Brandon McDonald (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Brandon McDonald

| image = Brandon McDonald at Union at Earthquakes 2010-09-15.JPG

| image_size = 250

| fullname = Brandon Marquee McDonald

| caption = McDonald with the Earthquakes in September 2010

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|16}}

| birth_place = Glendale, Arizona, United States

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}

| position = Defender

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| collegeyears1 = 2004–2007

| college1 = San Francisco Dons

| years1 = 2006

| clubs1 = San Francisco Seals

| caps1 = 5

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2007

| clubs2 = San Jose Frogs

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2008

| clubs3 = LA Galaxy

| caps3 = 16

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2009–2011

| clubs4 = San Jose Earthquakes

| caps4 = 58

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2011–2013

| clubs5 = D.C. United

| caps5 = 63

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = Real Salt Lake

| caps6 = 3

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2014

| clubs7 = Ljungskile SK

| caps7 = 4

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2015–2016

| clubs8 = Chainat Hornbill

| caps8 = 8

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 2016–2017

| clubs9 = Rovers

| caps9 =

| goals9 =

| years10 = 2017

| clubs10 = Penang FA

| caps10 = 8

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2019

| clubs11 = Hanoi

| caps11 = 4

| goals11 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2015–2016

| nationalteam1 = Guam

| nationalcaps1 = 13

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = January 21, 2020

| nationalteam-update = January 21, 2020

}}

Brandon Marquee McDonald (born January 16, 1986) is a former soccer player.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/brandon-mcdonalds-vocal-influence-speaks-volumes-for-dc-united/2011/07/14/gIQAXWQFGI_story.html|title=randon McDonald's vocal influence speaks volumes for D.C. United|publisher=washingtonpost.com (Archived)|access-date=2023-09-08|archive-date=2023-07-16|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230716184436/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/brandon-mcdonalds-vocal-influence-speaks-volumes-for-dc-united/2011/07/14/gIQAXWQFGI_story.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/15/brandon-mcdonald-provides-a-steadying-influence-fo/|title=Brandon McDonald provides a steadying influence for D.C. United|publisher=washingtontimes.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/a-word-about-rsls-just-acquired-brandon-mcdonald-ahead-of-tonights-sporting-kansas-city-clash|title=A word about RSL's just-acquired Brandon McDonald|date=20 July 2013 |publisher=nbcsports.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2013/07/19/brandon-mcdonald-dcu-rsl|title=Making Note of Interesting MLS Moves: Brandon McDonald|date=19 July 2013 |publisher=americansocceranalysis.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rslsoapbox.com/2013/7/17/4532008/brandon-mcdonald-the-d-c-united-perspective-with-black-and-red-united|title=Brandon McDonald: The D.C. United perspective with Black and Red United}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/qa-earthquakes-defender-brandon-mcdonald|title=Q&A: Earthquakes defender Brandon McDonald}} Born in the continental United States, he represented the Guam national team.

Club career

=Amateur and college=

McDonald was an NSCAA High School All-American while playing for Cactus High School and participated in the annual High School All-America game. In addition, he was in the USA National under-17 pool. Before moving to the University of San Francisco in 2004 McDonald played for the Sereno Golden Eagles youth club with Michael Gavin, Rob Valentino and current teammate Robbie Findley. McDonald played over 50 games for the Dons, finishing second on the team in scoring in his freshman year. He also shared the Stephen Negoesco Award for achievement by an underclassmen in 2004.

During his college years McDonald also played with both the San Francisco Seals and the San Jose Frogs of the USL Premier Development League.

= Los Angeles Galaxy =

McDonald was the 46th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy, and made his MLS debut as a substitute in Galaxy's first match of the 2008 season against Colorado Rapids on March 29, 2008. He scored his first MLS goal on October 12, 2008, a 35-yard strike, also against Colorado. The then-rookie shared a locker room with David Beckham and Landon Donovan while taking instruction from Bruce Arena.

= San Jose Earthquakes =

After a season in Carson, McDonald moved to San Jose, where the Earthquakes finally gave him the chance to play on a regular basis. McDonald made the most of the opportunity, starting 28 matches in 2010 as the Northern California side advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the team's success, improved depth along San Jose's back line made playing time difficult to come by in 2011 and - in need of cap space - the 'Quakes began looking to make a deal involving the talented back. He was waived by the Galaxy in February 2009 and signed with the San Jose Earthquakes on March 20, 2009.{{Citation|last=San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations |title=Quakes sign midfielder Brandon McDonald |url=http://sjearthquakes.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090320&content_id=228531&vkey=pr_sje&fext=.jsp&team=t110 |accessdate=2009-03-20 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= D.C. United =

On June 27, 2011, McDonald was traded to D.C. United from San Jose in exchange for allocation money.{{Citation |last=D.C. United.com |title=D.C. United acquires defender Brandon McDonald |url=http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/06/dc-united-acquires-defender-brandon-mcdonald |accessdate=2011-06-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629012555/http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/06/dc-united-acquires-defender-brandon-mcdonald |archivedate=2011-06-29 }} He signed a contract extension with D.C. on August 23, 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/08/brandon-mcdonald-signs-new-contract|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728162455/http://www.dcunited.com/press-release/2011/08/brandon-mcdonald-signs-new-contract|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-28|title=Brandon McDonald signs new contract | D.C. United}} Terms of the new contract were undisclosed.

= Real Salt Lake =

McDonald was traded to Real Salt Lake on July 17, 2013, in exchange for a third-round 2014 MLS SuperDraft pick and a conditional pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2013/7/17/4531538/rsl-signs-dcu-center-back-brandon-mcdonald-to-ease-injury-crisis|title=RSL signs DCU center back Brandon McDonald|date=17 July 2013|publisher=}} He started three games for the team before being included in RSL's re-entry draft list but was not picked up in the draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=27968181|title=4 RSL player options declined, all eligible for MLS Re-Entry Draft - KSL.com|publisher=}}

= Ljungskile SK =

In 2014, McDonald signed for Ljungskile SK.

= Chainat Hornbill =

In July 2015, he joined Chainat Hornbill for the second half of the 2015 Thai Premier League season.{{cite web|last=Noveanto |first=Eric |title=Guam star McDonald joins Thai club Chainat Hornbill |url= http://footballchannel.asia/2015/07/09/post5392/|work=Football Channel Asia |date=9 July 2015 |accessdate=2 August 2015}} Before moving to Rovers FC (Guam) to play for them a season in 2016.

= Penang FA =

In June 2017, McDonald signed for Penang FA, a club in the top division of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Super League. He made his debut against Four time MSL Champions, Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C.

= Hanoi FC =

Early in the 2019 V.League 1 season, McDonald signed for Hanoi FC.

International career

On December 22, 2009, McDonald received his first call up to train with the senior US national team. In July 2014 McDonald was initially called up for the Guam national team EAFF Cup training camp but due to schedule conflicts he was unable to attend. McDonald has Guam roots on his father's side.

Career statistics

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT\|58907\|accessdate=28 April 2019}}
rowspan=2\|Guam \|2015	8	1
2016	5	0
colspan=2\|Total\|\|13\|\|1

:Guam score listed first, score column indicates score after each McDonald goal.

class="wikitable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Brandon McDonald
scope=col\|No. !scope=col\|Date !scope=col\|Venue !scope=col\|Cap !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope=col\|Result !scope=col\|Competition !scope=col\|{{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
align=center\|1	16 June 2015	\|Guam National Football Stadium, Hagatna, Guam	align=center\|4	{{fb\|IND}}	align=center\|2–1	align=center\| 2–1	\|FIFA World Cup Qualification	{{cite web\|title=FIFA\|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317464\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618064157/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317464\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=June 18, 2015}}

class="wikitable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Brandon McDonald

scope=col|No.

!scope=col|Date

!scope=col|Venue

!scope=col|Cap

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope=col|Result

!scope=col|Competition

!scope=col|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

align=center|1

16 June 2015

|Guam National Football Stadium, Hagatna, Guam

align=center|4

align=center|2–1

align=center| 2–1

|FIFA World Cup Qualification

{{cite web|title=FIFA|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317464|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618064157/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=275171/match=300317464|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2015}}

Personal life

His sister Jessica McDonald is also a professional soccer player.{{cite web|url=http://beatsandrhymesfc.com/jessica-mcdonald-interview-soul-beneath-the-step-deeper-than-the-dance-for-dash-forward/|title=Jessica McDonald interview: Soul beneath the step – Deeper than the dance for Dash forward|date=7 October 2015|publisher=}}