A. J. Wood
Encyclopedia
Anthony "A.J." Wood is a retired U.S. soccer forward
.
Wood grew up in the Washington, D.C.
area where he attended high school at the parochial Georgetown Preparatory School
. He was a forward
on the boys soccer team and was the city high school player of the year in 1990. In 1989, he was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team at the U-16 World Cup
. While the U.S. went 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round, it did defeat Brazil, making it the first U.S. team to do so.
In 1991, he entered the University of Virginia
where he played as a forward on the mens soccer team until 1994. Although never selected as a first or second team All American, he was named the 1994 SoccerAmerica Player of the Year
. The Cavaliers won the NCAA championship
each of the four years Wood played. He also holds the NCAA tournament record of 13 goals.http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/soccer/soccer_records_book/2002/09MensChampionships.pdf
Beginning in 1994, Wood became a regular on the U-23 national team as it prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics
. In 1995, he was a member of the U.S. team which went 0-3 at the Pan American Games
. Then in 1996, Wood was part of the U.S. Olympic team
and saw time in all three games as the U.S. went 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round.
In 1996, the MetroStars
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) selected Wood in the 5th round (49th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. This was the league’s first draft and the team’s began their first season of operation in 1996. Wood spent the 1996 season and thirteen games in 1997 with the MetroStars before being traded to the Columbus Crew
for Brian Bliss
. At the end of the season, MLS expanded to two cities, Miami and Chicago. In order to build the new teams, MLS held an expansion draft. The Crew did not protect Wood and as a result, on November 6, 1997, the Chicago Fire took him with the 21st selection of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
. However, Wood never played for the Fire as on January 6, 1998, the team traded him to D.C. United
for Jesse Marsch
and an exchange of draft picks. Wood remained with United from the 1998 season through the 2001 season. He never became a scoring threat in MLS and tended to make most of his appearances as a sub. On January 16, 2002, Wood retired from playing professional soccer.http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=10627&pid=805 Since his retirement, he has become active in coaching youth soccer and holds a position with D.C. United
as a youth development coach.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Wood grew up in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area where he attended high school at the parochial Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
. He was a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
on the boys soccer team and was the city high school player of the year in 1990. In 1989, he was a member of the U.S. U-16 national team at the U-16 World Cup
1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1989 was held in the Scottish cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Motherwell, Aberdeen, and Dundee between 10 June and 24 June 1989...
. While the U.S. went 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round, it did defeat Brazil, making it the first U.S. team to do so.
In 1991, he entered the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he played as a forward on the mens soccer team until 1994. Although never selected as a first or second team All American, he was named the 1994 SoccerAmerica Player of the Year
Soccer America Player of the Year Award
Beginning in 1984, Soccer America Magazine began naming a college player of the year. At the time Soccer America was the best source for U.S. soccer, especially collegiate soccer which was rarely covered by the national news services...
. The Cavaliers won the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
each of the four years Wood played. He also holds the NCAA tournament record of 13 goals.http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/soccer/soccer_records_book/2002/09MensChampionships.pdf
Beginning in 1994, Wood became a regular on the U-23 national team as it prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. In 1995, he was a member of the U.S. team which went 0-3 at the Pan American Games
Football at the 1995 Pan American Games
The twelfth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 10 to March 24, 1995. Twelve teams competed, with title defender USA being eliminated in the first round...
. Then in 1996, Wood was part of the U.S. Olympic team
United States at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.- Gold:* Justin Huish — Archery, Men's Individual Competition* Justin Huish, Richard Johnson, and Rod White — Archery, Men's Team Competition...
and saw time in all three games as the U.S. went 1-1-1 and failed to make the second round.
In 1996, 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...
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...
(MLS) selected Wood in the 5th round (49th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. This was the league’s first draft and the team’s began their first season of operation in 1996. Wood spent the 1996 season and thirteen games in 1997 with the MetroStars before being traded to 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...
for Brian Bliss
Brian Bliss
Brian Boyer Bliss is a retired American soccer defender and former coach of the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. He played professionally in Europe and the United States including the original Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and...
. At the end of the season, MLS expanded to two cities, Miami and Chicago. In order to build the new teams, MLS held an expansion draft. The Crew did not protect Wood and as a result, on November 6, 1997, the Chicago Fire took him with the 21st selection of the 1997 MLS Expansion Draft
1997 MLS Expansion Draft
The 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F.C., both expansion Major League Soccer clubs planned for the 1998 season.-Format:...
. However, Wood never played for the Fire as on January 6, 1998, the team traded him to D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. 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 since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
for Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch is a retired American soccer midfielder who will be the head coach of the Montreal Impact for their entrance in MLS in 2012, having previously been an assistant for the U.S. national team. He spent fourteen seasons in Major League Soccer, winning three league and four U.S. Open Cup...
and an exchange of draft picks. Wood remained with United from the 1998 season through the 2001 season. He never became a scoring threat in MLS and tended to make most of his appearances as a sub. On January 16, 2002, Wood retired from playing professional soccer.http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=10627&pid=805 Since his retirement, he has become active in coaching youth soccer and holds a position with D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. 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 since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
as a youth development coach.