Tom Poltl

Football player infobox| playername= Tom Poltl
fullname = Thomas Poltl


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|21
cityofbirth = San Marcos, California
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=6
currentclub = Portland Timbers
clubnumber = 8
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1995-1998
youthclubs = UCLA Bruins
years = 1999-2000
2002-2004
2005-
clubs = Boston Bulldogs
Orange County Blue Star
Portland Timbers
caps(goals) = 53 (4)
94 (2)
nationalyears = 1997-1999
nationalteam = U.S. U-20
nationalcaps(goals) = 11 (0)
manageryears = 2002-2004
managerclubs = Orange County Blue Star
pcupdate = 1 October 2008

Tom Poltl (born September 21, 1977 in San Marcos, California) is an American soccer midfielder, who currently plays for Portland Timbers of the USL First Division. He was a member of the U.S. U-20 national team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Youth

Poltl attended San Marcos High School. UCLA where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1995 to 1998. In 1997, the Bruins won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship over the Virginia Cavaliers.

Professional

In February 1999, the Colorado Rapids selected Poltl in the second round (twentieth overall) of the MLS College Draft. Soon after, the San Francisco Bay Seals of the USL A-League selected Poltl in the second round (forty-ninth overall) in the A-League draft. [ [http://aleague.uslsoccer.com/draft/54201.html 1999 Draft List] ] The Rapids did not sign him and the Seals traded his rights to the Boston Bulldogs of the A-League, with whom he spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons. In 2002, he signed as a player-coach with the Orange County Blue Star of the fourth division Premier Development League. On April 20, 2005, he moved to the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division. [ [http://www.uslfans.com/news/2005/news,2005,0042.shtml Timbers Add Two To Roster As Season Opener Nears] ]

National team

Between 1995 and 1997, Poltl earned eleven caps with the U.S. U-20 national team. [ [http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/05-mg-natlteam-mls.pdf UCLA’S NATIONAL TEAM CONNECTION] ] In 1997, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played one game, a 3-0 loss to Uruguay in the Round of 16. [ [http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=194029/index.html FIFA] ]

References

External links

* [http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/awards-honors.pdf UCLA Bruins stats]
* [http://www.portlandtimbers.com/team/roster/index.html?player_id=9 Portland Timbers profile]