Houston Dynamo legend Brad Davis signed a one-day contract with the club earlier today, allowing him to officially retire as a member of the Dynamo.
Known for the pinpoint accuracy with which he delivered crosses, corner kicks and free kicks, Davis patrolled the left wing for the Dynamo for a decade. He holds the club MLS records for assists (104), game-winning assists (34), games played (271), games started (252), minutes played (21,768), shots (437), shots on goal (184), corner kicks (995).
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to finish my professional career in Houston – the place I believe it really started. From my beginnings with the New York-New Jersey MetroStars – and I’m going to go old-school for you guys – to the Dallas Burn, San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City,” Davis said during the press conference today. “I can honestly say I left it all on the field. However, I take the greatest pride in my accomplishments with the Houston Dynamo and the U.S. Men’s National Team both on the field and in the community. With the Houston team and fan base by my side I have memories that others can only dream of.”
The club also announced that Davis will be honored at halftime of the club’s July 5 home game against the Montreal Impact. That game will be the Dynamo’s annual “Honoring Our Heroes” night, at which active duty and retired military members, as well as first responders, will be celebrated.
“We are honored that Brad has chosen to retire as a member of the Dynamo family. He is an iconic Dynamo player, and having him retire in orange is fitting and appropriate,” said Dynamo President Chris Canetti. “I’d like to congratulate Brad on an outstanding career in Major League Soccer and wish him and his family well as he moves into the next phase of his life. We may not have a player with the kind of pinpoint accuracy that Brad possessed during his 10 years with the club. I’m honored to have worked with Brad and been able to watch him represent our club at such a high level for so many years.”
Davis was a member of the San Jose Earthquakes squad that moved to Houston in 2006, and his play helped lead the Dynamo to MLS Cup championships in each of the team’s first two years in Houston. In 2011 and 2012, Davis led the team to a pair of MLS Eastern Conference titles. Davis received 2011 MLS Best XI accolades, six MLS All-Star selections and a 2005 MLS Supporters’ Shield. His 123 assists and 392 games played rank third and fourth on the all-time MLS regular season charts, respectively.
Including playoffs, Davis has amassed 60 goals 132 assists in 419 MLS appearances. He became the fifth player in league history to reach 400 MLS appearances when Sporting Kanas City faced FC Dallas last April. He retires as the all-time MLS leader in corner kicks (1,269) and is one shy of the all-time lead in game-winning assists (40).
A member of MLS for the duration of his career, Davis joined Sporting Kansas City last January after spending 10 seasons with the Dynamo. He has recorded three goals and two assists in 27 appearances during the 2016 campaign, helping Sporting KC contend for a club-record sixth straight berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Davis tallied four assists in 17 career appearances for the United States Men’s National Team. He earned his senior team debut in 2005 and converted the game-winning penalty kick in the 2005 Gold Cup Final against Panama. Davis cemented a spot in head coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s squad during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying, making his lone World cup appearance with a start against eventual champion Germany on June 26, 2014.
As a youth international, Davis represented the U.S. at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels. Davis attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in suburban St. Louis and culminated his high school career as the 1999 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year.
Off the field, Davis has long been a major supporter of the Banded Brigade, a non-profit organization that provides active duty and returning service men and women with opportunities to reconnect with nature and one another to help their transition to civilian life. “Brad’s Brigade” became an annual fundraising opportunity for Dynamo fans, with money raised going to benefit the Banded Brigade.
BRAD DAVIS: CAREER HONORS
- MLS Cup champion — 2006, 2007
- MLS Cup finalist — 2011, 2012
- MLS Supporters’ Shield — 2005
- MLS Best XI — 2011
- MLS All-Star — 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
- 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup champion
- 2014 FIFA World Cup veteran
BRAD DAVIS: ALL-TIME MLS RANKS (REGULAR SEASON)
- Games played: 392 (4th)
- Games started: 339 (t-8th)
- Minutes played: 29,577 (10th)
- Assists: 123 (3rd)
- Corners: 1,269 (1st)
- GW assists: 40 (3rd)
