John O'Brien (soccer)

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John O'Brien
Personal information
Full name	John Patrick O'Brien
Date of birth	August 29, 1977 (1977-08-29) (age 31)
Place of birth	Los Angeles, United States
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Retired
Youth clubs
1994–1998	Ajax
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1998–2005 1998–1999 2005–2006 2006	Ajax → FC Utrecht (loan) ADO Den Haag Chivas USA	064 0(3) 019 0(2) 003 0(0) 002 0(0)
National team2
1998–2006	United States	032 0(3)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 June 2008. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 11 June 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

John Patrick O'Brien (born on August 29, 1977 in Los Angeles, California) is a retired American soccer player.

[edit] Professional Career

O'Brien attended Brentwood School, had his first trial with Ajax at the age of 14 and signed an amateur contract with the Dutch giants in 1994 as a 17-year old. After two years on their youth teams, Ajax offered O'Brien a professional contract in 1998. He spent the 1998-99 season on loan to FC Utrecht and made his Ajax debut in 1999. He became a regular for the team, usually playing at left back, winning the Eredivisie in 2002 and 2004. Unfortunately, chronic injuries limited O'Brien's playing time. He left Ajax for ADO Den Haag in February 2005. After one injury-riddled season, in which he only played three games for the club, O'Brien came to MLS for the first time, to sign with hometown Chivas USA.

O'Brien was one of the first Americans to earn a starting spot with a major European team, which he did with Ajax Amsterdam. United States teammate Landon Donovan called O'Brien the "best soccer player in the USA."^[1] He was released by C.D. Chivas USA of Major League Soccer following the 2006 season.

O'Brien stated that he is done playing in an interview on June 11, 2008.^[2]

[edit] International Career

With the United States, O'Brien earned his first cap against Austria on April 22, 1998 but was an alternate for the U.S. squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played in the 2000 Summer Olympics, helping to lead the U.S. to a fourth-place finish. O'Brien became a regular with the senior team under Bruce Arena, and came into his own at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Playing in defensive midfield, he scored the opener in the 3-2 win over Portugal, assisted on Clint Mathis' goal against South Korea, and played every minute of every game for the United States.

On May 2nd, 2006, for the second successive time, O'Brien was named to the US roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. On June 12, 2006, he played the second half of the US's opening game against the Czech Republic, albeit with a nagging injury, which kept him out for the duration of the tournament. This match would become O'Brien's last professional soccer game to date.

[edit] Career statistics

^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• O'Brien plays in Beach Soccer Tournament in May 2008

v • d • e United States squad – 2000 Summer Olympics 1 Friedel • 2 Dunseth • 3 McCarty • 4 Agoos • 5 O'Brien • 6 Hejduk • 7 DiGiamarino • 8 Califf • 9 Olsen • 10 Vagenas • 11 Albright • 12 Corrales • 13 Donovan • 14 Victorine • 15 Whitfield • 16 Wolff • 17 Casey • 18 Howard • Coach: Charles

v • d • e United States squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Friedel • 2 Hejduk • 3 Berhalter • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Regis • 7 Lewis • 8 Stewart • 9 Moore • 10 Reyna • 11 Mathis • 12 Agoos • 13 Jones • 14 Cherundolo • 15 Wolff • 16 Llamosa • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Meola • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Sanneh • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena

v • d • e United States squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Howard • 2 Albright • 3 Bocanegra • 4 Mastroeni • 5 O'Brien • 6 Cherundolo • 7 Lewis • 8 Dempsey • 9 Johnson • 10 Reyna • 11 Ching • 12 Berhalter • 13 Conrad • 14 Olsen • 15 Convey • 16 Wolff • 17 Beasley • 18 Keller • 19 Hahnemann • 20 McBride • 21 Donovan • 22 Onyewu • 23 Pope • Coach: Arena