Bryan Byrne

Infobox Football biography
playername = Bryan Byrne


fullname = Bryan Byrne
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|8|26
cityofbirth = Castledermot
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
height = height|ft=5|in=8
position = Midfielder
currentclub = Ventura County Fusion
clubnumber = 20
youthyears = 2001
2003–2006
youthclubs = Castle Villa
UC Santa Barbara
years = 2002–2003
2006
2007
2008–
clubs = Kildare County
San Fernando Valley Quakes
New England Revolution
Ventura County Fusion
caps(goals) = 010 0(4)
004 0(2)
001 0(0)
010 0(1)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 21:40, 30 August 2008 (PDT)
ntupdate =

Bryan Byrne (born August 26, 1982) is a soccer player from Castledermot in Co. Kildare, Ireland currently playing for Ventura County Fusion in the USL Premier Development League, having been waived by the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer at the end of the 2007 season.

Byrne started his career at his local club Castle Villa. Byrne was a captain, at age 19, for the club. From there, Byrne was signed by Kildare County and then-manager Dermot Keely during the 2002-03 season. He was awarded an athletic scholarship later that season by the University of California, Santa Barbara men's soccer team and moved to the United States.

Byrne made a big impression on the college soccer scene, playing an integral part at midfield and co-captaining the Gauchos to the 2006 NCAA title. Byrne played 77 times for UCSB, scoring 11 goals and adding 19 assists. He played a key role in the Gauchos' six-game run to the team's maiden College Cup title. He was also selected to the all-College Cup team following the side's 2-1 victory over UCLA in the championship match.

Byrne also played with the San Fernando Valley Quakes in the USL Premier Development League, scoring two goals in four appearances.

Byrne was drafted by the New England Revolution [http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=12934] and manager Steve Nicol, a former Liverpool player, as the 38th overall selection in the third round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. Byrne signed a contract with the team on April 13, 2007, and made his professional debut [http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=25816&pcid=115] the following week. He was waived at the end of the season, and subsequently signed for Ventura County Fusion.