| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexandra Blaire Krieger | ||
| Date of birth | 28 July 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Alexandria, Virginia, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder Defender |
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| Club information | |||
| Current club | FFC Frankfurt | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2006 | Penn State Nittany Lions | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005 | Northern Virginia Majestics | 1 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Washington Freedom | 7 | (0) |
| 2007– | 1. FFC Frankfurt | 45 | (2) |
| 2009 | → Washington Freedom (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003–2004 | United States U-19 | 4 | (0) |
| United States U-21/U-23 | |||
| 2008– | United States | 19 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:21, 22 February 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Alexandra Blaire "Ali" Krieger (born July 28, 1984) is an American soccer player currently playing for 1. FFC Frankfurt of the Frauen-Bundesliga and is a member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team.
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Coached by her father for 12 years, Ali played her youth soccer on the Prince William Sparklers. Her team included eight core players who grew up and played together all 12 years. In high school Ali spent one year at Hylton High School before transferring to newly opened Forest Park High School. At Forest Park she was a three year team captain, led her team to their first undefeated regular season and was a three-time, first-team all district player. Twice an All-Virginia AAA selection she also was All-Met Honorable mention as a sophomore. Her junior and senior years she was a first team All-Met selection and as a senior was named The Washington Post's Player of the Year. Ali was also honored as Gatorade's state player of the year in her final year at Forest Park.
Ali Krieger began her career at Penn State University with the university's Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer team. With the Nittany Lions, she was a two-time All-American, a first team NSCAA All-American, co-defensive player of the year, team captain, Big-Ten Freshman of the year and a semifinalist for the M.A.C. Hermann trophy.[1] While at Penn State her team won four consecutive Big-Ten championships.
In the summer of 2007, Krieger moved with fellow countrywoman Gina Lewandowski to 1. FFC Frankfurt, where she remained in the starting eleven since the beginning of the 2007 season, barring injury.[2] In a game against FCR 2001 Duisburg on 24 February 2008, Krieger scored her first goal for 1. FFC Frankfurt in the 73rd minute. While injured for most of the 2008–2009 season, she regained match fitness with Washington Freedom of Women's Professional Soccer. Following the conclusion of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Krieger returned to Germany in August 2009 and was slotted straight into the starting 11 for 1. FFC Frankfurt. Having spent 4 years in Germany with FFC Frankfurt, Ali is now fluent in German and considers Germany her second home.
In February 2010, Ali's contract with 1. FFC Frankfurt was extended early for an additional year through June 2011, with an player's option year through 2012. Her contract allowed her to compete on the U.S. Women's National Team, and U.S. Women's World Cup team. In March 2011, Ali announced she would not return to 1. FFC Frankfurt and would return to the United States to concentrate on earning a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team in preparation for the World Cup. She left open the possibility of playing again in Germany after the World Cup and/or the Olympics.[3] In her final game on March 26, 2011 for 1. FFC Frankfurt against defending champion 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, Ali played all ninety minutes as her team won the German Women's cup competition (DFB Pokal).[4]
Ali spent a few weeks traveling and making appearances following the World Cup. Despite the extensive travel demands required to be part of the U. S. Women's National Team during an Olympic qualifying year, Ali missed her team and the high quality soccer she enjoyed in Germany. She decided in August 2011 to rejoined FFC Frankfurt signing a two year contract.[5]
In September 2008, Krieger was named one of Women's Professional Soccer's initial twenty-one allocated players from the United States Women's National Team, having been assigned to Washington Freedom.[6] However due to her contract with 1. FFC Frankfurt, she was initially unavailable to join the Freedom. Frankfurt agreed to a transfer in June 2009 following the conclusion of their season, which allowed Krieger to return from injury and regain match fitness. Her first match for Washington Freedom was on June 13, 2009.[7] Initially recovering from a foot injury suffered in Germany, she rounded into shape and played her best in the final games of the season helping to lead the Freedom in securing a playoff position.
In 2005, Krieger had a nearly fatal health scare as a result of an injury suffered at Penn State in preparation for the NCAA soccer championship. After experiencing shortness of breath, Krieger was convinced to check into the hospital as a precaution. The decision likely saved her life, as clots in her lungs were affecting her blood flow, and had even triggered six mini heart attacks.[8] She subsequently made a full recovery.
Ali made her first appearance with the United States women's national soccer team in the Four Nations Cup in China on 16 January 2008 against Canada.[9] Ali was named in October 2010 to the 18 player roster of the U. S. Women's National Team to play in the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Cancun, Mexico. She started all four matches in helping the U.S. Women's National Team win the Algarve Cup in March 2011. Ali currently has a total of 24 caps. She scored the fifth and decisive penalty kick after extra time against Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. The match, played on July 10, 2011, marked the 12 year anniversary of the United States Women's National Soccer Team's championship win against China, also ending in a shootout.[10] Ali was one of only four players for the United States to start and play every minute (600, in total) of 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She was named to Fox Soccer's Best 11 as the best right back in the FIFA Women's World Cup.
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