Heath Pearce

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Heath Pearce

| image = Heath Pearce NY.JPG

| full_name = Heath Gregory Pearce

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|8|13}}

| birth_place = Modesto, California, United States

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}

| position = Center back, full back

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2001

| youthclubs1 = IMG Soccer Academy

| collegeyears1 = 2002–2004

| college1 = Portland Pilots

| years1 = 2005–2007

| clubs1 = FC Nordsjælland

| caps1 = 75

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2007–2009

| clubs2 = Hansa Rostock

| caps2 = 31

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2009–2010

| clubs3 = FC Dallas

| caps3 = 34

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2011–2012

| clubs4 = Chivas USA

| caps4 = 40

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2012–2013

| clubs5 = New York Red Bulls

| caps5 = 32

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2014

| clubs6 = Montreal Impact

| caps6 = 23

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2015

| clubs7 = IFK Göteborg

| caps7 = 0

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 235

| totalgoals = 4

| nationalyears1 = 2000–2001

| nationalteam1 = United States U17

| nationalcaps1 = 4

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2003

| nationalteam2 = United States U18

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2003

| nationalteam3 = United States U20

| nationalcaps3 = 3

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2005–2012

| nationalteam4 = United States

| nationalcaps4 = 35

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| medaltemplates =

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

}}

Heath Pearce (born August 13, 1984) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender for teams in Europe and North America. He represented his national team on 35 occasions. Pearce is the host of "The Mixer," "KPR" (Kick Power Rankings) and "WTF" (Walk Talk Football), all programs on the YouTube channel COPA90 US (formerly known as KICKTV).{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEPKlFeUjRY_1mpZP8GnkVg|title=COPA90 US|website=YouTube|access-date=April 23, 2016}}

Club career

=College and amateur=

Pearce played his high school soccer at Peter Johansen High School in Modesto, California{{Cite web |date=2020-10-19 |title=Heath Pearce - Eleven New York Athletic Wear & Apparel |url=https://elevennewyork.com/journal/heath-pearce/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |language=en-US}} before playing his college soccer at the University of Portland, where he was an All-West Coast Conference honorable mention selection. In his final year at Portland, he started all 20 games, scoring two goals and racking up five assists.

During his college years he also played for the Bradenton Academics in the USL Premier Development League.{{cite web |author=Demosphere International, Inc. |url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2003/roster/22301.html |title=United Soccer Leagues (USL) |publisher=Uslsoccer.com |access-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610084317/http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2003/roster/22301.html |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}

=FC Nordsjælland=

Pearce signed with FC Nordsjælland and began his professional career in the 2004–05 Danish Superliga season. He made 75 league appearances and scored two goals for club in his two and a half seasons there.

=Hansa Rostock=

After stating that he would leave Nordsjælland after the 2007 season with a goal to be signed by a team in Germany, Scotland, or the Netherlands, Pearce signed a two-year contract with Hansa Rostock on July 16, 2007.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/rostock-holt-lense-und-pearce-367700/artikel | title = Rostock holt Lense und Pearce | trans-title = Rostock signs Lense and Pearce | language = de | website = Kicker | date = July 16, 2007 | access-date = January 6, 2016}} In January 2008, Pearce was briefly suspended for being late to return to the club from international duty,{{cite web | url = http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/training-verpasst-3411574.bild.html | title = Strafe für "geschwänztes" Training? | trans-title = Fine for skipped training? | language = de | website = bild.de | date = January 5, 2008 | access-date = January 6, 2016}}{{cite web | url = http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/rausschmiss-usa-3499408.bild.html | title = Pagelsdorf schmeißt Pearce raus | trans-title = Pagelsdorf kicks Pearce out | language = de | website = bild.de | date = January 16, 2008 | access-date = January 6, 2016}} but was eventually allowed back on the team. On April 13, 2009, Pearce was permanently suspended from Hansa Rostock's first team and demoted to the reserve squad.{{cite web | url = http://www.fc-hansa.de/news/pearce-und-kronholm-in-zweite-mannschaft-zurueckgestuft.html | title = Pearce und Kronholm in zweite Mannschaft zurückgestuft | trans-title = Pearce and Kronholm demoted to second team | language = de | website = Hansa Rostock | date = April 13, 2009 | access-date = January 6, 2016}} At the end of the season, Pearce was released from his contract.

=FC Dallas=

On September 2, 2009, Pearce reportedly signed a two-year contract with Turkish team Bursaspor,{{cite magazine |title=U.S.' Pearce joins Turkish club Bursaspor |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/09/02/heath.pearce/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906224603/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/09/02/heath.pearce/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 2, 2009 |access-date =September 2, 2009}}{{cite web |title=ABD'li sol bek Pearce Bursaspor'da |url=http://www.cnnturk.com/2009/spor/futbol/09/02/abdli.sol.bek.pearce.bursasporda/541785.0/ |publisher=CNN Türk |language=tr |date=September 2, 2009|access-date=September 2, 2009}} but the next day it had emerged that a deal was not reached until after the transfer window had closed.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazetefutbol.de/news/Tuerkischer-Fussball/1082106,Pearce-kommt-doch-nicht-zu-Bursaspor.htm |title=Pearce kommt doch nicht zu Bursaspor |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905055336/http://www.gazetefutbol.de/news/Tuerkischer-Fussball/1082106,Pearce-kommt-doch-nicht-zu-Bursaspor.htm |archive-date=September 5, 2009 }} After his failed move to Turkey, he signed with Major League Soccer side FC Dallas on September 11, 2009.{{cite web|url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090911&content_id=6908304&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp |title=Latest News |publisher=Web.mlsnet.com |date=September 23, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923161237/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090911&content_id=6908304&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp |archive-date=September 23, 2009 }} In his first full season in Dallas Pearce helped the club to the 2010 MLS Cup final.

=Chivas USA=

On February 15, 2011, after two seasons with Dallas, Pearce was traded to Chivas USA in return for allocation money.{{cite web |url=http://www.cdchivasusa.com/news/2011/02/chivas-usa-acquires-united-states-national-team-defender-heath-pearce |title=Chivas USA Acquires United States National Team Defender Heath Pearce |publisher=Cdchivasusa.com |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008024523/http://www.cdchivasusa.com/news/2011/02/chivas-usa-acquires-united-states-national-team-defender-heath-pearce |archive-date=October 8, 2011 |df=mdy-all }} Pearce was traded to New York Red Bulls on May 17, 2012, with allocation money and future considerations in exchange for forward Juan Agudelo.{{cite web | url = http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/17/heath-pearce-is-just-what-new-york-needs/ | title = Heath Pearce is just what New York needs | publisher = prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com | date = May 17, 2012 | access-date = May 17, 2012 | first = Noah | last = Davis}} Pearce scored his first MLS goal on June 20 versus the Vancouver Whitecaps helping New York to earn a 1–1 draw with his late equalizer.

=New York Red Bulls=

Midway through the 2013 season, Pearce elected to have hip surgery that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. New York and Pearce mutually parted ways at the end of the 2013 MLS season.{{cite web | url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/27/new-york-red-bulls-part-ways-veteran-defender-heath-pearce | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131130111827/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/11/27/new-york-red-bulls-part-ways-veteran-defender-heath-pearce | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 30, 2013 | title = New York Red Bulls part ways with veteran defender Heath Pearce | publisher = mlssoccer.com | date = November 27, 2013 | access-date = November 27, 2013 }} He entered the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft but was not selected.

=Montreal Impact=

On March 6, 2014, Pearce signed with Montreal Impact.{{cite web | url = http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/news/2014/03/impact-adds-defender-heath-pearce-its-roster | title = Impact adds defender Heath Pearce to its roster | publisher = Montreal Impact | date = March 6, 2014 | access-date = December 12, 2014}} Pearce appeared in 29 matches in his lone season in Montreal. After one season in Montreal, in December 2014 Pearce was selected by Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft.

=IFK Göteborg=

On January 29, 2015, Pearce signed a five-month-long contract with Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg.{{cite web|url=http://www.ifkgoteborg.se/Nyheter/2015/Januari/Forsvarsspelare-klar-for-IFK/|title=Försvarsspelare klar för IFK|date=January 29, 2015|access-date=January 29, 2015|publisher=IFK Göteborg|language=sv|archive-date=January 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130024201/http://www.ifkgoteborg.se/Nyheter/2015/Januari/Forsvarsspelare-klar-for-IFK/|url-status=dead}}

International career

Pearce made his international debut in November 2005 against Scotland. Pearce was included by Bruce Arena in United States training camps and friendly matches prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup but did not make the team.

Under Bob Bradley, Pearce became a regular starter for the national team. With relatively little competition in the U.S. player pool at left back, Pearce played the most minutes of any American field player in 2008. But as his club situation deteriorated, Pearce has seen less time with national team. Though a member of the squad at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, he did not make an appearance in the tournament as Jonathan Bornstein and Carlos Bocanegra were the preferred choices. Pearce was a member of the second-tier U.S. team for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Lately he has not seen much action due to the return of Bornstein and also Bocanegra and Jonathan Spector both being versatile enough to play in that position.

Pearce was included on the 30-man preliminary roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but did not make the final 23 man squad.{{cite web| first = Brad | last = Townsend |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/052710dnspofcdshort.3feff814.html |title=FC Dallas' Heath Pearce left off U.S. World Cup roster | publisher = Dallasnews.com | date = May 26, 2010 |access-date = October 20, 2011}}

Personal life

Pearce has one younger adopted sister and two brothers. His sister Lindsay has starred in the TV series The Glee Project where she won a role on the Fox hit show Glee.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index?id=6996855|title='Glee' actress sister to Major League Soccer player|last = Hoppes | first = Lynn|publisher=ESPN|access-date=September 23, 2011}}

Pearce is an avid car and racing enthusiast. He has partnered with Matt Young as a co-owner in a professional sports car racing venture, Matt Young Motorsports with Heath Pearce.{{cite web | url = http://www.heathpearce.com/index.php?start=10 | title = Pro Soccer Star Heath Pearce & Matt Young Motorsports team up with Ranger Sports Racing for Barber | publisher = heathpearce.com | access-date = June 22, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130922180918/http://heathpearce.com/index.php?start=10 | archive-date = September 22, 2013 | url-status = dead }}

Pearce now works in the field of media and broadcast. He has replaced his former Chivas USA teammate Jimmy Conrad as host of the YouTube channel KICK, now known as COPA90 US. Since 2023, Pearce has been a match analyst for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{Updated|March 14, 2015}}{{cite web | url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/football/player.php?player=10880 | title=Heath Pearce | publisher=Elite Prospects | access-date=January 30, 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125538/http://www.eliteprospects.com/football/player.php?player=10880 | archive-date=April 2, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Portland Pilots \|2002 \| \|20	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	20	2
2003 \| \|20	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	20	1
2004 \| \|22	5	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	22	5
colspan="2"\|Total !62	8	0	0	0	0	62	8
Bradenton Academics \|2003 \| \|11	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	12	1
rowspan="4"\|FC Nordsjælland \|2004–05 \|Danish Superliga \|15	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	0
2005–06 \|Danish Superliga \|31	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	1
2006–07 \|Danish Superliga \|29	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	29	1
colspan="2"\|Total !75	2	0	0	0	0	75	2
rowspan="4"\|Hansa Rostock \|2007–08 \|Bundesliga \|19	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	21	0
2008–09 \|2. Bundesliga \|12	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	0
2009–10 \|2. Bundesliga \|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !31	0	3	0	0	0	34	0
rowspan="3"\|FC Dallas \|2009 \|Major League Soccer \|6	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	6	0
2010 \|Major League Soccer \|28	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	29	0
colspan="2"\|Total !34	0	1	0	0	0	35	0
rowspan="3"\|Chivas USA \|2011 \|Major League Soccer \|30	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	0
2012 \|Major League Soccer \|10	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	10	0
colspan="2"\|Total !40	0	1	0	0	0	41	0
rowspan="3"\|New York Red Bulls \|2012 \|Major League Soccer \|18	2	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	20	3
2013 \|Major League Soccer \|14	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	0
colspan="2"\|Total !32	2	4	1	0	0	36	3
Montreal Impact \|2014 \|Major League Soccer \|23	0	4	0	2	0	29	0
IFK Göteborg \|2015 \|Allsvenskan \|0	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	3	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !308	13	17	1	2	0	327	14

=International=

{{Updated|January 25, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/13264/Heath_Pearce.html|title=Heath Pearce|access-date=January 29, 2014|publisher=National Football Teams}}

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="8"\|United States \|2005	1	0
2006	4	0
2007	5	0
2008	11	0
2009	7	0
2010	5	0
2011	0	0
2012	2	0
colspan="2"\|Total	35	0

Honors

Portland Pilots

West Coast Conference Regular Season: 2002

FC Dallas

Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship: 2010

New York Red Bulls

Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield: 2013

Montreal Impact

Canadian Championship: 2014

IFK Göteborg

Svenska Cupen: 2014–15

References

External links

{{MLS player|heath-pearce}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100505234848/http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/MNT/P/Heath-Pearce.aspx U.S Soccer Player Bio]
{{Fussballdaten|pearceheath}}
[http://www.danskfodbold.com/spiller.php?ligaid=2001&spillerid=10723 Danish Superliga player statistics] at danskfodbold.com {{in lang|da}}
{{NFT player|13264}}
{{Elitefootball|10880}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125538/http://www.eliteprospects.com/football/player.php?player=10880 archive])

{{Navboxes

|title= United States squads

|bg= white

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|list1=

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Category:Living people

Category:1984 births

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:Major League Soccer All-Stars

Category:Sportspeople from Modesto, California

Category:Soccer players from California

Category:Portland Pilots men's soccer players

Category:IMG Academy Bradenton players

Category:American expatriate men's soccer players

Category:FC Nordsjælland players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark

Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Denmark

Category:FC Hansa Rostock players

Category:Bundesliga players

Category:2. Bundesliga players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:American expatriate men's soccer players in Germany

Category:FC Dallas players

Category:Chivas USA players

Category:New York Red Bulls players

Category:CF Montréal players

Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada

Category:IFK Göteborg players

Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Sweden

Category:United States men's international soccer players

Category:2007 Copa América players

Category:2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players

Category:2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup players

Category:USL League Two players

Category:United States men's youth international soccer players

Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Portland Pilots \|2002 \| \|20	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	20	2
2003 \| \|20	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	20	1
2004 \| \|22	5	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	22	5
colspan="2"\|Total !62	8	0	0	0	0	62	8
Bradenton Academics \|2003 \| \|11	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	12	1
rowspan="4"\|FC Nordsjælland \|2004–05 \|Danish Superliga \|15	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	0
2005–06 \|Danish Superliga \|31	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	1
2006–07 \|Danish Superliga \|29	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	29	1
colspan="2"\|Total !75	2	0	0	0	0	75	2
rowspan="4"\|Hansa Rostock \|2007–08 \|Bundesliga \|19	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	21	0
2008–09 \|2. Bundesliga \|12	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	0
2009–10 \|2. Bundesliga \|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
colspan="2"\|Total !31	0	3	0	0	0	34	0
rowspan="3"\|FC Dallas \|2009 \|Major League Soccer \|6	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	6	0
2010 \|Major League Soccer \|28	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	29	0
colspan="2"\|Total !34	0	1	0	0	0	35	0
rowspan="3"\|Chivas USA \|2011 \|Major League Soccer \|30	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	0
2012 \|Major League Soccer \|10	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	10	0
colspan="2"\|Total !40	0	1	0	0	0	41	0
rowspan="3"\|New York Red Bulls \|2012 \|Major League Soccer \|18	2	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	20	3
2013 \|Major League Soccer \|14	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	0
colspan="2"\|Total !32	2	4	1	0	0	36	3
Montreal Impact \|2014 \|Major League Soccer \|23	0	4	0	2	0	29	0
IFK Göteborg \|2015 \|Allsvenskan \|0	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	3	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !308	13	17	1	2	0	327	14