Matt Pickens
![]() Matt Pickens in 2011 with the Colorado Rapids | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Matthew Pickens | ||
Date of birth | April 5, 1982 | ||
Place of birth | Washington, Missouri, United States | ||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Nashville SC (goalkeeping coach) | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2003 | Missouri State Bears | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2002–2003 | Chicago Fire Premier | ||
2004–2007 | Chicago Fire | 40 | (0) |
2004 | → Virginia Beach Mariners (loan) | 3 | (0) |
2008 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | (0) |
2009–2014 | Colorado Rapids | 116 | (0) |
2014 | New England Revolution | 0 | (0) |
2014–2017 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 107 | (0) |
2018–2019 | Nashville SC | 56 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 23, 2019 |
Matt Pickens (born April 5, 1982) is an American retired soccer player who is currently the goalkeeping coach for Nashville SC in Major League Soccer.
Career
Youth and amateur
Pickens initially attended Meramec Community College before playing college soccer for Missouri State University from 2000 to 2003. He also played for Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Premier Development League.
Professional
Upon graduating, Pickens was drafted 19th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Fire. He was not able, however, to break through a deep lineup of Fire goalkeepers, which initially included Henry Ring and D.J. Countess, and later Zach Thornton. He was loaned out for much of the year to the A-League Virginia Beach Mariners, where he played 290 minutes, conceding only 3 goals.
During the latter half of 2006, after an injury to Zach Thornton, Pickens started in goal for the Fire even once Thornton was match fit again. This also included his first play-off start on October 22, 2006 for the Fire, keeping a clean sheet in a game that the Fire won, 1-0 thanks to a goal from Justin Mapp in the 35th minute. Zach Thornton was traded to the Colorado Rapids before the 2007 season, clearing the way for Pickens to start.
In February 2008, Pickens signed a deal with Queens Park Rangers until the end of the 2008 season.[1] In May 2008, it was announced that Pickens would not have his contact extended and that he would be released by the club at the end of June.
Pickens tried out with numerous clubs in England and Scotland after his release, including Hibernian, Doncaster Rovers, Falkirk and Nottingham Forest, the latter of which he claims he was close to signing with.[2] However, despite not securing a new contract in Europe, Chicago Fire traded Pickens rights to Colorado Rapids on January 15, 2009[3] and was signed by the club shortly after.
Pickens was released early in the 2014 season.[4]
After Pickens was released by Colorado Rapids in early 2014 New England Revolution acquired him in the waiver draft.
Soon after signing with New England, Pickens was sold to Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League.[5]
On November 30, 2017 Nashville SC announced Pickens as the club's first signing ahead of their inaugural 2018 season in United Soccer League.[6]
International
As of December 2010, Pickens has been called up to five United States training camps, including the camp in January 2011. However, he has never earned a national cap or been part of the final 18-man roster.[7]
Coaching
In January 2020, Pickens was announced as the first goalkeeping coach for Major League Soccer's Nashville SC.[8]
Honors
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship: 2010
- Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2010
References
- ^ "BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | QPR | Keeper Pickens seals move to QPR". BBC News. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Colorado acquires rights to Matt Pickens | SBI Soccer". Soccerbyives.net. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Colorado Rapids waive goalkeeper Matt Pickens". MLSsoccer.com. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Revolution transfers Pickens to NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies | New England Revolution". Revolutionsoccer.net. 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Nashville SC Signs MLS Cup Champion Matt Pickens As First-Ever Player". Nashvillesc.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Pickens hoping for first cap with USMNT". Colorado Rapids. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
- ^ "Nashville SC Appoints Coaching Staff Ahead of 2020 MLS Season". NashvilleSC.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
External links
- 1982 births
- Living people
- American soccer players
- Chicago Fire FC players
- Chicago Fire U-23 players
- Colorado Rapids players
- Major League Soccer players
- People from Washington, Missouri
- USL A-League players
- USL League Two players
- North American Soccer League players
- Virginia Beach Mariners players
- Queens Park Rangers F.C. players
- Soccer players from Missouri
- Chicago Fire FC draft picks
- New England Revolution players
- Tampa Bay Rowdies players
- Nashville SC players
- USL Championship players
- Association football goalkeepers
- Association football goalkeeping coaches