Vardan Adzemian
Encyclopedia
Vardan Adzemian is an American
soccer player of Armenian
heritage.
Adzemian was born in Armenia
, but grew up in Glendale, California
, and played for former PDL clubs San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
and Los Angeles Heroes
while in high school. He began his professional career in Greece at the age of 18, playing with the reserve teams of Greek Super League sides AEK Athens and Panathinaikos, but never made a first team start for either team. He joined FC Marko of the Greek third division in 2004, and moved on to second division club Pavlos Melas Stavroupoli in 2005, before returning to the United States in 2006.
He appeared in a handful of MLS Reserve Division matches for Chivas USA, Chicago Fire
and Kansas City Wizards
in 2006, but was never picked up to a professional contract; after spending another year in the USL Premier Development League
in 2007 with Ventura County Fusion
, the Los Angeles Galaxy signed Adzemian to a developmental contract on 9 April 2008, and sent him on loan to the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division, where he subsequently made one start.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
heritage.
Adzemian was born in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, but grew up in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, and played for former PDL clubs San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
San Gabriel Valley Highlanders
San Gabriel Valley Highlanders were an American soccer team, founded in 1997 by a group of Armenian American businessmen and soccer fans as a competitive branch of the locally-based Ararat Soccer Club...
and Los Angeles Heroes
Los Angeles Heroes
Los Angeles Heroes were an American soccer club who played in the United Soccer Leagues from 1993-02. They began life as the San Fernando Valley Golden Ealgles upon joining the league, became the San Fernando Valley Heroes when they were relegated to the Premier Development League in 1999 and were...
while in high school. He began his professional career in Greece at the age of 18, playing with the reserve teams of Greek Super League sides AEK Athens and Panathinaikos, but never made a first team start for either team. He joined FC Marko of the Greek third division in 2004, and moved on to second division club Pavlos Melas Stavroupoli in 2005, before returning to the United States in 2006.
He appeared in a handful of MLS Reserve Division matches for Chivas USA, Chicago Fire
Chicago Fire (soccer)
Chicago Fire Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in the Chicago suburb of Bridgeview, Illinois. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in 2006, but was never picked up to a professional contract; after spending another year 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...
in 2007 with Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion
Ventura County Fusion is an American soccer team based in Ventura, California, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games in...
, the Los Angeles Galaxy signed Adzemian to a developmental contract on 9 April 2008, and sent him on loan to the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division, where he subsequently made one start.