Player Details

Name

Ethen Sampson

Height

5' 10"

Weight

165 lbs

Date of Birth

12.28.1993 (30)

Birthplace

Mitchell's Plain, South Africa

Position

Defender

Player Category

Homegrown
Career Summary

Sampson, 21, joined Vancouver’s MLS roster after spending a year with the club’s U-23 PDL team. Hailing from Mitchell’s Plain, South Africa, Mitchell signed as a Homegrown player on March 6, 2014.

 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

2014: Sampson made two appearances after signing with the first team in 2014. The South African defender made his debut against D.C. United on September 6 at BC Place, starting and playing the first 54 minutes to help the ‘Caps keep a shutout in a 0-0 draw. The hard-nosed defender also started and played the full 90 minutes in a 2-1 road loss at FC Dallas. Sampson wrapped up the year by starting and playing the full 90 minutes in the team’s second ever playoff appearance, a 2-1 defeat at FC Dallas.

 

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE

2013: The 5-foot-10, 165-pound right back started 13 of his 14 appearances in the MLS Reserve League for a total of 1,064 minutes player while also recording one goal.

 

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE

2014: Sampson appeared in one match for Whitecaps FC U-23, playing 28 minutes against Lane United on July 4. 2013: Started five of his six regular season appearances with Whitecaps FC U-23, totaling 383 minutes played.

 

INTERNATIONAL

Internationally, Sampson earned a call-up to a South African U-20 national team training camp in 2011.

 

YOUTH/AMATEUR

Before joining Whitecaps FC on a trial in October 2012, Sampson enjoyed a successful four-year stint with South African club ASD Cape Town – an elite soccer school in the Western Cape. Sampson helped ASD Cape Town win the U-17 Engen Tournament in 2010 and finish as the runner-up at the National U-19 Metropolitan Cup in 2011. The Mitchell's Plain, South Africa native was also recognized individually in both those competitions, as he was named the top defender at the U-17 Engen Tournament and the top player at the Metropolitan Cup the following year. Sampson was unanimously voted as club captain at the age of 15 after just a month at the school. He was the second youngest player on the team.