Rhys Williams

Club career

Middlesbrough

He began his football career as a school boy at Woodvale Secondary College on a scholarship. Rhys was a promising junior with Perth-based club ECU Joondalup. As a youth player, 2004 would prove his breakthrough year with his club performances leading to selection in the Western Australian under-16 state representative squad for the 2004 National Talent Identification Championships. He impressed with three goals in the tournament, helping Western Australia reach the semi-finals. At the conclusion of the event, he travelled to England where he trialed with several clubs including Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough. Williams nearly joined semi-pro side Alvechurch, but the move collapsed over international clearance.

He ultimately signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Middlesbrough, playing academy football. In July 2007, he signed his first professional contract with the club, despite a number of injury setbacks which curtailed his football development.

In the 2008–09 season, Williams was promoted to the first team after he was impressed in the pre-season. Williams appeared in the first team for the first team when he appeared as an unused substitute. However, Williams suffered injury while on duty with Wales U21 after damaging lateral ligament that required a surgery to repair and was sidelined by the end of 2008.

On 30 January 2009, he signed a new two-year contract at Middlesbrough and signed on loan for Championship side Burnley on the same day. Williams made his Burnley debut the next day, playing 90 minutes, in a 2–1 win over Charlton Athletic. Williams then provided an assist for Martin Paterson to score the only goal in the game, in a 1–0 win over Sheffield United on 20 April 2009. He returned to Middlesbrough in early May after it was determined that he could not play in the Football League Championship play-offs for Burnley.

He scored 4 goals in 5 games in the 2009–10 pre-season, after which manager Gareth Southgate played him in central midfield in their opening Championship match against Sheffield United, and he went on to keep his place in the starting eleven for that season.

On 26 September 2009, Williams scored his first goal for Middlesbrough in a 2–2 draw against Coventry City. Then on 26 December 2009, Williams scored his second goal for Middlesbrough in a 3–0 win over Scunthorpe United. However, Williams suffered a pelvic problem that kept him out for months. While on the sidelines, it was announced on 11 February 2010 that Williams signed a three-and-a-half-year contract extension with Middlesbrough. Williams then made his first team return on 6 March 2010, where he came on as a substitute for Willo Flood in the 52nd minute, in a 1–0 loss against Cardiff City. Two weeks later on 16 March 2010, Williams received a red card after a second bookable offence, in a 2–2 draw against Derby County. Williams later finished the 2009–10 season, scoring two times in thirty–two appearances and was awarded Young Player of the Year.

Perth Glory

On 20 April 2016, it was announced that Williams would return to Australia to join Perth Glory in the A-League for the 2016–17 A-League season.

Melbourne Victory

On 17 May 2017, Williams joined A-League club Melbourne Victory. Despite winning the championship in the 2017–18 season, he was one of the many players to be released from the squad, with his departure announced on 12 July 2018 after only one year of a two-year deal.

Al-Qadsiah

In July 2018, Williams joined Al-Qadsiah of the Saudi Professional League.

Western Sydney Wanderers

In July 2021, Williams returned to Australia, joining Western Sydney Wanderers on a two-year deal. He played only 6 A-League games for the Wanderers, as he suffered a severe ruptured hamstring tendon injury late in a 3-3 draw with Melbourne City. The surgery & rehabilitation required saw him miss the remainder of the season and the entire subsequent 2022/23 season. Williams retired from professional football at the end of the 2022–23 season.

International career

Williams was in an unusual position as he was eligible to represent Australia, England, India, and Wales.

In May 2009, he opted to represent Australia, the country of his birth, despite having made numerous appearances for the Wales national under-21 football team. He was also called up to the senior Wales squad.

Following this declaration, Williams earned his first call-up for Australia at senior level as part of an extended Socceroos squad for the June 2009 World Cup qualifiers. On 17 June 2009, he made his full Australian debut in a World Cup qualifier against Japan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In May 2010 Williams was included in Australia's preliminary squad for the World Cup; however, he was not included in the final squad due to an injury sustained while playing for his club. Australia then Manager Pim Verbeek accused Middlesbrough for causing Williams' injury.

Williams returned to the Socceroos squad for the friendly against New Zealand on 5 June at Adelaide Oval which was won by Australia 3–0 and he came off the bench in the 0–0 draw on June against Serbia at Etihad Stadium. Williams played as a centre back in a friendly against France on 11 October 2013.

In October 2019, Williams retired from international soccer.

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 April 2017

International

As of match played 19 November 2013.

Honours

Melbourne Victory

A-League: 2017–18

Individual

PFA Team of the Year: 2017–18 A-League

Personal life

His mother Audrey, was born in an Anglo-Indian family from Mumbai, India while his father was born in Kent, England. Williams is married. His maternal grandfather Lincoln "Linky" Grostate played for Bombay in the Santosh Trophy in the 1950s.

His younger twin brothers Ryan Williams and Aryn Williams are also footballers, with Ryan at Bengaluru and Aryn who plays for who plays for Olympic Kingsway in Perth.