Chris Albright
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Albright (born January 14, 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is an American
soccer player who most recently played for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer
.
. A forward
early in his career, Albright played college soccer
at the University of Virginia
for two years; he was named an All-American
in 1999.
, despite the club being low on MLS's pecking order for Project-40 players. The league forced a trade with the Miami Fusion
for future considerations, which turned out to be Roy Lassiter
, but not until both Albright and Lassiter helped DC to the 1999 MLS Cup
.
But Albright's club career did not live up to the lofty expectations. He struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just four goals total in his first three years in the league. D.C. dealt him to Los Angeles Galaxy
for a draft pick prior to the 2002 season. Albright drifted further onto the midfield, and then found himself in the back as the Galaxy's starting right defender for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. With Los Angeles Albright became one of the leagues top right backs, and was honored as an MLS Best XI
selection in 2005. During his time with the Galaxy he helped the club capture two MLS Cup
and one U.S. Open Cup title. He appeared in 116 league matches, scoring 7 goals.
On January 18, 2008, Chris Albright was traded to New England Revolution
in return for allocation money. During the 2008 season Albright was a fixture for New England at right back appearing in 26 league matches, however during the 2009 season he suffered a season ending injury that limited him to only one appearance.
Albright was traded to New York Red Bulls on January 14, 2010 in exchange for picks #31 and #48 in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
. After beginning the 2010 season on injured reserve Albright regained his form and became the clubs starting right back and helped New York capture the regular season Eastern Conference title.
On November 30, 2011 the Red Bulls declined the 2012 option on Albright's contract, making him eligible for the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft
.
coach Bruce Arena
, who gave Chris his first cap on September 8, 1999, against Jamaica
. Albright scored his lone U.S. goal that day and has accumulated 21 caps as of 2007.
Albright was listed as an alternate for Bruce Arena
's 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany
and made the final squad two days after the initial roster announcement due to the injury of Frankie Hejduk
. Albright did not appear in a match in the tournament.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) 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 most recently played for New York Red Bulls 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...
.
Youth and College
Albright attended William Penn Charter SchoolWilliam Penn Charter School
William Penn Charter School is an independent school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1689 by William Penn...
. 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...
early in his career, Albright 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 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...
for two years; he was named an All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
in 1999.
Professional
Considered one of the best attacking prospects in the country, he leveraged foreign interest into getting assigned to D.C. UnitedD.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...
, despite the club being low on MLS's pecking order for Project-40 players. The league forced a trade with the Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
for future considerations, which turned out to be Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
, but not until both Albright and Lassiter helped DC to the 1999 MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
.
But Albright's club career did not live up to the lofty expectations. He struggled to find the back of the net, scoring just four goals total in his first three years in the league. D.C. dealt him to Los Angeles Galaxy
Los 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...
for a draft pick prior to the 2002 season. Albright drifted further onto the midfield, and then found himself in the back as the Galaxy's starting right defender for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. With Los Angeles Albright became one of the leagues top right backs, and was honored as an MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
selection in 2005. During his time with the Galaxy he helped the club capture two MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
and one U.S. Open Cup title. He appeared in 116 league matches, scoring 7 goals.
On January 18, 2008, Chris Albright was traded to New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in return for allocation money. During the 2008 season Albright was a fixture for New England at right back appearing in 26 league matches, however during the 2009 season he suffered a season ending injury that limited him to only one appearance.
Albright was traded to New York Red Bulls on January 14, 2010 in exchange for picks #31 and #48 in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
2010 MLS SuperDraft
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft was the eleventh annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 2010 NSCAA Convention. The 2010 SuperDraft consisted of four rounds with sixteen selections each, for a total of 64 players...
. After beginning the 2010 season on injured reserve Albright regained his form and became the clubs starting right back and helped New York capture the regular season Eastern Conference title.
On November 30, 2011 the Red Bulls declined the 2012 option on Albright's contract, making him eligible for the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft
2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft
The two-stage 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft will take place on December 5, 2011 and December 12, 2011 . All 19 Major League Soccer clubs will be eligible to participate....
.
International
Albright's first attempt at playing defense came with United States national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
coach Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
, who gave Chris his first cap on September 8, 1999, against Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. Albright scored his lone U.S. goal that day and has accumulated 21 caps as of 2007.
Albright was listed as an alternate for Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena
Bruce Arena is a former coach of the United States men's national soccer team as well as a former professional soccer and lacrosse player...
's 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and made the final squad two days after the initial roster announcement due to the injury of Frankie Hejduk
Frankie Hejduk
Frank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He formerly played as right back for Columbus Crew, where he was team captain, and the United States national team.-Youth and College:Hejduk attended San Dieguito High...
. Albright did not appear in a match in the tournament.
International Goals
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8, 1999 | Kingston Kingston, Jamaica Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island... , Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic... |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly match |
D.C. United
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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 Cup (1): 1999 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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 Supporters Shield (1): 1999
Los Angeles Galaxy
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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 Cup (2): 2002, 2005 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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 Supporters Shield (1): 2002
External links
- MLS player profile
- Chris Albright articles on Yanks Abroad
- Chris Albright profile, detailed club and national team statistics, honours and timeline
- fifa.com