Justin Braun (born March 31, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward.

Justin Braun
Personal information
Full name Justin Braun
Date of birth (1987-03-31) March 31, 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
2004–2007 SLCC Bruins
2007–2008 Olympique Montreux
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Chivas USA 96 (24)
2012 Montreal Impact 12 (0)
2012 Real Salt Lake 2 (0)
2013 Toronto FC 21 (2)
2014–2015 Sacramento Republic 43 (12)
2016–2018 Indy Eleven 58 (18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 13, 2018

Career edit

Youth and amateur edit

Braun had an accomplished career at Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, where he was named to the All-State first team in his junior and senior years, and to the second team his second year, as well as being the leading scorer in the state during his last two years at the school. While playing at Skyline High, he was given the nickname, "The Man with the Golden Foot." Braun played college soccer for Salt Lake Community College, but was not drafted by Major League Soccer.

While playing for Olympique Montreux, a men's amateur team in the Salt Lake City area, Braun was invited to be part of the Utah Select Team which took part in the 2008 George F. Donnelly Cup, an amateur tournament organized by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), which was held at The Home Depot Center in January 2008. Braun was spotted by Chivas USA head coach Preki and was invited to preseason with the Major League Soccer side;[1] he was subsequently offered a development contract, and signed for Chivas in March 2008.

Professional edit

Braun made his professional debut for Chivas as substitute in the 73rd minute of a 1–1 draw with FC Dallas on March 30, 2008. He made 24 appearances – including 12 starts – during his rookie season. He finished with four goals and two assists in the regular season, and added another goal in the playoffs.

His second season in the MLS was marred by a concussion that limited him to 15 matches.[2] He managed 3 goals and 2 assists. Braun rebounded nicely in his third season (2010): he emerged as Chivas USA's top striker, tallying a team-high 9 goals along with 3 assists. He picked up his first MLS Player of the Week award after scoring two goals against the Kansas City Wizards in Week 15. On May 15, 2011 Justin Braun scored a hat trick against the New York Red Bulls, in a game which Chivas USA went on to win 3–2.[3] On July 23, 2011 Justin Braun scored his second hat trick against the Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center.

Braun was traded by Chivas USA with Gerson Mayen to expansion side Montreal Impact for defender James Riley and allocation money on November 23, 2011.[4] On Wednesday, July 11, 2012, Braun was traded by the Montreal Impact to Real Salt Lake for a conditional pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, sending Braun back to his home state, but his stay there would be a short and unproductive one.[5]

On December 3, 2012, Braun was traded again, this time moving to Toronto FC in exchange for Aaron Maund.[6] Braun made his debut as a second-half substitute for John Bostock against FC Dallas on April 6, twelve minutes after coming on Braun scored his first goal for the team helping earn a 2–2 home draw.[7]

Braun was released by Toronto at the end of the 2013 MLS season, but was later signed by USL Pro club Sacramento Republic FC on February 11, 2014.[8]

After two seasons in Sacramento, Braun signed with North American Soccer League club Indy Eleven.[9]

International edit

On December 22, 2009, Braun received his first call up to train with the senior US national team. Training in Carson, California began for Braun and the other players called up on January 4, 2010, leading up to a friendly match against Honduras, although he ultimately did not feature in the game. He then received his second call up to the US national team, but had to leave camp due to a cut near his achilles tendon, which needed stitches. This didn't leave him with enough time to recover in order to make his first international appearance for the game against Chile, on January 22, 2011.

Career statistics edit

As of October 13, 2018[10]
Club Season League Cup Continental Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chivas USA 2008 MLS 24 4 0 0 1 0 2[a] 1 27 5
2009 15 3 0 0 2[a] 0 17 3
2010 28 9 2 2 1 0 31 11
2011 29 8 0 0 29 8
Total 96 24 2 2 2 0 4 1 104 27
Montreal Impact 2012 MLS 12 0 1 0 13 0
Real Salt Lake 2012 MLS 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Toronto FC 2013 MLS 21 2 1 0 22 2
Sacramento Republic 2014 USL 19 4 2 2 2[b] 0 23 6
2015 24 8 1 0 1[b] 0 26 8
Total 43 12 3 2 0 0 3 0 49 14
Indy Eleven 2016 NASL 25 8 2 1 2[c] 0 29 9
2017 16 7 1 0 17 7
2018 USL 17 3 1 0 0 0 18 3
Total 58 18 4 1 0 0 2 0 64 19
Career total 232 56 11 5 2 0 9 1 254 62
  1. ^ a b Appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs
  2. ^ a b Appearances in the USL Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ Appearances in the Soccer Bowl Playoffs

References edit

  1. ^ "SoccerAmerica - Rising Star: Chivas USA's Justin Braun 06/23/2009". socceramerica.com.
  2. ^ Justin Braun MLS Player Profile
  3. ^ "Sounders FC Blog". The Seattle Times.
  4. ^ "Montreal take Riley, ship him to Chivas for Braun, Mayen". MLSsoccer.com.
  5. ^ "RSL acquires SLC native Justin Braun". Real Salt Lake.
  6. ^ "Real Salt Lake deal Braun to Toronto for defender Maund". MLSsoccer.com.
  7. ^ "MLS: Toronto FC rallies to tie FC Dallas". thestar.com. April 6, 2013.
  8. ^ http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+L3/Display+E+NDX+NDX+786947[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Indy Eleven Acquires Pair from Sacramento Republic FC".
  10. ^ Justin Braun at Soccerway

External links edit