Upon graduating, Pickens was drafted 19th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Fire. He was not able, however, to break through a deep lineup of Fire goalkeepers, which initially included Henry Ring and D.J. Countess, and later Zach Thornton. He was loaned out for much of the year to the A-LeagueVirginia Beach Mariners, where he played 290 minutes, conceding only 3 goals.
During the latter half of 2006, after an injury to Zach Thornton, Pickens started in goal for the Fire even once Thornton was match fit again. Pickens won the 2006 Open Cup as the starter for Chicago Fire. Also in 2006, was his first MLS play-off start on October 22, 2006 for the Fire, keeping a clean sheet in a game that the Fire won, 1-0 thanks to a goal from Justin Mapp in the 35th minute. Zach Thornton was traded to the Colorado Rapids before the 2007 season, clearing the way for Pickens to start.
In February 2008, Pickens signed a deal with Queens Park Rangers until the end of the 2008 season.[1]
In May 2008, it was announced that Pickens would not have his contract extended and that he would be released by the club at the end of June.
Pickens trained/trailed with numerous clubs in England and Scotland after his release, including Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers, Falkirk and Nottingham Forest, the latter of which he claims he was close to signing with.[2] However, despite not securing a new contract in Europe, Chicago Fire traded Pickens rights to Colorado Rapids on January 15, 2009[3] and was signed by the club shortly after.
Pickens helped the Rapids to playoff appearances in 2010 and 2011. In 2010 the Rapids and Pickens won their first MLS Cup, beating FC Dallas 2-1 in extra time. Early in the 2013 season, Pickens suffered a broken arm in a match against Real Salt Lake making this his last appearance with the Rapids.
On November 30, 2017 Nashville SC announced Pickens as the club's first signing ahead of their inaugural 2018 season in United Soccer League.[6]
Nashville S.C. earned back to back playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019. Pickens was the USL Championship Goalkeeper of the year in 2019. Also in 2019, Pickens broke the 100 professional shutouts milestone in his career.
Other accomplishments for Pickens was being named MLS Player of the Month for September 2006 and October 2007, proving his ability to compete under pressure getting his team into the playoffs both years late in the MLS season.
International
As of December 2010, Pickens has been called up to five United States training camps, including the camp in January 2011. However, he has never earned a national cap or been part of the final 18-man roster.[7]
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Founded in 1995, as part of the Anschutz Corporation, later to be a founding sports franchise of the global sports & entertainment juggernaut AEG, the club is a founding member of MLS, playing their first season in 1996. The Rapids are owned by the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, also owners of the Denver Nuggets of NBA, Colorado Avalanche of NHL, Colorado Mammoth of NLL and other sports teams outside of the state of Colorado.
Zach Thornton is an American former goalkeeper who spent 16 seasons in Major League Soccer with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (1996–97), Chicago Fire (1998–2006), Colorado Rapids (2007), New York Red Bulls (2008) and Chivas USA (2008–11). He was the starting goalkeeper for the Fire when it won MLS Cup '98 in its inaugural year. He, Chris Armas,. and C. J. Brown are the only three Fire players to be a part of all six of the club's domestic championships from 1998 through 2006.
Jon Busch is an American professional soccer coach and former player, who played as a goalkeeper. Busch is currently the goalkeeping coach for USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC.
David "Dusty" Hudock is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. Hudock began his career in the APSL, playing primarily for the Seattle Sounders, before moving to the Charleston Battery of the A-League and USL First Division.
Diego Alejandro Restrepo Garcia is a soccer coach and former player who played as a goalkeeper. Currently, he is the Head of Goalkeeping for D.C. United, a Major League Soccer franchise.
Joseph Willis is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC.
The 2013 Orlando City Soccer Club season was the club's third season of existence in Orlando. Orlando finished second in the overall regular-season table. They were declared 2013 USL Pro Champions after beating Charlotte Eagles 7–4 in front of 20,886 fans at the Fifth Third Bank Field at the Citrus Bowl.
The 2014 Orlando City SC season was the club's fourth season of existence in Orlando, and their final season playing in the lower divisions. A Major League Soccer expansion franchise with the same name began play in 2015. The team entered the season as the defending USL Pro champions, beating Charlotte Eagles in the Championship Game after finishing second in the regular season.
Benjamin Sweat is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution.
Zach Steinberger is an American former professional soccer player.
Andre Rawls is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper.
Carl Howard "CJ" Cochran, Jr. is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper.
Connor Sparrow is an American soccer player who currently plays for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.
Adrián Zendejas Rodríguez is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for USL Championship club Miami FC, on loan from Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer.
The 2018 Indy Eleven season was the club's fifth season of existence, and their first season in the United Soccer League following their move from the North American Soccer League on January 10. Indy also competed in the U.S. Open Cup. The season covered the period from October 30, 2017, to the beginning of the 2019 USL season.
The 2018 Louisville City FC season was the club's fourth season in Louisville, Kentucky playing in the United Soccer League, which as of 2018 is the second-tier league in the United States soccer league system.
The 2020 MLS SuperDraft was the 21st edition of the SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The 2020 SuperDraft was the first SuperDraft held exclusively via conference call and web streaming. The first two rounds of the 2020 SuperDraft were held on January 9, 2020 while rounds three and four were held on January 13, 2020. Previously, the SuperDraft had been held in conjunction with the annual January United Soccer Coaches convention.
Laurence Wyke is an English footballer who currently plays for Major League Soccer side Nashville SC.
The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the 108th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer. Orlando City SC were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Charlotte FC. The 2023 field features 99 teams, including a modern-era record 71 professional sides.
The 2023 New England Revolution season is the club's 28th season in existence, and their 28th consecutive season playing in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. The season began on February 25 when the club began their play in the MLS season. The Revolution will also play in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup and the 2023 Leagues Cup.
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.
