Brian Maisonneuve

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Brian Maisonneuve (b. June 28, 1973, Warren, Michigan) is a former American soccer player, who spent his pro career playing defensive midfielder for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.

Maisonneuve played college soccer at Indiana University from 1991 to 1994, winning the Hermann Trophy his senior season, as well as finishing his career as the Big Ten's all-time top goalscorer with 44, and helping Indiana to the NCAA Championship game.

Upon graduating, Maisonneuve spent 1995 training with the U.S. Olympic Team; he later played in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was allocated to the Columbus Crew for the 1996 MLS season, becoming one of two players without any pro experience on the league's initial allocation list; the other was Damian Silvera. Maisonneuve would quickly earn a starting spot with the Crew, and would hold onto it for the next 8 years. He started 83 games for the Crew between 1996 and 1999.

Before the 2000 season, he suffered a series of devastating ankle injuries, that forced him to sit out the season, and threatened his career. Maisonneuve returned in 2001, however, and slotted right back into his starting role. He would remain there for the next three years, before finally losing his spot when the Crew acquired Simon Elliott before the 2004 season. He only played in nine games in 2004. After nine years in MLS, Maisonneuve is one of only two players to be on one club's roster for all those years. But he retired after the season, leaving Cobi Jones as the lone player with that distinction. Maisonneuve scored 23 goals and 37 assists in his pro career.

Maisonneuve has been a fringe player for the United States national team, totalling just 13 caps with the team. Despite his limited playing time, Maisonneuve did play all three of the United States's games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

United States United States squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup United States

1 Friedel | 2 Hejduk | 3 Pope | 4 Burns | 5 Dooley | 6 Regis | 7 Wegerle | 8 Stewart | 9 Moore | 10 Ramos | 11 Wynalda | 12 Agoos | 13 Jones | 14 Preki | 15 Deering | 16 Sommer | 17 Balboa | 18 Keller | 19 Maisonneuve | 20 McBride | 21 Reyna | 22 Lalas | Coach: Sampson