Mark Chung
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Mark Chung | ||
Personal information | ||
---|---|---|
Full name | Mark Chung | |
Date of birth | June 18, 1970 | |
Place of birth | Toronto, Canada | |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | |
Playing position | Midfielder | |
Club information | ||
Current club | Retired | |
Youth clubs | ||
1988-1992 | University of South Florida | |
Senior clubs1 | ||
Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
1995 1996-1998 1999-2001 2002-2005 2005 |
San Diego Sockers (indoor) Kansas City Wizards MetroStars Colorado Rapids San Jose Earthquakes |
101 (21) 90 (11) 93 (27) 26 (6) |
? (29)
National team | ||
1992-1998 | United States | 24 (2) |
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
Mark Chung (born June 18, 1970 in Toronto, Ontario) is a former American soccer midfielder who, after a season in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, played ten seasons in Major League Soccer. He also earned twenty-four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team. He retired from playing in January 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Youth and college
Chung was born in Toronto to Chinese Jamaican parents. His family moved from Toronto to Pembroke Pines, Florida when Chung was twelve. These moves created a dilemma for Chung when he received invitations to play from three national teams, the United States, Canada and Jamaica. He ultimately elected to play for the U.S.[1] Following high school, Chung attended the University of South Florida where he studied finance. He also played on the men's soccer team from 1988 to 1992, finishing his collegiate soccer career with twenty-five assists.
[edit] CISL
In 1995, Chung played with the San Diego Sockers of the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL). He scored twenty-nine goals en route to being named the league's Rookie of the Year.
[edit] MLS
Chung was drafted in the first round (sixth overall) by the Kansas City Wiz in the MLS Inaugural Draft, and finished 1996 with eight goals and nine assists. Chung would be a mainstay at Kansas City for the next two years, was named to his first MLS Best XI in 1997, and would lead all of MLS in games played at the end of its first three seasons, with 97. After 1998, Kansas City traded Chung to the MetroStars, with Mike Ammann in exchange for Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas. He would play with the MetroStars for the next three seasons, but was greatly underused by Metro coach Octavio Zambrano. Chung called the role he played with the Metros an "idiot left wing". He was traded again before the 2002 season, this time to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for a draft pick. Chung was very successful with the Rapids, making MLS Best XI's in both 2002 and 2003. However, with a coaching change to Fernando Clavijo in 2005, he became unhappy, and requested a trade. The wish was granted, as Chung was sent to San Jose for an allocation. In ten years of MLS league play, he scored 61 goals and added 76 assists.
Chung retired after the Quakes moved to Houston after the 2006 season. Upon his retirement, he had played in 278 league matches, one of the highest totals in MLS history.
[edit] National team
Despite a significant amount of success in MLS, Chung never had a significant role in the U.S. national team. Chung made his first appearance April 4, 1992 against China, but in total made only 24 appearances, and scored only two goals.
Preceded by first award |
MLS Fair Play Award Winner 1997 |
Succeeded by Thomas Dooley |
Preceded by Alex Pineda Chacón |
MLS Fair Play Award Winner 2002 |
Succeeded by Brian McBride |