Tim Ream

Timothy Michael Ream (born October 5, 1987) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a center-back or left-back for Premier League club Fulham, for whom he serves as vice-captain, and the United States national team.

Tim Ream
Personal information
Full nameTimothy Michael Ream[1]
Date of birth (1987-10-05) October 5, 1987 (age 36)[2]
Place of birthSt. Louis, Missouri, United States
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Position(s)Center-back,[4] left-back[5]
Team information
Current team
Fulham
Number13
Youth career
2003–2005St. Louis Scott Gallagher
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2006–2009Saint Louis Billikens82(6)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2009Chicago Fire Premier19(0)
2010–2011New York Red Bulls58(1)
2012–2015Bolton Wanderers114(0)
2015–Fulham281(5)
International career
2010–United States56(1)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's soccer
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up2019 United States
CONCACAF Nations League
Winner2021 United States
Winner2024 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 19, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 24, 2024

Youth and college soccer

Born in St. Louis, Missouri,[6] Ream was a 2005 NSCAA All-Midwest Region selection with his high school, St. Dominic, and after finishing his career with 15 goals and a school-record 39 assists, was tabbed All-State, All-Conference and Class 2 Defensive Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005, was a St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro selection and garnered Archdiocesan Athletic Association Player of the Year honors following senior season. He helped lead St. Dominic to the 2004 Missouri Class 2 state title. Ream also played with academy club St. Louis Scott Gallagher, winning national championships in 2003 and 2004.[citation needed]

Ream attended Saint Louis University where he was a regular figure as a defender for the Saint Louis Billikens, earning NSCAA first-team All-Region and second-team All-Conference honors. During his college years Ream also played for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.[7]

Professional career

New York Red Bulls

"He has a future. I probably shouldn't say too much, but Ream has a chance to be a national team player. He's a center back who is comfortable and calm in possession of the ball. He plays a good passing game, he's an excellent passer. A European-type center back who, I think, reminds me of Rio Ferdinand in the Premier League. Ream is strong tactically and never stressed, and of course he's good in the air. He has a top-class attitude and spirit."

-Red Bulls coach Hans Backe speaking about Tim Ream, March 17, 2010 [8]

Ream was drafted in the second round (18th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by New York Red Bulls.[9] His play during pre-season impressed many observers, including new coach Hans Backe who was pleased with his distribution and tactical awareness.[citation needed]

On March 20, 2010, Ream started and played the full 90 minutes for Red Bulls in a 3–1 victory against Santos FC, which was the first match played at the new Red Bull Arena.[10] He made his professional debut on March 27, 2010, playing the full 90 in New York's opening game of the 2010 MLS season against Chicago Fire that ended in a 1–0 victory for New York.[11] On September 11, 2010, he scored his first professional goal (and MLS goal) against the Colorado Rapids in a 3–1 win for New York Red Bulls. Ream ended his first professional season starting all 30 matches for New York and helped New York capture its second regular season Eastern Conference title.[12]Upon the conclusion of the 2010 season, he was named the team's Defender of the Year, and he was one of three listed candidates for MLS Rookie of the Year.[13][14]

During Ream's second season in New York, he played and started in 28 of 34 matches during the regular season; he missed 6 matches largely due to international call-ups during the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[citation needed]

In December 2011, during the MLS off-season, Ream spent a short time training with both West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers with permission from the Red Bulls to maintain his fitness during the winter break.[15] At the beginning of January 2012, Bolton made a transfer offer of £2.5m for him.[16] Bolton had recently sold Gary Cahill to Chelsea, and needed to find a replacement.[17] The bid was accepted and after personal terms were agreed he received a work permit on January 24.[18]

Bolton Wanderers

Ream playing for Bolton Wanderers in 2015

Bolton completed the signing of Ream on January 26, 2012, on a three-and-a-half-year contract.[19] He canceled his honeymoon so that he could sign for Bolton.[20] He was given the number 32 shirt and made his debut for the club in Bolton's 2–0 FA Cup win at Millwall on February 18.[21] He made his Premier League debut the following weekend in Bolton's 3–0 defeat at Chelsea.[22] On March 10, 2012, he assisted Darren Pratley's opening goal in a 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.[23] He went on to appear ten games straight towards the end of the season, but was unable to help the club survive relegation in the Premier League.[citation needed]

For the start of the 2012–13 season, Ream was given the number 5 shirt, previously worn by Gary Cahill.[24] He was given his first start of the 2012–13 season in a 2–0 loss against Burnley.[25] However, he was sidelined from the first team, due to losing his starting place[26] and was relegated to the substitutes bench. Despite this, Ream went on to make fifteen appearances.[citation needed]

Ahead of the 2013–14 season, Ream was linked with a move to Middlesbrough, a move that was denied by the club and Ream.[27] After appearing the first three matches as an unused substitute, he started as defensive midfielder for four matches in September.[28] In early February 2014, he was forced to wear a protective mask in Wanderers games after a collision with Queens Park Rangers striker Charlie Austin.[29] Throughout the 2013–14 season, Ream played at left back and center back, where he established his partnership with Matt Mills[30] and redeemed himself in the first team making 42 appearances. At the end of that season, he was voted the fans' player of the year[31] and the club's player of the year.[32]

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, on July 6, 2014, Ream signed a new three-year contract with Bolton that lasts until the summer of 2017.[33] Over the course of the season, he made a total of 44 appearances, missing two matches, one as an unused substitute against Derby County on September 27, 2014[34] and one through injury.[35] For the second season in a row, he was named as Bolton's player of the year.[36]

Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Ream was linked with a move to Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, who made a bid for him. However, the bid was rejected.[37]

Fulham

Ream playing for Fulham in 2016

On August 20, 2015, Ream was sold to Fulham, with whom he signed a four-year contract.[38] The move had an undisclosed fee and an option to extend his stay by a further year.[39]

He made his Fulham debut on August 29, 2015, in a 3–1 win over Rotherham United, playing 90 minutes.[40] He made 29 appearances for the club in his first season, partly due to international commitment[41] and injuries.[42][43] After initially playing as a center back, he was used at left back toward the end of the season, following the departure of James Husband.[44] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 loss against Queens Park Rangers on October 1, 2016.[45]

Ream scored his first ever Premier League goal for Fulham on Boxing Day 2022 against Crystal Palace.[46]

On 7 October 2023, Ream made his 300th appearance for Fulham in a 3–1 win over Sheffield United.

On 29 December 2023, Ream extended his contract with Fulham until the summer of 2025.[47]

International career

On November 11, 2010, Ream was called up to the United States men's national soccer team for the first time as part of an 18-man roster for a match against South Africa on November 17 in Cape Town.[48] He made his international debut against South Africa on November 17, 2010. He started the match and played until the 67th minute before being replaced by Nat Borchers. The U.S. won 1–0 with the lone goal coming from fellow Red Bull teammate Juan Agudelo. On January 22, 2011, he earned his second international cap against Chile in a 1–1 draw. He played all 90 minutes at center back.[citation needed]

Ream started in their first game of the 2011 Gold Cup, a 2–0 win over Canada. He also started the second match against Panama, which the U.S. lost 2–1 for their first ever loss in Gold Cup group play. In the 34th minute, he committed a foul on Blas Pérez resulting in a penalty kick for Panama. The penalty was converted by Gabriel Gómez and became the match-winner.[49] In the next match, against Guadeloupe, he was replaced by Eric Lichaj and did not play in the final four matches of the 2011 Gold Cup.[citation needed]

After a two-year absence, Ream was again called into the U.S. national team in 2013[50] appearing as an unused substitute against Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 14, 2013. On September 3, 2014, he played his first international match in three years, playing 45 minutes in a 1–0 win over Czech Republic.[51]

Ream also was called up for the 2015 Gold Cup where he played all 90 minutes against the Haiti national team and helped preserve a 1–0 clean sheet.[52] He scored his first international goal on May 22, 2016, in a friendly against Puerto Rico at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.[53]

On November 9, 2022, Ream was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[54] He started all four games for the U.S. in Qatar, as the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16.

Personal life

In January 2012, Ream married his childhood sweetheart Kristen Sapienza, who is also a soccer player.[55] Twenty-four hours after getting married Ream postponed his honeymoon planned in Tahiti to undergo a move to Bolton Wanderers.[20] Ream later stated in The Bolton News interview that he still made a right choice in postponing his honeymoon.[56]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played May 19, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls2010[57][58]Major League Soccer3011020331
2011[57][58]Major League Soccer2801030320
Total5812050651
Bolton Wanderers2011–12[57]Premier League1301000140
2012–13[57]Championship1501010170
2013–14[57]Championship4202010450
2014–15[57]Championship4403020490
Total114070401250
Fulham2015–16[57]Championship2901020320
2016–17[57]Championship34130302[c]0421
2017–18[57]Championship44110003[c]0481
2018–19[57]Premier League2601020290
2019–20[57]Championship44010003[c]0480
2020–21[57]Premier League702010100
2021–22[57]Championship4611000471
2022–23[57]Premier League3312000351
2023–24[57]Premier League1811020211
Total2815130100803125
Career total4536220190805026

International

As of match played March 24, 2024[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States201010
201160
201200
201300
201440
201590
201611
201750
201800
2019140
202010
202150
202240
202350
202410
Total561

Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.[59]

List of international goals scored by Tim Ream
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1May 22, 2016Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico1–03–1Friendly

Honors

Fulham

United States

Individual

References

External links