Dan Gargan
Encyclopedia
Dan Gargan is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer
.
, who he helped to back-to-back Interacademic League championships in 2000 and 2001, while playing club soccer for Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa. He played college soccer at Georgetown University
, scoring 11 goals and assisted on 18 while appearing in 75 games. He also garnered team MVP honors and captained the squad in both his junior and senior seasons.
During his college years he also played for the Chesapeake Dragons
in the USL Premier Development League
.
in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
. After what some considered a breakout season in 2006, he was awarded the "Rapids Most Improved Player" title. Though considered an adequate right back, Gargan was waived by the Rapids early in the 2008 season as they faced a roster crunch and a surplus of defenders. It was popular among Rapids fans to cheer "Release the Gargan!" every time Dan came onto the field.
Following a brief period as an unattached player on trial, Gargan was signed by Chivas USA on April 25, 2008., but announced his retirement from professional soccer, citing personal reasons, on May 9, 2008 without playing a game.
Gargan returned to the game to play for the Puerto Rico Islanders
of the USL First Division
in mid-2009, and he played 29 games for the team, helping them reach the USL1 post season.
In early 2010, he was on trial with Toronto FC
, scoring the first goal of their preseason. On March 26, 2010, Toronto FC signed Gargan to a contract. He made his debut for Toronto in away loss to New England Revolution
on April 10. He scored his first career MLS goal in a 1–1 draw with the Houston Dynamo
on July 1. He earned a spot as a regular defender, a role which would continue into the following season when he started in 12 of his 16 appearances.
Gargan was traded along with a second-round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft to the Chicago Fire for defender Dasan Robinson
on July 28, 2011. Gargan made his debut for Chicago on August 13 against New York Red Bulls, the game ended in a 2-2 away draw. The following week Gargan scored his first goal for his new team against his former team of Toronto in a 2-0 home victory over the Reds.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Chicago Fire 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...
.
College
Gargan attended the prestigious Chestnut Hill AcademyChestnut Hill Academy
Chestnut Hill Academy, commonly referred to as CHA, is a Pre-K to 12 all-male independent college preparatory school located in northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, who he helped to back-to-back Interacademic League championships in 2000 and 2001, while playing club soccer for Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa. He played college soccer at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, scoring 11 goals and assisted on 18 while appearing in 75 games. He also garnered team MVP honors and captained the squad in both his junior and senior seasons.
During his college years he also played for the Chesapeake Dragons
Chesapeake Dragons
Chesapeake Dragons were an American soccer team, founded in 2001. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2004, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Dragons played their home...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
Gargan was drafted in the fourth round (43rd overall) by 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...
in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
Following the signature of the first MLS players' union contract, the MLS Superdraft was limited to four rounds. As a result, the Supplemental Draft was re-incarnated to hold the additional rounds. The 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft, held on February 4, 2005, was the first re-incarnation of the MLS...
. After what some considered a breakout season in 2006, he was awarded the "Rapids Most Improved Player" title. Though considered an adequate right back, Gargan was waived by the Rapids early in the 2008 season as they faced a roster crunch and a surplus of defenders. It was popular among Rapids fans to cheer "Release the Gargan!" every time Dan came onto the field.
Following a brief period as an unattached player on trial, Gargan was signed by Chivas USA on April 25, 2008., but announced his retirement from professional soccer, citing personal reasons, on May 9, 2008 without playing a game.
Gargan returned to the game to play for the Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
in mid-2009, and he played 29 games for the team, helping them reach the USL1 post season.
In early 2010, he was on trial with Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, scoring the first goal of their preseason. On March 26, 2010, Toronto FC signed Gargan to a contract. He made his debut for Toronto in away loss 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...
on April 10. He scored his first career MLS goal in a 1–1 draw with the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
on July 1. He earned a spot as a regular defender, a role which would continue into the following season when he started in 12 of his 16 appearances.
Gargan was traded along with a second-round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft to the Chicago Fire for defender Dasan Robinson
Dasan Robinson
Dasan Alexander Robinson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Robinson grew up in the Cleveland area and graduated from Elyria High School...
on July 28, 2011. Gargan made his debut for Chicago on August 13 against New York Red Bulls, the game ended in a 2-2 away draw. The following week Gargan scored his first goal for his new team against his former team of Toronto in a 2-0 home victory over the Reds.
Toronto FC
- Canadian ChampionshipCanadian ChampionshipThe Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
(2): 20102010 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2010 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2010...
, 20112011 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2011 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament hosted and organized by the Canadian Soccer Association that took place in the cities of Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2011. As in previous tournaments, participating teams included the Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver...