Adin Brown
Adin Brown (born
May 27,
1978 in
Pleasant Hill,
California) is an American
soccer goalkeeper, who currently plays for
Aalesund of the
Norwegian Premier League.
A highly-touted prospect and a starting goalkeeper for the
United States in the run-up prior to the
2000 Summer Olympics, Brown played
college soccer at the
College of William and Mary. In
1999, he became only the third goalkeeper in NCAA history (
Tony Meola and
Brad Friedel were the other two) to be named
NCAA First Team All-American twice. The
Colorado Rapids then made Brown the third overall pick of the
2000 MLS SuperDraft.
Brown's pro career was not as solid as was expected. Hampered by injuries (he is a
Christian Scientist and refuses many forms of medical treatment), it seems that whenever Adin begins to excel, he gets hurt and gets knocked down a notch. After sharing goalkeeping duties with
David Kramer in his rookie season (an injury kept him from going to the Olympics), Brown was the principal of the deal that sent
Carlos Valderrama from the
Tampa Bay Mutiny to Colorado. After only half-a-season in Tampa, the Mutiny folded, leaving him exposed in the
2002 MLS Dispersal Draft. Surprisingly, Brown's high contract kept him from being selected, although he eventually signed with the
New England Revolution a few days after the draft.
It was in New England that Brown had his best season in
2002; Brown won the starting job from
Juergen Sommer midway through the year and led the Revolution to the brink of winning the
MLS Cup. Call-ups (but no caps) to the senior national team and a solid
2003 followed, but so did more injuries. Claiming before the season that he was one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, Brown couldn't back it up in
2004, losing the starting job to
Matt Reis. After the season and without a starting job, he signed with Aalesunds on a free transfer.
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Adin Brown articles on Yanks Abroad
