View source for Aaron Lawrence

{{short description|Jamaican footballer (born 1970)}}
{{Use Jamaican English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image          = 
| caption        = 
| name           = Aaron Lawrence
| fullname       = 
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=y|1970|8|11}}
| birth_place    = [[Lucea, Jamaica|Lucea]], Jamaica
| height         = 1.88 m
| position       = [[Goalkeeper (football)|Goalkeeper]]
| clubnumber     = 
| youthyears1    = 1985–1989
| youthclubs1    = Rusea's High School
| years1         = 1989–1995
| years2         = 1996
| years3         = 1996–2006
| clubs1         = [[Violet Kickers F.C.|Violet Kickers]] 
| clubs2         = [[Long Island Rough Riders]] 
| clubs3         = [[Reno F.C.|Reno]]
| caps1          = 
| caps2          = 10
| caps3          = 
| goals1         = 
| goals2         = 0
| goals3         = 1<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/jff/NPLgoalsocrers.htm |title=WRAY & NEPHEW  PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL SCORERS 2002/03 |accessdate=1 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052642/http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/jff/NPLgoalsocrers.htm |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
| nationalyears1 = 1997–2005
| nationalteam1  = [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]]
| nationalcaps1  = 72<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ja-lawrence-intl.html |title=Aaron Lawrence - International Appearances |accessdate=8 January 2016 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013439/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/ja-lawrence-intl.html |archivedate=5 March 2016  }}</ref>  
| nationalgoals1 = 1 
| manageryears1  = 2006–2009
| managerclubs1  = [[Reno F.C.]]
| manageryears2  = 2014
| managerclubs2  = [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica U15]]
| manageryears3  = 2023–
| managerclubs3  = [[Turks and Caicos Islands women's national football team|Turks and Caicos Islands women]]
| pcupdate       = 
| ntupdate       = 
}}
'''Aaron Lawrence''' (born 11 August 1970) is a Jamaican former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[goalkeeper (football)|goalkeeper]], making over 60 appearances for the [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica national team]].<ref name=rsssf>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/jam-intres-det2.html Jamaica International Matches Details 1998-2010]</ref> In some sources, his birth date is 10 October 1968.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Jamaica Reggae Boyz Players Profile |url=http://www.caribbeanstars.com/jamregboyz.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085623/http://www.caribbeanstars.com/jamregboyz.html |archive-date=7 May 2018 |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IEtLjtqaCTgC&pg=PA1037 |title = The American Soccer Guide|isbn = 9781930852099|last1 = Lodes|first1 = Kirk J.|year = 2008| publisher=Kirk Lodes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thereggaeboyz.com/profiles/proaaron.html|title=Aaron Lawrence the Reggae Boyz, Jamaica Football}}</ref>

==Club career==
Aaron played almost whole of his career in his homeland, playing initially for [[Violet Kickers F.C.]], having a brief spell at [[Long Island Rough Riders]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=1528 |title=FORMER RIDER IN SPOTLIGHT? Goalkeeper Lawrence may play vs. U.S. |access-date=1 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111722/http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/mnt.php?article_id=1528 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> at the United States and then returning to Jamaica to play for [[Reno F.C.]] He was on the verge of joining [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] after obtaining a work permit, but the move fell through after he has broken his leg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Aaron-Lawrence-paints-gloomy-picture-of-Brazil-2014-campaign_14464104|title=Jamaica Observer Limited|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085213/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Aaron-Lawrence-paints-gloomy-picture-of-Brazil-2014-campaign_14464104|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
==International career==
Lawrence had been a member of the [[Jamaica national football team]] for a little more than a decade. His role was primarily as backup to team captain [[Warren Barrett]], until one memorable performance in 1998 at the World Cup finals in France. Starting in Jamaica's third and final game against [[Japan national football team|Japan]], Lawrence shut out the relentless [[Japan]]ese attackers until late in the game when one sneaked by him. He nevertheless protected Jamaica's slim lead and led them to their first World Cup Finals win, a 2–1 result.

He attempted to secure an overseas contract with a European Club but it proved futile, but the player had emerged as Jamaica's first-choice keeper<ref name=rsssf /> and had hoped to lead the Jamaica national team to another [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] appearance. However, with the emergence of [[Donovan Ricketts]], the under twenty-three goalkeeper at the time, Lawrence never managed to fight his way back to the starter's position.

The 'Wild Boy' was a tall, athletic and fleet-footed professional. Although there was perhaps room for improvement in his positioning and handling of balls crossed into the six-yard box, in his defence he was known for pulling off spectacular and timely saves when it mattered most. His vast experience proved useful time and time again for the Jamaica national team in those tough away games. He scored a penalty for Jamaica against India in a friendly match in August 2002.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2224586.stm Jamaica win India clash]</ref>

===International goals===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 29 August 2002 || [[Vicarage Road]], [[Watford]], England|| {{fb|IND}} || align="center"|2–0 || align="center"|3–0 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

==Coaching career==
Lawrence coached Reno FC and also served as a goalkeeping coach for the national team,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2008/11/05/Digicel-hot-shots-intend-to-impress/ |title=Digicel hot shots intend to impress :: Cayman Compass |access-date=1 September 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051321/http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2008/11/05/Digicel-hot-shots-intend-to-impress/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as the director of the Real Madrid Academy in Jamaica<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://coachesacrosscontinents.org/tag/aaron-lawrence/|title=Aaron lawrence - Coaches Across Continents -}}</ref> and manager of second tier Sandals Whitehouse.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/mobile/regional/Champions-Sandals-Whitehouse-seek-to-regain-lead-in-Western-Confed_18425375 |title=Champions Sandals Whitehouse seek to regain lead in Western Confed - Regional - Jamaica Observer Mobile |access-date=1 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121618/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/mobile/regional/Champions-Sandals-Whitehouse-seek-to-regain-lead-in-Western-Confed_18425375 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> He is currently coach of the Jamaican national Under-15 team<ref>{{Cite web |date=Apr 3, 2015 |title=U15 Boys called for extended camp |url=http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/v1/?p=11398 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131547/http://www.jamaicafootballfederation.com/v1/?p=11398 |archive-date=Mar 4, 2016 |url-status=usurped |access-date=1 September 2015}}</ref> and Rusea's High School football team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20150821/lawrence-ruseas-ready-deliver-special-2015|title=Lawrence: Rusea's ready to deliver special 2015|date=21 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Aaron-Lawrence-to-assume-head-coach-duties-at-Rusea-s_15924755|title=Jamaica Observer Limited|access-date=1 September 2015|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085328/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Aaron-Lawrence-to-assume-head-coach-duties-at-Rusea-s_15924755|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Aaron's son, Ruel, was an attacking midfielder playing for [[Portmore United]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20140615/news/news2.php|title = Jamaica Gleaner Online}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{FIFA player|156002|Aaron Lawrence}}
*{{Soccerbase}}

{{Current managers of CONCACAF women's national teams}}
{{Jamaica Squad 1998 World Cup}}
{{Jamaica Squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{Jamaica Squad 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Aaron}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Hanover Parish]]
[[Category:Jamaican men's footballers]]
[[Category:Jamaica men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:20th-century Jamaican sportsmen]]