Heath Pearce
Encyclopedia
Heath Gregory Pearce is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Chivas USA
in Major League Soccer
and for the United States men's national soccer team
.
at the University of Portland
, where he was an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection. In his final year at Portland, he started all 20 games, scoring two goals and racking up five assists.
During his college years he also played for the Bradenton Academics
in the USL Premier Development League
.
and began his professional career in the 2005–06 Danish Superliga
season. He made 50 league appearances and scored 2 goals for club in his two seasons there.
After stating that he would leave Nordsjælland after the 2007 season with a goal to be signed by a team in Germany
, Scotland
, or the Netherlands
, Pearce signed a two-year contract with Hansa Rostock on July 16, 2007. Near the end of the 2007–08 season, Pearce was briefly suspended for being late to return to the club from international duty, but was eventually allowed back on the team.
On April 13, 2009, Pearce was permanently suspended from Hansa Rostock's first team and demoted to the reserve squad because club officials believed Pearce had faked an injury to avoid training, a charge Pearce denies. At the end of the season, Pearce was released from his contract.
On September 2, 2009, Pearce reportedly signed a two-year contract with Turkish
team Bursaspor
, but the next day it had emerged that a deal was not reached until after the transfer window had closed.
After his failed move to Turkey, he signed with Major League Soccer
side FC Dallas
on September 11, 2009. On February 15, 2011, after two seasons with Dallas, Pearce was traded to Chivas USA
in return for allocation money.
. Pearce was included by Bruce Arena
in United States
training camps and friendly matches prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
but did not make the team.
Under Bob Bradley
, Pearce became a regular starter for the national team. With relatively little competition in the U.S. player pool at left back, Pearce played the third-most minutes of any American field player in 2008. But as his club situation deteriorated, Pearce has seen less time with national team. Though a member of the squad at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
, he did not make an appearance in the tournament as Jonathan Bornstein
and Carlos Bocanegra
were the preferred choices. Pearce was a member of the second-tier U.S. team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. Lately he has not seen much action due to the return of Bornstein and also Bocanegra and Jonathan Spector
both being versatile enough to play in that position.
Pearce was included on the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, but did not make the final 23 man squad.
, starred in the TV series The Glee Project
where she won a role on the Fox
hit show Glee
.
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 Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
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 for the United States men's national soccer 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...
.
College and Amateur
Pearce played college soccerCollege 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 Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
, where he was an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection. In his final year at Portland, he started all 20 games, scoring two goals and racking up five assists.
During his college years he also played for the Bradenton Academics
Bradenton Academics
The Bradenton Academics are an American soccer team based in Bradenton, Florida, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference.The team is associated with...
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
Pearce signed with NordsjællandFC Nordsjælland
Football Club Nordsjælland is a professional Danish football team from the North Zealand town of Farum, Denmark. Founded as Farum Boldklub from the merger of the town's two football clubs Farum IK and Stavnsholt BK in 1991, the club changed its name to F.C...
and began his professional career in the 2005–06 Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
season. He made 50 league appearances and scored 2 goals for club in his two seasons there.
After stating that he would leave Nordsjælland after the 2007 season with a goal to be signed by a team 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...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, or the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Pearce signed a two-year contract with Hansa Rostock on July 16, 2007. Near the end of the 2007–08 season, Pearce was briefly suspended for being late to return to the club from international duty, but was eventually allowed back on the team.
On April 13, 2009, Pearce was permanently suspended from Hansa Rostock's first team and demoted to the reserve squad because club officials believed Pearce had faked an injury to avoid training, a charge Pearce denies. At the end of the season, Pearce was released from his contract.
On September 2, 2009, Pearce reportedly signed a two-year contract with Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
team Bursaspor
Bursaspor
Bursaspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Bursa. Formed in 1963, Bursaspor are nicknamed the Yeşil Timsahlar...
, but the next day it had emerged that a deal was not reached until after the transfer window had closed.
After his failed move to Turkey, he signed with 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...
side FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
on September 11, 2009. On February 15, 2011, after two seasons with Dallas, Pearce was traded to Chivas USA
C.D. Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
in return for allocation money.
International
Pearce made his international debut in November 2005 against ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Pearce was included by 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...
in United States
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...
training camps and friendly matches prior to 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...
but did not make the team.
Under Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley
Robert "Bob" Bradley is an American soccer coach and the current manager of the Egypt national football team, taking over in September 2011. He previously managed the United States men's national soccer team...
, Pearce became a regular starter for the national team. With relatively little competition in the U.S. player pool at left back, Pearce played the third-most minutes of any American field player in 2008. But as his club situation deteriorated, Pearce has seen less time with national team. Though a member of the squad at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup was the eighth Confederations Cup, and was held in South Africa from 14 June to 28 June 2009 as a prelude to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The draw was held on 22 November 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The opening match was played at Ellis Park...
, he did not make an appearance in the tournament as Jonathan Bornstein
Jonathan Bornstein
Jonathan Rey Bornstein is an American soccer player who currently plays for UANL of the Primera División de México and for the United States national team.-Youth and College:...
and Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Bocanegra
Carlos Manuel Bocanegra is an American soccer player who plays for Scottish Premier League club Rangers and is the captain of the United States national team.-Chicago Fire:...
were the preferred choices. Pearce was a member of the second-tier U.S. team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
. Lately he has not seen much action due to the return of Bornstein and also Bocanegra and Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Michael Paul Spector is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club...
both being versatile enough to play in that position.
Pearce was included on the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, but did not make the final 23 man squad.
FC Dallas
- 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...
Personal Life
Heath has one younger adopted sister and two brothers. His sister, Lindsay PearceLindsay Pearce
Lindsay Pearce is an American singer, actress, and reality TV personality. Pearce is best known for being one of the runners-up on The Glee Project, which gave her a recurring role on the TV show Glee.-Early life:...
, starred in the TV series The Glee Project
The Glee Project
The Glee Project is an American reality television series from Oxygen. It serves as an audition for the FOX TV series Glee. Although originally planned to begin broadcasting in late May 2011, The Glee Project premiered on June 12, 2011...
where she won a role on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
hit show Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
.