Michael Isaac "Zac" Williams (born 27 March 2004) is a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, of or about Wales * Welsh language, spoken in Wales * Welsh people, an ethnic group native to Wales Places * Welsh, Arkansas, U.S. * Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. * Welsh, Ohio, U.S. * Welsh Basin, during t ...

professional footballer who plays as a defender for club

Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Crewe, Cheshire, England. Its first team competes in League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. Nicknamed 'The Railwaymen' ...

. He is a Wales Under-21 International

Club career

He made his Crewe debut, aged 17, on 9 November 2021 in an

EFL Trophy The English Football League Trophy, officially known as the Vertu Motors, Vertu Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football, football knockout competition open to all clubs in EFL League One and EFL League Two and ...

group game against Wolverhampton Wanderers' under-21s at

Gresty Road Gresty Road or the Alexandra Stadium, currently known as the Mornflake Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Crewe, Cheshire, England. The home ground of Crewe Alexandra, it has an all-seated capacity of 10,153. History C ...

, before making his league debut in the following game, a 2–0 defeat at

Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers Football Club ( ) is a professional association football, football club based in Horwich, Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, which competes in EFL League One, League One, the third level of the Englis ...

. He made his first start in Crewe's next game, helping the side to a 2–0 win over Gillingham at Gresty Road on 20 November 2021, and then enjoyed a run of games as one of Crewe's first choice centre-backs until falling ill in January 2022. He returned to first-team action, coming on as a half-time substitute for Travis Johnson against

Portsmouth Portsmouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. Most of Portsmouth is located on Portsea Island, off the south coast of England in the Solent, making Portsmouth the only city in En ...

at Gresty Road, on 8 March 2022. In May 2022, Williams signed a new contract at Crewe. After 19 first-team appearances the following season, Williams suffered a torn hamstring which was initially thought likely to rule him out of action for the remainder of the season. However, he returned to the first team on 29 April 2023, making a substitute appearance in Crewe's 2–1 win over

Swindon Town Swindon Town Football Club is a professional association football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. The team, known as the "Robins", currently compete in , the fourth level of the English football league system. Founded as Swindon A ...

. Williams scored his first Crewe goal, in a 2–2 draw against Swindon at the County Ground, on 12 August 2023. In early 2024, Williams missed a series of games after incurring an ankle injury which required prolonged treatment. He returned to regular training at the end of February 2024. In May 2024, Crewe triggered a clause for an extension in Williams' contract.

International career

After winning caps at under-15 and under-16, captaining the team for the latter, he played for the Wales under-18s in March 2021 against England before winning a second cap against the same opposition in September of the same year. Williams was called up to the Wales under-19s squad for the

2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship The 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship (also known as UEFA Under-19 Euro 2022) was the 19th edition of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (69th edition if the Under-18 and Junior eras are included), the annual international youth associa ...

qualifiers against Georgia, Norway and Kosovo, and made appearances against the latter two in October 2021. He earned three further under-19 caps, playing as captain against Hungary and Republic of Ireland, and, after coming on as a second-half substitute, scoring against Gibraltar, in 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers on 21, 24 and 27 September 2022 respectively.

Career statistics

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Zac 2004 births Living people Welsh men's footballers Wales men's youth international footballers Wales men's under-21 international footballers Men's association football defenders Crewe Alexandra F.C. players English Football League players 21st-century Welsh sportsmen