Khari Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Khari Stephenson is a Jamaica
n footballer who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes
of Major League Soccer
.
at Williams College
from 2000 to 2003, where he was named a Division III first-team All-American his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, Stephenson scored 15 goals for the team, and finished his career there with 40 goals and 18 assists. Before playing at Williams, he was a star of his prep school soccer team at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
by the Chicago Fire. He did not make the Fire team, however, and was traded to the Kansas City Wizards
for a draft pick. Stephenson played very little for the Wizards in his rookie season, finishing the year with no points, having played only 44 minutes over three games. Amazingly, he became a starter in the playoffs, playing in every game and even scoring a goal on the Wizards' run to the final.
In 2006, Stephenson made his move to Scandavia starting in Sweden with GAIS, where he had outstanding season as a midfielder. He then made a move to Swedish giants, AIK
, in 2007, where he had a inconsistent season but finished in the top half of the league. In August 2008, Khari then moved to Aalesund in Norway, where he was joined by Jamaican international teammate, Demar Phillips in the midfield. After not receiving significant playing time in early 2009, he gained a vital midfield role as the season progressed, eventually leading the team to the Norwegian Cup in 2009 and qualification to the 2010/11 Europa Cup.
Stephenson returned to the United States and signed with San Jose on 9 August 2010. After the 2010 MLS season San Jose declined Stephenson's contract option, and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft
. Stephenson became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft. After staying with the club to train, he was eventually re-signed to a permanent deal on 14 February 2011.
in Argentina
and made his debut for the 'Reggae Boyz'
in 2004 against Guatemala
. He has earned 26 caps (3 goals).
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n footballer who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
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...
.
Amateur and College
A product of the Real Mona youth system, Stephenson played college soccerCollege 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...
at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
from 2000 to 2003, where he was named a Division III first-team All-American his junior and senior seasons. In his senior year, Stephenson scored 15 goals for the team, and finished his career there with 40 goals and 18 assists. Before playing at Williams, he was a star of his prep school soccer team at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
Professional
Upon graduating, Stephenson was drafted 27th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft2004 MLS SuperDraft
The 2004 MLS SuperDraft, held in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 16, 2004, was the fifth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft, and was most notable for the selection of one of the youngest athletes in American sporting history, Freddy Adu, with the first pick.-Player...
by the Chicago Fire. He did not make the Fire team, however, and was traded to the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
for a draft pick. Stephenson played very little for the Wizards in his rookie season, finishing the year with no points, having played only 44 minutes over three games. Amazingly, he became a starter in the playoffs, playing in every game and even scoring a goal on the Wizards' run to the final.
In 2006, Stephenson made his move to Scandavia starting in Sweden with GAIS, where he had outstanding season as a midfielder. He then made a move to Swedish giants, AIK
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
, in 2007, where he had a inconsistent season but finished in the top half of the league. In August 2008, Khari then moved to Aalesund in Norway, where he was joined by Jamaican international teammate, Demar Phillips in the midfield. After not receiving significant playing time in early 2009, he gained a vital midfield role as the season progressed, eventually leading the team to the Norwegian Cup in 2009 and qualification to the 2010/11 Europa Cup.
Stephenson returned to the United States and signed with San Jose on 9 August 2010. After the 2010 MLS season San Jose declined Stephenson's contract option, and he elected to participate 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...
. Stephenson became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft. After staying with the club to train, he was eventually re-signed to a permanent deal on 14 February 2011.
International
He appeared for the Jamaican U-20's in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Argentina between June 17 and July 8, 2001. The 2001 championship was the 13th contested. The tournament took part in six cities, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, and Mar del Plata...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and made his debut for the 'Reggae Boyz'
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
in 2004 against Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
. He has earned 26 caps (3 goals).