Chris Snitko
Encyclopedia
Chris Snitko is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper
who was the 1995 ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
. He then spent six seasons in Major League Soccer
and earned five caps with the United States U-23 men's national soccer team.
, grew up in Anaheim, California
. He attended Canyon High School
where he played on both the soccer and baseball teams. While in high school, Snitko also trained with the UCLA men’s soccer team during his spare time. He also spent two years with the local youth club, North Huntington Beach Futbol Club where his team, the Untouchables took the 1990 state title. After graduating from high school, Snitko attended UCLA where he played on the men's soccer team. In 1992, he sat as Brad Friedel
manned the Bruins’ nets. However in 1993, Snitko became the starting goalkeeper for UCLA, a position he held for the next three seasons. He gained his greatest success as a senior when he was selected as a first team All American
and the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
. His 31 career shutouts and 47 career victories are both second on the team’s respective lists.
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) selected Snitko in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft
. That year he did not play with the Wizards as the team allowed Snitko to train and play full time with the U.S. U-23 team as it prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
. While Snitko made the U.S. Olympic team
, he did not start in the tournament because the team also boasted Kasey Keller
as it starting goalkeeper. However, Snitko did earn 5 junior national team caps with the U-23 team.
. That season Amman set a league record for 21 wins. Snitko saw time in only five games that year. When the Wizards traded Amman in 1999, it did Snitko no favors as the team picked up Tony Meola
. After only a few games of the 2000 season, the Wizards traded Snitko to the Chicago Fire for two draft picks. Snitko promptly started for the Fire, earning a shutout in his first game with his new team.http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/history/archive_game.jsp?year=00&content=0401chiclb However he ended the season up with only five appearances with the Fire and was traded to the Dallas Burn on March 21, 2001 for a third round draft pick in the 2003 College Draft. On June 27, 2001, an error on Snitko’s part resulted in a goal for the Seattle Sounders
in the second round of the 2001 Open Cup
.http://www.soccertimes.com/proleagues/usopencup/2001/games/jun27.htm Soon after he suffered an injury to his ankle and he only played in one game that season. He retired from playing professionally at the end of the 2001 season.
In 2003, the Chicago Fire hired Snitko as a goalkeeper coach for their farm system.
He is currently a real estate agent in Orange County, California
.http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/05-mg-where-now.pdf
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who was the 1995 ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
The ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year was an annual award created by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America to recognize the best U.S. college soccer goalkeeper. The ISAA began naming an annual men's Goalkeeper of the Year in 1983...
. He then spent six seasons 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...
and earned five caps with the United States U-23 men's national soccer team.
Youth
Snitko, though born in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, grew up in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. He attended Canyon High School
Canyon High School (Anaheim, California)
Canyon High School is a traditional four-year high school located in the Anaheim Hills community in the city of Anaheim, California and is an International Baccalaureate school. It is located on of land on Imperial Highway between the cross streets of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Nohl Ranch Road, and...
where he played on both the soccer and baseball teams. While in high school, Snitko also trained with the UCLA men’s soccer team during his spare time. He also spent two years with the local youth club, North Huntington Beach Futbol Club where his team, the Untouchables took the 1990 state title. After graduating from high school, Snitko attended UCLA where he played on the men's soccer team. In 1992, he sat as Brad Friedel
Brad Friedel
Bradley Howard Friedel is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League....
manned the Bruins’ nets. However in 1993, Snitko became the starting goalkeeper for UCLA, a position he held for the next three seasons. He gained his greatest success as a senior when he was selected as a first team 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:...
and the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year
The ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year was an annual award created by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America to recognize the best U.S. college soccer goalkeeper. The ISAA began naming an annual men's Goalkeeper of the Year in 1983...
. His 31 career shutouts and 47 career victories are both second on the team’s respective lists.
National team
In 1996, the Kansas City WizardsKansas 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...
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 Snitko in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1996 MLS College Draft
1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
. That year he did not play with the Wizards as the team allowed Snitko to train and play full time with the U.S. U-23 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 Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. While Snitko made 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...
, he did not start in the tournament because the team also boasted Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
as it starting goalkeeper. However, Snitko did earn 5 junior national team caps with the U-23 team.
Professional
In 1997, Snitko rejoined the Wizards full time. Once again, he found himself behind a great keeper, this time Mike AmmannMike Ammann
Mike Ammann is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in England and Major League Soccer.-Youth:...
. That season Amman set a league record for 21 wins. Snitko saw time in only five games that year. When the Wizards traded Amman in 1999, it did Snitko no favors as the team picked up Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
. After only a few games of the 2000 season, the Wizards traded Snitko to the Chicago Fire for two draft picks. Snitko promptly started for the Fire, earning a shutout in his first game with his new team.http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/history/archive_game.jsp?year=00&content=0401chiclb However he ended the season up with only five appearances with the Fire and was traded to the Dallas Burn on March 21, 2001 for a third round draft pick in the 2003 College Draft. On June 27, 2001, an error on Snitko’s part resulted in a goal for the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
in the second round of the 2001 Open Cup
2001 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:Four PDL and four USASA teams start.-----Second round:...
.http://www.soccertimes.com/proleagues/usopencup/2001/games/jun27.htm Soon after he suffered an injury to his ankle and he only played in one game that season. He retired from playing professionally at the end of the 2001 season.
In 2003, the Chicago Fire hired Snitko as a goalkeeper coach for their farm system.
He is currently a real estate agent in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
.http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/ucla/sports/m-soccer/auto_pdf/05-mg-where-now.pdf