Eric Lichaj

Eric Lichaj is the third son of Stan and Ann Lichaj, who were both from Nowy Targ, Poland.{{cite news |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/06/timing-is-perfect-for-lichajs-first-us-call-up-2/ |agency=Associated Press | publisher = CBS Chicago |last=Armour |first=Nancy |title=Timing is perfect for Lichaj's first US call-up |date=October 6, 2010 |access-date=October 6, 2010}} He has two older brothers, Andrew and Mark Lichaj. At the age of 14, Lichaj joined the soccer residency program at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He began his youth career with the Downers Grove Roadrunners, later played with Chicago Fire's youth side, and then spent one year at the University of North Carolina.{{cite news|url=http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/downersgrove/sports/x2145970486/Downers-Grove-native-Lichaj-making-international-soccer-impact |work=MySuburbanLife.com |title=Downers Grove native Lichaj making international soccer impact |author=Owen, Dave |date=August 21, 2009 |access-date=July 2, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |url=http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lichaj_eric00.html |work=tarheelblue.cstv.com |title=Player bio: Eric Lichaj |access-date=January 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422090911/http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/lichaj_eric00.html |archive-date=April 22, 2009 }} He also played four games for the Chicago Fire Premier of the USL Premier Development League.{{cite news |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2006/roster/22315.html |work=uslsoccer.com |title=Chicago Fire Premier: 2006 roster |access-date=February 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009152820/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2006/roster/22315.html |archive-date=October 9, 2012 }} After his freshman season, Lichaj signed with English Premier League club Aston Villa. Lichaj holds a Polish passport, making a work permit unnecessary.{{cite news |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=597503&cc=5901 |work=ESPNsoccernet |last=Ubha |first=Ravi |title=Lichaj making his mark in the reserves |date=November 30, 2008 |access-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023065426/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=597503&cc=5901 |archive-date=October 23, 2012}}

Following a season in the Aston Villa youth side, Lichaj featured in all but two of Villa's Reserve matches during the 2008–09 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/PlayerProfiles/0,,10265~46651,00.html |title=Eric Lichaj |publisher=Aston Villa F.C. |access-date=October 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017102824/https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/PlayerProfiles/0%2C%2C10265~46651%2C00.html |archive-date=October 17, 2010 }} During the 2009–10 pre-season, he was selected for the 2009 Peace Cup squad and showed glimpses of his potential during the friendly tournament.{{cite news |url=http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=players&id=144 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117001611/http://yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=players&id=144 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 17, 2013 |title=Player Database – Eric Lichaj |work=yanks-abroad.com |access-date=April 2, 2018}} This, however, did not immediately translate into playing time for the first team.

Lichaj was loaned out to League Two club Lincoln City to gain first-team experience. He played two games for Lincoln before signing a one-month loan extension.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8375227.stm |title=Lincoln extend Villa duo's loans |work=BBC Sport |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=January 23, 2010}} Later in the season, Lichaj again went on a month-long loan, this time to League One side Leyton Orient.{{cite web |url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~2004871,00.html |title=Villa Defender Becomes Deadline Day Arrival No. 2 |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C. |date=March 25, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328082424/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10439~2004871%2C00.html |archive-date=March 28, 2010 }} He scored the first professional goal of his career for Leyton Orient against Stockport County on April 17, 2010.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8617907.stm |title=Leyton Orient 2 – 0 Stockport|publisher=BBC|date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=October 21, 2015}}

Lichaj scored his first goal for Aston Villa on July 19, 2010, in a pre-season friendly against Peterborough United. Following a successful pre-season campaign, he signed a new three-year contract with the club on August 11, 2010.{{cite web |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2118678,00.html |title=Lichaj pens new three-year contract |publisher=Aston Villa F.C. |date=August 11, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817124816/https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10265~2118678%2C00.html |archive-date=August 17, 2010 }} He made his competitive debut for Villa on August 19, 2010, in a 1–1 draw in a Europa League qualifying match away to Rapid Vienna.{{cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Stevenson |title=Rapid Vienna 1 – 1 Aston Villa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8924311.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=August 19, 2010 |access-date=August 19, 2010}} He made his Premier League debut for Aston Villa on November 10, 2010, against Blackpool.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/5789271/us-midfielder-maurice-edu-leaves-rangers-match-stretcher |title=U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu leaves Rangers match on a stretcher – ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=November 10, 2010 |access-date=July 24, 2012}} Lichaj made his first start for Aston Villa on December 11, 2010, in a 2–1 win against local rivals West Bromwich Albion. He also started for Villa at right back against Tottenham Hotspur, where he put in an impressive performance against in-form Spurs winger Gareth Bale.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

On February 9, 2011, Lichaj joined Leeds United on a one-month loan deal.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110209/deal-done-for-premier-league-defender_2247585_2289307 |title=Deal Done For Premier League Defender |date=February 9, 2011}} Lichaj made his Leeds debut in a 2–0 victory against Bristol City.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110212/bristol-city-live_2247585_2290570 |title=News | News | News | United Victorious At Ashton Gate |publisher=Leeds United |access-date=July 24, 2012}} On March 14, Leeds extended Lichaj's loan for the rest of the season.{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/14/lichaj.leeds.ap/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317095052/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/03/14/lichaj.leeds.ap/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=March 17, 2011 | work=CNN | title=American Lichaj extends Leeds loan from Villa | date=March 14, 2011}} He scored an own goal in Leeds' match against Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, who went on to win the match 2–0. After playing all of his games at right back in place of the injured Paul Connolly, Lichaj was moved to left back when George McCartney was injured.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110422/dominant-united-held-at-home_2247585_2344644 |title=News | News | News | Dominant United Held At Home |publisher=Leeds United |access-date=July 24, 2012}} On May 9, Lichaj played the last game of his Leeds United loan spell in Leeds' 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110507/united-upset-the-champions_2247585_2354038 |title=News | News | News | United Upset The Champions |publisher=Leeds United |access-date=July 24, 2012}} Leeds announced on their official website that Lichaj would be returning to his parent club Aston Villa at the end of his loan spell.{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110509/loan-men-say-farewell_2247585_2356329 |title=News | News | News | LOAN MEN SAY FAREWELL |publisher=Leeds United |access-date=July 24, 2012}} After his loan expired, Lichaj said he wanted to rejoin Leeds the following season to help them earn promotion to the Premier League.{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6937268,00.html|title=Lichaj open to Leeds return | work=Sky Sports}}

After impressing during his loan spell, in July 2011 Leeds manager Simon Grayson said he was interested in re-signing Lichaj on loan as long as new Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish did not plan to use Lichaj in his first team.{{cite news| url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_7023180,00.html|title=Grayson drops Lichaj hint | work=Sky Sports}}{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_grayson_in_lichaj_talks_1_3565219 |title=Leeds United: Grayson in Lichaj talks – Latest Whites News |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912005810/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_grayson_in_lichaj_talks_1_3565219 |archive-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead }} Lichaj scored his first goal for Aston Villa in their 2–0 win over Hereford United in the League Cup on August 23, 2011.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14539134.stm|title=Aston Villa 2 – 0 Hereford|publisher=BBC|date=August 23, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2011}} On March 31, 2012, having already assisted Villa's first goal by throwing the ball long for James Collins to score from a header, Lichaj scored his first Premier League goal in a 4–2 defeat at home to Chelsea.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17497274 |title=Aston Villa 2–4 Chelsea|publisher=BBC|date=March 31, 2012 |access-date=October 21, 2015}} After the 2012–13 Premier League season, Aston Villa decided not to renew Lichaj's contract, releasing him on a free transfer.

Lichaj signed a two-year contract with Championship club Nottingham Forest on June 19, 2013.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22954451 |title=Eric Lichaj: Nottingham Forest sign ex-Aston Villa defender |publisher=BBC Sport |date=June 19, 2013 |access-date=August 5, 2013}} He made his debut in a 1–0 win against Huddersfield Town on the opening day of the season.{{cite news |title=Nottingham Forest 1–0 Huddersfield |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23474913 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=August 3, 2013 |access-date=August 5, 2013}} In December 2014, he extended his deal until the summer of 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30631679 |title=Eric Lichaj: Nottingham Forest defender extends deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=December 30, 2014 |access-date=July 24, 2015}} On October 20, 2015, Lichaj scored his first Nottingham Forest goal in a 1–1 draw with Burnley at the City Ground.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34512234 |title=Nottingham Forest 1–1 Burnley |publisher=BBC Sport |date=October 20, 2015 |access-date=October 20, 2015}} Lichaj captained Forest for the first time on September 27, 2016, for a home game against Fulham and scored his second goal for the club in his next home game, opening the scoring in a 3–1 win over Birmingham City.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Following the sale of Henri Lansbury in January 2017 and the continued absence of regular captains such as Chris Cohen and Matt Mills, Lichaj continued to captain the side. He told local newspaper Nottingham Post he took "great pride" in the captaincy and that he had retained the armband from his first match as captain.{{cite web |title=Eric Lichaj – skippering Nottingham Forest makes me want to keep improving |url=http://www.nottinghampost.com/eric-lichaj-skippering-nottingham-forest-makes-me-want-to-keep-improving/story-30141963-detail/story.html |publisher=Nottingham Post |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216201411/http://www.nottinghampost.com/eric-lichaj-skippering-nottingham-forest-makes-me-want-to-keep-improving/story-30141963-detail/story.html |archive-date=February 16, 2017 |url-status=dead }} At the end of the 2016–17 season, the club's fans named Lichaj Forest's Player of the Year, receiving over 40% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Lichaj crowned Player of the Season |url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/nottingham-forest-eric-lichaj-player-of-the-season-award-3712232.aspx |publisher=Nottingham Forest Official Site |date=May 10, 2017}}

In the third round of the 2017–18 FA Cup, Lichaj scored two goals in a 4–2 win over Arsenal, knocking the cup holders out of the competition. After the match, Lichaj stated his wife had promised to give him a dog if he scored a hat-trick in 2018.{{cite news |date=January 7, 2018 |title=Nottingham Forest's Eric Lichaj was one goal away from getting a dog |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42598465 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=January 7, 2018}}

On June 22, 2018, Lichaj signed a two-year deal with Hull City for an undisclosed fee.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44575995|title=Eric Lichaj: Hull City sign USA defender from Nottingham Forest|date=June 22, 2018|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|access-date=June 22, 2018}}

He made his debut in the first match of the 2018–19 season on August 6, 2018, at home to Aston Villa in a 1–3 defeat.{{cite news

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45001925

| title = Hull City v Aston Villa

| date = August 6, 2018

| work = BBC Sport

| publisher = BBC

| access-date = August 6, 2018}} He was released by the team in 2020. {{cite web|last=Clapson|first=Sarah|date=June 17, 2020|title=Eric Lichaj leaves Hull - and some Forest fans want him back|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/former-nottingham-forest-favourite-leaves-4234212|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=nottinghampost}}

Lichaj has been involved with various U.S. youth teams. He helped the U.S. qualify for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship and was named in the United States U-20 squad for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, although he missed out due to injury. He was called into the senior team as a "guest" for the camp preceding two World Cup qualifiers in June 2009.{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Goff |title=USA Roster Announced |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/usa_roster_announced_6.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910213707/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/05/usa_roster_announced_6.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 24, 2009 |access-date=January 4, 2010}} Lichaj received his first call-up to the United States senior team in October 2010 and was included in the squad for the friendlies against Poland and Colombia.{{cite web |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2171007,00.html |title=Lichaj earns first US senior call-up for friendly double header |publisher=Aston Villa F.C. |date=October 1, 2010 |access-date=October 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002031608/https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10265~2171007%2C00.html |archive-date=October 2, 2010 }} Lichaj collected his first cap on October 12, 2010, in the friendly against Colombia.{{cite news |publisher=United States Soccer Federation |date=October 13, 2010 |access-date=October 13, 2010 |url=http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/10/US-and-Colombia-Play-to-Scoreless-Draw-at-PPL-Park-in-Chester-Pa.aspx |title=U.S. Men's National Team Finishes October Camp with a Scoreless Draw Against Colombia at PPL Park |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015020426/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2010/10/US-and-Colombia-Play-to-Scoreless-Draw-at-PPL-Park-in-Chester-Pa.aspx |archive-date=October 15, 2010 }} On November 17, 2010, Lichaj gained his second cap when he started for the U.S. against South Africa. On March 21, 2011, Lichaj received a call-up to the U.S. national side for the games against Argentina and Paraguay.{{cite web |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110321/two-more-set-for-international-duty_2247585_2320791 |title=News | News | News | Two More Set For International Duty |publisher=Leeds United |access-date=July 24, 2012 |archive-date=March 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323115220/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110321/two-more-set-for-international-duty_2247585_2320791 |url-status=dead }} He was named in the U.S. 2011 Gold Cup squad; after sitting on the bench for the first two Gold Cup matches, Lichaj played all 90 minutes of the last four, including the 4–2 loss in the final against Mexico.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

In 2013, Lichaj returned to international duty after a two-year absence, making two substitute appearances for the U.S. against Scotland and Austria in November.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24862652|title=Scotland 0 USA 0|work=BBC Sport |access-date=January 7, 2014}} In May 2016, Lichaj was again recalled by the U.S., as part of the preliminary Copa América Centenario roster,{{cite web|url=http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/05/01/22/03/160501-mnt-copa-america-centenario-usa-preliminary-40-man-roster|title=KLINSMANN SUBMITS 40-PLAYER PRELIMINARY ROSTER FOR 2016 COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO|publisher=USSoccer.com|access-date=May 16, 2016}} and for a friendly match against Puerto Rico, in which he appeared as a substitute.{{cite magazine |last1=Creditor |first1=Avi |title=Green, Hyndman among Klinsmann's USMNT extras vs. Puerto Rico |url=https://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2016/05/16/usa-puerto-rico-roster-friendly-usmnt-copa-america-klinsmann |access-date=May 18, 2016 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 16, 2016}}

During a 2017 Gold Cup quarterfinal match against El Salvador on July 19, 2017, Lichaj scored his first international goal to help the United States win 2–0.{{cite news |last=Carlisle |first=Jeff |date=July 19, 2017 |title=U.S. beats El Salvador 2-0 and advances to Gold Cup semifinal vs. Costa Rica |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the-match/60/post/3161015/united-states-does-enough-to-beat-el-salvador-and-reach-gold-cup-semifinal?src=com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=January 7, 2018}}

{{updated|March 31, 2022}}

{{notelist}}

{{updated|September 11, 2018}}

:Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first.{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/40307/Eric_Lichaj.html|title=Lichaj, Eric|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=July 20, 2017}}

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017{{cite web |title=E. Lichaj |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/eric-lichaj/90118/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=January 9, 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Eric Lichaj}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091005010952/https://www.avfc.co.uk/page/PlayerProfiles/0%2C%2C10265~46651%2C00.html Profile] at Aston Villa F.C. website
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{{Nottingham Forest F.C. Player of the Year}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lichaj, Eric}}

Category:1988 births

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