Graham Zusi

Early life and college

Born in Longwood, Zusi, alongside his siblings, was first coached by his father, David. He played high school soccer at Lake Brantley High School.

Zusi played college soccer for the Maryland Terrapins of the University of Maryland, College Park. During his college career with the Terrapins, Zusi played in 89 games, recording 28 goals and 20 assists, and helped Maryland win the National Championship in 2005 and 2008, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2008 National Semi-Final and Championship Games. He graduated with a degree in criminology.

Club career

During his college years Zusi also played with Central Florida Kraze in the USL Premier Development League.

Sporting Kansas City

Zusi was drafted in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards. He made his professional debut on March 21, 2009, in Kansas City's first game of the 2009 MLS season against Toronto FC.

Zusi enjoyed a breakout season in 2011 helping the renamed Sporting Kansas City franchise to an Eastern Conference championship and earning a call-up to the U.S. national team. His efforts were rewarded by Sporting with a new four-year contract announced on February 16, 2012. In the 2012 season he led the league in assists with 15.

During the 2012–13 offseason, Zusi trialed with English Premier League side West Ham United.

Zusi returned to Sporting Kansas City and became a converted right-back, earning MLS All Star selections in 2016, 2017, and 2018, while helping guide Sporting Kansas City to the 2017 U.S. Open Cup title.

Zusi re-signed with the club for the 2022 season.

Zusi had his contract option declined by the club on December 1, 2023.

International career

On January 21, 2012, Zusi made his debut for the United States in a 1–0 win over Venezuela in a friendly match. He scored his first international goal on January 25, 2012, in the ninth minute against Panama in a 1–0 victory. Zusi was named to the national team's Hexagonal roster for the February 6, 2013 match against Honduras; he entered the game as a second-half substitute.

On October 15, 2013, Zusi scored a stoppage-time equalizer against Panama in a World Cup qualifier. Though the United States had already qualified, Zusi's goal meant that Mexico would advance to the next round at Panama's expense. As a result, a group of Mexico fans later presented Zusi with a framed photo and plaque with the words San Zusi ("Saint Zusi").

On June 16, 2014, in the United States' first game in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Zusi provided the assist from a corner kick for John Brooks' game-winning goal in the 2–1 victory against Ghana. On June 22, 2014, in the United States' second game in the World Cup, Zusi provided the assist for Clint Dempsey's goal in the 2–2 draw against Portugal.

On March 29, 2016, going two years without scoring for the United States, Zusi scored the fourth goal against Guatemala in their campaign to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Later that year, Zusi scored a late goal for the United States to put them up 4–0 against Costa Rica during the Copa América Centenario. His goal ensured that the 4–0 win over Costa Rica was the largest against Costa Rica in history for the national team.

Following the failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Bruce Arena's departure, Zusi was not called into the team by Dave Sarachan and Gregg Berhalter.

Career statistics

Club

| |- |3 |October 15, 2013 |Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City, Panama | |- |4 |March 29, 2016 |MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, United States |

| |Copa América Centenario |}

Honors

Maryland Terrapins

• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship: 2005, 2008

Sporting Kansas City

• MLS Cup: 2013
• U.S. Open Cup: 2012, 2015, 2017
• Eastern Conference (regular season): 2011, 2012
• Eastern Conference (playoffs): 2013
• Western Conference (regular season): 2018, 2020

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017

Individual

• MLS Breakout Player of the Year: 2011
• MLS Best XI: 2012, 2013
• MLS All-Star (7): 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Sporting Kansas City Most Valuable Player: 2012, 2013
• MLS top assist provider: 2012
• CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2017

Notes

References

References

1. "2013 Gold Cup official roster".
2. "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Graham Zusi". Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
3. "Graham Zusi". Sporting Kansas City.
4. (June 4, 2014). "Graham Zusi's journey to World Cup began in Central Florida". [[Orlando Sentinel]].
5. Nancy Hass. (April 16, 2013). "Hey Zeus! Graham Zusi & the pressure of replacing US Soccer's best-ever player | OVERLAP Magazine". MLSsoccer.com.
6. "2005 Central Florida Kraze stats". Uslsoccer.com.
7. link. (March 25, 2009)
8. Palmer, Tod. "Sporting signs Zusi to extension". KansasCity.com.
9. Bailey, Graeme. "West Ham United have taken American international Graham Zusi on trial". [[Sky Sports]].
10. Kovzan, Sam. (January 13, 2022). "Sporting KC re-signs seven-time MLS All-Star Graham Zusi".
11. Kovzan, Sam. (December 1, 2023). "Sporting KC announces roster moves ahead of 2024 season".
12. Edwards, Andy. ""Saint" Graham Zusi presented with gifts from fans, radio station for sending Mexico to World Cup playoff". MLSSoccer.com.
13. (June 22, 2014). "'We could taste the second round,' Sporting KC's Matt Besler says of America's World Cup draw with Portugal". [[The Kansas City Star]].
14. (March 29, 2016). "US back on track in qualifying with 4-0 win over Guatemala". [[USA Today]].
15. (June 7, 2016). "US bounces back with 4-0 victory over Costa Rica". [[USA Today]].
16. "Graham Zusi". Sporting Kansas City.
17. (May 23, 2014). "Graham Zusi » Club matches".
18. (July 26, 2017). "U.S. men's national team defeats Jamaica to win CONCACAF Gold Cup". USA Today.
19. Andrew Wiebe. (December 20, 2011). "Zusi named MLS Breakout Player of the Year | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com.
20. "2019 MLS All-Star Roster".
21. (October 24, 2012). "Sporting KC announces 2012 team awards | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com.
22. (October 19, 2013). "Sporting KC announces 2013 team awards | Sporting Kansas City". Sportingkc.com.
23. "Major League Soccer Statistics".
24. "TSG reveals Gold Cup Best XI".