Overview:

Haitian winger Don Deedson Louicius is at a defining point in his career. After a breakout season in Denmark, he’s fighting for playing time with FC Dallas and to keep his starting position on Haiti’s national team, a test that could shape his future.

At 8:30 a.m. on a weekday in 2018, while most high schoolers in Atlanta sat through first period, 17-year-old Don Deedson Louicius was sprinting down a soccer field, sweat beading on his forehead and a ball glued to his left foot.

Determined to become a professional and in consent with his guardians and coach, Louicius took evening classes during his junior and senior years so he could train three times a day. He missed the typical high school experience — no parties, no hangouts, just drills and matches.

“Soccer was my life,” Louicius said in an interview with The Haitian Times. “Of course, it was worth it. I don’t regret anything.”

Now 24, the Haitian right winger finds himself at a defining moment. After shining in Denmark — where he led Odense Boldklub in scoring during the 2023–24 season — Louicius joined U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) side FC Dallas this summer transfer window. But so far, his debut in the MLS has been rocky: in three months, he’s played just 21 minutes.

A make-or-break moment for a quiet competitor

Louicius’ future depends on how quickly he adapts to Dallas’ system and whether he can keep his starting position on Haiti’s national team, where competition is growing fierce.

“This league takes a little time to figure out,” said Dallas coach Eric Quill. “His one-on-one ability really stands out, his running in behind without the ball and the timing of runs is at a really high level. His ability is something that takes guys getting used to, so the timing in which his teammates find him and him running appropriately in space is forming nicely right now.”

Don Deedson Louicius during a training session at Toyota Stadium. Photo credit: F.C. Dallas

For Haiti, Louicius is known as an explosive presence on the wing but his starting position is no longer guaranteed because the team now boasts players from Europe’s top leagues. At first, English Premier League midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde claimed Louicius’ No. 10 jersey, then French Ligue 1 winger Josué Casimir started over him and performed well in a World Cup qualifier against Nicaragua on Oct. 9, creating the first goal of a 3-0 victory.

Louicius scored a tap-in after coming off the bench, showing that he is still a valuable piece for Les Grenadiers during their World Cup quest.

“Our dream is to play in the World Cup,” he said. “We just have to take every game one by one and be ready.”

Louicius grew up in Tabarre 23, Port-au-Prince, the son of a police officer and a police academy personnel. His father, who also coached youth soccer, introduced him to the sport as soon as he could walk.

“I don’t like crazy times. I just like to be on the soccer field.”

don Deedson Louicius, Haitian soccer player

His parents’ strict rules kept him home most of the time — a routine that shaped his reserved personality.

“I don’t like crazy times,” Louicius said. “I just like to be on the soccer field. After practice, I’m home talking to my family.”

That introverted nature, sports analyst Caleb Jephté Pierre said, may explain his slow adjustment to new environments. 

“You can do everything the coach says, but if you don’t click with the other guys, there might not be chemistry,” Pierre said. “So if someone is an extreme introvert, it might take time for him to integrate into a team.”

From Tabarre to Atlanta, proving himself with Team Haiti

Louicius’ talent was evident early. At age 11, he scored seven goals in four games during a youth tournament in Paris. By 12, he joined Haiti’s national youth academy in Croix-des-Bouquets before moving to Atlanta at 14 to live with a host family.

At first, communication was hard — he used Google Translate to talk to his guardians. But he quickly learned English and excelled at Centennial High School, scoring 40 goals as a freshman before joining the Kalonji Soccer Academy and later Atlanta United FC’s youth system.

A scout spotted him at 18, leading to his first pro contract with Hobro IK in Denmark. The transition was tough — the cold weather, long passes, and cultural isolation tested him — but his persistence paid off.

Louicius debuted for Haiti in 2021 but didn’t get consistent minutes until 2023. Frustrated after being benched against Cuba, he responded by scoring twice in the first 15 minutes against Jamaica in a Nations League match.

One of Don Deedson Louicius’ guardians wearing his Number 10 jersey in June 2025. He wore it to support Louicius when Haiti played the U.S. on June 22. Deedson was on target in that game, but no longer wears Number 10. Photo via Haiti-Tempo’s Facebook account

Since then, he’s earned 25 caps with nine goals and eight assists. Haitians players across the globe praise his speed and creativity.

“He’s so fast with the ball and he’s very technical,” said Rapha Intervil, a winger with Mount Pleasant FA in Jamaica. “He is a player I would love to play with.”

Still, analysts say he must sharpen his finishing. In six professional seasons, Louicius has scored 43 goals in 159 games — solid but not elite.

“He helps create the action but when he has the chance to score he doesn’t,” Pierre said. “For the quality of player he is, if he can finish, he will be at a higher level.”

Quiet but explosive, Don Deedson Louicius is still learning to balance his quiet nature with the pressure of big stages — from Tabarre to Atlanta, from a dreamer to a professional fighting to elevate his game. His next few months could determine whether he breaks through or fades into the background.

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