# John Smits

John Smits (born September 7, 1988) is a Canadian soccer player and coach.

## Early life

Smits played youth soccer with A.C. Diavoli.

## University career

From 2008 to 2011, Smits attended the University of Toronto, where he played for the men's soccer team. In 2009, he was named an OUA East Second Team All-Star, after recording a CIS-leading 11 shut outs in 2009. In 2010, he helped the team win the 2010 OUA championship, earning player of the match honours in the final, and was also named an OUA First Team All-Star.

## Club career

In March 2012, Smits signed with FC Edmonton of the North American Soccer League in 2012. Smits made his professional debut against the Atlanta Silverbacks on May 12, 2012, posting a shutout. In 2014, Smits won the NASL Golden Glove as the league's top goalkeeper, after finishing with the lowest goals against average in the league that season. In April 2015, Smits joined the Montreal Impact on a short-term loan for the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League semi-final. He re-joined on another short-term loan for the final. He served as the backup for Montreal and did not make an appearance, before returning to Edmonton for the remainder of the season. After the 2015 season, he was released by the club, after losing his starting spot during the season.
In February 2016, Smits signed with the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL. Smits would only spend one season in Wilmington, as the club announced that they would not participate in the 2017 USL season.
In April 2022, he played one match for Unionville Milliken SC in League1 Ontario.
In May 2022, he made a lone appearance for Canadian Soccer League side Serbian White Eagles FC but broke his foot in the match and had to be substituted.

## International career

Smits has played for the Canada national beach soccer team.
In April 2024, he was named to the Canada national futsal team roster for the 2024 CONCACAF Futsal Championship.

## Coaching career

In July 2017, Smits returned to his university team, the Toronto Varsity Blues, as goalkeeper coach.

## Other playing

In 2023, he played with Sports Leagues Canada FC at The Soccer Tournament, finishing in second place.

## Statistics

Statistics accurate as of May 1, 2022
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Domestic Cup | Domestic Cup | Playoffs | Playoffs | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| FC Edmonton | NASL | 2012 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| FC Edmonton | NASL | 2013 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| FC Edmonton | NASL | 2014 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| FC Edmonton | NASL | 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| FC Edmonton | Total | Total | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 |
| Montreal Impact (loan) | MLS | 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Montreal Impact (loan) | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wilmington Hammerheads | USL | 2016 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Unionville Milliken SC | League1 Ontario | 2022 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 57 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 0 |