Michael Gavin

American soccer player (born 1986)

Michael Gavin

Gavin with the LA Galaxy in 2008

Personal information
Full name|  Michael Gavin
Date of birth|  (1986-03-30) March 30, 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth|  Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Height|  5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)|  Defender
Youth career
1997–2004|  Sereno SC Golden Eagles '86[1]
2000–2004|  Horizon High School
College career
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2004–2007|  Portland Pilots|  75|  (4)
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2006–2007|  Bradenton Academics|  26|  (1)
2008|  Los Angeles Galaxy|  2|  (0)
International career
2008|  United States U23|  0|  (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 April 2009

Michael Gavin (born March 30, 1986, in Scottsdale, Arizona) is a former American professional soccer player who featured for his teams as a left wing-back.

## Career

[edit]

### Youth Levels

[edit]

Gavin served as captain of the highly decorated the '86 Sereno Golden Eagles,[2] which featured future Major League Soccer players Brandon McDonald, Robbie Findley, Rob Valentino, as well as future NCAA players Joey Vitagliano,[3] Andrew Antila,[4] Cody Russell,[5] Kegan Riley,[6] and Jordan Demos.[7]

Gavin's Sereno squad were highly successful, registering eight Arizona state championships (1997-2004), four Far West Region IV championships (2001-2004), three US Youth Soccer National Championships Final Four finishes (2001-2002, 2004), as well as a national runners-up finish (2003). [8][9][10] During this period, Gavin found form as an attacking threat at the state[11] and national levels,[12] and represented the Arizona State Olympic Development Team in Far West Region IV competitions from 1998 to 2003.[13]

Gavin simultaneously attended Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and in his lone year playing prep soccer he won the 2003 State Championship.[14] He was named Horizon's Defensive Player of the Year, chosen as an all-Region first-team performer, and was a 5A all-State selection by The Arizona Republic newspaper.[15][16]

Gavin concluded his youth career in 2004 by signing a National Letter of Intent to play at the University of Portland.[17]

### College

[edit]

Gavin went on to represent Portland Pilots men's soccer from 2004 to 2007.[18] Gavin opened his college career by being named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and an all-Conference selection in 2004.[19] During his tenure, Gavin started 71 of his 75 appearances[20] as the Pilots were ranked in the Top 25 by the United Soccer Coaches,[21] TopDrawerSoccer,[22] Soccer America,[23] and College Soccer News.[24] His collegiate career culminated in earning the captaincy for his side, developing a knack for scoring crucial late goals,[25][26] being named to conference[27] and national Teams of the Week[28] by various publications, receiving all-Conference honors,[29] and being named the Pilots' Most Inspirational Player.[30]

While Gavin demonstrated himself to be a threat by scoring four goals himself and assisting on four others, professional scouts were drawn to Gavin's defensive prowess, as he was only shown 3 yellow cards during his college career and never sent off.[31]

### Professional

[edit]

After Gavin spent two years with the Bradenton Academics of the USL Premier Development League,[32][33] he was selected by the Los Angeles Galaxy as the 4th overall pick in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft,[34] and started the 2008 season as the team's first-choice left back.[35][36] However, after he departed for a national team call-up, he was dropped from the Starting XI. Gavin was reduced to a place on the bench as an unused substitute for the remainder of the season while the 2008 Galaxy side struggled to find consistent performance and leadership - the team were knocked out of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup, suffered a last place finish in the league, cycled through three different managers,[37] and also changed sporting directors. [38]

After Gavin began the 2009 season with the Galaxy,[39] Bruce Arena overhauled his player personnel in favor of more experience, which ultimately left Gavin outside of the club's final 24-man roster for that season.[40]

### International career

[edit]

Gavin was chosen to represent the United States U-23 National Team in the 2008 Toulon Tournament (now known as the Maurice Revello Tournament).[41][42]

## Personal

[edit]

Michael is the older brother of midfielder Blair Gavin. He resides with his wife and 3 children in Vernal, Utah.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.southernsoccerscene.com/2002/01/26/youth-national-championships-get-underway/
2. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/michael-gavin/664
3. ^ https://www.ibiblio.org/footy/2005l/1211_md_nm_ycj.php?page=5
4. ^ https://goduke.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/andrew-antila/968
5. ^ https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/cody-russell/6871
6. ^ https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/kegan-reilly/3065
7. ^ https://gculopes.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/jordan-demos/11815
8. ^ https://bradleybraves.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/cody-russell/6871
9. ^ https://www.southernsoccerscene.com/2002/01/26/youth-national-championships-get-underway/
10. ^ https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3182177
11. ^ https://www.angelfire.com/az3/azpsl/leading scorers.pdf [bare URL PDF]
12. ^ https://www.southernsoccerscene.com/2002/01/26/youth-national-championships-get-underway/
13. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/michael-gavin/664
14. ^ https://aiaonline.org/files/222/soccer-team-champs-boys-fall-winter.pdf [bare URL PDF]
15. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/125031632/
16. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/michael-gavin/664
17. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2004/4/1/219.aspx
18. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/michael-gavin/664
19. ^ https://wccsports.com/news/2004/11/17/Chandler_Coach_Visser_Claim_Top_WCC_Soccer_Honors.aspx?path=msoc
20. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/2008/8/6/MSOC_0806080024
21. ^ https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/college-rankings-archive/
22. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/11/14/69111.aspx
23. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2004/8/30/75590.aspx
24. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2004/7/26/41123.aspx
25. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/11/9/90248.aspx
26. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/10/1/66508.aspx
27. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/10/1/66508.aspx
28. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/11/13/22275.aspx
29. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2007/11/21/45533.aspx
30. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/documents/2024/8/26/2024_Men_s_Soccer_Info_Guide.pdf [bare URL PDF]
31. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/sports/2008/8/6/MSOC_0806080024
32. ^ http://soccerstats.us/teams/bradenton-academics/stats/
33. ^ http://soccerstats.us/bios/michael-gavin/
34. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2008/1/25/66642.aspx
35. ^ https://portlandpilots.com/news/2008/4/4/11586.aspx
36. ^ https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-gavin/
37. ^ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-12-sp-galaxy12-story.html
38. ^ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-aug-19-sp-galaxy19-story.html
39. ^ https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/galaxy-unveil-2009-preseason-roster
40. ^ https://thelagalaxy.blogspot.com/2009/02/
41. ^ https://www.tournoimauricerevello.com/en/smartphone/festival/archives/palmares.php?annee=2008
42. ^ https://www.tournoimauricerevello.com/en/smartphone/festival/archives/detail_joueur.php?id=1094

## External links

[edit]

* MLS profile at MLSNet.com

* Portland Pilots bio

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals