Brian Carroll

This article is about the American soccer player. For other uses, see Brian Carroll (disambiguation).

Brian Carroll

Carroll with the Philadelphia Union in 2011
Personal information
Date of birth	(1981-07-20) July 20, 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
2000–2002	Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2007	D.C. United	121	(2)
2003	→ Richmond Kickers (loan)	8	(0)
2008–2010	Columbus Crew	84	(2)
2011–2017	Philadelphia Union	166	(5)
2017	→ Bethlehem Steel (loan)	1	(0)
Total		380	(9)
International career
2001	United States U20	3	(0)
2005–2009	United States	8	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brian Carroll (born July 20, 1981) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder, notably appearing for D.C. United Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He is the only player in MLS history to have won four consecutive Supporter Shields. ^[1]

Youth and college career

While in high school, Carroll was the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year, was twice named to the Parade All-American team, and led the West Springfield Spartans to the final of the Virginia state tournament in 1998. He played college soccer at Wake Forest University from 2000 to 2002. Named captain as a sophomore, Carroll tied the school record for most assists in a game with three and finished the year as a second-team All-ACC selection. As a junior, he was again team captain, an All-American, and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. After his junior year, he signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, completing his career at Wake Forest with 7 goals and 15 assists, having started all 61 games over the three years.

Club career

D.C. United

Carroll at a D.C. United Meet the Team event, July 17, 2005

Carroll was selected 11th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United. ^[2] Unfortunately for him, coach Ray Hudson preferred a lineup dominated by veterans, and although he saw time in U.S. Open Cup competition, Carroll did not appear in any regular season games. Peter Nowak replaced Hudson following the 2003 season, and soon expressed incredulity that a player as talented as Carroll saw no playing time under Hudson.^{[ citation needed ]} Carroll was a fixture in Nowak's lineup for the first game of the 2004 season, and would remain there all year long, appearing in all 30 of the team's games, starting 26 of them, earning his first MLS assist, and winning the MLS Cup. In 2005, he led the team in minutes and games played, scored his first league goal, added three more assists, and led MLS in consecutive games played, at 62. Carroll was one of three players nominated for the 2005 MLS Fair Play Award. Carroll started 31 games for the club in 2006, with 1 goal and 3 assists. Carroll lost his starting role with United to fellow defensive midfielder Clyde Simms midway through the 2007 season, but still had a productive year, with 4 assists to his credit. It was announced on 27 November 2006 that Carroll was on trial with French club Olympique de Marseille with hopes for an eventual transfer. However, on 23 January 2007 it was announced that Carroll had re-signed with D.C. United.

Columbus Crew

On November 21, 2007, Carroll was selected as part of the expansion draft to join the new San Jose Earthquakes club. On November 26, he was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for Kei Kamara. ^[3]

In June 2010, Caroll signed a four-year contract extension with the Crew. ^[3] On November 6, 2010, he missed the penalty which ended the Crew's playoff run, sending the ball over the crossbar.

Philadelphia Union

On November 22, 2010, Carroll was traded to Philadelphia Union in exchange for a second-round draft pick and allocation money. ^[4]

Between 2004 and 2016 he made at least 21 appearances for 13 different seasons. Upon retirement he was praised for his professionalism and leadership. ^[1]

International career

Carroll played on the Under-18, Under-20, and Under-23 national teams, including at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina and 2003 Olympic Qualifying. In his first game for the full national team (a World Cup qualifier vs. Panama on October 12, 2005), he was named Man of the Match. He ended his career with eight caps.

Personal life

Carroll is the brother of fellow former professional soccer players Jeff Carroll and Pat Carroll, both of whom have also played for D.C. United. He is a lifelong Catholic whose soccer career has been influenced by former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. ^[5]

Following retirement Carroll was planning to move to the Indianapolis area to pursue a career in financial planning. ^{[1] [6]}

Career statistics

Club

As of April 16, 2016

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Open Cup		Playoffs		North America		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
D.C. United	2003	Major League Soccer	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	2004		30	0	1	0	4	0	0	0	35	0
	2005		32	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	36	1
	2006		31	1	3	0	3	0	0	0	37	1
	2007		28	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	30	0
Columbus Crew	2008	Major League Soccer	30	1	2	0	4	0	0	0	36	1
	2009		26	0	0	0	2	0	5	0	33	0
	2010		28	1	1	0	2	0	3	0	34	1
Philadelphia Union	2011	Major League Soccer	30	1	1	1	2	0	0	0	33	2
	2012		33	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	37	2
	2013		33	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	35	3
	2014		21	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	24	0
	2015		22	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	25	0
	2016		5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
Career total			349	8	26	3	20	0	8	0	403	11

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States	2005	2	0
	2006	2	0
	2007	2	0
	2008	0	0
	2009	1	0
	2010	1	0
Total		8	0

Honors

D.C. United

• MLS Cup: 2004
• Eastern Conference (Playoffs): 2004
• Supporter's Shield: 2006, 2007

Columbus Crew

• MLS Cup: 2008
• Eastern Conference (Playoffs): 2008
• Supporter's Shield: 2008, 2009

References

1. "Philadelphia Union Midfielder Brian Carroll Announces Retirement". Philadelphia Union. 19 October 2017. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
2. "Brian Carroll Drafted 11th Overall in MLS SuperDraft". godeacs.com. 17 January 2003. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
3. Craig Merz (25 June 2010). "Brian Carroll inks four-year extension with Crew". Columbus Crew. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
4. "Union Acquire MF Brian Carroll". Philadelphia Union. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
5. Beattie, Trent (7 August 2014). "Seeking the Union of Sport and Faith in Philadelphia". ncregister.com. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
6. "#SavedTheCrew Reaction: Brian Carroll". sirkbook.com. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2020.

External links

• Biography portal

• Brian Carroll at Major League Soccer
• Wake Forest bio