*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:40, 21 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 08:56, 29 September 2022 (UTC)
Michael Isaac "Zac" Williams (born 27 March 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League Two club Crewe Alexandra.
He made his Crewe debut, aged 17, on 9 November 2021 in an EFL Trophy group game against Wolverhampton Wanderers' under-21'satGresty Road,[3] before making his league debut in the following game, a 2–0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers.[4] He made his first start in Crewe's next game, helping the side to a 2–0 win over Gillingham at Gresty Road on 20 November 2021,[5] and then enjoyed a run of games as one of Crewe's first choice centre-backs until falling ill in January 2022.[6] He returned to first-team action, coming on as a half-time substitute for Travis Johnson against Portsmouth at Gresty Road, on 8 March 2022.[7]
In May 2022, Williams signed a new contract at Crewe.[8] After 19 first-team appearances the following season, Williams suffered a torn hamstring which was initially thought likely to rule him out of action for the remainder of the season.[9] However, he returned to the first team on 29 April 2023, making a substitute appearance in Crewe's 2–1 win over Swindon TownatGresty Road.[10] Williams scored his first Crewe goal, in a 2–2 draw against Swindon at the County Ground, on 12 August 2023.[11]
In early 2024, Williams missed a series of games after incurring an ankle injury which required prolonged treatment.[12][13] He returned to regular training at the end of February 2024.[14] In May 2024, Crewe triggered a clause for an extension in Williams' contract.[15]
After winning caps at under-15 and under-16, captaining the team for the latter, he played for the Wales under-18s in March 2021 against England before winning a second cap against the same opposition in September of the same year.[16][17]
Williams was called up to the Wales under-19s squad for the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Georgia, Norway and Kosovo, and made appearances against the latter two in October 2021.[18][19] He earned three further under-19 caps, playing as captain against Hungary[20] and Republic of Ireland,[21] and, after coming on as a second-half substitute, scoring against Gibraltar,[22] in 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers on 21, 24 and 27 September 2022 respectively.[23]
