Adin Brown - Definition and Overview

Adin Brown (born May 27, 1978 in Pleasant Hills, California) is an American soccer goalkeeper, who currently plays for the Aalesunds of the Norwegian Premier League.

A highly-touted prospect and a starting goalkeeper for the United States in the run-up prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics, Brown played college soccer at the College of William and Mary. In 1999, he became only the third goalkeeper in NCAA history (Tony Meola and Brad Friedel were the other two) to be named NCAA First Team All-American twice. The Colorado Rapids then made Brown the third overall pick of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft.

Brown's pro career was not as solid as was expected. Hampered by injuries (he is a Christian Scientist and refuses many forms of medical treatment), it seems that whenever Adin begins to excel, he gets hurt and gets knocked down a notch. After sharing goalkeeping duties with David Kramer in his rookie season (an injury kept him from going to the Olympics), Brown was the principal of the deal that sent Carlos Valderrama from the Tampa Bay Mutiny to Colorado. After only half-a-season in Tampa, the Mutiny folded, leaving him exposed in the 2002 MLS Dispersal Draft. Surprisingly, Brown's high contract kept him from being selected, although he eventually signed with the New England Revolution a few days after the draft.

It was in New England that Brown had his best season in 2002; Brown won the starting job from Juergen Sommer midway through the year and led the Revolution to the brink of winning the MLS Cup. Call-ups (but no caps) to the senior national team and a solid 2003 followed, but so did more injuries. Claiming before the season that he was one of the best goalkeepers in MLS, Brown couldn't back it up in 2004, losing the starting job to Matt Reis. After the season and without a starting job, he signed with Aalesunds on a free transfer.

See also

• List of current MLS players