Kris Twardek

Kristopher David Twardek (born 8 March 1997) is a Canadian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Jagiellonia Białystok of the Ekstraklasa. A former youth international for the Czech Republic, he has been capped by Canada at full international level.

Kris Twardek
Twardek playing for Braintree Town in 2017
Personal information
Full name Kristopher David Twardek[1]
Date of birth (1997-03-08) 8 March 1997[2]
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Jagiellonia Białystok
Number 15
Youth career
West Carleton SC
Ottawa South United
2013–2015 Millwall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Millwall 2 (0)
2017 → Braintree Town (loan) 12 (0)
2018 → Carlisle United (loan) 12 (0)
2018–2019 Sligo Rovers 47 (2)
2020 Bohemians 13 (1)
2020– Jagiellonia Białystok 7 (0)
National team‡
2013–2014 Czech Republic U17 11 (1)
2015 Czech Republic U18 4 (0)
2016 Czech Republic U19 2 (0)
2017 Canada U20 5 (2)
2018– Canada U23 4 (0)
2017– Canada 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:55, 30 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 June 2018

Early and personal life

Twardek was born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in Ottawa.[3] His father is Czech and his mother is Canadian.[3]

Club career

Early career

Twardek began playing with West Carleton SC at the age of five.[3] He graduated from the Ottawa South United Academy before signing for English club Millwall.[4]

Millwall

In 2013, Twardek joined the academy of English Championship side Millwall and signed his first professional contract with the club in April 2015.[4][5][6]

After missing the start of the 2015–16 season, due to a dislocated toe sustained in July, he returned from injury on 8 October 2015, playing in the reserve match against Plymouth Argyle U21.[7] Towards the end of the 2015–16 season, Twardek appeared three times as an unused substitute bench.[8] Following this, Twardek signed a one–year contract extension with the club.[9]

Twardek made his senior debut for Millwall on 30 August 2016, in an EFL Trophy game against West Bromwich Albion under-23s, where he set up a goal for Jimmy Abdou, in a 2–0 win.[10][11] However, although he made three appearances, his first team place at Millwall became limited, leading him to get loaned out for first team football.[12] By the time he went out on loan, he made three appearances for the side.

In the 2017–18 season, Twardek made his league debut for Millwall on 21 November 2017, coming on as a late substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Hull City.[13] He went on to make two more appearances for the side before being loaned out to Carlisle United.[14] He was released by Millwall at the end of the 2017–18 season.[15]

Loan spells
Twardek defending a corner against York City on 1 April 2017, while at Braintree Town.

On 5 January 2017, Twardek joined National League side Braintree Town on a 28-day loan.[16] He made his Braintree Town debut two days later, where he started the whole game and set up a goal, in a 2–1 loss against Chester.[17] His performance at Braintree Town resulted in his loan spell being extended for another month and eventually for the rest of the season.[18] He went on to make 12 appearances for the side, as Braintree Town were relegated from the National League at the end of the season after finishing in the bottom four.[19]

Twardek moved on loan to Carlisle United on 26 January 2018 for the rest of the season.[20] He made his Carlisle United debut, where he started and earned himself a Man of the Match, in a 1–0 win over Forest Green Rovers on 30 January 2018.[21] Although he made three more starts,[22] Twardek most appearances comes from substitute bench, leading him to make 12 appearance for Carlisle United.[23] At the end of the 2017–18 season, Twardek's loan spell with Carlisle United came to an end.[24]

Sligo Rovers

After being released by Millwall, Twardek joined Irish club Sligo Rovers on 3 July 2018.[25] Twardek made his Sligo Rovers debut, where he came on as a substitute for Caolan McAleer in the 69th minutes, in a 2–1 loss against Bray Wanderers on 8 July 2018.[26] He scored his first goal for the club on 1 March 2019 against Finn Harps in a 2–1 victory.[27] Twardek was acknowledged as the club's Player of the Month in July and August 2019.[28] He left the club at the end of the 2019 season.[29]

Bohemians

In November 2019, Twardek signed for Bohemians ahead of the 2020 season.[30] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2-0 league win over his former side Sligo Rovers on 24 April 2020 in Dalymount Park.[31] Twardek was named February Player of the Month by the club's fans via an online poll.[32]

Jagiellonia Białystok

On October 2, 2020 Ekstraklasa club Jagiellonia Białystok announced they had signed Twardek.[33]

International career

Twardek is eligible to play for Czech Republic (through his father and passport) and Canada (through his mother and his birth country).[34] Having been capped for the Czech Republic levels from under–17 to under–19 side, he switched his international allegiance to Canada in 2016.[6][35][36]

Youth

In October 2013, Twardek was called up by Czech Republic national under-17 side, leading him to make his debut against Israel U17, in a 4–2 win.[37] On 20 February 2014, he scored his first Czech Republic U17 goal, in a 2–2 draw against Wales U17.[38] Twardek went on to make 11 appearances and scoring once, with his last appearance came on 31 March 2014 against Albania U17, with a 2–0 win.[39]

In April 2015, Twardek was called up by the under-18 side, making his debut on 20 April 2015, in a 2–1 win over United Arab Emirates U18.[40] He went on to make three more appearances for the under-18 side.[41] The following year, in February 2016, Twardek was called up by under-19.[42] He played in both matches against Greece U19 on 2 February 2016 and 4 February 2016, drawing 1–1 and losing 1–0 respectively.[43]

Despite making no appearance since switching to Canada, Twardek was nominated for Canada's Under-20 Player of the Year award in 2016.[44] In February 2017, Twardek was named to Canada's roster for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship[45] He didn't made his debut for the side until on 17 February 2017, where he started and played the whole game, in a 1–0 loss against Honduras U20.[46] He then scored his first goal for the side, in a 2–0 win over Antigua and Barbuda U20 on 23 February 2017.[47] He was named the Canada U20 Player of the Year in December 2017.[48]

In May 2018, Twardek was named to Canada's under-21 squad for the 2018 Toulon Tournament.[49] He made his debut for the side on 28 May 2018, where he was given the captaincy and played 66 minutes before coming off as a substitute, in a 0–0 draw against Portugal U19.[50] Twardek then captained the side on two more occasions.[51] Twardek was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on February 26, 2020.[52]

Senior

Twardek was called up to the Canadian senior team for a friendly against El Salvador on 29 September 2017.[53] He made his national team debut against El Salvador, where he came on as a late substitute, in a 1–0 loss.[54]

Career statistics
As of 30 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall 2016–17[10] League One 0000003[lower-alpha 1]030
2017–18[14] Championship 2010000030
Total 2010003060
Braintree Town (loan) 2016–17[2] National League 120——3[lower-alpha 2]0150
Carlisle United (loan) 2017–18[14] League Two 120000000120
Sligo Rovers 2018[2] LOI Premier Division 110001020140
2019 362351000416
Total 472352020556
Bohemians 2020 LOI Premier Division 13110001[lower-alpha 3]0151
Jagiellonia Białystok 2020–21 Ekstraklasa 7000000070
Career total 9335520901098
  1. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  2. Appearances in FA Trophy
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Individual

References
  1. "Club list of registered players as at 16 May 2015" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  2. Kris Twardek at Soccerway. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. "Profile". Canada Soccer Association. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  4. Peter Robb (20 February 2015). "Former Ottawa soccer player signs with British side". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  5. "Young Millwall quartet sign first professional contracts". News at Den. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. "Millwall winger Kris Twardek gets Canada U20s call-up". Millwall F.C. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. "Nelson and Twardek return to help Millwall U21s to cup win". News at Den. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Injury report from the Millwall camp". Millwall F.C. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  8. "Millwall 1 – 0 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Bury 1 – 3 Millwall". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Millwall 3-0 Oldham: Millwall ease to play-off place". Sky Sports. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  9. "Millwall youngster Kris Twardek signs new one-year deal". News at Den. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  10. "Games played by Kris Twardek in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  11. "Match Report: Millwall 2 – 0 West Brom". Millwall F.C. 30 August 2016. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  12. "Millwall midfielder open to loan move". News at Den. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  13. "Millwall 0 – 0 Hull City". BBC Sport. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  14. "Games played by Kris Twardek in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  15. "Tim Cahill and Jimmy Abdou: Millwall release veteran Australian and midfielder". BBC Sport. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  16. "Loan move for Kris". Millwall F.C. 5 January 2017. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  17. "Braintree somehow lose game that should have been won by half-time". Braintree and Witham Times. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  18. "Loan moves don't mean permanent departures for Iron players". Braintree and Witham Times. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Millwall loanee Kris Twardek keen to "get stuck in" during spell with Braintree Town". Braintree and Witham Times. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  19. "Braintree Town relegated, but boss Hakan Heyrettin "probably" wants to stay on". Eastern Anglian Daily Times. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  20. "Carlisle United sign Cole Stockton and Kris Twardek". BBC Sport. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  21. "Millwall's Twardek stars on Carlisle debut". News at Den. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  22. "Carlisle Utd shattered by two injury-time goals in dramatic defeat at Wycombe". News and Star. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Another Jamie Devitt strike in vain as first-half flaws cost Carlisle Utd at Notts County". News and Star. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  23. "Bennett and Nadesan make all the difference as Carlisle Utd keep their campaign alive". News and Star. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Carlisle Utd cannot afford many more slips in play-off race after losing two-goal lead against Crawley - with fans gallery". News and Star. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  24. "CONTRACTS: Seven offered as season draws to a close". Carlisle United F.C. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  25. "Canadian international Twardek signs". Sligo Rovers F.C. 3 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  26. "Struggling Bray secure important win days after announcing all players available for sale". The 42.ie. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  27. McNulty, Chris (1 March 2019). "Parkes and Twardek on target as Sligo Rovers win first game under Liam Buckley against Finn Harps".
  28. Rovers, Sligo (6 September 2019). "For the second month in a row, Kris @Twardek claims the Wehrly Bros Jewellers player of the month award. Well done Kris for your displays in August and thank you all for voting pic".
  29. "Squad update – Sligo Rovers".
  30. "Bohs make four new signings in 11 squad additions". RTE. 26 November 2019.
  31. "League Report: Bohemians 2 - 0 Sligo Rovers". ExtraTime.ie.
  32. "Kris Twardek is DesKellyIE Player of the Month". Bohemian FC Twitter. 3 March 2020.
  33. "KRIS TWARDEK NOWYM ZAWODNIKIEM JAGIELLONII". 5 October 2020.
  34. "Sligo Rovers New Boy Kris Twardek already experiencing the highs and lows". The Irish Mirror. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  35. "Profile" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  36. "Kris Twardek: Morecambe away is 'the perfect next game to have' for Carlisle Utd". News and Star. 12 April 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  37. "Czech Republic U17 4 – 2 Israel U17" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  38. "Wales U17 2 – 2 Czech Republic U17" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  39. "Albania U17 0 – 2 Czech Republic U17" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  40. "Slovakia cup: Osmnáctka začala vítězstvím" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  41. "FOTO: Slovakia cup: Osmnáctka si poradila i s Norskem" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "FOTO: Slovakia cup: Osmnáctka obsadila druhé místo" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  42. "Nominace reprezentace do 19 let pro přípravné zápasy v Řecku" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  43. "První příprava v Řecku neměla vítěze" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Druhou přípravu v Řecku rozhodl Čapek" (in Czech). Football Association of the Czech Republic. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  44. "Award nominees announced for annual Canada Soccer Player Awards". Canada Soccer Association. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  45. Neil Davidson (9 February 2017). "Canada names young squad for CONCACAF U-20 Championship". Sportsnet. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  46. "Canada shows well in 0:1 loss in CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship opener". Canada Soccer. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  47. "Canada ends CONCACAF Men's Under-20 Championship with positive 2:0 win". Canada Soccer. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  48. "Twardek & Fleming named Canadian U-20 Players of the Year for Canada Soccer". Canada Soccer. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  49. Alicia Rodriguez (19 May 2018). "Canada national team roster for prestigious Toulon Tournament released". Major League Soccer.
  50. "Canada pulls together significant 0-0 draw against heavyweights Portugal". Canada Soccer. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  51. "Undefeated Canada takes command of first place with spirited 1:0 victory". Canada Soccer. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
    "Canada place 6th at prestigious Toulon tournament in France". Canada Soccer. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  52. "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  53. Stephen Sandor (29 September 2017). "Zambrano picks a Canadian side filled with national-team newbies for friendly against El Salvador". The 11.ca. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  54. "Canada 0-1 El Salvador: Reds attack goes dull in friendly". Waking the Red. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  55. "Twardek and Fleming named Canadian U20 players of the year". canadasoccer.com. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
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