Erik Ustruck

Erik John Ustruck (born January 4, 1985 in St. Louis, Missouri) is former soccer player for the Guam national football team. He played for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division before his retirement from club soccer in 2013. Ustruck was Director of Soccer Operations for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer and General Manager for Orlando Pride of NWSL before departing professional soccer in 2021.[1]

Erik Ustruck
Personal information
Full name Erik John Ustruck
Date of birth (1985-01-04) January 4, 1985
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender, Midfielder
Youth career
2003–2006 Santa Clara Broncos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Houston Dynamo 2 (0)
2009 → Austin Aztex (loan) 5 (0)
2010 FC Tampa Bay 5 (0)
2011–2013 Orlando City 48 (2)
International career‡
2004 United States U20 2 (0)
2013–2014 Guam 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 17, 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 17, 2013

Career

College

Ustruck played four years at Santa Clara University, scoring eight goals during his collegiate career and fighting back from a knee injury during his junior year.[2] Ustruck finished as Freshman of the Year runner-up in the West Coast Conference while earning All-Conference honors following his Freshman and Senior years. He was noted for his versatility and work ethic.[3]

Professional

Ustruck was drafted by the Dynamo in the third round of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft – a draft that he watched online with his friends[4] – as the 39th supplemental pick overall. Though he played as both a forward and a midfielder in college, Ustruck appears likely to be converted to a right back or right-sided midfielder in MLS.[5]

Ustruck made his full professional debut for Dynamo on 10 July 2007, in a US Open Cup third-round game against Charleston Battery.[6]

He was sent on loan to Austin Aztex on June 16, 2009.[7]

After returning from his short loan spell, Ustruck made his MLS debut, coming on as a sub in Houston's 2–1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC on the road in Seattle.[8]

Ustruck was waived by Houston on March 24, 2010,[9] and signed a one-year contract with the FC Tampa Bay on April 5, 2010.[10]

After his contract was up for FC Tampa Bay, Ustruck signed a multi-year contract with USL Pro club Orlando City on March 18, 2011.[11]

International

He played several games with the Under-20 United States national team in 2004,[2] but never made an official FIFA or confederation appearance for the senior team, so he is not cap tied to any National federation. He was also selected into the Guam National team preliminary squad for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in February 2013. He made his debut for the Matao against Laos in November 2013 during the FIFA International friendly between the two nations.

Honours

Orlando City


Honorable Mention
  • Three time runner-up at Small Town Showdown Hot Dog eating contest.

References
  1. Culver, Jordan; USA, Pro Soccer (2019-01-07). "Orlando City SC promotes Erik Ustruck to Orlando Pride general manager". Pro Soccer USA. Retrieved 2019-01-07.
  2. "Erik Ustruck" Archived 2007-11-18 at the Wayback Machine, Santaclarabroncos.cstv.com, retrieved March 13, 2007.
  3. Bernhardt, Matt. "Erik Ustruck", MatchNight Central Scouting Database, retrieved March 13, 2007.
  4. Doss-Antoun, Joe. "Santa Clara Soccer's Ustruck Drafted In MLS" Archived 2007-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, USCHO.com, January 25, 2007, retrieved March 13, 2007.
  5. Carrick, Buzz. "MLS Combine 07 Report: Wrap Up" Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine, 3rddegree.com, January 10, 2007, retrieved March 13, 2007.
  6. http://houston.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080701&content_id=169804&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&team=t200%5B%5D
  7. http://blogs.chron.com/soccer/archives/2009/06/dynamo_loan_3_t.html
  8. "Depleted Dynamo fall in Seattle". mlsnet.com. 11 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 February 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  9. "Houston Dynamo Waive Wade Barrett and Erik Ustruck | World Soccer Reader". Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  10. "Tampa Bay Rowdies to showcase starters in preseason finale". Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
  11. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-03-19.
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