Calen Carr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Calen Carr

Carr with Houston Dynamo
Personal information
Date of birth	(1982-10-04) October 4, 1982 (age 42)
Place of birth	Oakland, California, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in
Playing position	Forward, winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2005	Orange County Blue Star	18	(12)
2006–2011	Chicago Fire	82	(9)
2011–2013	Houston Dynamo	35	(5)
Total		135	(26)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Calen Carr (born October 4, 1982) is an American who used to play professional soccer. He played as a forward and winger in Major League Soccer (MLS). He played for the Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo. Today, he works for MLS as a match analyst. You can see him on MLS Season Pass broadcasts on Apple TV. He also hosts shows on the league's website.

Calen Carr's Soccer Journey

High School and College Years

Calen Carr was born in Oakland, California. He went to The Branson School until 2001. There, he was named the team's Offensive Player of the Year three times. During this time, Calen also trained at the Zico Academy in Brazil.

He then played college soccer at the University of California, Berkeley. He scored 22 goals and made 15 assists in 75 games. In 2003, he took a year off from playing due to an injury. This is called being "redshirted." While at college, Calen was named to the All-Pac-10 First Team three times. He was also an All-American player. In 2005, he was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year. In 2019, Calen was honored by being added to the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame.

He also played for Orange County Blue Star for two seasons. In the summer of 2005, he even trained with Arsenal in England.

Playing Professionally

Joining the Chicago Fire

Calen Carr was chosen by the Chicago Fire in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He was the 10th player picked overall. He played his first game for the Fire on April 1, 2006. He came into the game as a substitute.

Calen scored his first professional goal on June 11. It was against the New England Revolution. He also got his first assist on June 25. This helped the Fire win 2–0. He made his first start in the next game. He finished his first season with 1 goal and 1 assist. He also helped the Fire win the 2006 U.S. Open Cup. He scored three goals in that tournament.

In 2007, Calen scored his first goal of the season on May 17. On July 29, he scored a goal and made an assist. He ended the season with 3 goals and 2 assists. The Fire made it to the playoffs. Calen helped them advance past D.C. United with two assists.

Calen scored his first goal of the 2008 season on May 17. On July 8, he got a serious injury. He tore his right ACL. This meant he missed the rest of the season.

He returned to play on July 4, 2009. He came in as a substitute. He played in 10 games that year.

In 2010, Calen signed a new contract with Chicago. He missed the first four months due to another injury. On August 18, he scored the winning goal in his first game back. He scored again in the next match. He finished the season with 3 goals.

Moving to Houston Dynamo

On March 23, 2011, Calen was traded to the Houston Dynamo. He played his first game for the Dynamo on August 17, 2011. He started wearing a special protective helmet in this game. He wore it for the rest of his career. On September 14, he scored a goal that helped Houston get a 2–2 tie. He finished the season with 1 goal.

In the playoffs, Calen scored in Houston's first game. He helped the Dynamo win 2–1. He started in the Conference Semifinals and Finals. The Dynamo made it to MLS Cup 2011. They lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy 1–0.

Calen Carr was injured during the MLS Cup 2012.

Before the 2012 season, Calen had surgery on his left knee. He returned to play on March 11. On June 16, he got a hamstring injury. This made him miss five games. He came back on July 15. In Houston's next game, Calen scored two goals. He also got his first assist of the season on July 21. He scored in two more games that month. On September 20, Calen played in his first CONCACAF Champions League game. He scored one goal in that match. He finished the regular season with 4 goals and 2 assists.

In the playoffs, Calen made an assist in the first game. He helped the Dynamo beat the Chicago Fire. He also had an assist in the Conference Semifinals. In the second game, he got another hamstring injury. He missed the Conference Finals. But the Dynamo still won and made it to MLS Cup 2012. Calen started in the MLS Cup. He scored a goal in the first half. But he had to leave the game early due to a torn left ACL. The Los Angeles Galaxy won the game 3–1.

Calen did not play any first-team games in 2013 because of his injury. He retired after the 2013 season.

After Playing Soccer

Since 2016, Calen Carr has worked as a host for MLS. He hosts different shows on their website and YouTube channel. This includes a documentary series called "The Movement." He also hosts the "Extratime" podcast.

About Calen's Life

Calen Carr was born in Oakland, California. He grew up in nearby Berkeley. He traveled a lot with his mother, Claudia Carr. She was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His mother is white and from Indianapolis, Indiana. His father is Aboriginal Australian from Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Calen also started a clothing company called Future Collective with two friends.

Career Numbers

Awards and Honors

Chicago Fire

• U.S. Open Cup: 2006

Houston Dynamo

• MLS Eastern Conference: 2011, 2012

Individual Awards

• Pac-10 Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year: 2005