{{Short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1982)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = William Etchu Tabi | image = | full_name = William Etchu Tabi | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|11|13}} | birth_place = Mamfe, Cameroon | height = 1.74 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | youthclubs1 = | youthyears1 = Sable FC de Batie | years1 = 2000 | years2 = 2001–2003 | years3 = 2003 | years4 = 2004–2006 | years5 = 2006–2007 | years6 = 2007–2008 | years7 = 2008–2009 | years8 = 2009 | years9 = 2010 | years10 = 2010–2011 | years11 = 2011–2012 | years12 = 2012 | years13 = 2013–2015 | clubs1 = Sable FC | clubs2 = San Lorenzo | clubs3 = Samsunspor | clubs4 = Široki Brijeg | clubs5 = Posušje | clubs6 = Šibenik | clubs7 = Croatia Sesvete | clubs8 = Zrinjski Mostar | clubs9 = Iskra Zelina | clubs10 = Aluminium Hormozgan | clubs11 = Trešnjevka | clubs12 = London City | clubs13 = Burlington SC | caps1 = 17 | caps2 = 22 | caps3 = 2 | caps4 = | caps5 = 17 | caps6 = 21 | caps7 = 11 | caps8 = 5 | caps9 = 14 | caps10 = | caps11 = 4 | caps12 = | goals1 = 6 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | goals4 = | goals5 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | goals9 = 0 | goals10 = | goals11 = 0 | goals12 = | nationalyears1 = 1999 | nationalteam1 = Cameroon U20 | nationalcaps1 = 19 | nationalgoals1 = 5 | manageryears1 = 2013–2015 | managerclubs1 = Burlington SC | manageryears2 = 2019–2024 | managerclubs2 = Galaxy FC }} '''William Etchu Tabi''' (born November 13, 1982)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The African Champions League 2000: |url=http://www.the-shot.com/africa/african-champions-league/2000/group-a.html |access-date=31 May 2026 |website=www.the-shot.com}}</ref> is a Cameroonian former footballer who serves as the Skills Development coach for Burlington SC Academy.
==Club career==
=== Early career === Tabi played in the Cameroon Première Division with Sable FC and competed in the 2000 CAF Champions League.<ref name=":3" /> In 2001, he played abroad in the Argentine Primera División with San Lorenzo.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Soze |first=Keyser |date=27 January 2009 |title=Tabi William |url=https://enunabaldosa.com/2009/01/27/tabi-william/ |access-date=31 May 2026 |website=En Una Baldosa |language=es}}</ref> After a season in Argentina, he played in the Turkish Süper Lig with Samsunspor.<ref name=":2" />
=== Bosnia === In 2004, Tabi signed with Široki Brijeg in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Siroki Brijeg 2004-05 |url=http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/siroki-brijeg/2004-05 |access-date=4 May 2017 |website=en.eufo.de |language=en}}</ref> In his debut season with Široki Brijeg, he appeared in the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League against Neftçi.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=13 July 2004 |title=Široki Brijeg have slight edge |url=https://www.uefa.com/errors/ |access-date=3 January 2026 |website=UEFA.com |language=en}}</ref> The following season, he participated in the 2005–06 UEFA Cup against FC Basel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2005 |title=Former winners Feyenoord, Galatasaray bow out |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-09/30/content_482086.htm |access-date=3 January 2026 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> He also helped the club secure the league title.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bosnia-Hercegovina 2005/06 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/bih06.html |access-date=3 January 2026 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> In 2006, he signed with league rivals Posušje for a season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NK Posusje - Squad 2006-07 |url=http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/nk-posusje/2006-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010073316/http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/nk-posusje/2006-07 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |access-date=3 January 2026 |website=en.eufo.de}}</ref>
=== Croatia === After several seasons in Bosnia, he joined Croatian side Šibenik in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Tabi |url=http://hrnogomet.com/hnl/igrac.php?id=2114&stranica=1 |access-date=19 June 2016 |website=hrnogomet.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woile |first=Dennis Grebasch, Michael |title=HNK Sibenik 2007-08 |url=http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/hnk-sibenik/2007-08 |access-date=9 July 2017 |website=en.eufo.de |language=en}}</ref> Following his short stint with Šibenik, he joined league rivals Croatia Sesvete.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2008 |title=Kako su prvoligaši trgovali |trans-title=How the Premier League players traded |url=https://sportnet.hr/vijesti/363093/nogomet-1-hnl/kako-su-prvoligasi-trgovali/ |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=Sportnet |language=hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2009 |title=I Hajduk i Croatia mašu bijelom zastavom |trans-title=Both Hajduk and Croatia wave the white flag |url=https://sportnet.hr/vijesti/375771/nogomet-1-hnl/i-hajduk-i-croatia-masu-bijelom-zastavom/ |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=Sportnet |language=hr}}</ref>
=== Zrinjski Mostar === In 2009, he returned to the Bosnian top tier by signing with Zrinjski Mostar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 September 2009 |title=Tabi u Zrinjskom |trans-title=Tabi in Zrinjski |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/tabi-u-zrinjskom/23418 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=SPORTSPORT |language=hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2009 |title=Zrinjski u Sarajevo po povoljan rezultat |trans-title=Zrinjski to Sarajevo for a favorable result |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/zrinjski-u-sarajevo-po-povoljan-rezultat/24519 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=SPORTSPORT |language=hr}}</ref> His contract with Zrinjski Mostar was terminated during the winter transfer market.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2010 |title=Ko je kako trgovao? |trans-title=Who traded how? |url=https://sportsport.ba/fudbal/ko-je-kako-trgovao/32004 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=SPORTSPORT |language=hr}}</ref> Tabi played the remainder of the season in the Treća HNL with Zelina.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=William Etchu Tabi |url=https://semafor.hns.family/en/players/141956/william-etchu-tabi/ |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=semafor.hns.family |language=en}}</ref>
=== Iran === Tabi played in the Azadegan League in 2010 by signing with Aluminium Hormozgan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2010 |title=برد آلومینیوم همراه با افتتاح پروژه عظیم مج |trans-title=Aluminum board along with the inauguration of a huge project in... |url=https://hormozgani.net/570/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF%20%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%85%20%D9%87%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%20%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD%20%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DA%98%D9%87%20%D8%B9%D8%B8%DB%8C%D9%85%20%D9%85%D8%AC%EF%BF%BD/ |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=هرمزگانی دات نت |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2010 |title=مومن زاده به آلومينيوم هرمزگان پيوست. |trans-title=Momenzadeh joined Hormozgan Aluminum |url=https://al-ho.blogfa.com/post/61 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=باشگاه آلومینیوم هرمزگان |language=fa}}</ref> Once the season concluded, he left the Iranian circuit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 March 2011 |title=تداوم صدرنشینی،عیدی آلومینیوم به هوادارانش |trans-title=Continuing the lead, Eid Aluminum to its fans |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/khalijefars-2897/%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}}</ref> After his stint in Asia, he returned to Croatia to play for Trešnjevka.<ref name=":1" />
=== Canada === In 2012, he played in the Canadian Soccer League with London City.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 London City roster |url=http://canadiansoccerleague.com/teams/london.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726011150/http://canadiansoccerleague.com/teams/london.asp |archive-date=26 July 2012 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=canadiansoccerleague.com}}</ref> The following season, he signed with the expansion side Burlington SC as a player-coach.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Burlington SC roster |url=http://canadiansoccerleague.com/teams/burlington.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828153540/http://canadiansoccerleague.com/teams/burlington.asp |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=4 February 2014 |website=canadiansoccerleague.com}}</ref>
== International career == He was also part of the Cameroon U-20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=178614/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217033750/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=178614/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2016|title=FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - William TABI|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-06-19}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
== Managerial career == In 2013, Tabi transitioned to the managerial side, being named player-coach for Burlington SC in the Canadian Soccer League.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 May 2013 |title=Burlington's new CSL team still waiting to play first game |url=https://www.insidehalton.com/community-story/3067905-burlington-s-new-csl-team-still-waiting-to-play-first-game/ |access-date=31 October 2019 |website=InsideHalton.com |publisher=Burlington Post |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2013 |title=Burlington Soccer Club makes CSL debut at Nelson Stadium Sunday |work=Burlington Post |pages=29}}</ref> His first successful season as a manager was the 2014 season, where Burlington secured a playoff berth by finishing fifth in the league's first division.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CSL History - Standings |url=https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-standings-history/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204235212/https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/csl-standings-history/ |archive-date=4 December 2024 |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=canadiansoccerleague.ca}}</ref> Their playoff journey concluded in the opening round after a defeat to the North York Astros.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2014 |title=York Region, Astros Through to Semis……Shooters still unbeaten |url=https://canadiansoccerleague.ca/york-region-astros-through-to-semis-shooters-still-unbeaten/ |access-date=4 January 2026 |website=canadiansoccerleague.ca |language=en}}</ref> In his final season with Burlington, he led the club to a playoff berth by finishing sixth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 October 2015 |title=Playoffs: York Region Shooters hosting Burlington SC this Sunday |work=Vaughan Citizen}}</ref> Burlington was eliminated in the first round by the York Region Shooters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 October 2015 |title=League-leading scorer leads York Region Shooters to victory |work=Vaughan Citizen}}</ref>
He is involved as a coach with the Burlington SC Academy in the field of Skills Development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonscacademy.com/coaches.html|title=Burlington Soccer Club Academy – Elite Youth Soccer|website=www.burlingtonscacademy.com|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref> In 2019, he served as the head coach for Galaxy FC in the Canadian Academy of Soccer League.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aofs.ca/copy-of-roster-lc|title=Roster G|website=aofs|language=en|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External sources== * [http://www.hrrepka.com:8080/app/hnl/prikazIgraca.iface?id=2114 1HNL Stats] at HRrepka.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Etchu Tabi, William}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Cameroonian men's footballers Category:Footballers from Southwest Region (Cameroon) Category:Cameroon men's international footballers Category:Cameroon men's under-20 international footballers Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Argentine Primera División players Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) coaches Category:Elite One players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina players Category:Croatian Football League players Category:Sable FC (Cameroon) players Category:San Lorenzo de Almagro footballers Category:Samsunspor footballers Category:NK Široki Brijeg players Category:HŠK Posušje players Category:HNK Šibenik players Category:HŠK Zrinjski Mostar players Category:NK Croatia Sesvete players Category:NK Trešnjevka players Category:London City Soccer Club players Category:Halton United players Category:Cameroonian football managers Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Cameroonian expatriate football managers Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Argentina Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Croatia Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Canada Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada