Wil Trapp, Inter Miami’s deep-lying midfielder, has enjoyed ample success thus far in his career thanks in large part to his natural leadership ability. He leads his teams both on and off the pitch with a genuine drive to improve himself and those around him. This is a belief corroborated by many, including Inter Miami COO & Sporting Director Paul McDonough who has referred to him as “one of the most respected leaders in American soccer.”
Trapp began his career in his hometown as a member of the Columbus Crew SC academy, where he developed his abilities and captained the U-16 and U-18 teams before departing for college at the University of Akron. He shined right from the start with the Akron Zips, starting every one of the team’s 23 matches and earning honors as the No.1 rated freshman in the nation by Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News Freshman All-American, MAC Newcomer of the Year and All-MAC First Team. He went on to make 45 total starts for the Zips, registering eight assists and one goal and helping the team qualify for the NCAA Tournament both seasons.
Before even stepping on the field for Akron, Trapp earned the recognition of the U.S. national team set up, debuting for the U-18 team in 2011. Trapp, who had prior experience with the U-14 and U-15 sides, was called up for the 2011 Lisbon International Tournament where he appeared in matches against the Netherlands and Portugal.
After two years with Akron Trapp made the jump to MLS, returning to his former club by signing a Homegrown Player contract with the Columbus Crew in December 2012. He made his professional debut for the club on July 7, 2013, setting up an important year in his career. He went on to start in 16 games in his rookie season and earn Breakout Performer of the Year honors for the club.
His international career continued to blossom in 2013, as he received call-ups for the 2013 Toulon Tournament, 2013 Concacaf U-20 Championship and 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he served as team captain. For his efforts in 2013, Trapp was named U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year.
The Columbus-born playmaker’s leadership qualities placed him in a position of authority the following season despite being in the early stages of his career. He was named the Crew’s vice-captain entering his second professional season. On May 17, 2014, Trapp became the youngest player in MLS history to feature in a match as a team captain, just 21 years and 122 days old at the time.
Trapp thrived in his new leadership role with the club, helping lead the team to the MLS Cup Playoffs that season. He played in 28 regular season matches for the Crew in 2014, starting in each one and registering a goal and four assists from his position deep in the midfield.
Trapp’s career continued to progress in the following years, as he made his debut for both the U.S. U-23 team and the senior national team. His first senior cap came before his U-23 debut, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly against Chile in January 2015. In March of the same year he joined the U-23 team for the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, playing in four of the team’s five matches in route to a third-place finish in the tournament. In 2016, Trapp served as the captain for the U-23 team in two matches against Colombia.
Meanwhile, the midfielder continued to thrive in Columbus. In 2015 he played every minute of the team’s playoff campaign that ended with a runner-up finish as the Crew lost 1-2 to the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Final. In 2016, Trapp was named an MLS All-Star, and in both 2017 and 2018 he again led the Crew deep into the playoffs. In total, Trapp has made 202 MLS appearances.
Though he had already featured at several different levels for the U.S. national teams, and even served as captain for many, it wasn’t until 2018 that his senior international career fully blossomed. Since January of that year, he has been an active member of the team, making 18 appearances, including appearances in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and international friendlies. He has worn the captain’s armband for his country nine times since then, including eight times in 2018 alone.
In January 2020, a trade brought him to the Sunshine State from his native Ohio, where he had spent the entirety of his career. Trapp brings with him to South Florida all the characteristics that have placed him in leadership positions so frequently throughout his career. Despite being just 27 years old, he is already one of the team’s most respected veteran figures.
