Bobby Convey

Robert Francis "Bobby" Convey (/ˈkɒnvi/; born May 27, 1983) is an American former soccer player who most recently played for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.

Bobby Convey
Convey training with the United States Men's National Team
Personal information
Full name Robert Francis Convey
Date of birth (1983-05-27) May 27, 1983
Place of birth Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position(s) Left Winger
Youth career
1999–2000 IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 D.C. United 89 (8)
2000 → MLS Pro-40 (loan) 2 (1)
2004–2009 Reading 112 (8)
2009–2011 San Jose Earthquakes 75 (3)
2012–2013 Sporting Kansas City 19 (1)
2013 Toronto FC 21 (1)
2014 New York Red Bulls 13 (0)
Total 317 (21)
National team‡
1999 United States U17 6 (0)
2001–2003 United States U20 9 (2)
2000–2008 United States 46 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 December 2014 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of December 7, 2014

In addition to several MLS clubs, Convey spent five years in England with Reading, whom he helped into the Premier League for the first time. He played in 46 international matches for the United States, and made their squads for the 2003 Gold Cup and 2006 World Cup.

Career

Youth

Convey attended the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia and played club soccer for the Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa.[1] He was a member of the initial class of the Bradenton Academy that also included current and former national team members Landon Donovan, Oguchi Onyewu and DaMarcus Beasley. Together they helped lead the Under-17 squad to a fourth-place finish in the 1999 U-17 World Cup in New Zealand.

Professional

D.C. United

Convey was drafted in 2000 in the first round by D.C. United of Major League Soccer. That year, he became the youngest player ever signed by MLS. Convey was originally slated to play the majority of the season with the Project-40 squad;[2] however, as United faltered he was called upon to step in and perform almost immediately. He played 22 games for United in 2000, starting 18 of those. Convey entered his first game in United's 4–0 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy in the home opener at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium on March 25, 2000 and was awarded his first start in United's 2–1 loss at the Columbus Crew on May 3, 2000. It was not until July 4, 2000 against the Colorado Rapids that Convey served up Raúl Díaz Arce at the far post for a header past a helpless David Kramer. The teenager also was impressive against English Premier League side Newcastle United, when the Magpies visited D.C. during a pre-season training stint in the US. Convey's two assists and high work rate during that friendly were enough to draw the attention of Newcastle's famed manager Bobby Robson. In four and a half seasons in MLS, Convey finished with eight goals and 16 assists.

Reading
Convey (far left) playing for Reading against Arsenal

Convey looked set to move to Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League in the summer of 2003,[3] when the London club agreed to a $3 million move with MLS, but the transfer stalled when his work permit application was denied due to his lack of appearances with the senior national team.[4] Then, on July 22, 2004, after five seasons with D.C. United, Convey signed a three-year contract[5] with Reading,[6] who were then playing in the Championship. His transfer fee was around £900,000,[7] the highest paid by Reading up to that date.

Convey made his début for his new club in a 1–0 loss away to West Ham United, coming on as a substitute. He made his first start a few days later during a 1–0 Reading victory over Sheffield United on August 14, 2004. However, the start of his career in England lacked distinction, as Convey made only seven starts and 15 substitute appearances during the 2004–05 season.

Convey entered the 2005–06 season in much better form, with a starting place in the team, and he helped the Royals win the Championship title setting a new English record of 106 points in 46 games to gain promotion to the Premier League for the 2006–07 season. Convey's first goals for the club came during a 5–0 victory over Millwall.

Convey's first season in the Premier League started with Reading's 3–2 win over Middlesbrough on August 19, 2006.[8] However, Convey missed much of the remainder of the season following a training ground injury in October 2006 and subsequent knee operations.[9]

He returned from injury on July 28, 2007, playing the first half in a pre-season friendly match against Brighton, appearing "comfortable and in good shape", according to the team's match report.[10] He returned to competitive football for Reading in the club's 1–0 victory over Everton on August 18, 2007.

On February 6, 2009, Convey and Reading reached a mutual agreement on Convey's release from the club.[11][12]

San Jose Earthquakes
Convey playing for the San Jose Earthquakes

Four days after being released by Reading, Convey returned to MLS, signing with the San Jose Earthquakes.[13] He scored his first goal for the Quakes on April 11, 2009, against the Chicago Fire, while playing left-back. In 2010, Convey recorded 10 assists and was given the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award. After a fractious relationship with manager Frank Yallop, it was announced that Convey would not be returning to San Jose for the 2012 season.[14] In his three seasons at the club, Convey appeared in 75 league matches and scored three goals.

Sporting Kansas City

On December 2, 2011, Sporting Kansas City announced that it had acquired Convey in exchange for use of an international roster slot during the 2012 season.[15]

Toronto FC

On May 16, 2013, Toronto FC announced that it had acquired Convey from Sporting KC in exchange for a third round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.[16] In his only season in Toronto Convey appeared in 21 matches and tallied 1 goal and 4 assists.

New York Red Bulls

On December 13, 2013, Convey was traded to New York along with a 2014 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick in exchange for a 2014 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick and a 2016 MLS SuperDraft third-round pick.[17]

After an injury-plagued 2014 season, Convey's 2015 contract option was declined by New York on December 2, 2014.[18]

Convey subsequently retired without making an announcement, but in 2017, he claimed that he was suffering from Asthma attacks, which left him fighting for his life. On his Instagram account, he posted: "I retired from soccer and didn't really talk about it as it was just kind of forced upon me and extremely depressing at times...I have had 2 separate surgeries and 4 separate hospitalizations since I retired 2 seasons ago...This morning I was almost unconscious being physically carried out of my house to the ambulance by four firefighters to the hospital where they cut my clothes off to administer four breathing treatments and three separate steroid injections as my airways were completely closed up...The doctor said I was way too close this time."[19]

International

Convey received his first cap for the senior United States team on October 25, 2000, against Mexico, becoming the third-youngest player in US history to do so. Convey captained the under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. He was named to the 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, wearing number 15. It was his slicing free kick that resulted in the own goal against Italy which settled the outcome of the 1–1 draw. He and teammate Marcus Hahnemann were the first Reading players to play in the World Cup.[20] He played in all three games as the United States exited in the first round. Convey earned 46 caps and scored one goal for the United States national team from 2000 to 2008.[21]

International goals
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1July 26, 2003Miami, Florida Costa Rica3–23–22003 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Personal life

Convey is partially blind in his left eye due to optic nerve damage.[22]

Honors
Reading
Sporting Kansas City
  • Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2012

Career statistics
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague CupOther1Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
D.C. United2000MLS 220 20 — 240
2001MLS 121 10 — 131
2002MLS 265 00 — 265
2003MLS 192 10 — 20 222
2004MLS 100 00 — 100
D.C. United totals 898 40 — 20 958
Reading2004–05Championship 180 20 20 — 220
2005–06Championship 457 00 00 — 457
2006–07Premier League 90 30 00 — 120
2007–08Premier League 200 20 21 — 241
2008–09Championship 60 10 20 — 90
Reading F.C. totals 987 80 61 — 1128
San Jose Earthquakes2009MLS 261 10 — 271
2010MLS 281 10 — 32 323
2011MLS 211 00 — 211
San Jose Earthquakes totals 753 20 — 32 805
Sporting Kansas City2012MLS 161 00 — 10 171
2013MLS 30 00 — 30
Sporting Kansas City totals 191 00 — 10 201
Toronto FC2013MLS 211 00 — 210
New York Red Bulls2014MLS 130 10 — 140
Career totals 31520 150 61 62 34223
  • 1.^ Includes MLS Cup playoffs
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References
  1. "PSC COPPA:Coppa/Reading FC". PSC Coppa. September 13, 2006.
  2. "2000 Project 40".
  3. "Spurs agree Convey deal". BBC Sport. August 13, 2003. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  4. "Spurs lose out on Convey". BBC Sport. August 28, 2003. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  5. "Bobby Convey factfile – everything you need to know about new signing". readingfc.co.uk. November 17, 2004. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
  6. "Royals swoop for Convey". BBC Sport. July 23, 2004. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  7. getreading (February 6, 2009). "American Bobby Convey has left Reading FC".
  8. "Royals come back from two-nil down to beat Boro in first ever Premiership match". readingfc.co.uk. August 19, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  9. "Convey likely to miss rest of the season". readingfc.co.uk. February 22, 2007. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  10. "Lita hat-trick beats Brighton". readingfc.co.uk. July 29, 2007. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2007.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. Reading releases Bobby Convey. Associated Press. February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  13. Almond, Elliott (February 10, 2009). "Quakes seal deal with Convey". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  14. "San Jose make it official: Convey will not return in '12". November 24, 2011.
  15. "Sporting KC acquires MF Bobby Convey from SJ Earthquakes". December 2, 2011.
  16. "Toronto Trades For Bobby Convey". torontofc.ca. May 16, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  17. "New York Acquires Bobby Convey". newyorkredbulls.com. December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  18. "Red Bulls announce contract options not being exercised for 2015 season". newyorkredbulls.com. December 2, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  19. "Bobby Convey on Instagram". Instagram.com. Instagram. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  20. Singh, Gary (March 18–24, 2009). First Tremors. Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  21. "Convey, Bobby". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  22. Soriano, César G. (April 16, 2006). "All grown up, Convey eager to play for USA". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 12, 2006. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
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