Wikipedia

Gyasi Zardes

Gyasi A. Zardes(born September 2, 1991) is an American professionalsoccerplayer who plays as aforwardforMajor League SoccerclubAustin FC.

Gyasi Zardes
Zardes with theUnited Statesat the2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Personal information
Full name Gyasi A. Zardes[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-02)September 2, 1991(age 33)[2]
Place of birth Hawthorne, California,United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Austin FC
Number 9
Youth career
2008–2009 LA Galaxy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 56 (38)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Ventura County Fusion 12 (10)
2013–2017 LA Galaxy 131 (34)
2014 LA Galaxy II 1 (1)
2018–2022 Columbus Crew 110 (54)
2022 Colorado Rapids 26 (9)
2022 Colorado Rapids 2 2 (1)
2023– Austin FC 61 (9)
International career‡
2015–2022 United States 68 (14)
Medal record
Men'ssoccer
RepresentingUnited States
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner 2017
Winner 2021
Runner-up 2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:15, October 20, 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 30, 2022

Born inHawthorne, California,Zardes was part of theLA Galaxyyouth academy before playingcollege soccerforCal State Bakersfield.After playing three seasons with the Roadrunners, Zardes signed for the LA Galaxy as ahomegrown player.In his first season, he immediately established himself as a regular inBruce Arena's squad, and the next season he scored 16 goals as he helped the Galaxy winMLS Cup 2014.His performance for the Galaxy in 2014 helped earn Zardes his debut for theUnited StatesagainstChilein January 2015.

Prior to the2018season, Zardes was traded to theColumbus Crew.He was an immediate starter for head coachGregg Berhalteras he scored 19 goals in his first season with the Crew. Zardes would be named theMLS Comeback Player of the Year Awardfor 2018. In2020,Zardes helped lead the Columbus Crew to their secondMLS Cup,defeatingSeattle Sounders FCin thefinal.

Early life

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Zardes was born and raised inHawthorne, California,a suburb of Los Angeles. He was one of five children; his father Glenn is from New Orleans, while his mother Linda is from Michigan.[3][4]In 2016, the City of Hawthorne unveiled a mural of Zardes at its newfutsalcourts, where a prohibition on soccer use was lifted.[3]

Club career

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Early career

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Zardes played in theU.S. Soccer Development Academyfor the Galaxy Academy U-18s during the 2008–09 and 2009–10 DA seasons as well as with the Galaxy U-20s in the 2009 USL Super-20 campaign. After declaring himself a red shirt freshman atCSU Bakersfield,Zardes led the Galaxy U-20 team to the national championship in 2010.[5]

After tallying five goals and a team-best seven assists in his first season of college soccer, Zardes burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2011, scoring 18 times in 20 games while helping lead Bakersfield to a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time in school history. His 18 goals that season were the fourth most in Division I college soccer that year and he was selected the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top player in college soccer.[6]

In 2012, Zardes followed up his breakout season by scoring 15 goals and adding nine assists, each of which were team-highs, in 17 games, while helping the Roadrunners record a winning record for the fourth consecutive season. He had two or more goals in four of his 17 games, including seven goals in a two-game stretch in mid-October.[7]

LA Galaxy

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Zardes with LA Galaxy

LA Galaxysigned Zardes as aHomegrown Playeron December 20, 2012.[8]On April 15, 2013, Zardes made his debut as a substitute for LA Galaxy Reserves in a 1–1 draw with Seattle Sounders Reserves.[9]On April 27, 2013, Zardes made his debut for the first-team as a substitute for the Galaxy in a 2–0 win overReal Salt Lake.[10]On May 11, 2013, Zardes came on as a substitute in 67th min and scored his first goal for the Galaxy in a 3–1 loss againstVancouver Whitecaps FC.[11]Zardes scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory overChivas USAon June 23, 2013.[12]

Zardes scored his first brace for the Galaxy againstNew England Revolutionon July 16, 2014, in a 5–1 win.[13]On September 5, 2014, Gyasi Zardes scored two goals in the Galaxy's 6–0 home win againstColorado Rapids.[14]With his brace, Zardes made Major League Soccer history, passingDiego Fagúndezto become the highest scoring Homegrown Player in a single season.[15]

On December 7, 2014, Zardes became the first Homegrown Player to score in theMLS Cupfinal. Zardes scored in the 53rd minute after receiving a cross fromStefan Ishizaki.In extra time, captain,Robbie Keanescored as Galaxy triumphs theNew England Revolution2–1, making LA Galaxy the first team to win the trophy five times.[16]Zardes was the sixth highest scorer of the season with 16 goals, and just three behind Robbie Keane.[17]

Columbus Crew

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On January 20, 2018, Zardes signed forColumbus Crew SCin a swap deal that sawOla Kamarahead in the opposite direction.[18]After an injury plagued end to his Galaxy career, Zardes found new life inColumbus;scoring 11 goals in the first 19 games of the season, narrowly missing out on the2018 MLS All-Star Game.[19]In response to Zardes missing the game, he garnered high praise from then Columbus coachGregg Berhalter,who said “[a]bsolutely he should be,” “the work he does for the team has been outstanding. I think he’s one of the top strikers in the league.”[19]Zardes ended the2018 seasonwith 19 goals, earning the 2018MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award.[20]On May 13, 2019, Zardes signed a multi-year contract extension with the Crew and was named adesignated player.[21]He would go on to tally 13 goals in 28 appearances during the 2019 season.

Colorado Rapids

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On April 22, 2022, Zardes was traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $300,000 in GAM with potential add-ons that could take the deal up to $1,400,000 GAM in total.[22]

Austin FC

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On December 12, 2022, Zardes signed a three-year contract on free agency deal withAustin FCstarting from the 2023 season.[23]Zardes scored abraceagainstNew York City FCon July 6, 2024 atQ2 Stadium,taking him into theTop-10 all-time leading scorersinMLSwith 105 career goals.[24]

International career

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Gyasi Zardes representing theUnited Stateson June 9, 2019

After a breakout 2014 season in which he scored 19 goals across all competitions, he received his first ever international call up to represent theUnited Statesin January 2015, for matches againstChileandPanama.[25]Zardes made his international debut on January 28, 2015, when he came on as a substitute forClint Dempseyin the 68th minute against Chile.[26]On February 8, 2015, Zardes made his first start for USMNT in a friendly against Panama, where he provided an assist to Dempsey in the second goal as the U.S. won 2–0.[27]

On June 5, 2015, Zardes scored his first goal for the United States in a friendly against theNetherlands.[28]Zardes was named to the2015 CONCACAF Gold Cuproster and started in several matches, including a group stage fixture againstHaitiwhere he provided the game-winning assist toClint Dempseyone minute after coming on as a substitute at halftime.[29]He scored his first international competitive goal on July 18, 2015, in the Gold Cup quarterfinals against Cuba that ended in a 6–0 victory for the United States.[30]

Zardes was called up in the early stages of2018 FIFA World Cup qualificationfor the U.S. and scored the fifth goal in a 6–1 victory overSaint Vincent and the Grenadineson November 13, 2015. He had been involved in conceding the first goal of the match to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after a defensive error.[31]Zardes was named to the U.S. roster for the 2016Copa América Centenarioand scored twice in a warm-up friendly againstBoliviaon May 28.[32]He scored the winning goal in the 2–1 quarterfinal match defeat ofEcuadorinSeattle,finishing a shot by Clint Dempsey that was rolling towards the goal.[33]

Zardes played in the2017 CONCACAF Gold Cupand did not score in the tournament, instead providing an assist toJordan Morrisin a narrow 3–2 victory overMartiniquein the group stage.[34]His next international goal would come three years later in a friendly against Ecuador on March 21, 2019, which was won 1–0 by the United States.[35]Zardes joined the U.S. in the2019 CONCACAF Gold Cupand scored the third of four goals in the team's opening group stage match againstGuyana.A shot byPaul Arriolawas deflected by a Guyanese defender, hitting Zardes in his left eye before bouncing into the goal.[36]In the next match againstTrinidad and Tobago,Zardes scored twice in three minutes while the team reached the knockout stage with a 6–0 victory. Zardes was unable to complete hishat-trick,despite having several chances to do so, including a shot that hit the post.[37]

Zardes scored the game winner in the semifinal match against Qatar in the2021 CONCACAF Gold Cupin the 86th minute of play off of a cross from Nicholas Gioacchini.[38]

Personal life

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Zardes is of Ghanaian descent.[39]In 2013, Zardes married his long-term girlfriend Madison Goodvin, a fellow student-athlete in Bakersfield. They have four children.[19]He is a practicingChristianand has a degree incriminal justicefromCal State Dominguez Hills.[4][19]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played October 19, 2024[40][41]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs U.S. Open Cup CONCACAF Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
LA Galaxy 2013 MLS 27 4 2 0 1 0 3 0 – 33 4
2014 32 16 5 1 2 2 2 0 – 41 19
2015 29 6 1 1 1 1 2 1 – 33 9
2016 19 6 0 0 2 0 2 0 – 23 6
2017 24 2 – 0 0 – – 24 2
Total 131 34 8 2 6 3 9 1 – 154 40
LA Galaxy II 2014 USL Pro 1 1 – – – – 1 1
Columbus Crew 2018 MLS 33 19 3 1 0 0 – – 36 20
2019 28 13 – 0 0 – – 28 13
2020 21[a] 12 4 2 – – 1[b] 1 26 15
2021 21 9 – – 3 2 – 24 11
2022 7 1 – 1 1 – – 8 2
Total 110 54 7 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 122 61
Colorado Rapids 2022 MLS 26 9 – – – – 26 9
Colorado Rapids 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 2 1 – – – – 2 1
Austin FC 2023 MLS 28 6 – 1 0 1 0 1[c] 0 31 6
2024 33 3 – – – 3[c] 1 36 4
Total 61 9 – 1 0 1 0 4 1 67 10
Career total 331 108 15 5 8 4 13 3 5 2 372 122
Notes
  1. ^Includes three appearances and three goals inMLS is Back Tournamentgroup stage
  2. ^Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
  3. ^abAppearance(s) inLeagues Cup

International

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As of match played January 30, 2022[42]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2015 19 3
2016 12 3
2017 6 0
2018 3 0
2019 15 6
2020 1 0
2021 10 2
2022 2 0
Total 68 14
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.[42]
List of international goals scored by Gyasi Zardes
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 June 5, 2015 Amsterdam Arena,Amsterdam-Zuidoost,Netherlands Netherlands 1–1 4–3 Friendly
2 July 18, 2015 M&T Bank Stadium,Baltimore,United States Cuba 2–0 6–0 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
3 November 13, 2015 Busch Stadium,St. Louis,United States Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5–1 6–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 May 28, 2016 Children's Mercy Park,Kansas City,United States Bolivia 1–0 4–0 Friendly
5 3–0
6 June 16, 2016 CenturyLink Field,Seattle,United States Ecuador 2–0 2–1 Copa América Centenario
7 March 21, 2019 Orlando City Stadium,Orlando,United States Ecuador 1–0 1–0 Friendly
8 June 18, 2019 Allianz Field,Saint Paul,United States Guyana 3–0 4–0 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
9 June 22, 2019 FirstEnergy Stadium,Cleveland,United States Trinidad and Tobago 2–0 6–0 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
10 3–0
11 November 15, 2019 Exploria Stadium,Orlando, United States Canada 2–0 4–1 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A
12 4–1
13 July 15, 2021 Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, United States Martinique 5–1 6–1 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup
14 July 29, 2021 Q2 Stadium,Austin,United States Qatar 1–0 1–0 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honors

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LA Galaxy[40]

Columbus Crew[40]

United States

Individual

References

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  1. ^"40-Player National Team Roster: 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup: United States"(PDF).CONCACAF. p. 16.RetrievedMay 21,2019– via Bernews.
  2. ^ab"Gyasi Zardes".LA Galaxy. Archived fromthe originalon July 11, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 2,2016.
  3. ^ab"Hometown hero Gyasi Zardes proud to represent Hawthorne".LA Galaxy. February 8, 2016.RetrievedJune 22,2019.
  4. ^abCarlisle, Jeff (November 6, 2014)."Breakout MLS star Gyasi Zardes' tradition of stellar sophomore years".ESPN.RetrievedJuly 3,2019.
  5. ^"Gyasi Zardes - Men's Soccer".California State University at Bakersfield Athletics.
  6. ^Lynch, Stephen (February 22, 2013)."All-Star Athlete: Gyasi Zardes".The Bakersfield Californian.RetrievedJuly 3,2019.
  7. ^"Gyasi Zardes | MLSsoccer".mlssoccer.
  8. ^Baxter, Kevin (December 20, 2012)."Galaxy signs local star Gyasi Zardes, closes in on Carlo Cudicini".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 2,2014.
  9. ^"LA Galaxy Res. vs. Seattle Sounders Res. - 15 April 2013 - Soccerway".int.soccerway.
  10. ^"Real Salt Lake 0–2 LA Galaxy".Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2013.
  11. ^3 – 1 FT."Vancouver Whitecaps v Los Angeles live football scores | Soccer scores and live video".ESPNFC.RetrievedFebruary 2,2014.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^"Chivas USA vs LA Galaxy 0–1".Soccerway. June 23, 2013.
  13. ^"LAvsNE 07-16-2014 | MLSsoccer".mlssoccer.
  14. ^"LAvsCOL 09-05-2014 | MLSsoccer".mlssoccer.
  15. ^Becker, Josie (September 5, 2014)."Gyasi Zardes ties single season record for Homegrown Player goals".LAG Confidential.RetrievedSeptember 5,2014.
  16. ^"Zardes becomes first Homegrown Player to score in MLS Cup".Sport Illustrated. December 7, 2014.RetrievedJune 25,2015.
  17. ^"Stats | MLSsoccer".mlssoccer.
  18. ^"Crew SC acquires MLS Cup champion, U.S. international Gyasi Zardes, TAM in trade with Galaxy".Columbus Crew SC. January 20, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 20,2018.
  19. ^abcdElliott, Helene (July 6, 2018)."Since leaving the Galaxy, Gyasi Zardes has found a home and his game in Columbus".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJune 4,2019.
  20. ^Baxter, Kevin (November 7, 2018)."MLS Comeback Player of the Year Gyasi Zardes says breakthrough season was a result of change of scenery".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJune 4,2019.
  21. ^"MLS Transfer news: USMNT forward Gyasi Zardes signs new designated player contract with Columbus Crew | Goal".goal.RetrievedJune 4,2019.
  22. ^"MColorado Rapids acquire USMNT striker Gyasi Zardes in blockbuster deal with Columbus Crew".The Denver Post.April 22, 2022.RetrievedApril 22,2022.
  23. ^"Austin FC sign striker Gyasi Zardes in free agency | MLSSoccer".mlssoccer.
  24. ^"Gyasi Zardes climbs MLS record books with Austin FC brace".Major League Soccer. July 6, 2024.RetrievedJuly 7,2024.
  25. ^Baxter, Kevin (January 9, 2015)."Galaxy's Oscar Sorto, Gyasi Zardes called up to national team".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  26. ^"Chile rises up to beat U.S., 3-2, in friendly match".Los Angeles Times.Associated Press. January 28, 2015.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  27. ^Whittall, Richard (February 9, 2015)."Zardes shines while Yedlin struggles: what we learned from USA v Panama".The Guardian.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  28. ^"U.S. wins in Netherlands after two late goals".BBC Sport.June 5, 2015.
  29. ^"U.S. holds on to beat Haiti in Gold Cup, clinches group title".USA Today.Associated Press. July 10, 2015.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  30. ^Carpenter, Les (July 18, 2015)."Clint Dempsey stars as USA hammer Cuba 6-0 to reach Gold Cup semis".The Guardian.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  31. ^"United States put 6 past St. Vincent and the Grenadines in first qualifier".ESPN. November 13, 2015.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  32. ^Steinlage, Tate (May 28, 2016)."U.S. soccer team beats Bolivia 4-0 in Copa America tuneup match in KC".The Kansas City Star.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  33. ^Pentz, Matt (June 16, 2016)."Clint Dempsey guides U.S. to 2-1 victory over Ecuador, berth in Copa America semifinals".The Seattle Times.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  34. ^Goff, Steven (July 12, 2017)."U.S. soccer escapes trouble, earns Gold Cup win over Martinique".The Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  35. ^"Gyasi Zardes' deflected goal gives United States win over Ecuador".ESPN.Reuters.March 21, 2019.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  36. ^Campbell, Dave (June 19, 2019)."Newcomer Boyd gets 2 goals for US in 4-0 win over Guyana".Chicago Tribune.Associated Press.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  37. ^"Gyasi Zardes hits twice as USA exact revenge against Trinidad in Gold Cup".The Guardian.Associated Press. June 22, 2019.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  38. ^"Zardes strikes late to send U.S. to Final".Concacaf.July 30, 2021.RetrievedJuly 31,2021.
  39. ^"Gyasi Zardes | USMNT | U.S. Soccer Official Site".
  40. ^abcGyasi Zardesat Soccerway
  41. ^Gyasi ZardesatMajor League Soccer
  42. ^ab"Gyasi Zardes".National Football Teams.Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann.RetrievedJuly 19,2016.
  43. ^"U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup".USA Today.July 26, 2017.RetrievedJuly 5,2023.
  44. ^"United States beats Mexico in Gold Cup final on late Miles Robinson header".ESPN.August 1, 2021.RetrievedApril 25,2023.
  45. ^"Christian Pulisic, Ethan Horvath lead U.S. over Mexico in Nations League final".ESPN.June 6, 2021.RetrievedJune 6,2021.
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