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John O'Brien
American soccer player

John O'Brien

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
American soccer player
A.K.A.
John Patrick O'Brien
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Age
47 years
Stats
Height:
185 cm
Weight:
68 kg
Education
Brentwood School
Brentwood, Los Angeles, USA
Sports Teams
ADO Den Haag (Netherlands)
AFC Ajax (Netherlands)
FC Utrecht (Netherlands)
Chivas USA (USA)
United States men's national soccer team (USA)
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Jonathan Patrick O'Brien (born August 29, 1977) is an American former soccer player. After retiring, he pursued a career in psychology.

O'Brien was one of the first Americans to earn a starting spot with a major European team, with Ajax Amsterdam in the late 1990s. At the peak of his career, United States national teammate Landon Donovan called O'Brien the "best soccer player in the USA."

Professional career

O'Brien grew up in Playa del Rey, California and attended Brentwood School. After being brought to attention of youth director Co Adriaanse, he had his first trial with Ajax at the age of 14 and signed an amateur contract with the Dutch giants in 1994 as a 17-year-old. After two years on their youth teams, Ajax offered O'Brien a professional contract in 1998. He spent the 1998–99 season on loan to FC Utrecht and made his Ajax debut in 1999. He became a regular for the team, usually playing at left back, winning the Eredivisie in 2002 and 2004.

Unfortunately, chronic injuries limited O'Brien's playing time. He left Ajax for ADO Den Haag in February 2005. After one injury-riddled season, in which he only played three games for the club, O'Brien came to MLS for the first time, to sign with hometown club Chivas USA. O'Brien played only one game with Chivas before suffering an injury with the U.S. national team during the 2006 World Cup, and was released by the club following the 2006 season.

O'Brien stated that he was done playing in an interview on June 11, 2008.

International career

With the United States, O'Brien earned his first cap against Austria on April 22, 1998 but was an alternate for the U.S. squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played in the 2000 Summer Olympics, helping to lead the U.S. to a fourth-place finish. O'Brien became a regular with the senior team under Bruce Arena, and came into his own at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Playing in defensive midfield, he scored the opener in the 3–2 win over Portugal, assisted on Clint Mathis' goal against South Korea, and played every minute of every game for the United States.

Four years later, O'Brien was named to the U.S. roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. On June 12, 2006, he played the second half of the U.S.'s opening game against the Czech Republic, albeit with a nagging injury, which kept him out for the duration of the tournament.

Personal life

O’ Brien lives with his wife, son, and daughter near Boulder, Colorado. After retiring from soccer, O’Brien returned to college and completed a doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant International University. Dr. O’Brien has two separate practices, one providing mental health counseling to the general public and one working as a sports psychologist.

Career statistics

Club

ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Utrecht1998–99Eredivisie19200192
Ajax1999–2000Eredivisie151104000201
2000–0140000040
2001–022724030342
2002–03120205010200
2003–0440000040
2004–051000000010
Total6337012010833
ADO Den Haag2005–06Eredivisie301040
Chivas USA2006Major League Soccer100010
Career total86580120101075

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
United States199810
199900
200051
200150
200291
200310
200400
200571
200640
Total323
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each O'Brien goal.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1August 16, 2000Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States Barbados4–07–02002 World Cup qualification
2June 5, 2002Suwon, South Korea Portugal1–03–22002 FIFA World Cup
3July 21, 2005East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Honduras1–12–12005 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honors

Ajax

  • Dutch Eredivisie: 2001–02, 2003–04
  • KNVB Cup: 2002
  • Johan Cruijff Shield: 2002

United States

  • CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2005

Individual

  • CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI (Honorable Mention): 2005
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who is John O'Brien?
John O'Brien is a retired American soccer player who primarily played as a midfielder. He was born on August 29, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. O'Brien is best known for his time playing for the United States national team and his performances in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
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During his career, John O'Brien played for several clubs. He started his professional career with Ajax in the Netherlands, where he played from 1996 to 2005. After leaving Ajax, he joined ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Eredivisie for a brief period in 2006. O'Brien later signed with Chivas USA in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2006 but was plagued by injuries and retired from professional soccer in 2007.
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John O'Brien had numerous achievements with the United States national team. He represented his country in two FIFA World Cups, in 2002 and 2006. In the 2002 World Cup, he played a key role in the US's historic run to the quarterfinals. O'Brien scored a goal against Portugal in the group stage and provided an assist against Mexico in the round of 16. He also won a gold medal with the US team at the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
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John O'Brien retired from professional soccer at the age of 29 due to persistent injuries. Throughout his career, he struggled with knee injuries, which significantly impacted his ability to stay fit and perform at his best. Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and rehabilitation efforts, O'Brien's body could not withstand the physical demands of professional soccer, ultimately leading to his decision to retire.
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After retiring from professional soccer, John O'Brien pursued a career in art and design. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he studied graphic design. O'Brien has worked as a designer and illustrator, collaborating with various clients and agencies. He has also shared his artwork publicly, showcasing his talent beyond the soccer field.
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John O'Brien
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