Walker Zimmerman
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Walker Zimmerman
| image = 2022 FIFA World Cup England 0-0 USA - Walker Zimmerman (cropped).jpg
| caption = Zimmerman with the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
| fullname = Walker Dwain Zimmerman{{cite web |url=http://cloudfront.bernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019_Concacaf_Gold_Cup_Preliminary_Lists_May_20.pdf |title=40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: United States |publisher=CONCACAF |page=16 |access-date=May 21, 2019 |via=Bernews}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|05|19}}
| birth_place = Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States
| height = {{convert|1.90|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce44/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: United States |publisher=FIFA |page=31 |date=November 15, 2022 |access-date=November 24, 2022}}
| position = Center-back
| currentclub = Nashville SC
| clubnumber = 25
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = GSA Phoenix
| collegeyears1 = 2011–2012
| college1 = Furman Paladins
| collegecaps1 = 39
| collegegoals1 = 11
| years1 = 2013–2017
| clubs1 = FC Dallas
| caps1 = 89
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2018–2019
| clubs2 = Los Angeles FC
| caps2 = 51
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2020–
| clubs3 = Nashville SC
| caps3 = 133
| goals3 = 13
| nationalyears1 = 2010–2011
| nationalteam1 = United States U18
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2011–2013
| nationalteam2 = United States U20
| nationalcaps2 = 10
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| nationalyears3 = 2015–2024
| nationalteam3 = United States U23 (O.P.)
| nationalcaps3 = 8
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalteam4 = United States
| nationalcaps4 = 44
| nationalgoals4 = 3
| nationalyears4 = 2017–
| manageryears1 = 2019
| managerclubs1 = UCLA Bruins (assistant)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's soccer}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Medal|Winner|2021 United States|}}
{{Medal|RU|2019 Costa Rica–Jamaica–United States|}}
{{MedalSport|Men's soccer}}
{{Medal|Competition|CONCACAF Nations League}}
{{Medal|W|2023 United States|}}
| pcupdate = April 5, 2025
| ntupdate = January 22, 2025
}}
Walker Dwain Zimmerman (born May 19, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and the United States national team.
A native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Zimmerman played two seasons in college with the Furman Paladins before signing a Generation Adidas deal with Major League Soccer. He was then selected in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas as the 7th overall pick. Initially struggling for playtime due to injuries, Zimmerman established himself as a regular starter in 2016. He started in 38 matches as FC Dallas completed the double, winning the Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup. In December 2017, Zimmerman was traded to expansion side Los Angeles FC, helping the club win the Supporters' Shield in 2019. Zimmerman was also selected for the MLS All-Star team and MLS Best XI. Zimmerman was then traded to another expansion side, Nashville SC, in February 2020. With Nashville, he won back-to-back Defender of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021.
Zimmerman made his debut for the United States in January 2017 against Jamaica. In 2019, he was selected into the squad that finished runners-up in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was also a member of the squad that won the tournament in 2021, starting all three group stage matches before having to leave the tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Club career
=Youth and college=
Zimmerman came through the youth academy at Gwinnett Soccer Association in Lilburn, Georgia, where he was mentored by former Atlanta Silverbacks and Charleston Battery manager Nuno Piteira. Zimmerman also went to Brookwood High School and played soccer there. He was coached by Daniel Klinect.
Zimmerman played college soccer at Furman University between 2011 and 2012. He was named First Team All-Conference 2011, Southern Conference Freshman of the Year 2011, and National Soccer Coaches Association of America NCAA Division I Men's All-America Second Team in 2012.{{Cite web |url=http://walkerzimmerman.com/category/career/ |title={title} |access-date=May 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123114210/http://walkerzimmerman.com/category/career/ |archive-date=January 23, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
=Professional=
File:Walker Zimmerman.jpg in 2013]]
FC Dallas selected Zimmerman in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/17/superdraft-13-fc-dallas-snag-walker-zimmerman-7th-pick|title=SuperDraft '13 – FC Dallas snag Walker Zimmerman with the 7th pick|work=MLSsoccer.com|access-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531045306/http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2013/01/17/superdraft-13-fc-dallas-snag-walker-zimmerman-7th-pick|archive-date=May 31, 2013|url-status=live}} He made his professional debut on May 11, 2013, as a late substitute in a 2–1 victory against D.C. United.
On December 10, 2017, Zimmerman was traded by FC Dallas to new expansion side Los Angeles FC in exchange for $250,000 in General Allocation Money and $250,000 in Targeted Allocation Money. The two clubs also swapped allocation rankings with FC Dallas moving to #1 and Los Angeles FC moving to #11.{{cite news|title=LAFC ACQUIRES WALKER ZIMMERMAN FROM FC DALLAS|url=https://www.lafc.com/walker-zimmerman|access-date=December 10, 2017|work=Los Angeles FC|date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211053441/https://www.lafc.com/walker-zimmerman|archive-date=December 11, 2017|url-status=live}} During the 2019 season, Zimmerman was also an assistant coach for the UCLA Bruins men's soccer program.
On February 11, 2020, Zimmerman was traded to Major League Soccer expansion club Nashville SC in exchange for up to $1.25 million in General Allocation Money and a 2020 international roster spot.{{cite news |title=LAFC Acquires Up To $1.25 Million In Allocation Money From Nashville SC In Exchange For Walker Zimmerman |url=https://www.lafc.com/post/2020/02/11/lafc-acquires-125-million-allocation-money-nashville-sc-exchange-walker-zimmerman |access-date=February 11, 2020 |work=Los Angeles FC |date=February 11, 2020}}
On February 29, 2020, Zimmerman scored the first goal in Nashville SC history.
On April 29, 2022, Nashville announced they had signed Zimmerman to a contract extension through 2025, and that it would also make him a Designated Player on their roster.{{cite web|url=https://www.nashvillesc.com/news/nashville-soccer-club-extends-contracts-of-mls-best-xi-hany-mukhtar-and-walker-z|title=Nashville Soccer Club Extends Contracts of MLS Best XI Hany Mukhtar and Walker Zimmerman|date=April 29, 2022|work=Nashville SC}} The new contract made Zimmerman only the fourth American defender to be signed to a DP deal in league history.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/3281638/2022/04/29/walker-zimmerman-nashville-sc-contract/|title=How Nashville SC made Walker Zimmerman a designated player: 'He was our Tom Brady'|date=April 29, 2022|work=The Athletic|first=Paul|last=Tenorio}}
International career
File:USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago (48124887166) (cropped) 2.jpg at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup]]
On January 6, 2017, Zimmerman was called up for the first time to the United States national team by coach Bruce Arena.{{cite web |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/01/05/16/31/20170105-mnt-release-head-coach-bruce-arena-calls-32-players-for-january-camp |title=Arena Calls 32 Players for MNT January Camp |publisher=U.S. Soccer |date=January 5, 2017 |access-date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106010928/http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/01/05/16/31/20170105-mnt-release-head-coach-bruce-arena-calls-32-players-for-january-camp |archive-date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live }} Zimmerman earned his first cap and start against Jamaica in a January Camp friendly on February 3, 2017. He was named player of the match.{{cite web|url=http://www.fcdallas.com/post/2017/02/03/fc-dallas-defender-walker-zimmerman-makes-usmnt-debut-named-player-match|title=FC Dallas Defender Walker Zimmerman Makes USMNT Debut, Named Player of the Match|date=February 3, 2017|access-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204171043/http://www.fcdallas.com/post/2017/02/03/fc-dallas-defender-walker-zimmerman-makes-usmnt-debut-named-player-match|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=live}} He scored his first goal (a header) on May 28, 2018, against Bolivia. Zimmerman was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making appearances in all four matches. During the opening match against Wales, Zimmerman tackled Gareth Bale, the Welsh attacker, for penalty in the 82nd minute. Bale scored the penalty and tied the game. The game ended 1–1. According to ESPN, it was "a clumsy and unnecessary challenge".{{Cite web |date=2022-11-21 |title=On brink of win, USMNT can't close out Wales |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-world-cup/story/4806871/on-brink-of-winusmnt-cant-close-out-wales |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Personal life
Zimmerman was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, on May 19, 1993, to Becky and David Zimmerman. He has two older siblings.
Zimmerman is a Christian.{{cite web |last1=Doering |first1=Joshua |title=Walker Zimmerman leans on faith as he leads Nashville SC, USMNT |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/soccer/2021/06/17/walker-zimmerman-faith-nashville-sc-usmnt/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2021}} Walker is married to Sally Zimmerman. They have one child together.{{cite web |last1=Doering |first1=Joshua |title=Walker Zimmerman leads Nashville SC into MLS playoffs, grateful for 'how sacrificial God's love is' |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/soccer/2021/11/23/walker-zimmerman-nashville-fc-gods-love/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{updated|match played April 5, 2025}}{{Soccerway|walker-zimmerman/287841|access-date=January 31, 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|U.S. Open Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="6"|FC Dallas
|2013 |rowspan="5"|MLS |7 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 2 | ||||
| 2014
|10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2015
|20 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 1 | |||
| 2016
|30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 37 | 4 | ||
| 2017
|22 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!89 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 110 | 8 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Los Angeles FC
|2018 |rowspan="2"|MLS |26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 4 | |||
| 2019
|25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!51 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 59 | 5 | |||
| rowspan="7"|Nashville SC
|2020 |rowspan="6"|MLS |22 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 3 | ||||
| 2021
|25 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 3 | ||||
| 2022
|30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2023
|24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 2 | 33 | 4 | |||
| 2024
|25 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2025
|7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 7 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!133 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 153 | 15 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!273 | 25 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 322 | 28 |
=International=
{{updated|match played January 22, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/66511/Walker_Zimmerman.html|title=Zimmerman, Walker|website=National Football Teams|access-date=May 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413191304/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/66511/Walker_Zimmerman.html|archive-date=April 13, 2018|url-status=live}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="9"|United States
|2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 44 | 3 |
:Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zimmerman goal.
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center"|1 | May 28, 2018 | Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, United States | {{fb|BOL}} | style="text-align:center"|1–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | Friendly |
| style="text-align:center"|2 | January 27, 2019 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, United States | {{fb|PAN}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0
|Friendly | |
| style="text-align:center"|3 | February 2, 2022 | Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States | {{fb|HON}} | style="text-align:center"|2–0 | style="text-align:center"|3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honors
FC Dallas
Los Angeles FC
United States
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/602722 |title=United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header |work=ESPN |date=August 1, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2023}}
- CONCACAF Nations League: 2022–23{{Cite web |date=18 June 2023 |title=U.S. beats Canada to win Nations League as Balogun opens account |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/667792 |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=ESPN}}
Individual
- MLS All-Star: 2019,{{cite web |title=2019 MLS All-Star Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team |website=Major League Soccer |access-date=July 14, 2019 |archive-date=July 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715014938/https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2019/rosters/mls-all-star-team |url-status=dead }} 2021,{{cite web |title=2021 MLS All-Star Team Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2021-mls-all-star-team-roster |website=MLSsoccer}} 2022,{{cite web |title=2022 MLS All-Star Team Roster |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2022-mls-all-star-team-roster |website=MLSsoccer}} 2023{{cite web|title=2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2023/news/2023-mls-all-star-team-roster|website=Major League Soccer|access-date=July 17, 2023|date=July 7, 2023}}
- MLS Best XI: 2019,{{cite news |title=2019 MLS Best XI |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/10/28/2019-mls-best-xi |website=Major League Soccer |date=October 28, 2019 |access-date=October 28, 2019}} 2020,{{cite web |title=MLS Fact and Record Book |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |website=Major League Soccer |access-date=October 28, 2019 |page=163 |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716023458/https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/mls-fact-and-record-book |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=2020 MLS Best XI presented by The Home Depot |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/20/2020-mls-best-xi |website=Major League Soccer |date=November 20, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2020}} 2021, 2022,{{cite web|title=2022 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2022-mls-best-xi-presented-by-continental-tire|website=Major League Soccer|date=November 2, 2022|access-date=November 2, 2022}} 2023{{cite web|title=2023 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2023-mls-best-xi-presented-by-continental-tire|website=Major League Soccer|date=November 28, 2023|access-date=November 28, 2023}}
- MLS Defender of the Year: 2020,{{cite news |title=Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman named 2020 MLS Defender of the Year |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/11/18/nashville-scs-walker-zimmerman-named-2020-mls-defender-year |website=Major League Soccer |date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 18, 2020}} 2021
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{MLS player|walker-zimmerman}}
- [https://furmanpaladins.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2369 Walker Zimmerman] at Furman Paladins
- {{U.S. Soccer player|z/walker-zimmerman}}
- {{Team USA|new_id=walker-zimmerman}}
- {{Olympics.com|walker-zimmerman}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20241007210731/https://www.olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/walker-zimmerman_1943939 Walker Zimmerman] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics (archived, [https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024/atleta/walker-zimmerman_1943939 alternate link])
- {{Official website|https://www.walkerzimmerman.com/}}
{{Nashville SC squad}}
{{Navboxes
| title = United States squads
| bg = white
| fg = #002868
| bordercolor = #BF0A30
| list =
{{United States squad 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 2022 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States men's football squad 2024 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Awards
|fg= navy
|bg= gold
|list1=
{{2013 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{FCDallasFirstPick}}
{{MLS Defender of the Year}}
{{2019 MLS Best XI}}
{{2020 MLS Best XI}}
{{2021 MLS Best XI}}
{{2022 MLS Best XI}}
{{2023 MLS Best XI}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zimmerman, Walker}}
Category:Sportspeople from Lawrenceville, Georgia
Category:Soccer players from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Furman Paladins men's soccer players
Category:FC Dallas draft picks
Category:Los Angeles FC players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:United States men's youth international soccer players
Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players
Category:United States men's under-23 international soccer players
Category:United States men's international soccer players
Category:2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2022 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:American soccer coaches
Category:UCLA Bruins men's soccer coaches
Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players
Category:Designated Players (MLS)