Nick Garcia

Nick Garcia (born April 9, 1979 in Plano, Texas) is a former American soccer player.

Nick Garcia
Personal information
Full name Nick Garcia
Date of birth (1979-04-09) April 9, 1979
Place of birth Plano, Texas, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1994–1998 Dallas Texans
1997–1999 Indiana Hoosiers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2007 Kansas City Wizards 224 (1)
2008–2009 San Jose Earthquakes 36 (0)
2009–2010 Toronto FC 36 (0)
Total 296 (1)
National team‡
1995 United States U-17 2 (0)
1999 United States U-20 4 (0)
2003–2004 United States 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 23, 2010
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of April 4, 2010

Career

Youth and College

As a junior and senior at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, and helped his high school win their first 2 TAPPS state boys soccer championships in 1996 and 1997. He was selected to the all-district, all-state and all-tournament teams. Garcia won the 1996–97 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award, as well, while starring for Dallas Texans youth club. Garcia played college soccer at Indiana University, leading Indiana to the consecutive national titles in 1998 and 1999, and was named All-American in his final season. Garcia was also named the Soccer America National Freshman of the year while at Indiana University and won the 1999 NCAA Defensive MVP in the College Cup Tournament.

Professional

Garcia signed with Project-40 and MLS in 2000, and was drafted second overall (behind Steve Shak) in the 2000 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards.

Garcia subsequently played in – and started – 224 games for the Wizards between 2000 and 2007 and helped the Wizards win the MLS Cup in 2000, and the US Open Cup in 2004.

He joined the San Jose Earthquakes as their captain upon their return to MLS in 2008. In early 2009 Garcia signed a multi-year contract with San Jose,[1] but was traded (along with the rights to Canadian international Ali Gerba) to Toronto FC on June 9, 2009 for a third round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.[2]

After the 2010 MLS season Toronto declined Garcia's contract option and he elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Garcia became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft.

International

Garcia played in the 1997 World Youth Championship in Ecuador and captained the US Under-20 national team at the World Youth Championship in Nigeria in 1999. Garcia earned his first cap for the full national team on January 18, 2003, against Canada. So far, he has amassed six caps for the United States.

Personal life

Garcia is married to wife MeLinda. They have three children.

Honors
Kansas City Wizards
Toronto FC

References
  1. "Earthquakes Sign Defender Nick Garcia to Multi-Year Contract - OurSports Central". www.oursportscentral.com.
  2. "Roster Shuffle In Toronto". US Soccer Players.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Diego Gutiérrez		 Kansas City Wizards captain
2006		 Succeeded by
Jimmy Conrad
Preceded by
Wade Barrett		 San Jose Earthquakes captain
2008		 Succeeded by
Ramiro Corrales
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