Craig Waibel
Encyclopedia
Craig Waibel is a former American
soccer player.
at University of Washington
, and with Spokane Shadow
in the USL Premier Development League
prior to turning professional.
. He was, however, picked by the Seattle Sounders
17th in the 1999 A-League
draft. He played solidly for the Sounders; enough so that he was called up briefly by the Colorado Rapids
in the early part of the 2000 season. Waibel was selected by the Earthquakes 31st in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
but then waived a month later. The Los Angeles Galaxy
signed him soon after as a discovery player. Waibel was part of the Galaxy's run to win the 2002 MLS Cup
, making 12 appearances for the eventual champions.
The following year, Waibel was waived by the Galaxy only to be selected again by the San Jose Earthquakes
in the 2002 Waiver Draft. Good fortune followed Waibel, as he won his second straight MLS Cup in 2003, this time with the Quakes. For the 2004 season, Waibel stayed with the Earthquakes and played his best soccer to date, notching his first professional goal, also recording a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2004. His 2005 season was cut short after an injury he picked up vs Santa Clara University in an exhibition game. Waibel was having a career year.
Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season, in which he scored a career-high five goals. Waibel notched his first career two-goal game in the October 14 season finale against Colorado
. Waibel has become a legendary player for the Houston Dynamo also starting the 'Waibel's Warriors' charity group to benefit local foundations. Craig Wabiel has the 2nd most MLS Cup Championship rings with 4, he only trails former team mates Jeff Agoos and Brian Mullan. Waibel and Mullan played together on the right flank of the field for 9 seasons dating back to the days with the Galaxy.
In July 2010 Waibel was released by the Dynamo.
Waibel just accepted a coaching offer from the University of Michigan as an assistant coach, and will start his tenure in Ann Arbor this Fall of 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player.
College
Waibel 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 University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, and with Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home...
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...
prior to turning professional.
Professional
Upon graduating, Waibel was not selected in the 1999 MLS College Draft1999 MLS College Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer College Draft.Major League Soccer held its fourth annual college draft on February 6 and 7, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first round of the draft took place on Saturday with the second and third rounds on Sunday morning. The College Draft was followed by the...
. He was, however, picked by the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
17th in the 1999 A-League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
draft. He played solidly for the Sounders; enough so that he was called up briefly by the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
in the early part of the 2000 season. Waibel was selected by the Earthquakes 31st in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
2001 MLS SuperDraft
-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:-External links:*...
but then waived a month later. The Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
signed him soon after as a discovery player. Waibel was part of the Galaxy's run to win the 2002 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...
, making 12 appearances for the eventual champions.
The following year, Waibel was waived by the Galaxy only to be selected again by the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in the 2002 Waiver Draft. Good fortune followed Waibel, as he won his second straight MLS Cup in 2003, this time with the Quakes. For the 2004 season, Waibel stayed with the Earthquakes and played his best soccer to date, notching his first professional goal, also recording a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2004. His 2005 season was cut short after an injury he picked up vs Santa Clara University in an exhibition game. Waibel was having a career year.
Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, he moved to Houston for the 2006 season, in which he scored a career-high five goals. Waibel notched his first career two-goal game in the October 14 season finale against Colorado
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
. Waibel has become a legendary player for the Houston Dynamo also starting the 'Waibel's Warriors' charity group to benefit local foundations. Craig Wabiel has the 2nd most MLS Cup Championship rings with 4, he only trails former team mates Jeff Agoos and Brian Mullan. Waibel and Mullan played together on the right flank of the field for 9 seasons dating back to the days with the Galaxy.
In July 2010 Waibel was released by the Dynamo.
Waibel just accepted a coaching offer from the University of Michigan as an assistant coach, and will start his tenure in Ann Arbor this Fall of 2011.
Los Angeles Galaxy
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupLamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 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...
(1): 20012001 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:... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
MLS Cup (1): 2002 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Supporters' Shield (1): 2002 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 2002
San Jose Earthquakes
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
MLS Cup (1): 2003 - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (1): 2003
Houston Dynamo
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
MLS Cup (2): 2006, 20072007 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C..... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor 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...
Western Conference Championship (2): 2006, 20072007 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2007 Major League Soccer season was the 12th season in league history. The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C.....