Eddie Gaven

Eddie Gaven (born October 25, 1986 in Hamilton Township, New Jersey) is a retired American soccer player who played 11 seasons in Major League Soccer, primarily with the Columbus Crew. In July 2012, Gaven became the youngest player to play in 250 MLS matches at 25 years and 257 days old.

Youth

Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer. Instead, Gaven became (at the time, since passed by Freddy Adu) the youngest player to sign with MLS when, at the age of 16 years and two months, he joined the league after having spent two years training with other young Americans at the USSF's Bradenton Academy.

Professional

Gaven was drafted by the MetroStars with the twelfth overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He became the youngest player in team history on his debut on June 14, 2003 against Chicago and became the youngest player in team history to score a goal, which he did in just his second game, against D.C. United on July 5. With the game tied at two, Metro coach Bob Bradley used a loophole in the substitution rule, moving Metro goalie Tim Howard out of the net and putting on Gaven as a fourth "goalkeeper only" sub. After less than a minute in goal, Gaven and Howard switched places and Gaven went on to score the game winner in overtime. In the process, he became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history (the loophole was eliminated after the season, largely due to outcry following Gaven's goal).

After becoming an automatic starter and coming into his own with the MetroStars in 2004, Gaven became the youngest player ever voted in to start the MLS All-Star Game, and finished the MLS season with seven goals and seven assists and became the youngest player in league history to be named to the MLS Best XI.

Gaven ended the 2005 MLS season with eight goals and four assists. Just before the 2006 season, Gaven was traded to Columbus Crew along with the rights to defender Chris Leitch for striker Edson Buddle. With the Crew, Gaven played nearly every game in 2006, scoring four goals. In 2007 he appeared in 27 games for Columbus scoring five goals and tallying seven assists. Eddie's 2008 season resulted in lower output, three goals and two assists due in part to starting the season injured. In the Eastern Conference Championship game, Gaven propelled the Crew into their first MLS Cup game with a game-winning goal.

Gaven competes for a header with Marc Burch during a 2011 regular season match at Columbus Crew Stadium

During the 2010 MLS season in a game against the Philadelphia Union, Gaven was forced to play in goal for William Hesmer who went out of the game due to a shoulder injury. The Columbus Crew had used all three substitutions prior to Hesmer's injury. Gaven was scored on by Sebastian LeToux during the final minutes of the game, but made two saves to help the Crew win the game 3–1. Gaven would go on to win MLS Save of the Week honors for one of the saves.

Gaven signed a contract extension for two years plus option years with Columbus on November 14, 2011.

Gaven missed most of the 2013 season after an injury suffered during a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. He retired following the 2013 season.

Despite his well publicized retirement from football in 2013, he moved to Ave Maria University as Head Men's Soccer Coach in March of 2016.

International

Gaven played every minute for the U.S. in the 2003 Under-17 World Championship in Finland. He then became the youngest player (17 years 104 days) in CONCACAF history to appear in an Olympic qualifier when he played for the U.S. Under-23 team in a 2-0 victory over Canada on February 5, 2004. He then became the fourth youngest player in US history to get his a senior cap, doing so in a 1-1 against Poland on July 11, 2004.

In 2005, after continuing his solid play with the MetroStars, Gaven was part of the U.S. Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.

Gaven is a devout Catholic.

Columbus Crew

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2008
• Major League Soccer Supporter's Shield: 2008, 2009