Pau Gasol, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluca Vacchi and Angel di Maria booked to promote Naya Yeira’s new track Afterglow
5 years ago
United States John O'Brien transitioned from a distinguished career as a professional soccer player with Ajax and the US National Team to a Doctor of Clinical Psychology, now applying his understanding of mental strength to support athletes and the wider public.
If I'm wearing head to toe Nike, I'm headed to a U.S. National Team game.
If it is Adidas, then Ajax is going somewhere.
New Era Cap, LLC, and Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced an agreement that enshrines New Era Cap as the Official On-Field Cap of MLS.
New Era Cap, LLC, and Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced an agreement that enshrines New Era Cap as the Official On-Field Cap of MLS. Also, the iconic Jameson brand has entered a multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer and six clubs across North America.
The iconic Jameson brand has entered a multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer and six clubs across North America.
John O'Brien started working with Soccer Without Borders and became a board member of the organization.
Jonathan Patrick O’Brien was born on August 29, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. He began his football journey in youth clubs such as Manhattan Beach Hurricanes and California Flyers before joining the Ajax youth academy in 1994 at the age of 17. After progressing through their youth teams, he signed a professional contract with Ajax in 1998. O’Brien spent the 1998-1999 season on loan to FC Utrecht, gaining valuable playing experience. He made his debut for Ajax in 1999 and became a regular player, primarily featuring as a left-back. During his tenure with Ajax, he contributed to the team’s successes, winning the Eredivisie in the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 seasons, and the KNVB Cup in 2002.
O’Brien’s career with Ajax continued until 2005, though he faced chronic injuries that limited his playing time. Following his departure from Ajax, he joined ADO Den Haag in February 2005, where he played only three games due to persistent injuries. In 2006, he moved to Major League Soccer (MLS) to play for his hometown club, Chivas USA, but his time there was brief, playing only one game before suffering another injury during the 2006 World Cup with the US national team. He declared his retirement from professional football in 2008.
Internationally, O’Brien represented the United States, earning his first cap in April 1998 against Austria. He was part of the US squad for the 2000 Summer Olympics, where the team achieved a fourth-place finish. He became a prominent player for the senior national team under coach Bruce Arena. A significant highlight of his international career was the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he played in defensive midfield, scoring the opening goal in the 3-2 victory over Portugal and providing an assist against South Korea. He played every minute of every game for the United States in that tournament. O’Brien was also a part of the US team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, though injury limited his participation to the second half of the opening game. After retiring, O’Brien pursued a doctorate in clinical psychology from Alliant International University and now operates two practices, offering mental health counseling and sports psychology services near Boulder, Colorado.
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