Steve Ralston

Steve Ralston
Ralston playing for the New England Revolution in 2009
Personal information
Full name Steve Ralston
Date of birth (1974-06-14) June 14, 1974
Place of birth Oakville, Missouri, United States
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
1991–1995 FIU Golden Panthers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny 177 (34)
2002–2009 New England Revolution 201 (42)
2010 AC St. Louis 2 (0)
2010 New England Revolution 1 (0)
Total 381 (76)
National team
1997–2007 United States 36 (4)
Teams managed
2010 AC St. Louis (assistant)
2010–2014 Houston Dynamo (assistant)
2015–2018 San Jose Earthquakes (assistant)
2018– San Jose Earthquakes (interim)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Steve Ralston (born June 14, 1974) is an American retired soccer player and current interim head coach of San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer. At the time of his retirement, Ralston was Major League Soccer's all-time career leader in assists (135). He also was the MLS record holder for appearances (378), starts (372) and minutes played (33,143). He also held the U.S. record for professional appearances (412) in 2010.[1] Tim Howard with 483 [2] and Brad Friedel with 550 appearances[3] have both made more professional appearances.

Career

Professional

Ralston was drafted 18th overall in the 1996 MLS College Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny out of Florida International University, and proceeded to become the first MLS player to win the Rookie of the Year Award. Ralston played for the Mutiny for six years, leaving only after the team was contracted in 2002. He was Tampa Bay's all-time leader in games played (177) and points (130). he then joined the New England Revolution. In his first year with the Revolution, Ralston led the league in assists with 19. In thirteen years in the league, he scored 76 goals and had 135 assists in 378 regular season matches, and added three goals and five assists in 30 playoff matches. He also served as captain for several seasons with New England.

Soon after leaving New England, Ralston became the first ever signing of new USSF Division 2 club AC St. Louis.[4] Ralston was one of the team's starting midfielders, and an assistant coach to head coach Claude Anelka.

After AC St. Louis ran in to financial difficulties, Ralston agreed to leave by mutual consent and immediately joined up with his former club New England Revolution.[5]

In Ralston's first appearance back with the New England Revolution, he suffered a left elbow dislocation. In July 2010, he announced his retirement.[6]

International

Ralston appeared for the United States national team 36 times over an 11-year span and scored 4 international goals. His first cap came on January 17, 1997 against Peru. His last was for the squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was never selected to a World Cup roster.

Ralston had a break out year for the United States national team in 2005 by earning 15 caps. He scored the game-winning goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on September 3, 2005. The victory for the United States clinched qualification in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.[7] Despite his national team performances in 2005 he was only listed as an alternate for the United States at the World Cup.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. January 18, 2003 Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, U.S.  Canada 4–0 4–0 Friendly
2. July 19, 2003 Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA, U.S.  Cuba 3–0 5–0 2003 Gold Cup
3. March 30, 2005 Legion Field, Birmingham, AL, U.S.  Guatemala 2–0 2–0 Q 2006 World Cup
4. September 3, 2005 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, OH, U.S.  Mexico 1–0 2–0 Q 2006 World Cup

Coaching career

After his signing with AC St. Louis was named as the new assistant coach of the club.[8] In July 2010, Raltson took an assistant coaching job at the Houston Dynamo with his former teammate Dominic Kinnear from the Tampa Bay Mutiny.[9] On January 6, 2015, the San Jose Earthquakes announced Ralston would join Kinnear in San Jose and once again serve as his assistant coach.[10]

Personal life

Steve was born and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and has two siblings. He is married and together they have three children.

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
1996Tampa Bay
Mutiny		Major League
Soccer		31751
199729510
199830500
199932520
200030520
200125700
2002New England
Revolution		27571
200326430
200430731
200521140
200630630
200726440
200821800
200920700
2010A.C. St. LouisUSSF D22000
2010New England
Revolution		Major League
Soccer		1000
Total USA 38176343

Honors

Club

Tampa Bay Mutiny

New England Revolution

International

United States

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Revs statement on captain Steve Ralston". New England Revolution. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  2. ↑ http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=29756
  3. ↑ http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13615
  4. ↑ Ralston introduced as first AC St. Louis player
  5. ↑ http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/06/ralston-returns-to-revolution.html
  6. ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/ralston-set-announce-retirement
  7. ↑ Keller blanks Mexico to lead USA to World Cup
  8. ↑ STEVE RALSTON SIGNS WITH AC ST. LOUIS: Will Serve as Player-Assistant Coach
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Quakes name Ralston, Russell, Hanley assistant coaches
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