Kelly Gray
Encyclopedia
Kelly Gray is an American
soccer player, currently without a club.
and midfielder
at the University of Portland
from 1999 to 2001. He scored a total of 32 goals and 12 assists in his three years for the Pilots and was voted a second-team All-American and first-team All-WCC as a junior.
by the Chicago Fire. Gray made an immediate impact with the Fire, starting twenty games as a rookie while scoring two goals and five assists. He appeared in 28 games in 2003, again starting twenty, while scoring two goals and one assist. While playing more defensively in 2004, he started 23 games for the Fire, scoring one goal. Gray's versatility may have been a hindrance to his development, however, as even three years into his career with the Fire, it is unclear what his position should be; although a consistent starter, he was longing to play in his hometown.
Gray was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes
for a second-round draft pick in June 2005. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season. Gray scored the winning goal in the second leg of Houston's Champions' Cup tie with Puntarenas
. Gray moved to Los Angeles Galaxy
in June 2007 as part of the move that took Nate Jaqua
in the opposite direction. He made his debut in Galaxy's 2-0 victory over Chicago on 4 July 2007.
Due to the Galaxy's increased salary cap restrictions, Gray was waived at the end of the 2007 season. He was picked up by the Colorado Rapids
at the start of the 2008 season, but played just two games for them before being transferred to the San Jose Earthquakes
for a second stint with the club until he was waived on June 25, 2009.
, including at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina
, and has most recently been with the Under-23 team, which he captained in January 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player, currently without a club.
College
Gray played forwardStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and 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...
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...
from 1999 to 2001. He scored a total of 32 goals and 12 assists in his three years for the Pilots and was voted a second-team All-American and first-team All-WCC as a junior.
Professional
After his junior season, Gray signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, and was selected fifth overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft2002 MLS SuperDraft
The 2002 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:...
by the Chicago Fire. Gray made an immediate impact with the Fire, starting twenty games as a rookie while scoring two goals and five assists. He appeared in 28 games in 2003, again starting twenty, while scoring two goals and one assist. While playing more defensively in 2004, he started 23 games for the Fire, scoring one goal. Gray's versatility may have been a hindrance to his development, however, as even three years into his career with the Fire, it is unclear what his position should be; although a consistent starter, he was longing to play in his hometown.
Gray was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
for a second-round draft pick in June 2005. Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season. Gray scored the winning goal in the second leg of Houston's Champions' Cup tie with Puntarenas
Puntarenas F.C.
Puntarenas Fútbol Club, S.A.D. is a Costa Rican football club, currently competing in the Unión de Clubes de Fútbol de la Primera División ....
. Gray moved to Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, 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, and the league's second...
in June 2007 as part of the move that took Nate Jaqua
Nate Jaqua
Jonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
in the opposite direction. He made his debut in Galaxy's 2-0 victory over Chicago on 4 July 2007.
Due to the Galaxy's increased salary cap restrictions, Gray was waived at the end of the 2007 season. He was picked up by the 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...
at the start of the 2008 season, but played just two games for them before being transferred to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
for a second stint with the club until he was waived on June 25, 2009.
International
Gray has played extensively with the Youth United States national teamsUnited 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...
, including at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and has most recently been with the Under-23 team, which he captained in January 2003.
Houston Dynamo
- 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...
MLS Cup (1): 2006