Ryan Caugherty
Encyclopedia
Ryan Caugherty is a Korean
-born American
soccer player, currently without a club.
and attended Penn Hills High School
, where he was named Section Player of the Year, All-WPIAL, All-State, and All-American. Caugherty played for the Region 1 ODP team along with attending the ESP camp. He played club soccer for Penns Forest and Pittsburgh Beadling
, respectively, leading the latter to the national championships his senior year.
Caugherty played college soccer
at Wake Forest University
from 2001 to 2004. Playing left and right defender his freshman season to gain playing time, Caugherty saw a permanent move to the midfield in his sophomore season starting all eighteen games in which he appeared, missing only three due to injury. His junior and senior year saw nagging injuries interrupt his time on the field.
During his college years Caugherty also played for Carolina Dynamo
in the USL Premier Development League
.
of Major League Soccer
with the forty-seventh overall pick in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
. However, Caugherty expressed his desire to play abroad, and he eventually moved overseas to Europe without signing with MLS. Soon after being drafted by the Wizards, Caugherty moved to Denmark and signed with Odense
-based club B 1909
, a Danish second division team, before the start of the 2005 MLS season. He made an immediate impact in his professional debut for the club, gaining Man of the Match
honors in his first five games with the club. Caugherty quickly gained attention from Danish Superliga
clubs but saw a move to Viborg
fall through. In the summer, Caugherty was offered a new two-year contract which he did not sign.
Caugherty chose to stay in Denmark, however, and signed a two-year contract with another Odense team, B 1913
, in July 2005. Following some contract controversy, he left B 1913 just six months later to again attempt a move to Viborg
.
Unable to reach a contract agreement with the Danish Superliga club he then moved to Swedish club Bodens BK
in the winter of 2006, signing a two-year contract with the club. In his first pre-season game with the club Caugherty scored a goal but then later suffered an ankle injury on artificial grass which jeopardized his career. Recovering in less than six months, he made his debut for the club after the mid-season pause, going ninety minutes against Robertsfors IK
.
After finishing his season in Sweden he was permitted to leave the club without fulfilling the full length of his contract, and he returned home to Carolina, taking up a place on the roster of his first club, Carolina Dynamo, in the USL Premier Development League.
Following the conclusion of the 2007 PDL season Caugherty signed a contract to return to Europe to play for Hungarian club FC Tatabánya
, making his debut for the club against Újpest FC
on September 15, 2007, but ultimately played just 12 games for the team, scoring one goal.
Caugherty returned to the area of his youth in 2008 when he signed with USL Second Division
club Pittsburgh Riverhounds
. He appeared in twelve games for the Hounds and collected one assist on the season. He was much less involved in the offense compared to his usual style, and developed a physical, defensive presence while assuming the team player role and moving to defense. While playing for the Riverhounds he took a job working for local business MrTakeOutBags.com.
It was announced on August 28, 2008, that Caugherty had moved from the Riverhounds to FC Unirea Alba Iulia
of Romania
, who play in Liga II
in 2008–09.
However, Caugherty resurfaced in the United States again in 2009, and after an unsuccessful trial with Seattle Sounders FC
, signed with USL First Division
expansion franchise Austin Aztex
. He was released by the Aztex at the end of the 2009 season.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player, currently without a club.
Youth and College
Caugherty grew up in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and attended Penn Hills High School
Penn Hills High School
Penn Hills High School is a secondary school located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the Penn Hills School District.The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports enrollment was 1277 students in 2009. It projects enrollment to decline by 300 students by 2014...
, where he was named Section Player of the Year, All-WPIAL, All-State, and All-American. Caugherty played for the Region 1 ODP team along with attending the ESP camp. He played club soccer for Penns Forest and Pittsburgh Beadling
Pittsburgh Beadling
Pittsburgh Beadling is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1898 in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. It won the 1954 National Amateur Cup.-History:Founded in 1898, Pittsburgh Beadling was formed by immigrant miners from Europe...
, respectively, leading the latter to the national championships his senior year.
Caugherty played college soccer
College 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 Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
from 2001 to 2004. Playing left and right defender his freshman season to gain playing time, Caugherty saw a permanent move to the midfield in his sophomore season starting all eighteen games in which he appeared, missing only three due to injury. His junior and senior year saw nagging injuries interrupt his time on the field.
During his college years Caugherty also played for Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its 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...
.
Professional
Caugherty graduated from college early, in the winter of 2004, and was drafted by the Kansas City WizardsKansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
of 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...
with the forty-seventh overall pick in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
2005 MLS Supplemental Draft
Following the signature of the first MLS players' union contract, the MLS Superdraft was limited to four rounds. As a result, the Supplemental Draft was re-incarnated to hold the additional rounds. The 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft, held on February 4, 2005, was the first re-incarnation of the MLS...
. However, Caugherty expressed his desire to play abroad, and he eventually moved overseas to Europe without signing with MLS. Soon after being drafted by the Wizards, Caugherty moved to Denmark and signed with Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
-based club B 1909
Boldklubben 1909
Boldklubben 1909, known as B 1909, is a Danish association football club currently playing in the Denmark Series Pool 2. They play at Gillested Park in Odense on Funen, which has a capacity of 6,000...
, a Danish second division team, before the start of the 2005 MLS season. He made an immediate impact in his professional debut for the club, gaining Man of the Match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
honors in his first five games with the club. Caugherty quickly gained attention from Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
clubs but saw a move to Viborg
Viborg FF
Viborg FF is a Danish professional football club located in Viborg. The full name of the club is Viborg Fodsports Forening , but the name is frequently abbreviated as Viborg FF or VFF. The club was founded in 1896, but would have to wait more than a century before winning its only countrywide...
fall through. In the summer, Caugherty was offered a new two-year contract which he did not sign.
Caugherty chose to stay in Denmark, however, and signed a two-year contract with another Odense team, B 1913
Boldklubben 1913
Boldklubben 1913 is a Danish football club currently playing in Danmarksserien. They play at Odense Atletik Stadion in Odense on Funen, which has a capacity of 8,000....
, in July 2005. Following some contract controversy, he left B 1913 just six months later to again attempt a move to Viborg
Viborg FF
Viborg FF is a Danish professional football club located in Viborg. The full name of the club is Viborg Fodsports Forening , but the name is frequently abbreviated as Viborg FF or VFF. The club was founded in 1896, but would have to wait more than a century before winning its only countrywide...
.
Unable to reach a contract agreement with the Danish Superliga club he then moved to Swedish club Bodens BK
Bodens BK
Bodens BK is a Swedish football club located in Boden in Norrbotten. The club, formed 1916, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 1...
in the winter of 2006, signing a two-year contract with the club. In his first pre-season game with the club Caugherty scored a goal but then later suffered an ankle injury on artificial grass which jeopardized his career. Recovering in less than six months, he made his debut for the club after the mid-season pause, going ninety minutes against Robertsfors IK
Robertsfors IK
Robertsfors IK is a Swedish football club located in Robertsfors. The club, formed 1907, is currently playing in the third highest Swedish league, Division 2.-Background:...
.
After finishing his season in Sweden he was permitted to leave the club without fulfilling the full length of his contract, and he returned home to Carolina, taking up a place on the roster of his first club, Carolina Dynamo, in the USL Premier Development League.
Following the conclusion of the 2007 PDL season Caugherty signed a contract to return to Europe to play for Hungarian club FC Tatabánya
FC Tatabánya
FC Tatabánya is a Hungarian football club based in Tatabánya. They play their home games at Stadion Gyula Grosics.- History :The Tatabányai Sport Klub was founded on February 6, 1910 by Ferenc Frei, a mining engineer...
, making his debut for the club against Újpest FC
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
on September 15, 2007, but ultimately played just 12 games for the team, scoring one goal.
Caugherty returned to the area of his youth in 2008 when he signed with USL Second Division
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...
club Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
. He appeared in twelve games for the Hounds and collected one assist on the season. He was much less involved in the offense compared to his usual style, and developed a physical, defensive presence while assuming the team player role and moving to defense. While playing for the Riverhounds he took a job working for local business MrTakeOutBags.com.
It was announced on August 28, 2008, that Caugherty had moved from the Riverhounds to FC Unirea Alba Iulia
FC Unirea Alba Iulia
Unirea Alba Iulia is a Romanian football team from Alba Iulia, Alba County, founded in 1924. They are currently playing in Liga II, Seria II. Among the greatest achievements the team has known, is a sixth place in the first league, season 2003-2004 and a Romanian Cup semifinal played in 1990-1991...
of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, who play in Liga II
Liga II
Liga II is the second tier league of the Romanian football league system. The league acquired this name in the 2006-07, being previously called Divizia B....
in 2008–09.
However, Caugherty resurfaced in the United States again in 2009, and after an unsuccessful trial with Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, signed with USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
expansion franchise Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex
Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. He was released by the Aztex at the end of the 2009 season.