Altimont Butler
Encyclopedia
Altimont “Freddie” Butler (born 21 July 1968 in Kingston, Jamaica
) is a former Jamaica football (soccer)
striker
.
When he was seventeen, Butler began his career with Harbour View
. During a tournament in Guadeloupe
, L'Etoile
spotted Butler and signed him to a contract when he was nineteen. In 1990, Butler entered the University of Southern New Hampshire where he played with the men’s soccer team from 1990 to 1993. He received All American recognition three times, twice as a first team (1992 and 1993). Butler graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in computer information. In 2001, he was inducted in the University of New Hampshire Hall of Fame.
where he spent a single season with Torreense
. In 1995, he moved to French club Stade Brest. He also spent time with the North Jersey Imperials
of the USISL.
In February 1996, the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
(MLS) drafted Butler in the second round (eighteenth overall) of the league’s Inaugural Player Draft
. He spent the 1996 season in San Jose before being traded to the Columbus Crew
for Mac Cozier
on November 6, 1996. After appearing in only one game, scoring one goal, for the Crew, Butler left the team to concentrate on his national team commitments in the lead up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
.
On 11 March 1998, Butler signed a one year contract with the Cleveland Crunch
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He played four games at the end of the 1997-1998 season, then retired.
Since then, Butler has worked as a coach and scout while playing amateur and semi-professionally.
. He went on to earn 69 caps, scoring twelve goals. He also played for the Jamaican youth football team. When the national team qualified for the 1998 World Cup, manager Renê Simões
dropped Butler from the team before the tournament for two reasons. First, he was injured several months before the game and second, Butler publicly complained when Simões said he intended to replace several players who had played during the qualification process with better players.
In 2007, Butler was named the head soccer coach at Oratory Preparatory School
in Summit, New Jersey
. Butler coached the team to a 11-6 season and their first appearance in the NJSIAA State Championships since the 1990s.
In 2010, He accepted the head coaching position of the U19 team and Sogndal FC in Norway. Today Butler is the head of player development and the head coach of the reserve team at sogndal football club in Norway.
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
) is a former Jamaica football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Youth career
Butler's youth career began at age 12 with the Golden Star in Port Royal. During the next three years, he had played in the President’s Cup, Minor League and Sid Bartlett League. When he was fourteen, Butler left Port Royal All Age School for Dunoon Technical High School, where he played for the school's football team for three years.When he was seventeen, Butler began his career with Harbour View
Harbour View F.C.
Harbour View Football Club is a Jamaican football club that currently plays in the Digicel Premier League. Harbour View is nicknamed the "Stars of the East" or "Easters" and plays home games at Harbour View Stadium.-History:...
. During a tournament in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, L'Etoile
L'Etoile de Morne-à-l'Eau
L'Etoile de Morne-à-l'Eau is a football club of Guadeloupe, based in the city of Morne-à-l'Eau.They play in the Guadeloupe's first division, the Guadeloupe Championnat National.-Achievements:*Guadeloupe Championnat National: 10...
spotted Butler and signed him to a contract when he was nineteen. In 1990, Butler entered the University of Southern New Hampshire where he played with the men’s soccer team from 1990 to 1993. He received All American recognition three times, twice as a first team (1992 and 1993). Butler graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in computer information. In 2001, he was inducted in the University of New Hampshire Hall of Fame.
Professional career
Following graduation, he moved to PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
where he spent a single season with Torreense
S.C.U. Torreense
Sport Clube União Torreense was founded in Torres Vedras in 1917, with the original name Sport União Torreense. It participated 6 times in the Portuguese Liga and its best result was two seventh final places , coincidentally the team's first two years in the top flight...
. In 1995, he moved to French club Stade Brest. He also spent time with the North Jersey Imperials
North Jersey Imperials
The North Jersey Imperials were a soccer club based in Paramus, New Jersey. They played in the United Soccer Leagues between 1994 and 2001. The Imperials were the first pro team of US national team goalkeeper Tim Howard....
of the USISL.
In February 1996, the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) drafted Butler in the second round (eighteenth overall) of the league’s Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He spent the 1996 season in San Jose before being traded to the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
for Mac Cozier
Mac Cozier
Mac Cozier is a retired American soccer player. He played one season in Major League Soccer, one in the Chilean Second Division, one in USISL and six in the USL First Division...
on November 6, 1996. After appearing in only one game, scoring one goal, for the Crew, Butler left the team to concentrate on his national team commitments in the lead up to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
On 11 March 1998, Butler signed a one year contract with the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). He played four games at the end of the 1997-1998 season, then retired.
Since then, Butler has worked as a coach and scout while playing amateur and semi-professionally.
International
In 1985, Butler started his career with the Jamaica national football teamJamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. He went on to earn 69 caps, scoring twelve goals. He also played for the Jamaican youth football team. When the national team qualified for the 1998 World Cup, manager Renê Simões
Renê Simões
René Rodrigues Simões is a Brazilian football head coach and former footballer.- Coaching career :Born in Rio de Janeiro, he guided Jamaica to the World Cup in France in 1998...
dropped Butler from the team before the tournament for two reasons. First, he was injured several months before the game and second, Butler publicly complained when Simões said he intended to replace several players who had played during the qualification process with better players.
Coaching career
He coached with the New Jersey Dynamos Soccer Club from 2000-2005. Butler currently coaches a MAPS Boys team for the New Jersey Crew Soccer Club aptly named the Jersey Crew Reggae Boyz. His boys team won the US Club State Cup in 2006.In 2007, Butler was named the head soccer coach at Oratory Preparatory School
Oratory Preparatory School
Oratory Preparatory School, commonly known as Oratory Prep, is a Roman Catholic college preparatory day school for boys in grades 7-12, located in Summit, New Jersey, United States, approximately west of Manhattan...
in Summit, New Jersey
Summit, New Jersey
Summit is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 21,457. Summit had the 16th-highest per capita income in the state as of the 2000 Census....
. Butler coached the team to a 11-6 season and their first appearance in the NJSIAA State Championships since the 1990s.
In 2010, He accepted the head coaching position of the U19 team and Sogndal FC in Norway. Today Butler is the head of player development and the head coach of the reserve team at sogndal football club in Norway.