Carlos Parra (born February 3, 1977) is a retired 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 who was the first player signed by

MLS Pro 40 Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young professional soccer talent in the United States. The program, sponsored by Adidas, offers professional-ready players in the U.S. ...

. He played professionally as a defender in

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

and the USL First Division.

Professional career

Club

Parra played for the Oakwood Soccer Club in Glastonbury, CT. In 1997, Parra graduated from Hamden Hall Country Day School where he was a two-time Parade Magazine All American soccer player. On March 1, 1997, Parra became the first player to sign with

MLS Project 40 Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...

. The league assigned him to the MetroStars. He began the 1998 season on loan to

in the

USISL A-League United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the ...

. On June 5, 1998, the MetroStars traded Parra to the Miami Fusion for Ramiro Corrales. On June 4, 1999 the Fusion sent Parra to the New England Revolution for Tony Kuhn and a second-round pick in the

2000 MLS SuperDraft The 2000 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held on February 6, 2000 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and consisted of six rounds. One of the most successful draft picks was goalkeeper Nick Rimando, a third round pick, who went on to hold the record ...

. The Revolution sent him on loan to MLS Pro 40 and the Connecticut Wolves during the 2000 season. On March 20, 2001, the Revolution traded Parra and

Imad Baba Imad Baba (born March 15, 1974) is a former American soccer midfielder. He spent seven years in Major League Soccer (MLS) with the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids. He was also a member of the American squads at the 1989 U-16 World Cham ...

to the Colorado Rapids for

Matt Okoh Matthew Nwabueze Okoh (born May 19, 1972) is a former U.S.-Nigerian soccer player and currently assistant coach of the DSU Hornets Women. His playing career spanned eight years and took him from the United States to Brazil, Germany and Portugal ...

and the Rapids second round draft pick in the

2002 MLS SuperDraft The 2002 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held on February 10, 2002 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. One month earlier, MLS had contracted two clubs: Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion. In conjunction with the contraction, the league conducted bot ...

. On March 26, the Rapids waived Parra. Parra then signed with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL A-League. On June 11, 2001, Parra moved to the

Atlanta Silverbacks The Atlanta Silverbacks FC were an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1998 as Atlanta Ruckus, the club played in many leagues over the years before folding after the 2015 season. The team played its home game ...

as part of a three-team trade. As part of the trade deal, the Silverbacks sent

Steve Armas Anibal “Steve” Armas (born March 2, 1977) is a retired American soccer midfielder who is a currently Associate Head Coach for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's soccer program. Armas previously spent one season in Major League Soccer and se ...

to the Minnesota Thunder and the Thunder sent

Stoian Mladenov Stoian Mladenov (first name more frequently transliterated as Stoyan) ( bg, Стоян Младенов) is a retired Bulgarian football (soccer) midfielder who played professionally in Europe and the United States. Career In 1993, Mladenov began ...

to the Rhinos. On February 10, 2003, Parra signed with the Minnesota Thunder. He played two games, then retired.MN Thunder sign Parra
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International

In 1997, Parra played two games for the United States men's national under-20 soccer team at the

1997 FIFA World Youth Championship The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, known as the 1997 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Youth Championship for sponsorship purposes, was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from 16 June to 5 July 1997 in Malaysia. It was th ...

. From 1998 to 2000, he also played nine times for the United States men's national under-23 soccer team.

External links

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parra, Carlos Living people 1977 births American sportspeople of Colombian descent American soccer players Atlanta Silverbacks players Connecticut Wolves players New York Red Bulls players Miami Fusion players New England Revolution players Minnesota Thunder players Rochester New York FC players Major League Soccer players A-League (1995–2004) players United States men's under-20 international soccer players United States men's under-23 international soccer players MLS Pro-40 players Association football defenders Hamden Hall Country Day School alumni