Ross Paule
Encyclopedia
Ross Paule is a former American soccer midfielder
, who last played for the Columbus Crew
of Major League Soccer
.
Paule moved from Dallas, TX as a youth and joined the Memphis Futbol Club in Memphis, Tennessee. Under the coaching of former Polish National and MISL Indoor Goalkeeper Richard Bute, Paule honed his soccer skills. The club also produced professionals such as Tony Kuhn, Tony McManus, Cindy Parlow, Carey Talley
, Jonny Walker
and Richard Mulrooney
as well as hundreds of collegiate athletes. Paule also starred for Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee where he was awarded the Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps title.
Paule played college soccer
at Creighton University
, but left only after three seasons, becoming one of the first players to leave college early for a jump to MLS. He was drafted 11th overall by the Colorado Rapids
in the 1997 MLS College Draft
, and became a regular right away, a starter by his second season. Paule's best year with the Rapids came in 1998, when he tallied ten goals and six assists. He stayed with the team through 2001, running the team's midfield, and was atop the league's assist charts at midseason, when the Rapids traded for midfield maestro
Carlos Valderrama. With no place for Paule on the squad, he was dealt to the MetroStars
for Steve Shak
and a draft pick.
Paule spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 with the Metros, usually playing—in a new out-of-position role of defensive midfielder, as mandated by Metro coach Octavio Zambrano
. Ross was traded to Columbus prior to the 2003 season for Chris Leitch
and Jeff Matteo and spent the next two seasons there, scoring seven goals in 2004, including a hat-trick against Los Angeles Galaxy. In eight years in MLS, his totals are 31 goals and 41 assists.
Paule retired early into the 2005 season because of post-concussion syndrome. He then went on to coach a local club, WASA, for the u12A girls team. After his first season with them he moved back to Memphis and is now the director of Memphis FC's youth program.
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 last played for the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional 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...
.
Paule moved from Dallas, TX as a youth and joined the Memphis Futbol Club in Memphis, Tennessee. Under the coaching of former Polish National and MISL Indoor Goalkeeper Richard Bute, Paule honed his soccer skills. The club also produced professionals such as Tony Kuhn, Tony McManus, Cindy Parlow, Carey Talley
Carey Talley
Carey Talley is a former American soccer player.-College:Talley played high school soccer for Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee. His team won the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association soccer championship his junior and senior years in 1993 and 1994. He played his club soccer...
, Jonny Walker
Jonny Walker
Jonny Walker is an American soccer goalkeeper who is an assistant coach with the University of Memphis women's soccer team. Walker played professionally in Chile and the United States, including Major League Soccer...
and Richard Mulrooney
Richard Mulrooney
Richard Mulrooney is a former American soccer player.-College:Mulrooney played four years of college soccer at Creighton University, where he recorded 51 assists from 1995 to 1998...
as well as hundreds of collegiate athletes. Paule also starred for Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee where he was awarded the Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps title.
Paule 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...
at Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
, but left only after three seasons, becoming one of the first players to leave college early for a jump to MLS. He was drafted 11th overall 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...
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...
, and became a regular right away, a starter by his second season. Paule's best year with the Rapids came in 1998, when he tallied ten goals and six assists. He stayed with the team through 2001, running the team's midfield, and was atop the league's assist charts at midseason, when the Rapids traded for midfield maestro
Midfield Maestro
The term Midfield Maestro is a cliché used in football to describe a midfield player that excels in the technical and creative aspects of midfield play. A midfield maestro often creates goalscoring opportunities for the attackers, while at the same time controlling the tempo of the match and...
Carlos Valderrama. With no place for Paule on the squad, he was dealt to the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
for Steve Shak
Steve Shak
Steve Shak is a retired American soccer player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Charlotte Eagles of the USL Second Division....
and a draft pick.
Paule spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 with the Metros, usually playing—in a new out-of-position role of defensive midfielder, as mandated by Metro coach Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history, .-Player:...
. Ross was traded to Columbus prior to the 2003 season for Chris Leitch
Chris Leitch
Chris Leitch is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College:...
and Jeff Matteo and spent the next two seasons there, scoring seven goals in 2004, including a hat-trick against Los Angeles Galaxy. In eight years in MLS, his totals are 31 goals and 41 assists.
Paule retired early into the 2005 season because of post-concussion syndrome. He then went on to coach a local club, WASA, for the u12A girls team. After his first season with them he moved back to Memphis and is now the director of Memphis FC's youth program.