David Kramer (soccer)
Encyclopedia
David Kramer is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played professionally in the USISL and Major League Soccer
. He is currently the goalkeeper coach for the Colorado Rapids
. He was the 1994 ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
.
and attended Fresno State
where he played on the men’s soccer team. In 1994, Kramer earned first team All American
recognition and was honored as the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
.
.
In January 1996, the Los Angeles Galaxy
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) drafted Kramer in the second round (14th overall) of the first MLS draft
. He was the Galaxy’s starting goalkeeper as the team ran to MLS Cup 1996
where they fell to D.C. United
. Kramer’s second year with the team did not go as well as his first. On June 2, 1997, the Galaxy waived Kramer after only nine games with the team sitting at 3-6.
The San Jose Clash then signed Kramer and he played 12 games of the 1997 season with them. He remained the team’s starting goalie for most of the 1998 season (with backup goalie Andy Kirk
starting a few games that year), but suffered a shoulder injury only eight games into the 1999 season. Backup goalie Joe Cannon
took the job and kept it even after Kramer's shoulder healed. The Clash then traded Kramer to the Colorado Rapids
at the end of the season. Kramer remained with the Rapids through the end of 2002, but was replaced, once again, by Joe Cannon
when Cannon moved to the Rapids.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played professionally in the USISL and 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 is currently the goalkeeper coach for 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 was the 1994 ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
The ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year was an annual award created by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America to recognize the best U.S. college soccer goalkeeper. The ISAA began naming an annual men's Goalkeeper of the Year in 1983...
.
Youth
Kramer grew up in Mountain View, CaliforniaMountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
and attended Fresno State
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
where he played on the men’s soccer team. In 1994, Kramer earned first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
recognition and was honored as the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
The ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year was an annual award created by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America to recognize the best U.S. college soccer goalkeeper. The ISAA began naming an annual men's Goalkeeper of the Year in 1983...
.
Professional
After graduating from college, Kramer signed with the Monterey Bay Jaguars of USISL. In 1995, his rookie season, he was named the All Western Division goalkeeper of the year. That season, the Jaguars went to the USISL semi-finals before falling 4-3 in overtime to the Minnesota ThunderMinnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
.
In January 1996, 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...
of 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...
(MLS) drafted Kramer in the second round (14th overall) of the first MLS draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He was the Galaxy’s starting goalkeeper as the team ran to MLS Cup 1996
MLS Cup 1996
The 1996 MLS Cup was the first championship match in Major League Soccer history. The game was played in very heavy rain on October 20, 1996, at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. D.C. United beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 in extra-time, after trailing 2-0, with 17 minutes remaining.D.C...
where they fell to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. 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 since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. Kramer’s second year with the team did not go as well as his first. On June 2, 1997, the Galaxy waived Kramer after only nine games with the team sitting at 3-6.
The San Jose Clash then signed Kramer and he played 12 games of the 1997 season with them. He remained the team’s starting goalie for most of the 1998 season (with backup goalie Andy Kirk
Andy Kirk (soccer)
Andy Kirk is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who spent three seasons in Major League Soccer...
starting a few games that year), but suffered a shoulder injury only eight games into the 1999 season. Backup goalie Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon (soccer)
Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
took the job and kept it even after Kramer's shoulder healed. The Clash then traded Kramer to 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...
at the end of the season. Kramer remained with the Rapids through the end of 2002, but was replaced, once again, by Joe Cannon
Joe Cannon (soccer)
Joe Cannon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
when Cannon moved to the Rapids.