Alan Gordon (soccer)

Alan Gordon (born October 16, 1981) is a retired American professional soccer player. In the majority of his career, Gordon has mostly been relied upon to make goals in games being substituted on the field.

This article is about the American soccer player. For the Scottish footballer of the 1960s and 1970s, see Alan Gordon (Scottish footballer).

Alan Gordon

Gordon playing for LA Galaxy March 2015
Personal information
Full name	Alan Eugene Gordon II
Date of birth	(1981-10-16) October 16, 1981
Place of birth	Long Beach, California, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position(s)	Forward
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2001	Yavapai Roughriders	50	(39)
2002–2003	Oregon State Beavers	40	(26)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004	Portland Timbers	27	(17)
2004	→ LA Galaxy (loan)	3	(0)
2005–2010	LA Galaxy	96	(16)
2006	→ Portland Timbers (loan)	1	(0)
2010	Chivas USA	9	(1)
2011	Toronto FC	8	(4)
2011–2014	San Jose Earthquakes	64	(18)
2014–2016	LA Galaxy	65	(13)
2017	Colorado Rapids	26	(3)
2018	Chicago Fire	23	(4)
Total		322	(76)
National team^‡
2012–2015	United States	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 29, 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 17, 2015

Youth

Gordon moved to Gilbert, Arizona in his mid-teens, and played two years of college soccer for Yavapai College, where he scored 39 goals in his two seasons, before attending Oregon State University, where he won All-Pac-10 honors twice[1] and scored 11 goals as a junior and 15 as a senior.

Career

Professional

2004–2010

Upon graduating, Gordon was drafted 53rd overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy. However, Gordon did not make the team and signed with the Portland Timbers of the A-League. With the Timbers, Gordon was an instant success, playing 27 games and scoring 17 goals, tying Dante Washington for the league lead, and helped the Timbers finish the regular season with the league's best record. In recognition of his achievement Gordon was named the league's Rookie of the Year and was a finalist for the MVP Award. After the end of the A-League season, Gordon was loaned back to the Galaxy. During the 2006 season, Gordon saw increased playing time for the Galaxy, scoring four goals.

During a 2007 friendly with Chelsea, Gordon was pulled for David Beckham's first appearance with the Galaxy in the 78th minute. On April 26, 2008, Gordon scored two goals off the bench in the Galaxy's 5–2 victory over rivals Chivas USA. He finished 2008 with a career year. He scored five goals and seven assists, even though he was not a full-time starter.

2010–present

In August 2010, he was traded to neighboring Chivas USA for allocation money just one match short of his 100 league appearances with the Galaxy, during which time he notched 16 goals.[2] Following the 2010 season, he was selected by Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft,[3] but was immediately traded back to Chivas USA, along with Alejandro Moreno, for allocation money and an international roster spot.[4]

He was traded to Toronto FC ahead of the 2011 season in exchange for Nick LaBrocca.[5] Gordon made his debut for Toronto on March 26 in a 2–0 home victory against Portland Timbers with both goals coming from Javier Martina.[6] On April 2 Gordon scored his first goal for Toronto in a 1–1 tie against his former team Chivas.[7] Gordon had a memorable return to The Home Depot Center on June 11 when he scored two goals against The Galaxy in a 2–2 thriller which saw two goals scored in injury time of the second half.[8]

Following Toronto's designated player signing of Danny Koevermans, Gordon became a dispensable asset and was traded along with Jacob Peterson and Nana Attakora to the San Jose Earthquakes for Ryan Johnson, allocation money, and an international roster spot in July 2011.[9] Gordon signed a new contract with San Jose in January 2012.[10] Alan Gordon had a career best of 13 goals in 23 appearances with the Earthquakes that year.[11]

In April 2013, during a match with the Portland Timbers, Gordon was caught on camera using the word "faggot" in reference to Portland midfielder Will Johnson. Gordon was suspended for three matches following the incident, in addition to the one-match ban he received for drawing a red card in the 78th minute of the same match.[12]

Gordon returned once again to Los Angeles when San Jose traded him to the Galaxy in August 2014 in exchange for allocation money.[13] Gordon ended the season scoring five goals, four of them from off the bench.[14]

Prior to the 2017 MLS season, Gordon announced that he would join the Colorado Rapids on a free agent deal.[15]

On March 16, 2018, Gordon joined MLS side Chicago Fire.[16] On October 28, 2018, Gordon announced that he would retire from playing professional soccer after their final game of the season against D.C. United.[17]

International

Gordon earned his first call-up to the United States men's national soccer team in August 2012 in advance of a friendly match against Mexico. Gordon was again called up in October 2012 to prepare for the final two matches in the semifinal round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He made his first international appearance on October 12, 2012, as a substitute against Antigua and Barbuda, where he provided a critical assist to Eddie Johnson, who scored a 90th minute game-winning goal.

He was called into the squad for the 2013 Gold Cup, after the USA advanced to the knockout stages. He did not play, however, as the USA won the tournament.

He was also called into the squad for the 2015 Gold Cup, after the USA advanced to the knockout rounds, replacing Jozy Altidore, who was still trying to recover from an injury. He came on as a late substitute for Aron Johannsson in the US's 2–1 loss the Jamaica in the semifinals but failed to make an impact.

Career statistics

As of July 23, 2016[18]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
2004	Portland Timbers	USL A-League	27	17	2	0	2	0	—		31	17
	Los Angeles Galaxy (loan)	Major League Soccer	3	0	0	0	1	0	—		4	0
2005	Los Angeles Galaxy		5	0	1	0	3	0	—		9	0
2006			17	4	4	3	—		0	0	21	7
	Portland Timbers (loan)	USL First Division	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
2007	Los Angeles Galaxy	Major League Soccer	14	3	0	0	—		4	3	18	6
2008			26	5	0	0	—		—		26	5
2009			22	3	0	0	3	0	—		25	3
2010			12	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	16	1
	Chivas USA		9	1	0	0	—		—		9	1
Canada			League		Voyageurs Cup		Playoffs		North America		Total
2011	Toronto FC	Major League Soccer	8	4	2	2	—		0	0	10	6
USA			League		Open Cup		Playoffs		North America		Total
2011	San Jose Earthquakes	Major League Soccer	2	1	0	0	—		—		2	1
2012			23	13	2	0	0	0	—		25	13
2013			24	4	2	0	0	0	1	1	27	5
2014			15	0			0	0			15	0
	Los Angeles Galaxy		14	5			5	0	0	0	19	5
2015			29	5	1	0	1	0	4	5	35	10
2016			11	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	14	1
Total	USA		254	62	17	4	15	0	11	9	300	78
	Canada		8	4	2	2	—		0	0	10	6
Career total			262	66	19	6	15	0	11	9	310	84

• CCL play for 2013 San Jose has matches played in 2014 but was still the 2013 edition of the tourney

Honors

Team

Portland Timbers

• A-League The Commissioner's Cup (1): 2004

Los Angeles Galaxy

• MLS Cup (2): 2005, 2014
• US Open Cup (1): 2005

Toronto FC

• Canadian Championship (1): 2011

San Jose Earthquakes

• Supporters' Shield (1): 2012

Individual

• Major League Soccer Player of the Week (1): 2013
• A-League Rookie of the Year: 2004
• A-League Top Scorer (1): 2004

See also

• List of current MLS players with national team caps

References

1. "Alan Gordon". MLSsoccer.com.
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. "Prost Amerika". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011.
4. "Whitecaps FC select ten players in MLS 2010 Expansion Draft - Trade four selections to three MLS clubs". Whitecapsfc.com. November 23, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
5. "Toronto FC Acquires Nick LaBrocca: Reds acquire Gordon". Torontofc.ca. March 11, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
6. "Martina Brace Leads The Way". Toronto FC. March 26, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
7. "Gordon Goal Gifts Reds a Draw". Toronto FC. April 2, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
8. "Reds Pull off shocker against Galaxy". Toronto Sun. June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
9. "Toronto FC trades Attakora, picks up Dunfield". CBC News. July 14, 2011.
10. "San Jose Earthquakes re-sign forward Alan Gordon - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
11. Alan Gordon (October 16, 1981). "Alan Gordon | San Jose Earthquakes". Sjearthquakes.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
12. MLS Communications (April 16, 2013). "San Jose Earthquakes forward Alan Gordon gets three-game suspension for homophobic slur". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
13. "LA Galaxy acquire forward Alan Gordon | LA Galaxy".
14. "LA Galaxy 1, Colorado Rapids 1 | MLS Match Recap". MLS Soccer. May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
15. "Former LA Galaxy forward Alan Gordon announces he's heading to the Colorado Rapids via Instagram | INSIDER | LA Galaxy".
16. "Chicago Fire Soccer Club Signs Alan Gordon | Chicago Fire".
17. "Chicago Fire forward Alan Gordon announces retirement after 15 MLS seasons | MLSsoccer.com".
18. Alan Gordon at Soccerway

External links

Media related to Alan Gordon (soccer) at Wikimedia Commons

• Alan Gordon at Major League Soccer
• Alan Gordon at National-Football-Teams.com
• Alan Gordon – FIFA competition record