Leo Gibson
Encyclopedia
Leo Gibson is a Liberia
n footballer who last played for Charlotte Eagles
in the USL Second Division
.
youth team in the Liberian Premier League
. He played college soccer
at King College
in Tennessee in 2002 and 2003.
in 2004., before eventually signing with the Minnesota Thunder
of the USL First Division
in 2005. However, a hand injury kept him from playing any games that season. He remained with the Minnesota through the end of 2008, becoming an integral part of the team in the 2006 and 2007 seasons especially.
In 2007, the California Cougars
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
selected Gibson with the 40th pick in the MISL Draft. He informed the team that he preferred to not play in California and the Cougars traded his rights to the Detroit Ignition
on November 15, 2007 in exchange for a first round pick in the 2008 Supplemental Draft.
On March 17, 2009, having been released by Minnesota, Gibson signed for the Cleveland City Stars
for an undisclosed transfer fee. He played 27 games and scored 2 goals for Cleveland before the club folded at the end of the season; after a brief return to indoor soccer with Philadelphia Kixx
in 2009-10, he signed with USL Second Division
side Charlotte Eagles
in 2010.
Gibson was signed to play in the MISL's return to Kansas City with the Missouri Comets
on October 16, 2010. Named the MISL’s Offensive Player of the Month in November, it was Gibson’s move to the Comets’ DEFENSIVE end on New Year’s Eve that provided the club its much-needed spark in the back. Despite playing the first seven games on offense, Gibson still tied for the team lead in blocks with 20, which tied him for 6th overall in the league. Gibson was a tenacious defender, but he was often able to find the back of the net for the Comets, finishing 8th in the league in scoring with 45 points and finishing tied for the second most 3-point goals with four. As a reward for his efforts, Gibson was named 1st Team All-MISL.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n footballer who last played for Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
College
Gibson came to the United States from his native Liberia in 2002, having previously played for the Monrovia Black StarMonrovia Black Star Football Club
Monrovia Black Star Football Club is a club base in Monrovia Liberia. Their home stadium is the Antonette Tubman Stadium. In 2008 they won the Liberian Premier League and Liberian Cup for the first time in their history.-History:...
youth team in the Liberian Premier League
Liberian Premier League
The Liberian Premier League is the highest division in football in Liberia. The league began in 1956 and has never won by a club outside Monrovia.-Liberian Premier League - Clubs 2011/2012:*Barrack Young Controllers*Fatu FC*Green Pasture*Invincible Eleven...
. 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...
at King College
King College
King College is a private, comprehensive college located in Bristol, Tennessee. Founded in 1867, King is independently governed with covenant affiliations to the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ....
in Tennessee in 2002 and 2003.
Professional
Gibson had an trial with the Dallas Burn of Major League SoccerMajor 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...
in 2004., before eventually signing with the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
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 2005. However, a hand injury kept him from playing any games that season. He remained with the Minnesota through the end of 2008, becoming an integral part of the team in the 2006 and 2007 seasons especially.
In 2007, the California Cougars
California Cougars
The California Cougars are an indoor soccer team, founded in 2004. The team is a charter member of the Professional Arena Soccer League , the first division of arena soccer in North America....
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
selected Gibson with the 40th pick in the MISL Draft. He informed the team that he preferred to not play in California and the Cougars traded his rights to the Detroit Ignition
Detroit Ignition
The Detroit Ignition is a dormant American indoor soccer team that has played three seasons, most recently 2008-09.In April 2006, Greg Bibb, president of Hantz Group Sports and Entertainment, introduced the teams as a new Major Indoor Soccer League expansion team. They played at the Compuware...
on November 15, 2007 in exchange for a first round pick in the 2008 Supplemental Draft.
On March 17, 2009, having been released by Minnesota, Gibson signed for the Cleveland City Stars
Cleveland City Stars
Cleveland City Stars was an American professional soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until 2009...
for an undisclosed transfer fee. He played 27 games and scored 2 goals for Cleveland before the club folded at the end of the season; after a brief return to indoor soccer with Philadelphia Kixx
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
in 2009-10, he signed with USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
side Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in 2010.
Gibson was signed to play in the MISL's return to Kansas City with the Missouri Comets
Missouri Comets
The Missouri Comets are an indoor soccer team based in Independence, Missouri, near Kansas City. They joined the new Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team in the 2010–2011 season. They play their home games at the Independence Events Center....
on October 16, 2010. Named the MISL’s Offensive Player of the Month in November, it was Gibson’s move to the Comets’ DEFENSIVE end on New Year’s Eve that provided the club its much-needed spark in the back. Despite playing the first seven games on offense, Gibson still tied for the team lead in blocks with 20, which tied him for 6th overall in the league. Gibson was a tenacious defender, but he was often able to find the back of the net for the Comets, finishing 8th in the league in scoring with 45 points and finishing tied for the second most 3-point goals with four. As a reward for his efforts, Gibson was named 1st Team All-MISL.