Conor Casey

{{short description|American soccer coach and former player|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Distinguish|Conor Casey (politician)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Conor Casey

| image = Conor Casey Philadelphia Union.JPG

| image_size = 250px

| caption = Casey playing for the Philadelphia Union

| fullname = Conor Patrick Casey

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|7|25}}

| birth_place = Dover, New Hampshire, U.S.

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| collegeyears1 = 1999–2000

| college1 = Portland Pilots

| collegecaps1 = 28

| collegegoals1 = 31

| years1 = 2000–2001

| clubs1 = Borussia Dortmund II

| caps1 = 23

| goals1 = 14

| years2 = 2001–2004

| clubs2 = Borussia Dortmund

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2001–2002

| clubs3 = → Hannover 96 (loan)

| caps3 = 19

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 2003–2004

| clubs4 = → Karlsruher SC (loan)

| caps4 = 30

| goals4 = 14

| years5 = 2004–2006

| clubs5 = Mainz 05

| caps5 = 40

| goals5 = 3

| years6 = 2006

| clubs6 = Mainz 05 II

| caps6 = 2

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2007

| clubs7 = Toronto FC

| caps7 = 2

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2007–2012

| clubs8 = Colorado Rapids

| caps8 = 119

| goals8 = 50

| years9 = 2013–2015

| clubs9 = Philadelphia Union

| caps9 = 70

| goals9 = 21

| years10 = 2016

| clubs10 = Columbus Crew SC

| caps10 = 4

| goals10 = 0

| totalcaps = 313

| totalgoals = 111

| nationalyears1 = 2001

| nationalteam1 = United States U20

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2000

| nationalteam2 = United States U23

| nationalcaps2 = 9

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2004–2010

| nationalteam3 = United States

| nationalcaps3 = 19

| nationalgoals3 = 2

| manageryears1 = 2017–2019

| managerclubs1 = Colorado Rapids (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2019

| managerclubs2 = Colorado Rapids (interim)

| manageryears3 = 2022

| managerclubs3 = Charleston Battery

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{USA}}}}

{{Medal|Competition|FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{Medal|RU|2009 South Africa|Team}}

{{Medal|Competition|CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{Medal|W|CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005}}

{{MedalSport|Men's Soccer}}

}}

Conor Patrick Casey (born July 25, 1981) is an American former soccer player. He played for 16 seasons as a forward, finishing his career with Columbus Crew SC, before turning to coaching with his former club Colorado Rapids.

Playing career

=Youth and college=

Casey was born in New Hampshire, but moved to Colorado at age five, and considers Denver his hometown. He played soccer at Denver's South High School and went on to play two years of college soccer for the University of Portland from 1999 to 2000. In his first year at the University of Portland, Casey was named best player of the year. In 2000, he led the NCAA in scoring with twenty-three goals and seven assists.{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/23231/conor-casey?cc=5901 |title=Conor Casey |publisher=ESPN FC |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225070257/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/23231/conor-casey?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}

=Professional=

After playing well in the 2000 Summer Olympics Casey signed a four-year contract with German club Borussia Dortmund. After finishing a year of playing with the club, Casey was loaned out in the 2001–02 season to Hannover 96, where he scored seven goals in nineteen games. The subsequent year, Casey stayed with Dortmund, but only saw action in four games, scoring one goal. In 2003–04, he was again loaned to a second division club, Karlsruher SC, scoring fourteen goals in thirty games. In 2004, Casey signed with Bundesliga club Mainz 05, but scored only two goals and struggled with injuries during two and a half seasons with the club.

After being released by Mainz, Casey returned to America and signed with Major League Soccer. Casey was originally allocated to Toronto FC{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=412638&cc=5901 |title=Casey to play in MLS for Toronto |publisher=ESPN FC |date=March 5, 2007 |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-date=March 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316114958/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=412638&cc=5901 |url-status=dead }} and after two games with no goals and no assists, he was traded to his hometown club, Colorado Rapids, on April 19, 2007, in exchange for Riley O'Neill and an undisclosed amount of allocation money.{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3456715 |title=Rapids Acquire Denver South High Grad Conor Casey |publisher=OurSports Central |date=April 20, 2007 |access-date=January 27, 2013}}

He played 15 games with the Rapids in 2007, scoring two goals and three assists. In 2008, he scored 11 goals and two assists in 21 games. Casey ended the 2009 MLS season, with 16 goals, just one less than leader Jeff Cunningham to go along with one assist in 24 games. He was named in the MLS Best XI in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3929705 |title=Rapids Forward Conor Casey Named To 2009 MLS Best XI |publisher=OurSports Central |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=January 27, 2013}} In 2010, Casey became the All Time goal scorer for the Colorado Rapids as he scored 13 goals and 6 assists in 27 games. Likewise in 2010, Casey was selected as the MVP for the 2010 MLS Cup championship{{cite web| first = Greg | last = Lalas |url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2010/11/colorados-casey-named-mls-cup-mvp |title=Colorado's Casey named MLS Cup MVP |publisher=Colorado Rapids |date=November 22, 2010 |access-date=January 27, 2013}} though the representative of the award sponsor announced "Casey Conor" when awarding it. In 2011, Casey suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury {{cite web|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2011/07/casey-out-year-torn-achilles |title=Casey out for the year with torn Achilles |work=Colorado Rapids |date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2013}} in a July 16 game against the Seattle Sounders FC as he finished that season with six goals and one assist in 14 games. In 2012, Casey scored two goals and three assists in 18 games. On November 16, 2012, Casey was released by the Colorado Rapids.{{cite web|url=http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/11/rapids-part-ways-eight-players |title=Rapids to part ways with eight players |work=Colorado Rapids |date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2013}}

On December 14, 2012, Casey was selected by Philadelphia Union in the first round of the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Stage 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/12/union-selects-conor-casey-stage-2-mls-re-entry-draft |title=Union selects Conor Casey in Stage 2 of MLS Re-entry draft |publisher=Philadelphia Union |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218083239/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/12/union-selects-conor-casey-stage-2-mls-re-entry-draft |url-status=dead }} On January 23, 2015, it was announced that Casey had signed a new contract with the club for the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2015/01/trio-veterans-set-return-philadelphia-union-2015-major-league-soccer-season |title=Trio of veterans set to return to Philadelphia Union for 2015 Major League Soccer season |work=Philadelphia Union |date=January 23, 2015 |access-date=January 23, 2015}}

After three seasons in Philadelphia, Casey signed with Columbus Crew SC on January 26, 2016.{{cite web | url = http://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2016/01/25/crew-sc-signs-free-agent-forward-conor-casey | title = Crew SC signs free agent forward Conor Casey | website = columbuscrewsc.com | date = January 26, 2016 | access-date = January 27, 2016}}

=International=

Casey played at the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina and then graduated to the senior United States national team, getting his first cap on March 31, 2004, against Poland. On July 7, 2005, Casey suffered a tear to his ACL while playing against Cuba in the U.S.'s opening game of the Gold Cup.{{cite web | url = http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2005/07/Conor-Casey-Suffers-ACL-Tear.aspx | title = Conor Casey Suffers ACL Tear | date = July 9, 2005 | publisher = ussoccer.com | access-date = October 13, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110807100534/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2005/07/Conor-Casey-Suffers-ACL-Tear.aspx | archive-date = August 7, 2011 | df = mdy-all }} He served as a late sub for the United States during several matches in the 2009 Confederations Cup. Casey scored twice (his first ever Senior team goals) against Honduras in a critical world cup qualifier at San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on October 10, 2009. The unanimous Man of the Match, Casey scored the U.S.'s first two goals,{{cite web |url=http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/201005/soccer-style-us-team-world-cup-conor-casey-robbie-findley-heath-pearce.html |title=Kick Started |publisher=Outside Online May 2010 Issue |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601034248/http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/201005/soccer-style-us-team-world-cup-conor-casey-robbie-findley-heath-pearce.html |archive-date=June 1, 2010}} and was fouled to set up the game-winning free-kick goal by Landon Donovan. The win put the United States through to the 2010 World Cup.

Managerial career

On January 26, 2017, Casey was hired by Colorado Rapids as an assistant coach. On May 1, 2019, head coach Anthony Hudson was fired and Casey was promoted to interim head coach.{{cite web |title=Anthony Hudson relieved of duties, Conor Casey named interim head coach |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2019/05/01/anthony-hudson-relieved-duties-conor-casey-named-interim-head-coach |website=Colorado Rapids |access-date=May 1, 2019 |date=May 1, 2019}}

In December 2021, Casey was announced as the new head coach of the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship, becoming the sixth head coach in the club's history.{{cite web |title=Battery Name Conor Casey Head Coach |url=https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/1199678 |website=charlestonbattery.com |access-date=20 December 2021 |date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=December 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220210246/https://www.charlestonbattery.com/news_article/show/1199678 |url-status=dead }} Charleston and Casey mutually agreed to part ways on October 12, 2022, before the final match of the season after a dismal year of only six wins in 33 contests.{{cite web |title=Charleston Battery and Conor Casey Mutually Agree to Part Ways |url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1243012 |website=USLChampionship.com |date=October 12, 2022 |access-date=12 October 2022}}

Career statistics

=Club=

Sources:{{Soccerway|conor-casey/1703}}{{MLS player|conor-casey}}{{cite web|url=http://usa.worldfootball.net/player_summary/conor-casey/2/|title=Conor Casey at WorldFootball.net|website=WorldFootball.net|publisher=HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG|access-date=January 25, 2019}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|CupIncludes the DFB-Pokal and U.S. Open Cup

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|OtherAll appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="3"|Borussia Dortmund II

|2000–01

|Regionalliga Nord

|10

2colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–102
2001–02

|Oberliga Westfalen

|13

12colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–1312
colspan="2"|Total

!23

140000002314
rowspan="4"|Borussia Dortmund

|2001–02

|Bundesliga

|0

00000colspan="2"|–00
2002–03

|Bundesliga

|4

10000colspan="2"|–41
2003–04

|Bundesliga

|0

00000colspan="2"|–00
colspan="2"|Total

!4

100000041
Hannover 96 (loan)

|2001–02

|2. Bundesliga

|19

710colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–207
Karlsruher SC (loan)

|2003–04

|2. Bundesliga

|30

1420colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–3214
rowspan="4"|Mainz 05

|2004–05

|Bundesliga

|28

222colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–304
2005–06

|Bundesliga

|10

10000colspan="2"|–101
2006–07

|Bundesliga

|2

000colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–20
colspan="2"|Total

!40

3220000425
Mainz 05 II

|2006–07

|Oberliga Südwest

|2

1colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–21
Toronto FC

|2007

|MLS

|2

0colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–20
rowspan=7|Colorado Rapids

|2007

|rowspan=6|MLS

|15

220colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–172
2008

|21

1111colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–2212
2009

|24

1600colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–2416
2010

|27

1300colspan="2"|–423115
2011

|14

6000000146
2012

|18

200colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–182
colspan="2"|Total

!119

5031004212653
rowspan="4"|Philadelphia Union

|2013

|rowspan="3"|MLS

|31

1020colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–3310
2014

|25

831colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–289
2015

|14

320colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–163
colspan="2"|Total

!70

217100007722
Columbus Crew SC

|2016

|MLS

|4

000colspan="2"|–colspan="2"|–40
colspan="3"|Career total

!313

1111540042332117

{{notelist}}

=International=

Source:{{NFT player|7097}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!colspan="3"|United States

YearAppsGoals
200460
200520
200600
200700
200810
200982
201020
Total||19||2

class="wikitable"

|+International goals

style="background:#ccc text-align:center"

!#

!Date

!Venue

!Opponent

!Score

!Result

!Competition

1.

|rowspan="2"|October 10, 2009

|rowspan="2"|Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras

|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Honduras}}

|{{center|1–1}}

|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"|3–2

|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"|2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying

2.

|{{center|2–1}}

=Managerial=

{{updated|December 20, 2021}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

GWDLGFGAGDWin %
align=left|Colorado Rapids (interim)

|align=left|May 1, 2019

|align=left|August 25, 2019

{{WDL|19|7|5|7|for=33|against=32|diff=yes}}

align=left|Charleston Battery

|align=left|December 20, 2021

|align=left|October 9, 2022

{{WDL|33|6|6|21|for=40|against=76|diff=yes}}

colspan="3"|Total

{{WDLtot|42|10|9|23|for=60|against=84|diff=yes}}

Honors

Colorado Rapids

United States

Individual

References

{{Reflist}}