C. J. Brown
Encyclopedia
C. J. Brown is a former American
soccer player who is currently an assistant head coach for Real Salt Lake
in Major League Soccer
.
at San Jose State University
for four years. He finished with 11 points (5 goals and 1 assist) and was named a two-time All-Conference Player in 1995 and 1996. Out of college, Brown was ignored by MLS, and instead joined the USISL
's San Francisco Bay Seals between 1995 and 1997.
For the first two years, Brown played as an amateur while the Bay Seals played in USISL Premier League
and he was still playing at San Jose. In 1997, the Bay Seals played in the USISL D-3 Pro League
and made an improbable run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
semifinals in 1997. His performances made Major League Soccer
clubs take notice.
by Chicago. He immediately stepped into the Fire's starting lineup and has been there ever since.
In his ten years and beyond in the league, Brown has played in 249 regular season games, first in team history. He has also appeared in 32 playoff games, helping the Fire to the MLS Cup
in 1998. Brown has scored four MLS goals in his career (three in the regular season and one in the playoffs). He won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
in 1998
, 2000
, 2003
, and 2006
. In 2007, he set a team record for career minutes played with 21,750 . Finished first on the team in minutes played with 2,565, the highest number of minutes played in a season during his 10-year MLS career . Brown has helped show the Fire younger players the ropes of MLS, a role he will continue to fill as the team's only remaining "Fire Originals" on the roster. He also won the Chicago Fire/USSF Humanitarian of the Year from 2001 through 2003 for his efforts in his community.
. He would assume the vacancy left by Robin Fraser
, who left the club to coach Chivas USA.
, his first coming on November 6, 1998 against Australia. He played in the US's third-place finish at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
, when he was involved in one of the biggest surprises for the U.S during the tournament, playing 90 min. on 7-30 vs. Germany, in the U.S.'s 2-0 win . Appeared in two games for the U.S. in the 2000 Gold Cup, playing 18 min. as a second-half sub on 2-16-00 vs. Peru - a 1-0 win - and on 2-12-00, as the Americans downed Haiti 3-0, he also participated in the Olympic Festival in 1994 and 1995.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who is currently an assistant head coach for Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in 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...
.
College and Amateur
Brown played college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
for four years. He finished with 11 points (5 goals and 1 assist) and was named a two-time All-Conference Player in 1995 and 1996. Out of college, Brown was ignored by MLS, and instead joined the USISL
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
's San Francisco Bay Seals between 1995 and 1997.
For the first two years, Brown played as an amateur while the Bay Seals played in USISL Premier 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...
and he was still playing at San Jose. In 1997, the Bay Seals played in the USISL D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
and made an improbable run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 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...
semifinals in 1997. His performances made 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...
clubs take notice.
Professional
Brown was drafted first overall in the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
by Chicago. He immediately stepped into the Fire's starting lineup and has been there ever since.
In his ten years and beyond in the league, Brown has played in 249 regular season games, first in team history. He has also appeared in 32 playoff games, helping the Fire to the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
in 1998. Brown has scored four MLS goals in his career (three in the regular season and one in the playoffs). He won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 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...
in 1998
1998 U.S. Open Cup
-Quarterfinals:-------------Semifinals:-----Final:-Top scorers:-See also:* United States Soccer Federation* Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup* Major League Soccer* United Soccer Leagues* USASA* National Premier Soccer League...
, 2000
2000 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:Four PDL and four USASA teams start.-----Second round:...
, 2003
2003 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:Four PDL and four USASA teams start.------Second round:Six PSL and two PDL teams enter.-----...
, and 2006
2006 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.-Qualifying round:Teams from USASA and PDL start.-----First round:Teams from USASA, PDL, and USL-2.----...
. In 2007, he set a team record for career minutes played with 21,750 . Finished first on the team in minutes played with 2,565, the highest number of minutes played in a season during his 10-year MLS career . Brown has helped show the Fire younger players the ropes of MLS, a role he will continue to fill as the team's only remaining "Fire Originals" on the roster. He also won the Chicago Fire/USSF Humanitarian of the Year from 2001 through 2003 for his efforts in his community.
Post-Professional
On January 18, 2010, Brown was hired as an assistant head coach for Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
. He would assume the vacancy left by Robin Fraser
Robin Fraser
Robin Fraser is a retired Jamaican-born American soccer player. He is currently head coach of Chivas USA in Major League Soccer....
, who left the club to coach Chivas USA.
International
After emerging from soccer obscurity, Brown amassed 15 caps with 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...
, his first coming on November 6, 1998 against Australia. He played in the US's third-place finish at the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place play-off:-Final:-Awards:-Top scorers:6 goals Cuauhtémoc Blanco Marzouq Al-Otaibi Ronaldinho4 goals Alex3 goals José Manuel Abundis Zé Roberto-Notes:...
, when he was involved in one of the biggest surprises for the U.S during the tournament, playing 90 min. on 7-30 vs. Germany, in the U.S.'s 2-0 win . Appeared in two games for the U.S. in the 2000 Gold Cup, playing 18 min. as a second-half sub on 2-16-00 vs. Peru - a 1-0 win - and on 2-12-00, as the Americans downed Haiti 3-0, he also participated in the Olympic Festival in 1994 and 1995.