- Ciaran O'Brien
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Ciaran O'Brien 
Giving a post-game interview.Personal information Full name Ciaran Patrick O'Brien Date of birth 17 November 1987 Place of birth Federal Way, Washington, United States Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Playing position Midfielder Club information Current club Atlanta Silverbacks Number 5 Youth career 2006 San Diego Toreros 2007 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2007 Tacoma Tide 15 (7) 2008–2010 Colorado Rapids 1 (0) 2008 → Seattle Sounders (loan) 5 (0) 2009 → Austin Aztex (loan) 3 (0) 2009 → Montreal Impact (loan) 13 (1) 2011– Atlanta Silverbacks 24 (4) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 11, 2011.
† Appearances (Goals).Ciaran Patrick O'Brien (born 17 November 1987, in Federal Way, Washington) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Atlanta Silverbacks in the North American Soccer League.
Contents
Career
Youth and College
O'Brien played center midfield for four years at Decatur High School in Federal Way, Washington, where he earned NSCAA All-American honors, was a First Team All-South Puget Sound League selection for four straight years, and was selected as the Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior season.
O'Brien initially played college soccer for the University of San Diego, where he was a NSCAA Freshman All-American and was named to the All-WCC Second Team, before transferring to UC Santa Barbara in his sophomore year. With the UCSB Gauchos, he made the 2007 NCAA Tournament, losing out to national finalists Ohio State. He was named the 2007 Big West Midfielder of the Year with UCSB, as well as the highest scoring player in the Big West with 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists. During his college years O'Brien also played for Tacoma Tide of the USL Premier Development League, where his father was head coach.
Professional
O'Brien decided to leave UCSB early without graduating, signing a Generation Adidas contract in the process. He was the 5th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, selected by the Colorado Rapids. He made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 71st minute in Colorado's first match of the 2008 season against Los Angeles Galaxy on March 29, 2008, but was sent off in the 90th minute for a tackle on Carlos Ruiz. The tackle tore meniscus in Ruiz right knee leaving him out for an extended period. It was O'Brien's only MLS game of his career so far.
O'Brien was sent on loan to USL First Division side, Seattle Sounders, in August 2008 to gain first team experience.[1] With the Sounders, O'Brien appeared in 5 league games (309 minutes total) tallying 2 assists. He also appeared in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game. However, O'Brien was soon recalled and was back with Colorado at the end of August.[2]
In June 2009, O'Brien made a season long loan to USL-1 side Austin Aztex. In July 2009, he was signed on a loan from Colorado Rapids by Impact de Montréal until the end if the 2009 USL season.
During summer 2010, O'Brien trialed with League of Ireland Premier Division side Sporting Fingal but a loan deal with Colorado could not be agreed.
O'Brien graduated from the MLS Generation Adidas program on November 18, 2010.[3] O'Brien became a MLS free agent when Colorado declined his 2011 contract option and he was not selected in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
O'Brien signed with North American Soccer League club Atlanta Silverbacks on March 21, 2011.[4] O'Brien won his first league honors on July 11, 2011, winning the NASL Offensive Player of the Week.[5] Atlanta announced on November 8, 2011 that O'Brien would return for the 2012 season.[6]
Personal
O'Brien is the son of former Republic of Ireland international player Fran O'Brien, and the brother of fellow professional soccer player Leighton O'Brien.
References
- ^ Sounders Receive Midfielder Ciaran O'Brien On Loan And Sign Forward Kevin Forrest From http://www.seattlesounders.net, Posted 31 July 2008.
- ^ Rapids Drop Second Straight Road Match Falling 0-2 to Real Salt Lake From http://www.coloradorapids.com, Posted 29 August 2008.
- ^ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/generation-adidas-players-graduate-seasons-end Generation adidas players to graduate at season's end
- ^ http://www.nasl.com/article/silverbacks-sign-ciaran-o-brien
- ^ "NASL Offensive Player of the Week: Ciaran O'Brien". http://nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=827.
- ^ http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1537
External links
Atlanta Silverbacks – current squad Categories:- 1987 births
- Living people
- American soccer players
- American people of Irish descent
- Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) players
- Austin Aztex FC players
- Colorado Rapids players
- Association football midfielders
- Montreal Impact (USL First Division) players
- North American Soccer League (2011) players
- People from Tacoma, Washington
- San Diego Toreros men's soccer players
- Seattle Sounders (USL) players
- Soccer players from Washington (state)
- Tacoma Tide players
- UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's soccer players
- USL First Division players
- USL Premier Development League players
- People from Federal Way, Washington
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