Eddie Gaven (born October 25, 1986 in Hamilton Township, New Jersey) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.
[edit] Career
Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey,[1] but did not play college soccer. Instead, Gaven became (at the time, since passed by Freddy Adu) the youngest player to sign with MLS when, at the age of 16 years and two months, he joined the league after having spent two years training with other young Americans at the USSF's Bradenton Academy.
[edit] Professional
Gaven was drafted by the MetroStars with the twelfth overall pick in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He became the youngest player in team history on his debut on June 14, 2003 against Chicago and became the youngest player in team history to score a goal, which he did in just his second game, against D.C. United on July 5. With the game tied at two, Metro coach Bob Bradley used a loophole in the substitution rule, moving Metro goalie Tim Howard out of the net and putting on Gaven as a fourth "goalkeeper only" sub. After less than a minute in goal, Gaven and Howard switched places and Gaven went on to score the game winner with just seconds left in overtime[1]. In the process, he became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history (the loophole was eliminated after the season, largely due to outcry following Gaven's goal).
After becoming an automatic starter and coming into his own with the MetroStars in 2004, Gaven became the youngest player ever voted in to start the MLS All-Star Game, and finished the MLS season with seven goals and seven assists and became the youngest player in league history to be named to the MLS Best XI.
Gaven ended the 2005 MLS season with eight goals and four assists. Just before the 2006 season, Gaven was traded to Columbus Crew along with the rights to defender Chris Leitch for striker Edson Buddle. With the Crew, Gaven played nearly every game in 2006, scoring 4 goals. In 2007 he appeared in 27 games for Columbus scoring five goals and tallying seven assists. Eddie's 2008 season resulted in lower output, 3 goals and 2 assists due in part to starting the season injured. In the Eastern Conference Championship game, Gaven propelled the Crew into their first MLS Cup game with a game winning goal.
[edit] International
Gaven played every minute for the U.S. in the 2003 Under-17 World Championship in Finland and then became the youngest player in CONCACAF history to appear in an Olympic qualifier when he played for the U.S. Under-23 team. He then became the fourth youngest player in US history to get his a senior cap, doing so against Poland on July 11.
In 2005, after continuing his solid play with the MetroStars, Gaven was part of the U.S. Under-20 team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands.
Gaven was selected for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup for the United States.
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