Brian Ching

Brian Ching

Brian Ching speaks to the crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in December 2013 after his testimonial match
Personal information
Full name	Brian Ching[1]
Date of birth	(1978-05-24) May 24, 1978 (age 46)[2][3]
Place of birth	Hale'iwa, Hawaii, United States[2][3]
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2][3]
Position(s)	Forward[2][3]
Youth career
1995–1996	Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama
1996	Honolulu Bulls
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2000	Gonzaga Bulldogs
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–1999	Spokane Shadow	32	(21)
2001	LA Galaxy	8	(1)
2001	→ Seattle Sounders (loan)	6	(3)
2002	Seattle Sounders	25	(16)
2003–2005	San Jose Earthquakes	56	(25)
2006–2013	Houston Dynamo	169	(56)
Total		296	(122)
International career
2003–2010	United States	45	(11)
Managerial career
2013	Houston Dynamo (assistant)
2013–2019	Houston Dash (managing director)
Medal record Representing  United States Men's soccer Winner 2007 United States Runner-up 2009 United States
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Brian Ching (born May 24, 1978) is an American former professional soccer player who played for twelve years in Major League Soccer and represented the U.S. national team for eight years.

Ching's professional career began when he was the 16th pick overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, making him the first Gonzaga player and the first player from his native Hawaii selected in the MLS draft. After winning the U.S. Open Cup with Los Angeles, Ching was released from the team and played with the second division Seattle Sounders. He returned to first division soccer when the San Jose Earthquakes acquired him in the 2003 MLS supplemental draft. He won an MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield with the Earthquakes, collected the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award, the MLS Golden Boot, and was named to the MLS Best XI.

In 2006, Ching relocated to Houston when the Earthquakes became the Houston Dynamo. He led the team to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 2006 and 2007 and four MLS finals overall. A six-time MLS All-Star, Ching retired from professional soccer in 2013 as Houston Dynamo's all-time leading scorer.

Ching made his international debut May 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to represent the United States. He became the first Hawaiian to be named to the U.S. roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, although he did not see any playing time. His only international silverware is the 2007 Gold Cup. Off the field, Ching is a pillar in the Houston community where he is partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for underprivileged families in the Houston area through fundraising efforts under his program "The House that Ching Built".