Brian Carroll

Football player infobox| playername= Brian Carroll


fullname = Brian Carroll
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|7|20
cityofbirth = Springfield, VA
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=10
currentclub = Columbus Crew
clubnumber = 16
position = Defensive Midfielder
youthyears = 2000-02
youthclubs = Wake Forest
years = 2003-07
2003
2007
2007-
clubs = D.C. United
→ Richmond Kickers "(loan)"
San Jose Earthquakes
Columbus Crew
caps(goals) = 117 0(2)
008 0(0)
000 0(0)
024 0(1)
nationalyears = 2005-
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 0(0)
pcupdate = 16 August, 2007
ntupdate = 7 February 2007

Brian Carroll (born July 20, 1981 in Springfield, Virginia) is an American soccer player, who plays defensive midfielder for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

Carroll was selected 11th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United. 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. 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. BC 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 mid-way through the 2007 season, but still had a productive year, with 4 assists to his credit.

While in high school, Carroll was the [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/hssports/longterm/allmets/spring00/soccerboys.htm#player Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year] , was twice named to the [http://all-americans.parade.com/2006_boy_soccer/2006_national_team.html Parade] All-American team, and led the West Springfield Spartans to the final of the Virginia state tournament in 1998.

Carroll 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 3 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 seven goals and 15 assists, having started all 61 games over the three years.

Carroll has played on the Under-18, Under-20, and Under-23 national teams, including 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 currently has four caps.

Younger brother Jeff plays with D.C. United, having been drafted in the 4th round of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Another younger brother, Pat, played at West Virginia University, and now also plays with D.C. United. Brian's parents are Michael and Donna Carroll.

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 signed with D.C. United.

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.

International Experience

*1998 United States U-18
*1999 United States U-18
*2001 United States U-20 (FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina)
*2002 United States U-23
*2003 United States U-23 (CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying)
*2004 United States U-23 (CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying)
*2005 United States senior national team

ee also

* List of current MLS players

External links

* [http://wakeforestsports.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/carroll_brian00.html Wake Forest bio]
* [http://www.sams-army.com/index.php?Mlist=player&Pid=367 Sam's Army bio]
* [http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/bio.jsp?team=dcu&player=carroll_b&playerId=car581151&statType=current MLS bio]

Persondata
NAME=Carroll, Brian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional soccer player
DATE OF BIRTH=July 20, 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH=Springfield, Virginia
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=