Brian Kelly (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Kelly is a retired American soccer midfielder
who spent five seasons in Major League Soccer
. He also played at both the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
and 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1993 to 1996. In February 1997, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars selected Kelly in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1997 MLS College Draft
. He remained with the MetroStars until the 2000 season. That year, he played seven games in New Jersey before being traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy
in exchange for Roy Myers
. He played eleven games with the Galaxy, began the 2001 season with the Galxy before finishing it with the Tampa Bay Mutiny
. Before moving to Tampa Bay, the Galaxy sent Kelly on loan to the Portland Timbers where he scored the first goal in that team's history when he hit in a rebounded shot from Mark Baena
in a 2-1 loss to the El Paso Patriots
. He left MLS at the end of the season.
at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
. Two years later, he played at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
for the U.S. U-20 national team
.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent five seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He also played at both the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Florence, Montecatini, Viareggio, Massa, Carrara, and Livorno in Italy between 16 August and 31 August 1991...
and 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
.
Club career
Kelly, after starring at Lake Lehman High School in Northeastern Pennsylvania, attended Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1993 to 1996. In February 1997, the New York/New Jersey MetroStars selected Kelly in the first round (fifth overall) in the 1997 MLS College Draft
1997 MLS College Draft
The 1997 Major League Soccer College Draft.On February 1 and 2, 1997, Major League Soccer held its second annual college draft in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The draft was held in conjunction with the Umbro Select College All-Star Classic. The game was played on Saturday, February 1, 1997 at...
. He remained with the MetroStars until the 2000 season. That year, he played seven games in New Jersey before being traded to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
in exchange for Roy Myers
Roy Myers
Roy Anthony Myers Francis is a former Costa Rican football player who played most of his career with Deportivo Saprissa....
. He played eleven games with the Galaxy, began the 2001 season with the Galxy before finishing it with the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
. Before moving to Tampa Bay, the Galaxy sent Kelly on loan to the Portland Timbers where he scored the first goal in that team's history when he hit in a rebounded shot from Mark Baena
Mark Baena
Mark Baena is a retired American soccer player. Baena is the highest goalscorer in the history of USL First Division, where he amassed eighty-six goals...
in a 2-1 loss to the El Paso Patriots
El Paso Patriots
Chivas El Paso Patriots is an American soccer team based in El Paso, Texas, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference.The team plays its home games at...
. He left MLS at the end of the season.
National team
In 1991, Kelly was a member of the U.S. U-17 national teamUnited States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship was held in the cities of Florence, Montecatini, Viareggio, Massa, Carrara, and Livorno in Italy between 16 August and 31 August 1991...
. Two years later, he played at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
1993 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Australia for second time from 5 to 20 March 1993. The 1993 championship was the 9th contested. The tournament took place in five venues: Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide....
for the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
.