Home > Zach Thornton

Thonrton played college soccer at Loyola-Maryland (coincidentally, he was also a third-team All-American at lacrosse), and was drafted by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the 7th round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. With then-former US national keeper and local star Tony Meola entrenched in Metro nets, Zach played only six games during his first two seasons in MLS. In 1997, he played a few games on loan with the North Jersey Imperials of the USISL, whose starting goalie was future Metro and US national teamer Tim HowardTim Howard (born March 6, 1979, in North Brunswick, New Jersey) is a soccer goalkeeper, the first American to play for Manchester United's first team. Howard started his pro career immediately after high school, playing with the North Jersey Imperials of.

The Chicago FireThe Chicago Fire is Chicago, Illinois's Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. The Fire won the MLS Cup in 1998, their first season in the league. They also won the 1998, 2000, and 2003 editions of the US Open Cup. The Fire played at Soldier Field from 1998 took Thornton in the 1997 MLS Expansion DraftThe 1997 MLS Expansion Draft was held November 6, 1997. Two teams participated, the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion F. both expansion clubs planned for the 1998 season. Each team selected 12 players from a pool of players that each present Major League Socc, and his career took off. Beating out Mexican star Jorge CamposJorge Campos (born October 15, 1966 in Acapulco, Mexico) is one of the most notable Mexican soccer players in the 1990s, who although usually played as a goalkeeper was also a particularly good attacker, making him an especially interesting player. His tr for the starting job, Zach lead the expansion Fire to that year's MLS CupMLS Cup is the final game of the Major League Soccer post-season, officially recognized as the championship of the league. The trophy is called the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy, named after the founding chairman of MLS. The award for the regular season champ, and was named the league's Goalkeeper of the YearIn the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Goalkeeper of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. Here is a list of the past winners: 1996 Mark Dodd, Dallas Burn 1997 Brad Friedel, Columbus Crew 1998 Zach Thornton, Chicago Fire 19. He spent six years with the Fire, an automatic starter throughout his time there, and always at the top of MLS goalkeeping charts. In 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co, Thornton signed a six-month with Portuguese club Benfica. He didn't get a single first-team match with them, however, and re-signed with the Fire late in the MLS season. Thornton did not get any playing time, as his former backup Henry Ring had taken hold of the position in Thornton's absence.

Thornton's first cap with the US national team came against Jamaica on November 22, 1994. He hasn't been able to translate his success in MLS to the national level, collecting only 8 caps, mainly due to the United States's depth at the position.

Thornton is nicknamed The Beast for his imposing size.