Marcus Tracy facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcus Garin Tracy | ||
| Date of birth | October 2, 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008 | Carolina Dynamo | 3 | (1) |
| 2009–2012 | AaB | 15 | (2) |
| 2012–2013 | San Jose Earthquakes | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 23, 2013 | |||
Marcus Garin Tracy (born October 2, 1986) is an American soccer player. He played as a striker, which is a forward position in soccer. Marcus was born in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania.
Contents
Marcus Tracy's Soccer Journey
Early Years and College Success
Marcus Tracy grew up in Newtown, Connecticut. He played soccer at Newtown High School. There, he was named an All-American player. His jersey number 3 was even retired because of his amazing skills! He helped his team win the 2004 Class LL Connecticut State Championship. Marcus scored 100 goals during his high school career.
After high school, Marcus played college soccer at Wake Forest University. He was a star player for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
- In 2007, he helped his team win the NCAA College Cup. This is a big championship for college soccer teams. Marcus scored a goal and assisted another in the final game. He was named the best offensive player of the tournament.
- In 2008, he won the Hermann Trophy. This award goes to the best male college soccer player in the United States. That year, he scored 13 goals and made 10 assists in 24 games.
- Overall, he played 77 games for Wake Forest. He scored 30 goals and made 23 assists.
- In 2006, he also played a few games for a team called Carolina Dynamo.
Professional Career Highlights
Marcus Tracy was chosen in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Major League Soccer club Houston Dynamo. However, he had already signed a contract with a team in Denmark.
On January 15, 2009, Marcus joined the Danish club Aalborg (also known as AaB).
- He made his first appearance for Aalborg on March 19, 2009. It was in a UEFA Cup game against Manchester City. He came in as a substitute and quickly helped his team score a goal.
- Just a few days later, on March 23, 2009, he scored his first goal in the Danish Superliga. This was the winning goal against FC Midtjylland.
- In the 2009-2010 season, he scored another important goal. It was the game-winner against FC Copenhagen on November 9, 2009.
Battling Injuries
Unfortunately, Marcus faced many challenges with injuries. He suffered from knee problems, specifically patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper's knee. This injury kept him from playing for a long time. He missed most of the 2009-2010 season and continued to be sidelined through 2010 and 2011. Because of these ongoing injuries, Aalborg decided not to renew his contract.
Return to Major League Soccer
After working hard to get back in shape, Marcus aimed to play in Major League Soccer (MLS).
- On September 11, 2012, he signed a contract with MLS.
- Two days later, the San Jose Earthquakes won a special lottery to get him on their team. They had a small chance, only 4.6%, to get him!
- Marcus played for the San Jose Earthquakes until the end of the 2013 season.
Playing for His Country
On December 22, 2009, Marcus Tracy was called to train with the senior US national team. This was a big honor, as it was his first time being part of any national team, even youth teams. However, his knee tendinitis flared up again. He had to leave the training camp before playing in the friendly match against Honduras. This injury continued to affect his career.
Achievements and Awards
Wake Forest University
- 2007 - NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Champion
- 2007 - NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Tournament Offensive MVP
- 2008 - Hermann Trophy
- 2008 - NSCAA 1st Team All-America
Other Honors
- 2009 - Newtown, CT's Sportsman of the Year
