Ty Harden
Encyclopedia
Robert Tyrel "Ty" Harden (born March 6, 1984 in Junction City, Oregon
) is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC
in Major League Soccer
.
, playing every match his first two seasons before a minor injury in his junior year. He was named team captain as a junior and senior. Before that, he was Oregon's class 3A Player of the Year twice as a junior and senior. He is the only soccer player to get his jersey retired at his high school.
in the second round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft
, 23rd overall. He made his MLS debut April 8, 2007, starting in central defense against the Houston Dynamo
in a 0-0 tie.
In February 2008, Harden announced his retirement after only one season as a professional soccer player, deciding instead to work for a charitable organization and to finish college at the University of Washington
Despite retiring in 2008, his rights were transferred to Colorado Rapids
on January 13, 2009. In return the Galaxy received a 3rd round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
. Following the draft, it was announced that Harden would be returning to MLS to play for the Rapids.
Harden was traded on February 10, 2010 to Toronto FC
for a 3rd round draft pick. Shortly after the trade he was joined in Toronto by fellow teammate Nick LaBrocca
. Harden suffered a deep gash to his shin that required 22 stitches after a collision while scoring from a corner on April 28, 2010 against rivals Montreal Impact
in the first game of the 2010 Canadian Championship
.
Junction City, Oregon
Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census.- History :In the 1870s, Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided this would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail...
) is an American
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 Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
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...
.
College
Harden was a regular for four years at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, playing every match his first two seasons before a minor injury in his junior year. He was named team captain as a junior and senior. Before that, he was Oregon's class 3A Player of the Year twice as a junior and senior. He is the only soccer player to get his jersey retired at his high school.
Professional
Harden was selected by Los Angeles GalaxyLos 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 the second round of the 2007 MLS SuperDraft
2007 MLS SuperDraft
The 2007 MLS SuperDraft, was held in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 12, 2007. It was the eighth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection belonged to expansion team Toronto FC.The SuperDraft was followed by the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft....
, 23rd overall. He made his MLS debut April 8, 2007, starting in central defense against the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
in a 0-0 tie.
In February 2008, Harden announced his retirement after only one season as a professional soccer player, deciding instead to work for a charitable organization and to finish college at the University of Washington
Despite retiring in 2008, his rights were transferred to 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...
on January 13, 2009. In return the Galaxy received a 3rd round pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft
2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...
. Following the draft, it was announced that Harden would be returning to MLS to play for the Rapids.
Harden was traded on February 10, 2010 to Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
for a 3rd round draft pick. Shortly after the trade he was joined in Toronto by fellow teammate Nick LaBrocca
Nick LaBrocca
Nick LaBrocca is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. Harden suffered a deep gash to his shin that required 22 stitches after a collision while scoring from a corner on April 28, 2010 against rivals Montreal Impact
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...
in the first game of the 2010 Canadian Championship
2010 Canadian Championship
The 2010 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010...
.
Toronto FC
- Canadian ChampionshipCanadian ChampionshipThe Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
(2): 20102010 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2010 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010...
, 20112011 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2011 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2011. As in previous tournaments, participating teams included the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver...