Chris Gbandi

Chris Gbandi (born April 7, 1979) is a retired Liberian footballer, who is currently the head coach of the Northeastern Huskies men's soccer team.[1]

Chris Gbandi

Personal information
Full name	Chris Gbandi
Date of birth	April 7, 1979
Place of birth	Bong Mines, Liberia
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Left back
Club information
Current team	Northeastern University (head coach)
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2001	Connecticut Huskies
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2007	FC Dallas	111	(3)
2008–2009	Haugesund	37	(5)
2010	Miami FC	19	(0)
National team^‡
2004	Liberia	1	(0)
Teams managed
2014–2015	Dartmouth Big Green (assistant)
2016–	Northeastern Huskies
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 25, 2010 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 16, 2006

Career

College

Gbandi played college soccer at the University of Connecticut, where he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy in 1999 and 2001, and a winner in 2000 (he was named First Team All-American during his last two years in college).

Professional

Gbandi was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by Dallas Burn, but missed all of the 2002 season while rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He returned in the 2003 season, where he registered one goal and two assists after playing 22 games in a disappointing campaign for the Burn. Gbandi played in another 23 games in 2004. In 2005, Gbandi made 17 appearances, all starts, and scored what happened to be the last goal ever scored at the Cotton Bowl by an FC Dallas player. 2006 was his best season yet, Gbandi played in 28 games and earned FC Dallas's defender of the year honors. Over the off season, Gbandi had a trial with IK Start, but nothing became of it.[2]

2007 was another good year for Gbandi, he made 21 appearances and scored a spectacular goal against Real Salt Lake.[3]

On February 8, 2008, he completed a transfer to Norwegian club FK Haugesund,[4] where he spent the next two seasons, scoring 5 goals in 37 appearances for the team.

Gbandi returned to the United States in 2010 when he signed with USSF Division 2 club Miami FC.

International

It was speculated that Gbandi might cap for the United States national team, but in 2004 he accepted an offer from the Liberian national team to compete in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, making him ineligible for the US squad.

Career statistics

[5]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
2002	Dallas	Major League Soccer	0	0
2003			22	1
2004			23	0
2005			17	1
2006			28	0
2007			21	1
Norway			League		Norwegian Cup		League Cup		Europe		Total
2008	Haugesund	First Division
Total	USA		111	3
	Norway		0	0
Career total			111	3

Personal

Gbandi's brother, Sandy Gbandi, is also a professional soccer player.

References

1. "CHRIS GBANDI TABBED AS NORTHEASTERN MEN'S SOCCER HEAD COACH". Northeastern Huskies. 10 January 2016.
2. "Gbandis bond in Hoops camp". Liberian Soccer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
3. "Gbandi headed to Norway". YouTube. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
4. "FC Dallas – Best Goals 2007". Yahoo! Sports. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
5. "Chris Gbandi". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 12 January 2014.

External links

• Miami FC bio