Introduction
Sam Cronin (born December 12, 1986) is an American former soccer player who played as a midfielder.
Club career
College and amateur
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Cronin attended Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he moved with his family in 1999. He played college soccer at Wake Forest University, scoring ten goals in twenty-four appearances in 2008, and was one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy, an award for the best Division I college soccer player. Cronin ultimately finished as second runner-up for the trophy, but won the 2008 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for Men's Soccer.
During his college years, Cronin also played in the USL Premier Development League for Carolina Dynamo, making thirty-nine appearances in four years, and scoring nine goals.
Professional
Cronin was selected second overall by Major League Soccer team Toronto FC in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft on January 15, 2009. Cronin made his professional debut on 21 March 2009, in Toronto's first game of the 2009 MLS season against Kansas City Wizards. He scored his first professional goal on June 13, 2009 against the New York Red Bulls.
Cronin was traded to San Jose Earthquakes on June 21, 2010 in return for allocation money.
On January 19, 2015, Cronin was traded to Colorado Rapids in exchange for allocation money.He was selected as a member of the 2015 MLS All-Star Game, coming on at the start of the 2nd half, before being subbed off for Jozy Altidore in the 77th minute.Cronin served as the Rapids team captain.
On March 31, 2017, Cronin was acquired by Minnesota United FC through the MLS waiver order. Minnesota traded a third-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft to Chicago Fire to acquire Chicago's #1 pick in the waiver order in order to secure Cronin.
On March 1, 2019, Minnesota bought out the remainder of Cronin's contract.
International career
In June 2009, he received his first call-up by the United States national team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. On July 11 Cronin made his debut with the United States against Haiti, lending a hand in the opening goal in the 2–2 draw.
Honors
- Wake Forest University
- NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship: 2007
- Toronto FC
- Canadian Championship (2): 2009, 2010
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Supporters' Shield: 2012
Career stats[14]
| Team | Season | League | Domestic League |
Domestic Playoffs |
Domestic Cup |
Concacaf Competition |
Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | |||
| Toronto FC | 2009 | MLS | 27 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 3 |
| 2010 | MLS | 6 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2010 | MLS | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | MLS | 27 | 0 | 2 | – | – | – | 27 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
| 2012 | MLS | 31 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 6 | |||||||
| 2013 | MLS | 34 | 2 | 4 | – | – | – | 34 | 2 | 4 | |||||||
| 2014 | MLS | 31 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 31 | 2 | 0 | |||||||
| Colorado Rapids | 2015 | MLS | 26 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 26 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2016 | MLS | 33 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| 2017 | MLS | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Minnesota United | 2017 | MLS | 18 | 0 | 1 | – | – | – | 18 | 0 | 1 | ||||||
| Career Total | 243 | 8 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 259 | 8 | 22 | ||
Last Update: March 30, 2017.
1) Nutrilite Canadian Cup/US Open Cup
2) Concacaf Champions League/Cup