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James Sands

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For the United States Navy officer, see James H. Sands.

James Sands
Sands with Rangers in 2022
Personal information
Full name James Hoban Sands[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Rye, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
Position(s) Center-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 New York City FC
Number 6
Youth career
2010–2015 New York Soccer Club
2015–2017 New York City FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– New York City FC 120 (1)
2018 → Louisville City (loan) 3 (0)
2022–2023 → Rangers (loan) 24 (0)
International career‡
2016–2017 United States U17 42 (1)
2021–2023 United States 13 (0)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 14, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 12, 2023

James Hoban Sands (born July 6, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back or defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club New York City FC. He became NYCFC's first homegrown player in July 2017.

Youth career

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Sands joined New York Soccer Club, an affiliate of New York City FC, at age 10. In 2015, he joined New York City after the inception of the Under-16 academy side, alongside his twin brother Will Sands.[2] Sands credits SB Futbol's Paul "Brooksie" Brooks as the most influential and important mentor of his youth career.

Club career

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New York City

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In January 2017, Sands became the first Academy player to be included in the New York City FC roster for pre-season.[3] On June 27, 2017, he signed his first professional contract to begin on July 1.[2] The deal made him the club's first ever homegrown player.[4] Sands made his professional debut on September 16, 2017, coming on as a substitute for Andrea Pirlo in a 1–1 draw against Colorado Rapids.

In 2019, Sands became a regular starter for NYCFC, first as a defensive midfielder, and then as the central defender in a three-man back line once New York City FC switched formations. In 2021, he started in MLS Cup 2021, in which New York City FC defeated the Portland Timbers in a penalty shootout to win their first ever MLS Cup.[5]

Louisville City (loan)

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In 2018, Sands joined Louisville City in the second-division USL on a short-term loan from August 15 through September 1. Sands worked in Louisville under John Hackworth, who had previously coached Sands with the United States U17 team.[6]

Rangers (loan)

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On January 5, 2022, Sands joined Scottish Premiership side Rangers on an initial 18-month loan deal with an option to buy.[7] On January 18, he made his Rangers debut during a 1–1 draw with Aberdeen. He made a substitute appearance in the 2022 UEFA Europa League final in which Rangers lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout. On March 1, 2023, his loan was terminated and he returned to New York City FC.[8]

International career

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Sands regularly featured for the United States under-17s in 2017 and helped his nation finish second in the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship in May.[9] The United States eventually lost to Mexico in a penalty shootout, although Sands scored and was named to the "Team of the Tournament."[10]

In July 2021, Sands was called up to the senior team for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and made his debut against Haiti as a substitute.[11] He started in the final game of the tournament, in which the United States defeated Mexico 1–0.

In June 2023, interim coach BJ Callaghan called Sands to the 2023 Gold Cup roster. As of June 30, 2023, he started in both the games verses Jamaica and St. Kitts and Nevis.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played December 8, 2024[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season, and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New York City FC 2017 MLS 1 0 — — — — 1 0
2018 3 0 1 0 — — — 4 0
2019 19 0 — — — — 19 0
2020 16 0 — — 3[c] 0 2[d] 0 21 0
2021 26 0 — 4 0 — — 30 0
2023 26 0 1 0 — — 2[e] 0 29 0
2024 29 1 — 4 0 — 5[e] 0 38 1
Total 120 1 2 0 8 0 3 0 9 0 142 1
Louisville City (loan) 2018 USL 3 0 — — — — 3 0
Rangers (loan) 2021–22 Scottish Premiership 7 0 2 0 — 5[f] 0 — 14 0
2022–23 17 0 1 1 1 0 8[g] 0 — 27 1
Total 24 0 3 1 1 0 13 0 — 41 1
Career total 147 1 5 1 9 0 16 0 9 0 186 2
  1. ^ Includes U.S. Open Cup and Scottish Cup
  2. ^ Includes MLS Cup Playoffs and Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
  4. ^ Two appearances in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

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As of match played July 12, 2023[13]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2021 7 0
2022 0 0
2023 6 0
Total 13 0

Honors

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Louisville City FC

New York City FC

Rangers

United States

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. January 9, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "James Sands Becomes NYCFC's First Homegrown Player". New York City FC. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "James Sands: The Journey". New York City FC. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "NYCFC makes historic signing: 16-year-old from their backyard". New York Post. June 21, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  5. ^ "2021 MLS Cup". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "James Sands joins Louisville City FC on loan". LouisvilleCityFC.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "James Sands Signs For Rangers". www.rangers.co.uk. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ^ "Midfielder James Sands Returns After Loan Spell and Signs Contract Extension with New York City Football Club". www.nycfc.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "James Sands". New York City FC. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "CONCACAF U17 Championship: Sands Named to Best XI". New York City FC. May 9, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  11. ^ "Meet the USMNT Newbies on the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Roster". www.ussoccer.com.
  12. ^ James Sands at Soccerway. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. ^ James Sands at National-Football-Teams.com
  14. ^ "2021 MLS Cup". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "Rangers 2-0 Hearts". BBC Sport. May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Rangers". BBC Sport. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header". ESPN. August 1, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ "2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster". MLSsoccer.
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