Brandon McDonald (born January 16, 1986 in

Glendale, Arizona Glendale () is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, located approximately northwest of Downtown Phoenix. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 248,325. History In the la ...

) is an Guamanian-American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

player.

Club career

Amateur and college

McDonald was an NSCAA High School All-American while playing for

Cactus High School Cactus High School is public secondary school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States, part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1977. It is the district's smallest high school, with approximately 1,3 ...

and participated in the annual High School All-America game. In addition, he was in the USA National under-17 pool. Before moving to the

University of San Francisco The University of San Francisco (USF) is a private Jesuit university in San Francisco, California. The university's main campus is located on a setting between the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park. The main campus is nicknamed "The Hil ...

in 2004 McDonald played for the Sereno Golden Eagles youth club with

Michael Gavin Michael Gavin (born March 30, 1986 in Scottsdale, Arizona) is an American soccer player, currently without a team. Career Youth, College and Amateur Gavin attended Horizon High School (Scottsdale, Arizona), Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Ar ...

Rob Valentino Rob Valentino (born December 21, 1985) is a former American association football, soccer player who is an assistant coach at Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC. Career College and Amateur Valentino grew up in Danville, California, an ...

and current teammate

Robbie Findley Robert Findley (born August 4, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He was capped 11 times by the United States national team, having made his international debut in 2007. Findley played college soc ...

. McDonald played over 50 games for the Dons, finishing second on the team in scoring in his freshman year. He also shared the Stephen Negoesco Award for achievement by an underclassmen in 2004. During his college years McDonald also played with both the San Francisco Seals and the

San Jose Frogs San Jose Frogs was an American soccer team based in San Jose, California, United States. Founded in 2005, the team played in the USL Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise ...

of the

USL Premier Development League USL League Two (USL2), formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), is a semi-professional developmental soccer league sponsored by United Soccer Leagues in the United States and Canada, forming part of the United States soccer league syste ...

Professional club career

Los Angeles Galaxy

McDonald was the 46th overall pick in the

2008 MLS SuperDraft The 2008 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 18, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the ninth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was made by the Kansas City Wizards, after acquiring the selection from the expansion San ...

, selected by the

Los Angeles Galaxy LA Galaxy, also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy, are an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as a member of the Western Conference. The club began play ...

, and made his MLS debut as a substitute in Galaxy's first match of the 2008 season against

Colorado Rapids The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver metropolitan area. The Rapids compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Founded in 1995, as part of the Anschutz Corporation, la ...

on March 29, 2008. He scored his first MLS goal on October 12, 2008, a 35-yard strike, also against Colorado. The then-rookie shared a locker room with

David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham (; born 2 May 1975) is an English former professional footballer, the current president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF and co-owner of Salford City. Known for his range of passing, crossing ability and bending fr ...

and

Landon Donovan Landon Timothy Donovan (born March 4, 1982) is an American former professional soccer player. Donovan is also the co-founder and vice-president of soccer operations for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC, and serves as strategic advisor fo ...

while taking instruction from Bruce Arena.

San Jose Earthquakes

After a season in Carson, McDonald moved to San Jose, where the Earthquakes finally gave him the chance to play on a regular basis. McDonald made the most of the opportunity, starting 28 matches in 2010 as the Northern California side advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite the team's success, improved depth along San Jose's back line made playing time difficult to come by in 2011 and - in need of cap space - the 'Quakes began looking to make a deal involving the talented back. He was waived by the Galaxy in February 2009 and signed with the

San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional soccer team based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete as a member club of the Western Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS). Originally as the San Jose Clash, the franchise ...

on March 20, 2009.

D.C. United

On June 27, 2011, McDonald was traded to

D.C. United D.C. United is a professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competes in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer, the top tier of American soccer. Domestically, the club has won four MLS Cups (league championships), four Supp ...

from San Jose in exchange for allocation money. He signed a contract extension with D.C. on August 23, 2011. Terms of the new contract were undisclosed.

Real Salt Lake

McDonald was traded to

Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake, often shortened to RSL, is an American professional soccer franchise based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes as a member club of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Western Conference. RSL began play in 20 ...

on July 17, 2013 in exchange for a third-round

2014 MLS SuperDraft The 2014 MLS SuperDraft was the fifteenth MLS SuperDraft, SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. The first two rounds of the four round draft took place on January 16, 2014, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Convention Center ...

pick and a conditional pick in the

2015 MLS SuperDraft The 2015 MLS SuperDraft was the sixteenth SuperDraft conducted by Major League Soccer. The SuperDraft is held each year in conjunction with the annual National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention. The 2015 convention was held Januar ...

. He started three games for the team before being included in RSL's re-entry draft list but was not picked up in the draft.

Ljungskile SK

In 2014, McDonald signed for

Ljungskile SK Ljungskile SK is a Swedish football club located in Ljungskile, a town within Uddevalla Municipality. They currently play in the Swedish third tier, Division 1. History Ljungskile SK, formed in 1926, is famous for their promotions between 19 ...

Chainat Hornbill

In July 2015, he joined

Chainat Hornbill Chainat Hornbill Football Club ( Thai สโมสรฟุตบอลชัยนาท ฮอร์นบิล) is a Thai professional association football club based in Chai Nat province. The club plays in Thai League 2. History Foundation ...

for the second half of the 2015 Thai Premier League season. Before moving to Rovers FC (Guam) to play for them a season in 2016.

Penang FA

In June 2017, McDonald signed for

Penang FA Penang Football Club (or simply known as Penang FC) is a Malaysian professional football club based in George Town, Penang, that competes in the Malaysia Super League. Unofficially founded in 1920, officially as Football Association of Penang ...

, a club in the top division of Malaysian football, the

Malaysia Super League The Malaysia Super League ( ms, Liga Super Malaysia) is the men's top professional football division of the Malaysian football league system. Administered by the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP), now known as the Malays ...

. He made his debut against Four time MSL Champions,

Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C. Johor Darul Ta'zim Football Club or simply JDT is a professional football club based in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. The club was founded in 1972 as PKENJ FC and currently competes in the top division of Malaysian football, the Malaysia Supe ...

Hanoi FC

Early in the Vietnamese V.League 1 2019 season, McDonald signed for

Hanoi FC Hanoi Football Club () is a Vietnamese professional football club based in Hanoi, Vietnam that competes in the V.League 1. The club currently plays in the V.League 1. Hanoi FC was founded in 2006 as T&T Hanoi Football Club, shortened as Hanoi ...

International career

On December 22, 2009, McDonald received his first call up to train with the senior US national team. In July 2014 McDonald was initially called up for the Guam National Team EAFF Cup training camp but due to schedule conflicts he was unable to attend. McDonald has Guam roots on his father's side.

International goals

:Score and Result lists Guam's goals first

Personal life

His sister

Jessica McDonald Jessica Marie McDonald (born February 28, 1988) is an American professional soccer player for Racing Louisville FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the highest division of women's professional soccer in the United States, and the ...

is also a professional soccer player.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McDonald, Brandon 1986 births Living people American soccer players American expatriate soccer players Guamanian footballers Guam international footballers San Francisco Dons men's soccer players San Francisco Seals (soccer) players San Jose Frogs players LA Galaxy players San Jose Earthquakes players D.C. United players Real Salt Lake players Ljungskile SK players Superettan players Expatriate footballers in Sweden Soccer players from Arizona Sportspeople from Glendale, Arizona Major League Soccer players USL League Two players LA Galaxy draft picks Expatriate footballers in Thailand Brandon McDonald Brandon McDonald Association football defenders