Michael Brady 1993

Michael Brady was born in Coventry, England. In 1981, he travelled from Coventry to Jacksonville, Florida for a trial with the Jacksonville Tea Men. On the advice of the coaching staff, he elected to attend college in the United States instead. After some thought, he chose American University, a private college located in Washington, D.C..

Michael spent four seasons with the AU Eagles as both a midfielder and forward. In 1985, the Eagles went to the championship match only to fall to UCLA in eight overtimes. He was a first team All American as a midfielder in 1983 and as a forward in 1985 and finished his career as the 1985. He was a second team All American in 1984, but his greatest honor came when he was named the 1985 SoccerAmerica college Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career with 65 goals and 29 assists. He holds the season goal scoring record with 24 goals as a senior. In 1986, AU retired Michael's jersey number, 14. While he had not yet completed his degree requirements, like many athletes, he left school to pursue a professional career. However, he would return and earn a bachelor’s degree in communications in 1992.

When he entered the professional ranks, he began in itinerant journey through U.S. soccer. The 1980s and 1990s were characterized by players jumping from one failing indoor and outdoor club in an attempt to play the game they loved. Michael began his journey with the Baltimore Blast of the MISL. In 1985, he spent a season with the Los Angeles Heat of the Western Soccer Alliance where he scored five goals, tied for eight on the alliance’s goals list. In 1988 and 1989, he played with the Washington Diplomats of the American Soccer League, earning All Star status in 1989. In 1990, the ASL and WSA merged to form the American Professional Soccer League.

In 1993, he played three games with the Rowdies in the APSL.

In 1983, he was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1983 World University games. He then earned three caps with the U.S. national team while still in college. His first cap came when he replace Jeff Hooker in a November 30th, 1984 scoreless tie with Ecuador. A week later, he came on for Amr Aly in another tie with Ecuador. His last cap came, again as a substitute, this time for Dan Canter on June 16th, 1985.

While with the Maryland Bays in 1991, Michael also served as the head coach for the American University women’s soccer team. In 1993, he became the head coach of the boy’s soccer team at the The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. He served in that capacity for four years before moving to Premier Soccer Associates which runs soccer camps and clinics. In 2000, he returned to American University where he became the coach of the women’s team again. In 2008, he resigned his position at American to join Duke as the top assistant.

Can anyone help me with a photo of Michael in a Rowdies jersey? - if so please email me.