David Edward Edgar (born May 19, 1987) is a Canadian soccer coach and former professional player, he serves as assistant coach of Forge FC.
As a player he was a centre-back who began his professional career in England with Premier League side Newcastle United, before also going on to feature in the top flight for Burnley. He went on to feature in the Football League for Swansea City, Birmingham City, Sheffield United later having a stint with non-league Hartlepool United. He also played in Major League Soccer with Vancouver Whitecaps FC before finishing his career with spells at Nashville SC, Ottawa Fury and Forge FC.
Edgar represented Canada at various levels having made his debut for the Canadian senior team on February 9, 2011, and was a member of the Canadian U-20 team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Club career
Early career
Edgar grew up in Kitchener and began playing soccer at age three with Kitchener SC. He attended Saint Kateri Catholic Elementary School, where he broke many athletic records including the 800 m, 1500m and long jump and won athlete of the year in grade eight. A sports-obsessed child, Edgar tried his hand at ice hockey, long and middle distance running as well as soccer. When Edgar was nine, his father Eddie took him to England to compete in a soccer tournament, which was sponsored by Manchester United. Edgar impressed at the tournament, to the extent he was offered a scholarship deal by Manchester United. However, he turned down the opportunity, opting to stay in Canada for the time being. He also excelled at hockey and was even considered to have had the potential to be drafted into the NHL.
From the age of 11 he began playing soccer at the provincial level for Ontario, along with his future international teammate Jaime Peters. He continued to switch between playing hockey and soccer, however at 13 years of age he decided to quit hockey and focus primarily on playing soccer. To improve his level of play his father had arranged for him to sign with London City of the Canadian Professional Soccer League.
Newcastle United
After impressing in trials for numerous soccer clubs including Celtic, he was offered a scholarship at the Newcastle United academy, which he accepted. Aged 14, he left Canada and moved into his grandmother's home in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear.
Edgar began playing regularly in the academy and made his debut for the reserve team on April 10, 2003 against Bradford City. Edgar caught the eye of Spanish club Málaga CF in September 2005 when Newcastle played the La Liga club in a pre-season friendly game. Málaga, as well as a few English clubs, declared an interest in signing him. However, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd was quick to announce that Edgar was not for sale, and that he had been given a new contract by the club to ward off any further interest. Edgar began making more regular appearances in the reserve team during the 2005–06 season. On May 19, 2006, while celebrating his nineteenth birthday, he played and scored in the Canadian Under-20 side's 2–1 victory over the Brazilian Under-20 side. This was the first victory Canada have ever had over Brazil in any level of men's soccer.
Edgar continued to appear for Newcastle's reserves and he was called up to the first team squad due to a lengthy injury list midway through the 2006–07 FA Premier League season. He made his first team debut for Newcastle against Bolton Wanderers on December 26, 2006. On January 1, 2007 during his home debut, he scored his first goal for the club with a long range strike against Manchester United in a 2–2 draw. Edgar was playing in the unfamiliar position of full back as part of a makeshift Newcastle defence consisting of three under-21 players and a winger, due to injuries to first team defenders. Edgar was later named man of the match and drew praise from Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder for his performance during the game, having marked Cristiano Ronaldo effectively.