Clint Mathis
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Clint Mathis (born November 25, 1976 in Conyers, Georgia) is a soccer forward/midfielder who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer after making his name with the MetroStars.
Mathis played college soccer at the University of South Carolina and was drafted sixth overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of the 1998 MLS College Draft. He earned his first cap for the US national team on November 6, 1998, against Australia. After two and a half years with Los Angeles, Mathis was awarded to the MetroStars in the dispersal draft after the Galaxy signed Mexican forward Luis Hernandez. Clint immediately took his game to a new level, flashing an "I ♥ NY" shirt after scoring goals, and breaking the MLS record by scoring five goals in a game against the Dallas Burn on August 26, 2000. He finished second in the league in scoring with 16 goals and 14 assists and was named to the MLS Best XI.
2001 saw Mathis start a season on a tear, scoring seven goals in his first six games, including the league's eventual Goal of the Year on an amazing half-field run against Dallas. He was also a key contributor for the United States national team in the early stages of World Cup qualifying, scoring the game-winning goal against Honduras and setting up Josh Wolff's game-winning goal against Costa Rica. Unfortunately, in June he tore his ACL, which ended his year.
In 2002, Clint became the first male soccer player in eight years to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated in its World Cup preview issue. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Mathis shaved his hair into a mohawk and scored an outstanding goal in the United States' 1-1 draw with South Korea. He was criticized by head coach Bruce Arena before and during the tournament for his fitness. He never recovered his pre-injury form and scored only 13 goals in his remaining two seasons with the MetroStars.
In 2004, Mathis left the MetroStars to sign with Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga. He finished his Metro career with 33 goals in league play and 39 in all competitions, both marks second-best in team history to Giovanni Savarese.
Mathis played well in his first season in Germany, scoring four goals, but his second Bundesliga season was not as successful. After entering a game as a very late subsitute and immediately scoring, Mathis ran to the sideline and tapped his watch at the new Hannover coach, Ewald Lienen. The gesture earned Clint a permanent move to the doghouse and, unable to break into the first team again, he worked out a transfer back to MLS, joining expansion club Real Salt Lake. Mathis said he returned to fulfill a promise made to RSL head coach John Ellinger. His only season in Utah was a major disappointment, as Mathis only scored three goals (all three were named MLS Goal of the Week). In December 2005, he was traded to Colorado in exchange for Jeff Cunningham.
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