Ciaran O'Brien

Ciaran O'Brien

Personal information
Full name	Ciaran Patrick O'Brien
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Colorado Rapids
Number	23
Youth career
2006	San Diego Toreros
2007	UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007	Tacoma Tide	15	(7)
2008–	Colorado Rapids	1	(0)
2008	→ Seattle Sounders (loan)	5	(0)
2009	→ Austin Aztex (loan)	3	(0)
2009	→ Montreal Impact (loan)	13	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 October, 2009

Ciaran O'Brien (born 17 November 1987, in Federal Way, Washington) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and College

O'Brien played center midfield for four years at Decatur High School in Federal Way, Washington, where he earned NSCAA All-American honors, was a First Team All-South Puget Sound League selection for four straight years, and was selected as the Washington State Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior season.

O'Brien initially played college soccer for the University of San Diego, where he was a NSCAA Freshman All-American and was named to the All-WCC Second Team, before transferring to UC Santa Barbara in his sophomore year. With the UCSB Gauchos, he made the 2007 NCAA Tournament, losing out to national finalists Ohio State. He was named the 2007 Big West Midfielder of the Year with UCSB, as well as the highest scoring player in the Big West with 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists. During his college years O'Brien also played for Tacoma Tide of the USL Premier Development League, where his father was head coach.

Professional

O'Brien decided to leave UCSB early without graduating, signing a Generation Adidas contract in the process. He was the 5th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, selected by the Colorado Rapids. He made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 71st minute in Colorado's first match of the 2008 season against Los Angeles Galaxy on March 29, 2008, but was sent off in the 90th minute for a tackle on Carlos Ruiz. The tackle tore meniscus in Ruiz right knee leaving him out for an extended period. It was O'Brien's only MLS game of his career so far.

O'Brien was sent on loan to USL First Division side, Seattle Sounders, in August 2008 to gain first team experience. With the Sounders, O'Brien appeared in 5 league games (309 minutes total) tallying 2 assists. He also appeared in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup game. However, O'Brien was soon recalled and was back with Colorado at the end of August.

In June 2009, O'Brien made a season long loan to USL-1 side Austin Aztex. In July 2009, he was signed on a loan from Colorado Rapids by Impact de Montréal until the end if the 2009 USL season.

Personal

O'Brien is the son of former Republic of Ireland international player Fran O'Brien, and the brother of fellow professional soccer player Leighton O'Brien.

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile
• Impact de Montréal player profile
• UC Santa Barbara player profile