Bill Hamid". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
39. "USA 1–0 Panama – as it happened". Guardian UK. July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
40. "U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup". USA Today. July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 5, 2023.

External links

• Bill Hamid at Major League Soccer
• Bill Hamid at National-Football-Teams.com