Brian Span facts for kids
Span with IFK Mariehamn
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian Matthew Span Jackson | ||
| Date of birth | February 23, 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Somers, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2003–2010 | FC Westchester | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Virginia Cavaliers | 41 | (12) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | Reading United | 5 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Djurgårdens IF | 14 | (1) |
| 2014 | FC Dallas | 0 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Orlando City (loan) | 19 | (3) |
| 2015–2017 | IFK Mariehamn | 96 | (10) |
| 2018–2021 | Västerås SK | 96 | (10) |
| 2022–2023 | Haninge | 25 | (8) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of January 1, 2023 | |||
Brian "Cobi" Span, born on February 23, 1992, is a former professional soccer player from the United States. He played as a Midfielder for several clubs, mostly in Sweden and Finland. His last team was Haninge in Sweden.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Early Years and College Soccer
Brian Span started playing soccer at age twelve for a youth team called FC Westchester. He played there for seven years, learning many skills. After that, he went to the University of Virginia to play college soccer. During his two years there, he scored 12 goals and made 8 assists, showing his talent.
In the summer of 2011, Brian traveled to Europe to train with professional clubs. He trained with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany and Örebro SK in Sweden. After his second year of college, he felt ready to become a professional player.
Playing in Sweden: Djurgårdens IF
Instead of joining a team in the United States right away, Brian signed a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF. This team plays in the top Swedish league, called Allsvenskan.
Brian made his first professional appearance on May 20, 2012. He came into the game in the 65th minute. Just three days later, he scored his first professional goal. This goal helped his team tie the game 1–1 against Helsingborgs IF. After the 2013 season, his contract with Djurgårdens IF was not extended.
Time in the United States: FC Dallas and Orlando City
On January 8, 2014, Brian signed a contract to play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He joined FC Dallas on January 9, 2014.
Later that year, on April 2, 2014, Brian was loaned to Orlando City. This team played in the USL Pro league at the time. He played 19 games for Orlando City and scored 3 goals. Brian left FC Dallas on February 5, 2015.
Success in Finland and Return to Sweden
After his time in the US, Brian moved to Finland to play for IFK Mariehamn. He had a very successful period there, playing 96 games and scoring 10 goals. With IFK Mariehamn, he helped the team win the Veikkausliiga (the top Finnish league) in 2016. They also won the Finnish Cup in 2015.
From 2018 to 2021, Brian played for Västerås SK back in Sweden. He played another 96 games and scored 10 goals for them. In 2018, his team won the Division 1 Norra title. His last club was Haninge in Sweden, where he played 25 games and scored 8 goals before retiring.
International Interests
Brian Span was once part of the U17 national team program for the United States. This program helps train young, talented players.
In 2020, Brian shared that he was interested in playing for the Costa Rica national team. His mother's family is from Costa Rica, and they are related to a famous Costa Rican soccer player named Juan Cayasso.
Awards and Trophies
Brian Span won several important titles during his career:
- IFK Mariehamn
- Veikkausliiga: 2016
- Finnish Cup: 2015
- Västerås SK
- Division 1 Norra: 2018
See also
In Spanish: Brian Span para niños
