| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 4, 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Creighton | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997-2000 | Colorado Rapids | 111 | (18) |
| 2001-2002 | MetroStars | 31 | (2) |
| 2003-2005 | Columbus Crew | 50 | (11) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ross Paule (born April 4, 1976 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a former American soccer midfielder, who last played for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.
Paule moved from Dallas, TX as a youth and joined the Memphis Futbol Club in Memphis, Tennessee. Under the coaching of former Polish National and MISL Indoor Goalkeeper Richard Bute, Paule honed his soccer skills. The club also produced professionals such as Tony Kuhn, Tony McManus, Cindy Parlow, Carey Talley, Jonny Walker and Richard Mulrooney as well as hundreds of collegiate athletes. Paule also starred for Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee where he was awarded the Commercial Appeal's Best of the Preps title.
Paule played college soccer at Creighton University, but left only after three seasons, becoming one of the first players to leave college early for a jump to MLS. He was drafted 11th overall by the Colorado Rapids in the 1997 MLS College Draft, and became a regular right away, a starter by his second season. Paule's best year with the Rapids came in 1998, when he tallied ten goals and six assists. He stayed with the team through 2001, running the team's midfield, and was atop the league's assist charts at midseason, when the Rapids traded for midfield maestro Carlos Valderrama. With no place for Paule on the squad, he was dealt to the MetroStars for Steve Shak and a draft pick.
Paule spent the rest of 2001 and all of 2002 with the Metros, usually playing—in a new out-of-position role of defensive midfielder, as mandated by Metro coach Octavio Zambrano. Ross was traded to Columbus prior to the 2003 season for Chris Leitch and Jeff Matteo and spent the next two seasons there, scoring seven goals in 2004, including a hat-trick against Los Angeles Galaxy.[1] In eight years in MLS, his totals are 31 goals and 41 assists.
Paule retired early into the 2005 season because of post-concussion syndrome. He then went on to coach a local club, WASA, for the u12A girls team. After his first season with them he moved back to Memphis and is now the director of Memphis FC's youth program.