Ciaran O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Ciaran Patrick O'Brien is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Atlanta Silverbacks
in the North American Soccer League.
, 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.
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. 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.
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. 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. O'Brien won his first league honors on July 11, 2011, winning the NASL Offensive Player of the Week. Atlanta announced on November 8, 2011 that O'Brien would return for the 2012 season.
international player Fran O'Brien
, and the brother of fellow professional soccer player Leighton O'Brien
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
in the North American Soccer League.
Youth and College
O'Brien played center midfield for four years at Decatur High School in Federal Way, WashingtonFederal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
, 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
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
for the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
, where he was a NSCAA Freshman All-American and was named to the All-WCC
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
Second Team, before transferring to UC Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
in his sophomore year. With the UCSB Gauchos, he made the 2007 NCAA Tournament
2007 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2007 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup for the final four teams was held at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. All other games were played at the home field of the...
, losing out to national finalists Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He was named the 2007 Big West
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
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
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, where his father was head coach.
Professional
O'Brien decided to leave UCSB early without graduating, signing a Generation AdidasGeneration adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
contract in the process. He was the 5th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft
2008 MLS SuperDraft
The 2008 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 18, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the ninth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was made by the Kansas City Wizards, after acquiring the selection from the expansion San Jose Earthquakes...
, selected by the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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, having competed in the league...
. 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
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...
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
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
side, Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
, in August 2008 to gain first team experience. 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
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
game. However, O'Brien was soon recalled and was back with Colorado at the end of August.
In June 2009, O'Brien made a season long loan to USL-1 side Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. In July 2009, he was signed on a loan from Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado 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, having competed in the league...
by Impact de Montréal
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
until the end if the 2009 USL season.
During summer 2010, O'Brien trialed with League of Ireland Premier Division side Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal F.C.
Sporting Fingal Football Club was a professional football club based in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The club competed in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. Former Shamrock Rovers manager, Liam Buckley was the club's manager while former Arsenal player, John Devine...
but a loan deal with Colorado could not be agreed.
O'Brien graduated from the MLS Generation Adidas
Generation adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
program on November 18, 2010. 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
2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
The two-stage 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 8, 2010 and December 15, 2010. The Stage 1 Draft of the Re-Entry Process took place on Wednesday, December 8, at 2 p.m. ET via teleconference. The Stage 2 Draft took place on Wednesday, December 15, at 2 p.m. ET...
.
O'Brien signed with North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
club Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership...
on March 21, 2011. O'Brien won his first league honors on July 11, 2011, winning the NASL Offensive Player of the Week. Atlanta announced on November 8, 2011 that O'Brien would return for the 2012 season.
Personal
O'Brien is the son of former Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
international player Fran O'Brien
Fran O'Brien (footballer)
Fran O'Brien was an Irish soccer player during the 1970s and 1980s. He was the first player to be capped for the Republic of Ireland playing in U.S., earning a total of four caps.-Player:...
, and the brother of fellow professional soccer player Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien
Leighton O'Brien is an American soccer player, currently serving as the Director of Coaching for the Renton Football Club for youth since 2006 and the head coach of the Seattle Sounders Women....
.