Hunter Freeman
Encyclopedia
Hunter Freeman is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo
of Major League Soccer
.
's Bradenton Academy with the United States
Under-17 national team. Upon graduating, he attended the University of Virginia
, where he played college soccer
from 2002 to 2004. Freeman led the nation in his junior season with 21 assists, and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference
. He also played with the Texas Spurs in the USL Premier Development League
.
contract with MLS, and was subsequently selected seventh overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft
by the Rapids. He would go on to appear in 47 league matches, including 38 starts for the Colorado based club during his two years at the club.
In 2007, Freeman was traded to New York for a 2008 3rd round SuperDraft pick and a 2007 4th round Supplemental draft pick. Freeman scored his first MLS goal in a 1-0 win over FC Dallas
on April 26, 2007. After a promising start to his Red Bull career, Freeman was forced to the sidelines due to injury and his form suffered. He eventually lost his starting role, but by the end of the season he regained his form and contributed to the teams playoff run. During the 2007 regular season Freeman appeared in 16 games, including 15 starts, scoring one goal and assisting on another. He also started and played the full 90 minutes in the clubs two playoff games.
He was traded to Toronto FC
on September 12, 2008. Despite Freeman having already agreed to join IK Start, Toronto FC gave up two supplemental draft picks to acquire him for four months. Trade conditions also dictated that New York retain the MLS rights to Freeman.
On July 11, 2009, Freeman scored his first goal for Start, on a free kick. Start won the game 2-1. After two seasons with IK Start, Freeman moved back to the US, joining Houston Dynamo
. Houston sent allocation money to New York to acquire the rights to Freeman. Houston also received a third-round selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft
.
at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He was also called up to the United States U-23 men's national soccer team for the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament
, which qualified the Americans for the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
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 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...
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...
.
College and amateur
As a teenager, Freeman trained in residency at the United States Soccer FederationUnited States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
's Bradenton Academy with the 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...
Under-17 national team. Upon graduating, he attended 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...
, where he 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...
from 2002 to 2004. Freeman led the nation in his junior season with 21 assists, and was named first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. He also played with the Texas Spurs 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
Following the 2004 season, Freeman signed a Generation adidasGeneration adidas
Generation adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by adidas, encourages early entry of American players into MLS...
contract with MLS, and was subsequently selected seventh overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft
2005 MLS SuperDraft
The 2005 MLS SuperDraft, held in Baltimore, Maryland on January 14, 2005, was the sixth incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Expansion club Real Salt Lake had the first pick as the result of a coin toss . RSL drafted Under-17 midfielder Nikolas Besagno with the first selection...
by the Rapids. He would go on to appear in 47 league matches, including 38 starts for the Colorado based club during his two years at the club.
In 2007, Freeman was traded to New York for a 2008 3rd round SuperDraft pick and a 2007 4th round Supplemental draft pick. Freeman scored his first MLS goal in a 1-0 win over 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 April 26, 2007. After a promising start to his Red Bull career, Freeman was forced to the sidelines due to injury and his form suffered. He eventually lost his starting role, but by the end of the season he regained his form and contributed to the teams playoff run. During the 2007 regular season Freeman appeared in 16 games, including 15 starts, scoring one goal and assisting on another. He also started and played the full 90 minutes in the clubs two playoff games.
He was traded to 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....
on September 12, 2008. Despite Freeman having already agreed to join IK Start, Toronto FC gave up two supplemental draft picks to acquire him for four months. Trade conditions also dictated that New York retain the MLS rights to Freeman.
On July 11, 2009, Freeman scored his first goal for Start, on a free kick. Start won the game 2-1. After two seasons with IK Start, Freeman moved back to the US, joining 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...
. Houston sent allocation money to New York to acquire the rights to Freeman. Houston also received a third-round selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft
2012 MLS SuperDraft
The 2012 MLS SuperDraft will be the thirteenth annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It will be held on January 12, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. . The draft will be reduced from three rounds to two. The 19 MLS clubs will select a total of 38 players...
.
International
Freeman has played for various youth United States national teams, and was part of the United States U-20 men's national soccer teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
. He was also called up to the United States U-23 men's national soccer team for the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament
2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament
The 2008 CONCACAF Men Pre-Olympic Tournament was an association football tournament that took place in three venues in the United States from March 11 to March 23, 2008....
, which qualified the Americans for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.