Matt Jordan
Encyclopedia
Matt Jordan is a former soccer goalkeeper. He is currently the Director of Soccer Operations for the Montreal Impact
of Major League Soccer
.
, and played college soccer
at Clemson University
from 1994 to 1997, for whom he started 80 total games, and was named a first-team All-American
in 1997 while leading the Tigers to the NCAA quarterfinals.
by the Dallas Burn
. Stuck behind Mark Dodd
, Jordan only started one game as a rookie. However, he took the job from Dodd in the 1999 season, impressing everybody with his athletic ability. Jordan started for the next four years for the Burn, starting a total of 114 games with the team and registered a 1.51 goals against average, leading the Burn to the playoffs in each of four years with the team. However, the Burn acquired promising young goalkeeper D.J. Countess midseason 2002 and Jordan, seeing the writing on the wall, opted to try his fortunes overseas, signing with Odense BK
of Denmark
after the 2002 season.
However, Jordan saw little time with Odense, and returned to MLS in the middle of the 2004 season, signing with the Columbus Crew
. He only played one game for the Crew, however, spending most of the year behind Jon Busch
. In 2005, an injury kept Jordan out for most of the season, and after newly-acquired Jonny Walker
played well, Jordan was shipped to his hometown Rapids for a pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft
. He was waived during the 2007 pre-season, and the Rapids brought Zach Thornton
on board.
The Impact signed Jordan in 2007 to replace long-time starter Greg Sutton
, who had moved on to MLS
expansion side Toronto FC
. In Montreal, Jordan established himself on a successful Impact team that won the inaugural Canadian Championship
in 2008
, posting two clean sheets and receiving the George Gross Memorial Trophy
as tournament MVP.
On December 18, 2008, Montreal announced the re-signing of Jordan to two year contract.
On February 1, 2011, Jordan announced his retirement as player. He will stay with Montreal as director of soccer operations.
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
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...
.
Youth and College
Jordan graduated from Overland High School in AuroraAurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
, and 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 Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1994 to 1997, for whom he started 80 total games, and was named a first-team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
in 1997 while leading the Tigers to the NCAA quarterfinals.
Professional
Upon graduating, Jordan was selected tenth overall in the 1998 MLS College Draft1998 MLS College Draft
The 1998 Major League Soccer College Draft was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 31 and February 1, 1998.-Format:On Saturday, January 31, 1997, Major League Soccer held the first round of its 1998 college draft during the halftime of the Umbro Select All-Star Classic at Lockhart Stadium. ...
by the Dallas Burn
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...
. Stuck behind Mark Dodd
Mark Dodd
Mark Dodd is a former U.S. soccer goalkeeper. He spent one season in the Major Indoor Soccer League, six in the American Professional Soccer League and four in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn. He also earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team.-High school and college:Dodd attended...
, Jordan only started one game as a rookie. However, he took the job from Dodd in the 1999 season, impressing everybody with his athletic ability. Jordan started for the next four years for the Burn, starting a total of 114 games with the team and registered a 1.51 goals against average, leading the Burn to the playoffs in each of four years with the team. However, the Burn acquired promising young goalkeeper D.J. Countess midseason 2002 and Jordan, seeing the writing on the wall, opted to try his fortunes overseas, signing with Odense BK
Odense BK
Odense Boldklub is a Danish professional football club based in the town of Odense. The club has won three Danish championships and five Danish Cup trophies. OB play in the Danish Superliga and their home field is TRE-FOR Park in Odense on Funen...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
after the 2002 season.
However, Jordan saw little time with Odense, and returned to MLS in the middle of the 2004 season, signing with the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. He only played one game for the Crew, however, spending most of the year behind Jon Busch
Jon Busch
Jon Busch is an American soccer goalkeeper for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. In 2005, an injury kept Jordan out for most of the season, and after newly-acquired Jonny Walker
Jonny Walker
Jonny Walker is an American soccer goalkeeper who is an assistant coach with the University of Memphis women's soccer team. Walker played professionally in Chile and the United States, including Major League Soccer...
played well, Jordan was shipped to his hometown Rapids for a pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft
2006 MLS SuperDraft
The 2006 MLS SuperDraft, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 20, 2006, was the seventh incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection originally belonged to C.D. Chivas USA, but they traded it to the MetroStars for the fifth overall selection and Jason...
. He was waived during the 2007 pre-season, and the Rapids brought Zach Thornton
Zach Thornton
Zach Thornton is an American soccer player who currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
on board.
The Impact signed Jordan in 2007 to replace long-time starter Greg Sutton
Greg Sutton (soccer)
Greg Sutton is a Canadian soccer player who most recently played for Montreal Impact in the North American Soccer League...
, who had moved on to MLS
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...
expansion side 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....
. In Montreal, Jordan established himself on a successful Impact team that won the inaugural Canadian Championship
Canadian Championship
The Canadian Championship—known as the Nutrilite Canadian Championship for sponsorship reasons—is an annual soccer tournament contested by premier Canadian professional teams...
in 2008
2008 Canadian Championship
The 2008 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2008....
, posting two clean sheets and receiving the George Gross Memorial Trophy
George Gross Memorial Trophy
The George Gross Memorial Trophy is awarded to the most valuable player of the Canadian Soccer Championship. It is named after the late George Gross, a highly-respected sports journalist who covered soccer for the Toronto Telegram and Toronto Sun....
as tournament MVP.
On December 18, 2008, Montreal announced the re-signing of Jordan to two year contract.
On February 1, 2011, Jordan announced his retirement as player. He will stay with Montreal as director of soccer operations.
Club
Montreal Impact- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Championship (1): 2009 - 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...
Voyageurs Cup (1): 20082008 Canadian ChampionshipThe 2008 Canadian Championship was a soccer tournament that took place in the cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver in 2008....