Brandon Pollard

Last updated
Brandon Pollard
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-10-09) October 9, 1973 (age 49)
Place of birth Richmond, Virginia, United States
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1992–1995 Virginia Cavaliers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–2000 Dallas Burn 114 (0)
2000 → Tennessee Rhythm (loan) 1 (0)
2000 → Texas Rattlers (loan) 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brandon Pollard (born October 9, 1973, in Richmond, Virginia) is a retired American soccer player who played as a defender. He is probably best known for having his career ended by a vicious tackle from Dema Kovalenko. [1] Pollard was a standout player with the University of Virginia and was a member of the United States men's national soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. [2]

Contents

Youth

Pollard grew up in Virginia where he attended J.R. Tucker High School. He was a four-time All Colonial District, and All State soccer player as well as a Parade Magazine All American as a senior.

After graduating from high school, Pollard attended the University of Virginia where he was a defender on the men's soccer team. While at Virginia, he was a member of the 1992, 1993, and 1994 NCAA championship teams. On an individual level, he was selected as second team All American in 1993 and a first team All American in 1994 and 1995, his junior and senior years.

National teams

During Pollard's collegiate career, he also became a regular with various U.S. youth national teams. In 1993, he was of the World University Games soccer team. That year he also started all four games at the U-20 World Cup. In that tournament, the U.S. went 1-1-1 in the first round, making the second round only to fall eventual champions Brazil. In 1995, he was a member of the U.S. team at the Pan American Games.

Professional

In 1996, the Dallas Burn selected Pollard in the first round (third overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft. Pollard played only ten games with the Burn that season, largely because of time spent at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In 1997, Pollard worked himself into a regular player on the Burn back line and was protected in the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft. In 1998 and 1999, his career began to hit it stride as he played 29 games and 31 games (all starts) respectively. However, his career took a hit during the last few minutes of the Burn's playoff game with the Chicago Fire. In that game, Fire player Dema Kovalenko tackled Pollard, shattering his leg. Although Pollard came back for the 2000 season, even going on loan with the Tennessee Rhythm in the USL A-League for one game and the Texas Rattlers for three games, he never regained the form he had prior to the injury. He retired from playing professionally during the 2001 pre-season.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Agoos</span> American soccer player (born 1968)

Jeffrey Alan Agoos is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. He is one of the all-time appearance leaders for the United States national team. Agoos served as the Sporting Director for the New York Red Bulls, and currently is the Vice President of Competition for Major League Soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Pope</span> American soccer player

George Edward Pope is an American former soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer and spent eleven years as a defender for the United States national team. He spent most of his career playing for D.C. United. Pope is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

The 1999 Major League Soccer College Draft was held on February 6 and 7, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first round of the draft took place on February 6 with the second and third rounds on February 7. The College Draft was followed by the 1999 MLS Supplemental Draft later on February 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie O'Brien</span> Irish footballer

Ronnie O'Brien is an Irish retired footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dema Kovalenko</span> American footballer

Dmytro "Dema" Kovalenko is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Dodd</span> American soccer player

Mark Dodd is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. Dodd spent one season in the Major Indoor Soccer League, six in the American Professional Soccer League, and four in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn. He also earned fifteen caps with the US Men’s National Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Moor</span> American soccer player

Drew Moor is an American former professional soccer player who played as a center-back in Major League Soccer.

Dante Deneen Washington is an American former soccer player who played as a striker.

Erik Bradley Imler is an American soccer coach and former player. He won national championships while playing at the University of Virginia before becoming part of the US team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He is currently an assistant coach for Stumptown AC in the National Independent Soccer Association.

John Kerr Jr. is a retired soccer midfielder who played professionally in the United States, Canada, England, France and Northern Ireland during a much traveled and varied playing career. He is currently head coach of the Duke University men's soccer team. Kerr was named the 1986 Hermann Award winner as the top collegiate player of the year. Born in Canada, he also earned sixteen caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego Soñora</span> Argentine footballer

Diego Luis Soñora is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He is the father of Alan Soñora and Joel Soñora.

Ted Eck is a retired American soccer player who played for numerous clubs in the United States and Canada over a thirteen-year professional career. He is currently an assistant coach with Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. He also earned thirteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1989 and 1996.

Chris Snitko, is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who was the 1995 ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year. He then spent six seasons in Major League Soccer and earned five caps with the United States U-23 men's national soccer team.

Miles Joseph is an American soccer coach and former player who earned three caps with the United States national soccer team. He spent six seasons in Major League Soccer and the part of one season in Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Portland Timbers.

Brian Bates is a retired American soccer defender who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer and three in the USISL.

Jimmy Glenn is a retired American soccer forward who played two seasons in Major League Soccer as well as in the National Professional Soccer League, USISL and USL A-League.

Ed Puskarich is a retired U.S. soccer defender who had an extensive career which began in 1984 in the United Soccer League and ended in the Premier Development League. In between, he played in the American Indoor Soccer Association, National Professional Soccer League, USISL and Major League Soccer. He has coached at the youth, college and professional levels including four as an assistant coach and scout with the Dallas Burn.

Jorge Flores is an American former soccer midfielder who spent four seasons with the Dallas Burn in Major League Soccer. He was a member of the U.S. teams at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship and 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Chad Ashton is an American former soccer midfielder who spent one season in Major League Soccer, four in the American Professional Soccer League, six in the National Professional Soccer League and one in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He coached for ten years at the collegiate level and as assistant coach of D.C. United.

Michael Kirmse is an American retired professional soccer player who played as a right-back. He played for two seasons in Germany's third-tier Regionalliga, seven seasons in the USISL, and two seasons in the Indoor NPSL.

References

  1. ↑ Bradley, Jeff (28 February 2014). "What Ever Happened To ... Former Dallas Burn defender Brandon Pollard". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Brandon Pollard Biography and Statistics". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.