Taylor Graham

Graham attended Rio Americano High School and played five years of college soccer at Stanford University, registering as a walk-on his freshman year of 1998, and only appearing in two games in 1999. After appearing in 18 games his sophomore season, Graham started every possible game his final two, winning first team All-Pac-10 his senior year, as he led the Cardinal to an appearance in the NCAA College Cup.

After graduating from Stanford, Graham was drafted 33rd overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. Graham was signed to a developmental contract, making two appearances and playing a total of ten minutes. In his second season Graham was given significantly more playing time, playing as both a right back and central defender. After a season in the USL First Division when he played every minute for the Seattle Sounders, led his team to the title, and was named USL Defender of the Year, Graham was acquired by the MetroStars, now New York Red Bulls. He was released midway through the 2007 season and signed with his former club Seattle Sounders. He then signed with Seattle Sounders FC, a continuation of the Sounders in Major League Soccer. On May 26, 2010, he had his first appearance of the 2010 season in a friendly against Boca Juniors of Argentina, playing the full 90 minutes and putting up a solid performance.

Graham announced his retirement on December 2, 2011, after he was dropped from the roster by the Seattle Sounders.{{cite web| url = http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2011/12-December/Graham-Retires.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111205004810/http://www.soundersfc.com/News/Articles/2011/12-December/Graham-Retires.aspx| archive-date = 2011-12-05| title = Defender Taylor Graham Retires - Seattle Sounders Football Club}}

Graham represented Puerto Rico in three international friendlies (including the team's first win in 14 years) during early 2008. The national team coach Colin Clarke had misunderstood the requirements to play for Puerto Rican national side following a change to the eligibility criteria.{{cite web|title=Taylor Graham Interview|url=http://www.prostamerika.com/features/taylor-graham-interview|publisher=prostamerika.com|accessdate=20 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124130255/http://www.prostamerika.com/features/taylor-graham-interview|archive-date=24 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

Previously, all U.S. citizens were eligible for Puerto Rico national teams, but now the player pool is restricted to players who have lived on the island for at least five years, meaning that Graham is no longer eligible for the Puerto Rico national team per federation rules.{{cite web |url=http://carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=628&Itemid=271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708122426/http://carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=628&Itemid=271 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-08 |title=Carolina RailHawks profile |publisher=Carolinarailhawks.com |accessdate=2010-06-30 }}

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (1): 2004
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (1): 2004

• USL First Division Championship (2): 2005, 2007
• USL First Division Commissioner's Cup (1): 2007

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (3): 2009, 2010, 2011

Graham appeared on The Price Is Right on June 24, 2009. In the showcase he spoke on one of the prizes which was a vacation to Seattle, to go to any 2 home games of Seattle Sounders and watch them play.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_price_is_right/video/video.php?cid=559221502&pid=INgCctBI0_QQBEnUX432GT5a5iEBdtyT&play=true&cc=0 |title=The Price Is Right Video |publisher=CBS.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-30}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

After retiring as a player, Taylor Graham became Director of Business Operations for his former club, Seattle Sounders FC.{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/soundersfcblog/2017848882_furlough_day_tuesday_links_1.html |title=Furlough day (Tuesday links) |publisher=The Seattle Times |last=Mayers |first=Joshua |date=27 Mar 2012 |accessdate=17 Sep 2013}}

{{reflist}}

• {{MLS player|taylor-graham}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090318060958/http://www.soundersfc.com/Team/Players/Taylor-Graham.aspx Seattle Sounders bio]
• {{NFT player|25891}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, Taylor}}

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's soccer players

Category:Sporting Kansas City players

Category:Seattle Sounders (1994–2008) players

Category:New York Red Bulls players

Category:Seattle Sounders FC players

Category:Stanford Cardinal men's soccer players

Category:USL First Division players

Category:Major League Soccer players

Category:Puerto Rico men's international footballers

Category:Sportspeople from Fair Oaks, California

Category:Soccer players from Sacramento County, California

Category:Sporting Kansas City draft picks

Category:Major League Soccer broadcasters

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Puerto Rican men's footballers

Category:Seattle Sounders FC non-playing staff