After a breakthrough 2023 soccer season, Maple Ridge phenom Taryck ‘TJ’ Tahid is already working at furthering his promising pro career in 2024.
Tahid made pro soccer history in the Canadian Premier League, and played for Team Canada in the U-17 World Cup last year.
Now the 16-year-old is in the Netherlands, where he is training with storied club Feyenoord Rotterdam. They play in the Eredivisie, which is the top level of Dutch football, and have been one of the most successful clubs.
Tahid’s home club, Langley-based Vancouver FC, said he is on a temporary training stint with the Dutch side.
They want him back – Vancouver FC made him one of 12 players from their first season to finish 2023 with a guaranteed contract for the coming season.
Sports media in the Netherlands report Feyenoord intends to sign Tahid if he impresses, so it is uncertain how long he would stay with Vancouver FC.
Last spring, Tahid was the youngest player to sign a standard CPL contract at 16 years and 16 days old. On June 2, he scored against rival Pacific FC, becoming the youngest goal scorer in league history.
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The midfielder finished his first professional season making six starts in 20 appearances for Vancouver FC, and scored three goals.
“TJ’s talents of physicality, technical ability, and his football IQ combined with his strong character and fighting spirit make him a top youth international with the potential to reach global standards,” said Vancouver FC coach Afshin Ghotbi. “TJ has natural instincts to take the right positions, achieve accurate timing and possesses a lazer accurate final touch in front of the goal to make him a natural goal scorer.
“We have witnessed an evolution of a young man into a world class young professional in less than nine months at VFC,” he added.
In November, Tahid played with Canada at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia. Canada lost all three matches, but Tahid appeared in all three games, and was moved by representing his country.
“Lots of pride in that, walking out, singing the national anthem,” said Tahid. “You feel so proud at that moment, it’s hard to explain. But you just have a lot of pride.”
His Feyenoord internship started on Jan. 8. He previously completed internships at New York Red Bulls, FC Midtjylland and Spanish club Villarreal.
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