Chris Henderson
Encyclopedia
Christopher "Chris" Henderson (born December 11, 1970 in Edmonds, Washington
) is a former American soccer midfielder
who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team
. He was part of the U.S. team at the 1992 Summer Olympics
and at the time of his retirement from Major League Soccer
, he was the league's all-time leader in games played.
, attended Cascade High School
in Everett, Washington
. In 1989, he played a single season with the Seattle Storm
of the Western Soccer League.
Henderson played two years of college soccer
at UCLA, where he helped the team win a national championship his sophomore season. Upon graduating from college, Henderson played for German Second Division club FSV Frankfurt
during the 1994-5 season. After the end of that season, he moved to the Norwegian league, where he trained with Stabæk during the winter.
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) named Henderson as a Discovery Player. He immediately stood out by starting 29 games, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists, and being named the Rapid's team MVP. Henderson spent the next two seasons with the Rapids, registering 9 goals and 22 assists over 51 games. He then moved to the Kansas City Wizards
for the 1999 season, where he started 29 games, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists. Henderson was even better in 2000, scoring 9 goals and 9 assists as one of the major players in the Wizards team that won the MLS Cup
.
He moved to the Miami Fusion
for the 2001 season where he scored 3 goals and 8 assists on a team that went on to win the MLS Supporters' Shield
in their final year. Upon the Fusion's contraction, Henderson was reacquired by the Rapids in the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft
. Henderson continued to be a threat on the right for the Rapids, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists in his first season back. Although he began to show his age in the next two seasons, Henderson continued to be dangerous on the flank. He is the Rapids' all-time leader with 178 games played, 53 assists, and 120 points. Henderson was traded to the Columbus Crew
in May 2005 in a three-team deal. After the season, he was dealt again, to the MetroStars — soon renamed New York Red Bulls — for Tim Ward
. Henderson played every match of the 2006 season, and by its end he was the league's all-time leader in games played, though he has since lost the title. At the end of the season, however, Henderson was waived. He went on to announce his retirement from professional soccer on December 22, 2006.
Following his retirement as a player, Henderson rejoined the Kansas City Wizards as an assistant coach for the 2007 season. On January 24, 2008, it was announced that Henderson would be joining the front office of the Seattle Sounders FC
as the technical director.
|1996||rowspan="3"|Colorado Rapids
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|1999||rowspan="2"|Kansas City Wizards
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|2005||Columbus Crew
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|2006||New York Red Bulls||Major League Soccer
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throughout the 90's. He first appeared for the U.S. while still at UCLA when he started in a victory over Iceland
. He quickly established himself on the national team, seeing time in nearly every game leading up to the 1990 FIFA World Cup
. While he was on the U.S. roster at the World Cup - and the youngest team member at 19 - he did not enter any of the three U.S. games. He continued to play with the national until 1998. His last game in the 1990s came in a February 25, 1998 loss to Belgium as the U.S. prepared for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
. Despite being a critical part of the national team for years, Henderson did not make the World Cup roster. Henderson did not earn his next cap until October 25, 2000. His next, and final cap, came on September 1, 2001. Over his national team career, Henderson accrued 79 caps but only 3 goals for the team over that period. Despite all those caps, Henderson never played in a World Cup for the United States. However, he was a member of the U.S. team
at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
.
Edmonds, Washington
Edmonds is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Edmonds has a view of Puget Sound and both the Olympic Mountains and Cascade Range. The third most populous city in Snohomish County after Everett and Marysville, the population was 39,709 according to the 2010 census...
) is a former American soccer midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who earned 79 caps with the U.S. national team
United 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...
. He was part of the U.S. team at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and at the time of his retirement from 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...
, he was the league's all-time leader in games played.
Early career
Henderson, older brother to Sean HendersonSean Henderson
Sean Henderson is a former a U.S. soccer midfielder who spent two seasons in Germany, three in Major League Soccer and five in the USL A-League...
, attended Cascade High School
Cascade High School (Everett, Washington)
Cascade High School is a secondary school located in Everett, Washington, United States which caters to grades 9–12 and has an annual enrollment of approximately 1,933 students. Students attending Cascade High School live primarily within the city of Everett, but some live in Mill Creek,...
in Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
. In 1989, he played a single season with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
of the Western Soccer League.
Henderson played two years of 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 UCLA, where he helped the team win a national championship his sophomore season. Upon graduating from college, Henderson played for German Second Division club FSV Frankfurt
FSV Frankfurt
FSV Frankfurt is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hesse and founded in 1899. The club plays in the shadow of larger and much more successful Eintracht Frankfurt, which has recently returned to 2nd tier football...
during the 1994-5 season. After the end of that season, he moved to the Norwegian league, where he trained with Stabæk during the winter.
MLS
At the end of the Norwegian season, Henderson returned to the U.S. and on March 11, 1996, the Colorado RapidsColorado 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...
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) named Henderson as a Discovery Player. He immediately stood out by starting 29 games, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists, and being named the Rapid's team MVP. Henderson spent the next two seasons with the Rapids, registering 9 goals and 22 assists over 51 games. He then moved to the Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
for the 1999 season, where he started 29 games, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists. Henderson was even better in 2000, scoring 9 goals and 9 assists as one of the major players in the Wizards team that won the 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...
.
He moved to 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 the 2001 season where he scored 3 goals and 8 assists on a team that went on to win the MLS Supporters' Shield
MLS Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
in their final year. Upon the Fusion's contraction, Henderson was reacquired by the Rapids in the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft
2002 MLS Dispersal Draft
The 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft was held by Major League Soccer on January 11, 2002, following the contraction of the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny to distribute the two teams' players that were not selected in the 2002 MLS Allocation Draft.-Round 1:...
. Henderson continued to be a threat on the right for the Rapids, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists in his first season back. Although he began to show his age in the next two seasons, Henderson continued to be dangerous on the flank. He is the Rapids' all-time leader with 178 games played, 53 assists, and 120 points. Henderson was 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...
in May 2005 in a three-team deal. After the season, he was dealt again, to the MetroStars — soon renamed New York Red Bulls — for Tim Ward
Tim Ward (soccer)
Tim Ward is a professional American soccer player who currently plays as a defender for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
. Henderson played every match of the 2006 season, and by its end he was the league's all-time leader in games played, though he has since lost the title. At the end of the season, however, Henderson was waived. He went on to announce his retirement from professional soccer on December 22, 2006.
Following his retirement as a player, Henderson rejoined the Kansas City Wizards as an assistant coach for the 2007 season. On January 24, 2008, it was announced that Henderson would be joining the front office of the Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
as the technical director.
Career statistics
|-|1996||rowspan="3"|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...
||rowspan="3"|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...
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|-
|1997||30||7||||||||||||||||
|-
|1998||28||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|1999||rowspan="2"|Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
||rowspan="2"|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...
||30||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|2000||31||9||||||||||||||||
|-
|2001||Miami Fusion||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...
||25||3||||||||||||||||
|-
|2002||rowspan="4"|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...
||rowspan="4"|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...
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|2004||29||3||||||||||||||||
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|2005||8||1||||||||||||||||
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|2005||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...
||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...
||21||2||||||||||||||||
|-
|2006||New York Red Bulls||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...
||32||3||||||||||||||||
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National team
Henderson earned 79 caps with the U.S. 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...
throughout the 90's. He first appeared for the U.S. while still at UCLA when he started in a victory over Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
. He quickly established himself on the national team, seeing time in nearly every game leading up to the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. While he was on the U.S. roster at the World Cup - and the youngest team member at 19 - he did not enter any of the three U.S. games. He continued to play with the national until 1998. His last game in the 1990s came in a February 25, 1998 loss to Belgium as the U.S. prepared for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
. Despite being a critical part of the national team for years, Henderson did not make the World Cup roster. Henderson did not earn his next cap until October 25, 2000. His next, and final cap, came on September 1, 2001. Over his national team career, Henderson accrued 79 caps but only 3 goals for the team over that period. Despite all those caps, Henderson never played in a World Cup for the United States. However, he was a member of the U.S. team
United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Michael Marsh — Athletics, Men's 200 metres* Quincy Watts — Athletics, Men's 400 metres* Kevin Young — Athletics, Men's 400 m Hurdles...
at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.