Eddie Gaven

Eddie Gaven

Gaven in 2007
Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-10-25)October 25, 1986
Place of birth	Hamilton Township, New Jersey,U.S.
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
2001–2003	IMG Soccer Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2005	MetroStars	69	(16)
2006–2013	Columbus Crew	209	(35)
Total		278	(51)
International career‡
2003	United States U17	4	(0)
2005	United States U20	1	(0)
2003–2008	United States U23	5	(1)
2004–2010	United States	8	(0)
Managerial career
2016–2022	Ave Maria Gyrenes
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 31, 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 31, 2013

Eddie Gaven(born October 25, 1986) is an American formersoccerplayer who played 11 seasons inMajor League Soccer,primarily with theColumbus Crew.In July 2012, Gaven became the youngest player to play in 250 MLS matches at 25 years and 257 days old.

Early life

Gaven was born inHamilton Township, New Jersey,and attendedSteinert High School.He did not playcollege soccer;instead, Gaven spent two years training with other young Americans at theUSSF'sBradenton Academy.

Professional career

Gaven became (at the time, since passed byFreddy Adu) the youngest player to sign with MLS.At the age of 16 years and two months, Gaven was drafted by theMetroStarswith the twelfth overall pick in the2003 MLS SuperDraft.He became the youngest player in team history on his debut on June 14, 2003, againstChicagoand became the youngest player in team history to score a goal, which he did in just his second game, againstD.C. Unitedon July 5. With the game tied at two, Metro coachBob Bradleyused a loophole in MLS's substitution rules, which allowed a fourth substitution in a game but only for a goalkeeper. Bradley first exchanged the playing positions of Metro goalieTim Howardand midfielder Mark Lisi, then substituted Gaven into goal for Lisi as the fourth "goalkeeper only" sub. After only 10 seconds of play, the ball went out of play and Gaven and Howard switched places, with Gaven moving to midfield and Howard back into goal. Gaven then went on to score the game-winner in overtime. In the process, Gaven became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history. The goalkeeper fourth-substitution rule was eliminated after the season, largely due to the outcry following Gaven's goal.

After becoming an automatic starter and coming into his own with the MetroStars in 2004, Gaven became the youngest player ever voted in to start theMLS All-Star Game,finished the MLS season with seven goals and seven assists, and became the youngest player in league history to be named to theMLS Best XI.

Gaven ended the 2005 MLS season with eight goals and four assists. Just before the 2006 season, Gaven was traded toColumbus Crewalong with the rights to defenderChris Leitchfor strikerEdson Buddle.With the Crew, Gaven played nearly every game in 2006, scoring four goals. In 2007, he appeared in 27 games for Columbus scoring five goals and tallying seven assists. Gaven's 2008 season resulted in lower output, three goals and two assists, due in part to starting the season injured. In the Eastern Conference Championship game, Gaven propelled the Crew into their first MLS Cup Final with a game-winning goal; the Crew went on to win the Final.

Gaven competes for a header withMarc Burchduring a2011 regular seasonmatch atColumbus Crew Stadium

During the 2010 MLS season in a game against the Philadelphia Union, Gaven was forced to play in goal for the second time in his MLS career after goalkeeper William Hesmer went out of the game with a shoulder injury. The Crew had used all three substitutions prior to Hesmer's injury. Gaven was scored on by Sebastian LeToux during the final minutes of the game, but made two saves to help the Crew win the game 3–1. Gaven would go on to win MLS Save of the Week honors for one of the saves.

Gaven signed a contract extension for two years plus option years with Columbus on November 14, 2011.

Gaven missed most of the 2013 season after an injury suffered during aLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cupmatch. He retired following the 2013 season.

International career

Gaven played every minute for theU.S.in the2003 Under-17 World Championshipin Finland. He then became the youngest player (17 years 104 days) inCONCACAFhistory to appear in anOlympicqualifier when he played for the U.S. Under-23 team in a 2–0 victory over Canada on February 5, 2004.He then became the fourth youngest player in US history to get his a senior cap, doing so in a 1–1 againstPolandon July 11, 2004.

In 2005, after continuing his solid play with the MetroStars, Gaven was part of the U.S. Under-20 team at the2005 FIFA World Youth Championshipin the Netherlands.

Coaching career

Following his retirement from soccer in 2013, he moved to Ave Maria University as Head Men's Soccer Coach from March 2016 through 2022.

Personal life

Gaven is a devout Catholic.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League		MLS Cup Playoffs		U.S. Open Cup		SuperLiga		Champions League		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
MetroStars	2003	12	1	2	0	1	0	–				14	1
	2004	29	7	2	0			–				31	7
	2005	26	8	2	0			–				28	8
Columbus Crew	2006	30	4	0	0			–				30	4
	2007	27	5	–		1	0	–		–		28	5
	2008	24	3	4	1			2	0			30	4
	2009	30	6	2	0	1	0	–		6	1	39	7
	2010	28	3	2	0	4	1	–		2	0	36	6
	2011	26	5	–		1	0	–		6	0	33	5
	2012	34	9	–		–		–		–		34	9
	2013	10	0	–		–		–		–		10	0
Career total		278	49	14	1	7	1	2	0	14	1	284	52

Honors

Columbus Crew

• MLS Best XI:2004
• Major League SoccerMLS Cup:2008
• Major League SoccerSupporter's Shield:2008,2009

External links

• Eddie GavenatMajor League Soccer