Marcus Haber

Early career

Haber joined Vancouver Selects in 2002, progressing through the youth academy and helping the team win a national championship in early 2006. Later that year, he played for the Whitecaps FC Reserves in the Pacific Coast Soccer League before moving to Europe, where he spent two seasons with the under-19 team of Dutch Eredivisie club FC Groningen. During his time at Groningen, he made over 20 appearances for the youth team and a further two for the reserves. Haber joined English League One club Leeds United on trial, taking part in their pre-season tour to Ireland ahead of the 2008–09 season. He scored once in two appearances, and stayed with Leeds upon their return to England, with manager Simon Grayson "still showing interest" in signing him. However, no contract offer materialised and Haber began to search for another club. In August 2008, Haber trialled unsuccessfully with Hartlepool United, appearing in a pre-season friendly against York City. Later that month, he had another unsuccessful trial at Rotherham United. In September, he spent two weeks on trial at League Two club Gillingham, playing in reserve matches against Southampton and Crystal Palace, but was not offered a contract.

Vancouver Whitecaps

After an unsuccessful search for a club in Europe, Haber returned to Canada and subsequently signed for the Vancouver Whitecaps on February 11, 2009. He received both the 'Newcomer of the Year' and 'Fan's Favourite' awards following his first…

Haber represented Canada at youth levels from under-16 to under-23, scoring five goals in 32 appearances across all age groups. He made his debut for the senior team in a 2–2 friendly against Ukraine at the Valeriy Lobanovskyi Dynamo Stadium on October 8, 2010, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute for Olivier Occéan. Haber earned his first start for Canada against Japan on March 22, 2013, during which he scored his first senior international goal with a second-half header in a 2–1 defeat. He was named in Canada's squads for the 2013 and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cups. Between 2010 and 2016, Haber earned 27 caps and scored three goals for the national team.

Primarily deployed as a striker, Haber has been described as an "archetypal target man", using his height and physical presence to win aerial duels and hold up play. During his time in Cambodia, his heading ability earned him the nickname "King of the Header".

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Haber is the eldest of three children. He is of Austrian descent through his father. He began playing soccer at the age of five for Dunbar SA, while also playing baseball and basketball during his youth. He attended Lord Kitchener Elementary School and Lord Byng Secondary School in Vancouver.