Steve Ralston
Encyclopedia
Steve Ralston is a retired American
soccer player and a current assistant coach
for the Houston Dynamo
.
by the Tampa Bay Mutiny
out of Florida International University
, and proceeded to become the first MLS player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002. He was Tampa Bay's all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130). he then joined the New England Revolution. In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19. In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and five assists in 30 playoff matches. He also served as captain for several seasons with New England.
Ralston is currently the Major League’s Soccer all-time career leader in assists (135), appearances (378), starts (372) and minutes played (33,143). He also holds the U.S. record for professional appearances (412).
Soon after leaving New England, Ralston became the first ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis
. Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka
.
After AC St. Louis
ran in to financial difficulties, Ralston agreed to leave by mutual consent and immediately joined up with his former club New England Revolution
.
In Ralston's first appearance back with the New England Revolution
, he suffered a left elbow dislocation. In July 2010, he announced his retirement.
36 times over an 11 year span and scored 4 international goals. His first cap came on January 17, 1997 against Peru
. His last was for the squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. He was never selected to a World Cup roster.
Ralston had a break out year for the United States national team
in 2005 by earning 15 caps. He scored the game winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on September 3, 2005. The victory for the United States clinched qualification in the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. Despite his national team performances in 2005 he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup.
was named as the new Assistant Coach of the club. In July 2010, Ralson took an assistant coaching job at the Houston Dynamo
with his former teammate Dominic Kinnear
from the Tampa Bay Mutiny
.
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Mutiny
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Soccer
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Revolution
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|2010
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Revolution
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Soccer
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United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player and a current assistant coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the 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...
.
Professional
Ralston was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft1996 MLS College Draft
-History:As Major League Soccer prepared for its first season, the league began stocking teams with players. As the teams were being created at the same time, the league adopted a measured approach to building rosters. First, the league allocated four "big name" players to each team. Then on...
by the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
out of Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, and proceeded to become the first MLS player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002. He was Tampa Bay's all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130). he then joined the New England Revolution. In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19. In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and five assists in 30 playoff matches. He also served as captain for several seasons with New England.
Ralston is currently the Major League’s Soccer all-time career leader in assists (135), appearances (378), starts (372) and minutes played (33,143). He also holds the U.S. record for professional appearances (412).
Soon after leaving New England, Ralston became the first ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
. Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka
Claude Anelka
Claude Anelka is a former French football manager, who was most recently the head coach of AC St. Louis. He is the older brother of professional footballer Nicolas Anelka, who currently plays in the Premier League with Chelsea....
.
After AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
ran in to financial difficulties, Ralston agreed to leave by mutual consent and immediately joined up with his former club New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
In Ralston's first appearance back with the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
, he suffered a left elbow dislocation. In July 2010, he announced his retirement.
International
Ralston appeared for the United States national teamUnited 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...
36 times over an 11 year span and scored 4 international goals. His first cap came on January 17, 1997 against Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
. His last was for the squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
. He was never selected to a World Cup roster.
Ralston had a break out year for the United States national 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...
in 2005 by earning 15 caps. He scored the game winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on September 3, 2005. The victory for the United States clinched qualification in 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...
. Despite his national team performances in 2005 he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | January 18, 2003 | Lockhart Stadium Lockhart Stadium Lockhart Stadium is a stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. It is currently used by Fort Lauderdale High School, Stranahan High School, Northeast High School and Dillard High School for home high school football games, and previously served as the home of the Florida Atlantic... , Fort Lauderdale, USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
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| 2. | July 19, 2003 | Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution... , Foxboro Foxboro Foxboro or Foxborough may refer to:Places*Foxborough, Massachusetts, a town in Norfolk County** Foxboro *Foxboro, Ontario, a community in Hastings County*Foxboro, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community in Douglas CountyOther... , USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
CONCACAF Gold Cup The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an... |
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| 3. | March 30, 2005 | Legion Field Legion Field Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak... , Birmingham, AL, USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
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| 4. | September 3, 2005 | Columbus Crew Stadium Columbus Crew Stadium Columbus Crew Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio and the home stadium of Major League Soccer club, Columbus Crew. Built in 1999, Crew Stadium was the first soccer-specific stadium built for a professional soccer team in the second pro era of American soccer... , Columbus Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city... , USA United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
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Coaching career
After his signing with AC St. LouisAC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
was named as the new Assistant Coach of the club. In July 2010, Ralson took an assistant coaching job at the 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...
with his former teammate Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear
Dominic Kinnear is a Scottish-born American former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.As a player, he began his professional career with Scottish club St...
from the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
.
Personal life
Ralston is married to Rachel and the couple has two daughters, Anna (9) and Clara (4), and one son, Liam (6)Career statistics
|-|1996||rowspan="6"|Tampa Bay
Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
||rowspan="14"|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...
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|2002||rowspan="8"|New England
Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
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|2007
2007 Major League Soccer season
The 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.....
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|2008
2008 Major League Soccer season
The 2008 Major League Soccer season was the 13th season in league history. The season began on March 29 and ended with MLS Cup 2008, on November 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.-Changes from the 2007 season:...
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|2009
2009 Major League Soccer season
The 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
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|2010||A.C. St. Louis||USSF D2
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
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|2010
2010 Major League Soccer season
The 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...
||rowspan="1"|New England
Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
||rowspan="1"|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...
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United States
- CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
Champions (2): 20052005 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the eighth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested in the United States in July 2005. The United States emerged victorious in the final against an upstart Panama team led by tournament...
, 20072007 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
New England Revolution
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
(1): 20072007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup-Schedule:Note: Scorelines use the standard U.S. convention of placing the home team on the right-hand side of box scores.-First round:-----Second round:-----Third round:... - North American SuperLigaNorth American SuperLigaThe SuperLiga was an official North American association football competition between teams from the Primera División of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each country. The competition was sanctioned by CONCACAF, U.S...
(1): 20082008 North American SuperLigaThe 2008 North American SuperLiga, is the second edition of the SuperLiga competition. The top four Major League Soccer teams by point totals at the end of the 2007 season earn qualification....