Dan Gargan

Dan Gargan

Personal information
Full name	Daniel Gargan
Date of birth	December 14, 1982 (1982-12-14) (age 28)
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Chicago Fire
Number	3
Youth career
2001–2004	Georgetown Hoyas
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004	Chesapeake Dragons	2	(0)
2005–2008	Colorado Rapids	49	(0)
2008	Chivas USA	0	(0)
2009	Puerto Rico Islanders	12	(1)
2010–2011	Toronto FC	43	(1)
2011–	Chicago Fire	9	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 23, 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Dan Gargan (born December 14, 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.

Career

College

Gargan attended the prestigious Chestnut Hill Academy, who he helped to back-to-back Interacademic League championships in 2000 and 2001, while playing club soccer for Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa.^[1] He played college soccer at Georgetown University, scoring 11 goals and assisted on 18 while appearing in 75 games. He also garnered team MVP honors and captained the squad in both his junior and senior seasons.

During his college years he also played for the Chesapeake Dragons in the USL Premier Development League.

Professional

Gargan was drafted in the fourth round (43rd overall) by the Colorado Rapids in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft. After what some considered a breakout season in 2006, he was awarded the "Rapids Most Improved Player" title.^[2] Though considered an adequate right back, Gargan was waived by the Rapids early in the 2008 season as they faced a roster crunch and a surplus of defenders.^[3] It was popular among Rapids fans to cheer "Release the Gargan!" every time Dan came onto the field.

Following a brief period as an unattached player on trial, Gargan was signed by Chivas USA on April 25, 2008.,^[2] but announced his retirement from professional soccer, citing personal reasons, on May 9, 2008 without playing a game.^[4]

Gargan returned to the game to play for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division in mid-2009, and he played 29 games for the team, helping them reach the USL1 post season.

In early 2010, he was on trial with Toronto FC, scoring the first goal of their preseason. On March 26, 2010, Toronto FC signed Gargan to a contract. He made his debut for Toronto in away loss to New England Revolution on April 10. He scored his first career MLS goal in a 1–1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on July 1. He earned a spot as a regular defender, a role which would continue into the following season when he started in 12 of his 16 appearances.^[5]

Gargan was traded along with a second-round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft to the Chicago Fire for defender Dasan Robinson on July 28, 2011.^[6] Gargan made his debut for Chicago on August 13 against New York Red Bulls, the game ended in a 2-2 away draw. The following week Gargan scored his first goal for his new team against his former team of Toronto in a 2-0 home victory over the Reds.

Honours

Toronto FC

• Canadian Championship (2): 2010, 2011

See also

• List of current MLS players

References

1. ^ http://eteamz.active.com/psccoppaGB/news/index.cfm?cat=308320
2. ^ ^{a b} "Adding to the D: Chivas acquires Gargan". LA Soccer News. 2008-04-25. http://www.lasoccernews.com/article.php?article_id=2806. Retrieved 2008-04-29. 
3. ^ Forbes, Brian (2008-04-11). "Rapids' defensive depth leads to Gargan's release". Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8883836. Retrieved 2008-04-29. 
4. ^ Chivas USA news
5. ^ Molinaro, John F. "TFC trades Dan Gargan to Chicago," CBC Sports, Thursday, July 28, 2011.
6. ^ "Fire trade Dasan Robinson for Dan Gargan," Chicago Fire Soccer Club, Thursday, July 28, 2011.

External links

• MLS player profile
• Dan Gargan in a game versus American University, with 5 shots

Persondata
Name	Gargan, Dan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 14, 1982
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Date of death
Place of death